Jo-Ann’s Dance Studio Interview with Jo-Ann Faulkner

Jo-Ann’s Dance Studio – The Performing Arts Centre, in South Plainfield, New Jersey, has been open for 37 years and offers classes in all dance disciplines (ballet, pointe, tap, modern, jazz, hip hop) from preschoolers through adults, from beginners through advanced levels. Jo-Ann Faulkner, the owner and director of the studio, says that being a full performing arts centre they also offer classes in musical theatre, piano lessons, vocal training, Pilates, Pilates Reformer and Zumba. They are also very proud that they offer classes to students with special needs.

Throughout the 37 years they have been in business, before all else, they have always emphasized the importance of having a very strong technique in all areas of dance and performance. During this time she has witnessed so many studios that spend so much time concentrating on routines, choreography and competitions that their technique goes by the wayside. Technique can be easily forgotten when not constantly reinforced.

Jo-Ann’s proudest moments while coaching have been when second and third generations of students in a family return to them for lessons — and this happens quite often. Being a parent herself, Jo-Ann knows that no parent will ever send their child for any type of activity unless they have had only the best of memories of that activity themselves. Her former students tell her that what they learned during their years at her studio have carried with them and have had many positive influences on many areas of their lives.

Jo-Ann says the mistakes she most often sees dancers make usually are as a result of a lack of strong technique.  She believes that too many schools and their students spend too much time stressing on their routines, choreography and competitions that their technique suffers.

Jo-Ann says that her goals have never really changed throughout her entire career in this business and that is to provide quality dance instruction, to encourage self discipline and self esteem, to foster a passion for their art form and to try to remember to nourish that passion throughout their lives. This is not only this year’s goal, it’s every year’s goal.

Jo-Ann began taking dance classes when she was just 3 years of age. As a teen, she helped pay her tuition by assisting her dance teachers at the various studios she attended. When her daughter was just 3 years of age, of course, she decided to put her daughter in dance classes. To her dismay, there were no schools in her area that were teaching what she was looking for, or the way she would have liked to see them teach. As a result, she decided to teach her daughter and a few of her daughter’s friends herself. Word spread, and before she knew it, she was teaching about 10-15 students. She then decided to look for a part time space. By the end of her first year, she was teaching about 75 students. She then opened up a full time studio, moved five times over the years, and now instructs approx 400 students each year.

Another thing she would like to mention is that their studio is a family affair. Her daughter has been a dance instructor, my Artistic Director and my Assistant Director for the past 25 years and my son has been our music coordinator and the Director of our music studio, teaching private piano and vocal lessons for the past 20 years.

Please post a comment if you have had any experience with Jo-Ann’s Dance Studio or Jo-Ann Faulkner.

If you would like more information on Jo-Ann’s Dance Studio – The Performing Arts Centre, check them out on www.jo-annsdancestudio.com.