Located in the Heart of Downtown Waller, Texas, the JDS Dance Studio (“JDS”) prides themselves for serving their community by teaching the art of dance to children and adults of all ages. They not only teach the technique of dance but they also delve into the musicality and passion of the art. They offer everything from recreational dance to competitive dance with the award winning JDS Dance Company.
JDS is dedicated to teaching every student about the art of dance. They focus on the art and creativity of expression, movement, and technique through ballet, lyrical, contemporary, tap, jazz, and hip hop. They believe in the importance of dance in all forms and believe that it helps every one of all ages with balance, agility, technique, social skills, and most importantly imagination!
Their students are full of personality and character. Each student has different characteristics that define her as a dancer. Some are shy and quiet while others are outspoken and loving. Kelley Land is the Studio Owner and Director of Just Dance Studio Competition Team and Benicia Curtis is an Instructor and Assistant of the Just Dance Studio Competition Team.
According to Benicia, this is always exciting for her because she is interested in bringing out those traits to where the students do not feel uncomfortable in the dance studio. Many of her dancers are comfortable in the studio, which makes her feel comfortable while teaching them. She loves the determination and tenacity that the girls require for 
themselves and for each other. It is amazing to enjoy an atmosphere where the girls can grasp the idea of dance and execute it in their own way.
Benicia believes that what separates Just Dance Studio from other studios is the camaraderie and cohesiveness that is not only shared between the dancers, but also the parents as well. At some studios that she has experienced, most of the parents are disconnected with their dancers’ teachers, or have formed cliques that are not open to new or old dancers and parents. What distinguishes JDS from others is the friendly behavior that is mutual amongst the parents, which creates a positive atmosphere in the studio.
According to Benicia, her proudest moment teaching is when her students improve with their technique and are able to execute their techniques while they are performing. It makes her so proud to know that the dancer is taking critiques and molding it to their performance.
In Benicia’s opinion, the biggest challenge she sees in her dancers is being able to express themselves fully while dancing. This could be because of certain limitations that could hold dancers back from demonstrating their full potential while performing. I find this as a challenge myself because sometimes I will get shy while performing, or have the thought that someone in the audience might not like how I am portraying a dance. It is a challenge to get emotional color portrayed during a dance performance with the girls because they can feel shy or embarrassed about expressing these emotions. How to improve this challenge is to continue working on exercises that tap into that inner emotion to create a blend of dance and character into a dance that draws the audience in. Different exercises include closing of the eyes and using imagery to different music and how it makes the dancer feel.
Their goals for this year are for the girls to improve their technique. You can never go wrong with technique classes to improve your overall performance. Benicia feels that a dancer that has strength in basic dance technique will be able to be versatile in all types of dance. This goal includes her working with her girls by explaining the difference between different dance moves so that they understand what they are executing on the dance floor. Technique is extremely important in her eyes because the dancers will also be able to grow in other parts of dancing.
Benicia is originally from San Jose, California, and while she was in middle school and high school, she would teach dance in church, at a studio, and in the community. After she graduated from high school, she found it abnormal that teaching dance was not in her every day schedule. In her junior year of college at Prairie View A&M University, she decided to get back in the habit of teaching dance. When she was driving in the Waller, Texas, area she saw a dance studio and got extremely excited that this studio could possibly be her next place to teach. As she walked in and spoke with Ms. Kelley, she seemed very interested in Ms. Kelley seemed very interested in her and offered Benicia the opportunity to teach the Turns and Technique class as a demonstration of her skills. Since then, she has been attached to JDS for their warm and welcoming attitude they had toward her. Benicia is very grateful and thankful that she is blessed by such beautiful dancers and the warmth of the studio family.
In Benicia’s viewpoint, their dancers at JDS not only have excellence in the dance studio 
but also scholastically. She is extremely proud of her students because they are able to maintain and balance various extracurricular activities and receive exceptional grades in school. Some of the activities that their dancers are involved in outside of school and the studio are Choir, Miss Watermelon Princess 2015-2016 of Waller, Texas, Horse Riders Club, Student Government, Leadership Classes, and Community Service. Also, Benicia is very grateful for the love and support the parents give Mrs. Kelley with her vision of what she is possible for the dancers. Many parents are dedicated to creating props, materials, and fundraising ideas in a sincere effort to help the studio.
JDS is an awesome group that dances more than the normal recreational dancer. They offer more performance opportunities that build a dancer’s self confidence, technical ability, and leadership skills throughout the year.
If you would like more information about The JDS Dance Company, visit their website at www.justdancestudioland.com, or call them at 979-451-5603. You can also “Like” them on Facebook.
Please post a comment if you have had any experience with Benicia Curtis of Just Dance Studio.
Written By Cyndi Marziani
Owner
BDancewear.com
Dad is so proud of you daughter