Meet The Staff at Positions Dance Studio!

When it comes to dance in Babylon and the surrounding areas, we know our dance families have options. From location to class options, there are tons of factors to consider when choosing a studio. Among the many reasons why you should choose Positions is our amazing, wonderful, showstopping staff!

Did you know… ALL of our instructors have Positions history or roots here in Babylon?! We feel pretty lucky to have a group of teachers who are connected to our community. Aside from being excellent role models for our students, they bring warmth, passion, and dedication to the studio year-round.

So today on the blog, it’s time to meet the staff! 

Miss Kelly - Owner & Director

How long have you been at Positions?
30 years! I started dancing here when I was 3 and I am now the proud owner and director of Positions!
What is your favorite Positions memory?
As a student growing up, my favorite memories were any of our recitals and performances. We would get to hang out with our dance friends, do each other's hair, and eat Twizzlers all day :) As a teacher and studio owner, I love getting to travel with my students and make fantastic memories!
What is your favorite spot or small business in Babylon?
I am also President of the Chamber of Commerce, so I try really hard to spread the love and support all of our businesses. Some of my favorite places to shop are Roomors and Ooh La La, and one of my favorite restaurants is The Brixton.
What do you love most about the Positions dance family?
Our current staff has known each other for so long, so we are all friends and truly feel like a dance family. I believe that comes across to our students and their families -they see that Positions is a fun, friendly place to be, and we hope that they feel immediately welcomed into the family.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself!
I am a huge history buff, and I used to teach high school social studies before I decided to run the studio full time.

Miss Jillian - Artistic Director

How long have you been at Positions?
I’ve been teaching at Positions for 12 years. 
What is your favorite Positions memory?
I loved going to the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans! I had always wanted to visit that city and it was a wonderful balance of rehearsal/performance time and adventure time. I especially liked the swamp tour I went on with Miss Kelly’s husband, Kevin! We saw some cool stuff!
What is your favorite spot or small business in Babylon?
Molto Vino OR Horace and Silvia’s (but Cold Stone holds a special place in my heart).
What do you love most about the Positions dance family?
Everyone is extremely nice and encouraging with one another. I appreciate that it is not a competitive atmosphere amongst students. It’s very welcoming!
Tell us a fun fact about yourself!
I love splits!

Miss Samantha - Instructor

How long have you been at Positions?
I started dancing at positions as a kid because my cousins danced here in 2004, so that would be 17 years so far! Now I’m an instructor here!
What is your favorite Positions memory?
My favorite memory at Positions was getting to perform in Disney World with all of my best friends. We got to perform in Disney Springs, take a class with a real Disney World performer and even got to see a little bit of "backstage Disney". To top it all off, I got to spend the whole week in Disney with my closest friends. 
What is your favorite spot or small business in Babylon?
Swell Taco, other than Positions of course! 
What do you love most about the Positions dance family?
I love how accepting and non-judgmental the environment at Positions is. I have been a part of the Positions dance family for a pretty long time, as have many other teachers here and I love the connection that we all have because of it. We all always have each other's backs, and want each other to do great things. As teachers we make it a priority to make our students feel comfortable and able to express themselves through dance and I think that that's really important. 
Tell us a fun fact about yourself!
A fun fact about me is that I love to bake! I started baking with my mom when I was little and in my free time I like to try new recipes and share them with my friends. I enjoy baking cookies a lot of the time, but I have also made some pretty cool birthday cakes for family and friends. 

Miss Carly - Instructor

How long have you been at Positions?
I started dancing at Positions when I was 16, and now I am 20 and back at the studio teaching for my second year here! 
What is your favorite Positions memory?
My favorite memory was when Positions went to Memphis to dance in the Liberty Bowl. I got to travel with my dance best friends and have a great time in Memphis dancing!
What is your favorite spot or small business in Babylon?
I love coming to Babylon to get dinner at Swell Taco or Del Fuego and then walk around to see all of the amazing small businesses. 
What do you love most about the Positions dance family?
I love how supportive our dance studio is. At Positions you find friends for life that constantly support and encourage you, whether they are your teachers or fellow dancers. 
Tell us a fun fact about yourself!
After Positions I continued dancing through college and now have a BFA in Dance! 

Miss Dominique - Instructor

How long have you been at Positions?
I danced at Positions until I graduated high school and I’ve taught here for 9 years now! 
What is your favorite Positions memory?
A few years ago, a large group of seniors graduated. They were the first group I had for several years. It was such a pleasure to witness them grow as dancers, friends, and all around beautiful humans. Seeing them grow together and graduate together was incredibly special!
What is your favorite spot or small business in Babylon?
The Brixton, and Positions dance studio, of course! ;)
What do you love most about the Positions dance family?
The genuine support and love for one another!
Tell us a fun fact about yourself!
I competed in hurdles at nationals for my high school track team.

Miss Emily - Instructor

How long have you been at Positions?
I started dancing at Positions when I was 3 years old! 
What is your favorite Positions memory?
My favorite memory is my senior year dance recital. Recitals are always so exciting! I was a dancer and a teacher during that recital and I loved every second. 
What is your favorite spot or small business in Babylon?
So many choices, but I do love Del Fuego! 
What do you love most about the Positions dance family?
Positions fosters a love for dance. I love watching some of my past dance students develop into beautiful dancers as they get older.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself!
I taught in Ghana, West Africa for a few weeks when I was in college! 

Karen - Office Staff

How long have you been at Positions?
I have been at Positions for 17 years. Both of my daughters danced here for many years and I have worked here for several years as well.
What is your favorite Positions memory?
My favorite memories are always the recitals.
What is your favorite spot or small business in Babylon?
Roomers!
What do you love most about the Positions dance family?
We all get along and help each other out.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself!
I love Disco music!

Linda - Office Staff

How long have you been at Positions?
About 20 years!
What is your favorite Positions memory?
Going to New Orleans for the Sugar Bowl.
What is your favorite spot or small business in Babylon?
Roomors!
What do you love most about the Positions dance family?
Everyone is so kind.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself!
My favorite sport to watch is ice hockey.

Well there you have it, our staff here at Positions is pretty amazing! When it comes to dance in Babylon, you can’t beat our team of amazing instructors and office staff. 

All of our staff is beyond pumped to kick off our 2021/2022 Dance Classes in just a few short weeks! If you haven’t registered yet, be sure to save your child’s spot today! Our staff can’t wait to welcome you! 

How To AMAZE Your Dancer At This Year's Recital

Recital week is almost here at Positions Dance Studio! We could not be more excited to see all the hard work come to life and I’m sure you and your dancers feel the same. They have put in countless hours at the studio and you have supported them every step of the way. It is time to celebrate right?! With all the fun and excitement comes something else not so pleasant, STRESS. Yes, recital week is stressful for everyone (for us too!). There are costumes and accessories to pack, special hair and makeup to master, a handful of different check-in times to keep track of, and much much more. It is a lot to handle for the seasoned dance parent not to mention for those first timers out there! We want to make sure we are doing all we can to make your week as easy as it can be for you and your dancer. Let’s face it, if you are stressed out, your dancer will be stressed out too. And that is not fun for anyone. So we thought we would give you a few ways you can feel less of that awful stress and more of the fun and excitement. Following these tips will ensure that you can AMAZE your dancer at this year’s recital!  

• Read EVERYTHING. Twice. Make sure you are really going through all the emails and handouts you receive from the studio. They contain information like check-in times, order deadlines, day-of instructions, etc. Take the time to really process the information and write reminders in your calendar.

• Take Inventory Now. Do you have all the right shoes? New tights in the correct color? All hair and makeup supplies? Have you double checked all costumes and their accessories? Figuring out you are missing something last minute could be the worst feeling ever! You will feel much better knowing you have a few days to run to the store rather than just a few hours.

• Make a recital day PLAN with your dancer. Everyone will feel much better after you talk through logistics and expectations. Talk with your dancer about when you will start getting ready, who will be helping with quick changes, when will they eat, and when and where you will meet them after the performance. You will rest assured knowing they know what to do and they will feel more prepared in handling the day without you.

• Be positive, have fun, and enjoy every second! Recital is only once a year and trust us, it goes FAST! Be proud of your dancer no matter what happens on stage. It takes a lot of guts to get on stage and your dancer wants no more than to do the best they can do. Don’t be shy in telling them how you feel after their performance. Performing after all the preparation should feel amazing and as their parents, you get to share that feeling with them. They deserve that shining moment and so do you. Make sure you take a moment or two to look around and feel the joy with your dancer.

We want nothing more than for you and your dancer to enjoy this moment because it is the BEST part of being a performer (and a proud parent too) and like we mentioned, it will go fast! Take the stress out of the week and you will be able to truly savor each precious moment.

Have any questions about recital week? Check out this FAQ page we have and call or email the studio with anything you don’t see mentioned.