AADI

On May 12, 2026, the beloved, spitfire ballet teacher Judy Fielman Rice passed away unexpectedly at the age of 65. Many of Rice’s current and former students flooded social media with memories of their favorite “Judy-isms,” funny anecdotes, and unforgettable tendu combinations. She leaves behind a positive legacy centered in her joyful approach to ballet.

Read more about her life, career, and impact here: https://dance-teacher.com/celebrating-the-life-of-ballet-teacher-judy-rice/ .tab=0?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&utm_campaign=June

📝: Jen Peters
📸: Judy Rice rehearsing with her students at the barre. Photo by Peter Smith



Description: Judy Rice in an orange top and black tights smiles while stretching with her students at the barre. Text: Celebrating the Life of Ballet Teacher Judy Rice

The American Association of Dance Instructors is more than an organization; it is a professional membership designed for dance educators who meet a higher standard of excellence, vision, and commitment. Membership is intentionally selective, not open to everyone, and is reserved for instructors, studio leaders, and dance professionals who value elevated training, refined teaching practices, and forward-thinking program design.

Through this exclusive network, members gain access to a new design model for competitive dance teams, called American Sport Dance Games—a modern, structured alternative to traditional competition culture—available only to approved members who may also OWN a location for profit. This model supports team development, classroom benchmarks, performance standards, and a more purposeful approach to competitive dance, allowing our member studios to distinguish themselves with prestige, professionalism, and educational integrity.

Do you have all your ducks in a row?
This download, affordable under 10$
Gives you all you need to hire your team
On sale June 1st
A handbook of contracts for studio owners...I am going live over the weekend

Need to learn more about AI to change how to advertise using prompts? Stay tuned coming June 15th virtual presentations and now booking in New England for summer workshops and Choreography By Design Seminars...focus is your recreational programs...curriculum design and more

MEET THE AUTHOR
Jann Davis is a globally recognized dance education consultant, former studio owner, public educator, and social media AI influencer. She specializes in helping dance educators, studio owners, and enrichment program directors organize, strengthen, and advance their programs. With decades of experience in private dance studios, public schools, recreation programs, and professional dance organizations, Jann brings a rare combination of artistic knowledge, classroom expertise, and business experience to the dance education industry.

Jann owned and operated the Jann Davis Dance Center in Westwood, Canton, and Easton, Massachusetts for almost 50 years. She founded and directed the American Dance Invitational®, a studio dance competition that operated until 2006. Her professional experience includes choreography, directing, dance team coaching, curriculum development, faculty training, adjudication, and guest teaching for major dance education organizations. She has served in leadership roles with Dance Masters of New England Chapter #5 and has judged and taught for multiple Dance Masters of America chapters.

In addition to her dance career, Jann has a strong background in public education and instructional technology. She served as an Intel Teach to the Future Master Teacher and Senior Trainer for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and is a scholarship recipient of the Shorenstein Center at the Harvard Kennedy School. She holds degrees from Northeastern University, Smith College, and Harvard University’s T.I.E. Program. Through her work with EXPECTATIONS for Dance Curriculum Frameworks® and American Sport Dance Games®, Jann continues to create new systems that help dance educators teach, assess, and lead with clarity, confidence, and purpose.

Opening a dance studio is one of the most exciting decisions a woman can make. It is also one of the most misunderstood.

Many people see the music, the costumes, the recital, and the children smiling on stage. They do not always see the lease, the payroll, the parent emails, the costume deadlines, the tuition questions, the teacher meetings, or the courage it takes to keep leading.

This book was created for the woman who has a dream, but also needs a plan.

The 44-Week Dance Studio Success Plan is not about doing everything perfectly. It is about building your studio one step at a time with purpose, organization, and confidence.

You do not need to know everything on the first day. You do need to be willing to learn, plan, ask questions, make decisions, and treat your studio like the business it truly is.

A dance studio can be a beautiful place for children. It can also be a strong, independent business for the woman who owns it.

Have you ever thought about being DIFFERENT than other dance studios? Have you ever thought about creating a rewards system that parents will love and students benefit from? Included in our program for dance studios globally: a syllabus you can follow based on ballet technique and jazz foundations, daily usable lesson plans K-6, choreography patterns for your avocational dancers, and a NEW awards system based on the content of your classes. Let me introduce

DANCE STUDIO BY DESIGN

Here is an overview of our STUDENT AWARDS system based on YOUR INCOME a studio can benefit from:

DANCE STUDIO BY DESIGN REWARDS PROGRAM
“Studio Headliner Rewards”

Purpose:
To reward committed dance families for consistent enrollment, timely payments, participation in studio events, and long-term loyalty.

This works like a bank rewards or credit-card points system: families earn points for eligible studio purchases and activities, then redeem those points for approved studio credits, perks, or merchandise.

Please help my neighbor
Link for GoFundMe for Richard Lipkind

Donate to Support 95-Year-Old Richard After Apartment Flood, organized by Jann Davis I am trying to raise $5,000 for my neighbor Richard Lipkind whose apartme… Jann Davis needs your support for Support 95-Year-Old Richard After Apartment Flood