We were lucky to catch up with Jere’ James recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Jere’, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to go back in time and hear the story of how you came up with the name of your brand?

I named my dance studio after my Mother, Inez Patricia James. She was very instrumental in my dance journey. My mother put me in dance when I was four years old and, thirty-six years later I’m still doing my craft. Unfortunately in 2005 my mother lost her battle to breast cancer, What better way to keep her legacy alive was to pay her back for all the sacrifices, love, and a lot of money was to honor her by naming my dance studio after her.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I started dancing when I was four years old at Palm Beach Ballet Center in Palm Beach, FL, under the direction of Joan Miller. Thirty-six years later, I still love my craft. I danced with that studio until I graduated high school. I was blessed to have an opportunity to go to A.W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts in West Palm Beach, FL as a dance major. So, I danced during school and after school. During my summers in High School, I would spend my entire summer going to New York City to train with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s summer intensive. My senior year, they asked me to stay and continue training during the year. I decided to continue my collegiate journey at attending the University of Central Florida and obtained a BS in International Business. After I was done, I gave my degree to my parents and went back to my first love, DANCE.

Over the next 16 years, I would perfect my craft in a different way. I started teaching at a phenomenal dance school, Orlando School of Cultural Dance, under the director of one of my dance mother’s Julie Coleman. I would teach at over 15 dance schools through Central Florida, finally making my way to Director of Dance at the Center For Contemporary Dance. It was there that I became the teacher and director I am today. Six years ago, I felt it was time to branch out again but this time as the Big Boss. In 2016 I opened my very own studio, Inez Patricia School of Dance, named after my deceased mother, who I wanted to pay homage to her for all of her sacrifice and investment into my passion. Fast forward six years later, we are a household name teaching over 500 students in the past six years and watching them graduate and go on to Professional Dance Companies and Collegiate Dance Programs. I’m one blessed dance teacher

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

In 2005, I had to endure one of the hardest journeys of my life. June 3rd 2005, my mother Inez Patricia took her last breath. Looking back on that day, I never knew it would change the fabric of my life. My life changed from that moment. Everything she taught me prepared me for my next chapter. When she transitioned everything that she left was at that moment instilled in me. I gain strength, perseverance, and a lot of resilience.

Has your business ever had a near-death moment? Would you mind sharing the story?

Absolutely, Covid almost took us out. Transitioning from in person to online our revenue went down to almost nothing. Dancing is an action sport so not being able to teach face to face the enthusiasm and love for dance shifted. Our numbers dropped tremendously and we lost almost half our enrollment. It was the hardest 4 months of our lives. The unknown was the scariest part and the bills never stopped. We kept pushing and was blessed enough to stay afloat.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.inezpatriciadance.com
• Instagram: inezpatriciadance
• Facebook: Inez Patricia School of Dance

Image Credits
TC Productions