We were lucky to catch up with Jessie Johnston Carmon recently and have shared our conversation below.

Jessie, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

I fell in love with ballet at age 5, and it remained a constant source of stability throughout my life. After high school, I attended college for a year before deciding to pursue dance full-time. I attended a summer dance camp in Illinois, earned a full scholarship, and eventually danced with the Augusta Ballet. Tragedy struck during a rehearsal for The Nutcracker when I suffered a devastating ankle injury. Doctors told me I’d never dance again, and I was heartbroken. I transitioned to a retail career, but my passion for dance never faded. A conversation with a friend encouraged me to try dancing again, despite my injury. To my surprise, my ankle functioned, and I began taking classes. This newfound hope led me to apply to college, where I earned a dance and academic scholarship at 24. I went on to start my own dance school and company, teaching and performing professionally for over a decade. After selling my school, I worked in sales and taught part-time before finding a new passion in real estate. However, it wasn’t until I returned to teaching dance that I felt my heart was truly full. I realized that making a difference in the lives of children was the most important job I’d ever had. My journey taught me to never give up on my dreams, even when faced with adversity or new opportunities.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’m Jessie Johnston Carmon, a lifelong dancer and ballet enthusiast Growing up in a creative family, I was immersed in the arts from a young age. My mother, a talented artist and visionary, played a pivotal role in introducing me to ballet. She brought in an instructor from The Atlanta Ballet to establish a ballet school in our small town of Gainesville, allowing me to train locally. At just 9 years old, I became the youngest charter member of our town’s newly formed dance company. I spent the next decade dancing with the company, developing invaluable lessons in perseverance and resilience. During high school, dance became my constant source of comfort amidst life’s challenges. After taking a brief hiatus, I rediscovered my passion for dance in college, earning a BFA in Ballet Pedagogy and Performance from Brenau University. Though I stepped away from teaching for a time after meeting my husband David, I eventually returned to it part-time, realizing that dance was an integral part of my being. Throughout my journey, dance has continued to find me, and I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to share my passion with others. My love for ballet and all dance genres remains unwavering, and I’m excited to see where this passion takes me next.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

Empowering individuals, especially young dancers, to cultivate resilience and perseverance in the face of adversity, while sharing the transformative power of dance and movement.

This mission aligns with my passion for teaching ballet, my personal experience of overcoming adversity, and my new endeavor of creating an online business focused on resilience.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Seeing my students grow, overcome challenges, and thrive through dance and develop into productive, “thinking adults” is a profound source of joy and satisfaction.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: rhythmicresiliencejjc
• Facebook: Rhythmic Resilience