Dance Etc. Staff

Mrs. Jody opened Dance Etc. Studio in Prestonsburg in 1994. She began dancing at the age of five with the Bristol Ballet then studied for the next twelve years with the Academy of Performing Arts in Coeburn, Virginia and the Wise School of Dance in Wise, Virginia. Jody graduated from Radford University with a Bachelors Degree in Dance in 1993. While at Radford, she was a four year member of the Radford Ballet Theatre, three year member of Radford's Collegiate Dance Team and a varsity cheerleader for one year.

Jody's experiences include traveling & teaching dance camps across the Eastern United States as an instructor for Eastern Dance Association. She was also a member of their training staff, which included training other EDA Instructors as well as the EDA Curriculum Staff choreographing dance routines to be taught at their summer dance camps.

Jody was the former seven year coach of the Prestonsburg Dance Cats and led them to many awards and honors including several national championships. She keeps her dance training current by attending numerous dance conventions and teacher workshops where she has studied with master teachers such as Mia Michaels, Wade Robson, Brian Freidman, Art Stone, Joe Tremaine, Jo Rowan and many others.

Mrs. Jody currently instructs weekly classes at the studio as well as coaching the studio's four Elite All-Star Dance Teams who have won numerous national titles. She also teaches and choreographs for other dance teams throughout the area. Jody her husband, Greg, and their two children, Gregory Chase and Makenna Kate, reside in Prestonsburg.

Jennifer Smith - Instructor

Mrs. Jennifer began her dance training at a young age before coming to Dance Etc. in 1995 where she is now a full-time dance instructor. Jennifer has extensive training in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Lyrical, Hip Hop and other styles of dance. She also has received numerous national titles as a former member of the Prestonsburg Dance Cats and University of Kentucky Wildcat Danzers.

Jennifer is an assistant coach for the studio's four Elite Competition Teams. She also teaches summer dance camps to dance teams throughout the area and choreographs for many area teams. Jennifer continually updates her training through dance conventions and teacher workshops with master teachers from across the country. Jennifer and her husband Matt reside in Prestonsburg and have two children, Matthew Ryan and Delainey Grace.

Lauren Bowman - Instructor

Lauren Bowman, an Inez, Kentucky native, found her love of dance at the age of 3. She attended The Dance Studio (Logan, WV) and Miss Jan’s Eastern Kentucky Dance Program before enrolling at Dance Etc. Studio of Dance in 1994. She has been trained in Ballet, Pointe, Tap, Jazz, and Lyrical. While a student at Dance Etc., Lauren served as an assistant instructor and danced on the Elite Dance Team for seven years.

Lauren is a 2009 graduate of Georgetown College where she was a member of the Georgetown Tiger Dance Team. Ms. Lauren is excited to return to her dance home as an instructor and assistant coach to the Dance Etc. Elite Teams.