Meet Our Staff!
Studio Owner
Jill McDonald
Office Managers
Heather DeGarmo
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Chris McDonald
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Assistants
Meet Our Qualified Teaching Staff
Jill Pickens McDonald (Owner)
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Jill McDonald is a qualified Hip Hop choreographer with over ten years teaching experience involving competitive and non-competitive classes. She specializes in hip hop, clogging and tap, and has received extensive training in several genres over the years. She is a dedicated leader with demonstrated ability to train dancers, motivate our youth, and maintain an award winning team.
One of her most memorable accomplishments to date was receiving an invitation to serve as the guest "hip hop" choreographer for the prestigious Dance Masters Convention in February, 2014. Jill began dance at the age of 5 with Marjorie Sellers and continued her dance career with Darla Fox until the age of 17. Through out her youth, Jill was blessed with opportunities to dance all over the United States, such as; Ameri-Flora (Columbus, Ohio), Opryland Hotel (Nashville, Tennessee) and was even invited to dance in the Olympics in Seville, Spain. Jill has been happily married to her husband, Chris for nineteen years. Together they have four beautiful children. Christopher, Lexi, Austin, and Gracie. They currently reside in the Tri-Valley School District. In their spare time, Jill enjoys working on crafts, spending time with her birds, Ohio State Football, and spending time with her family. The famous quote by Dr. Seuss, "Why blend in when you were born to stand out?" is something she very much believes in and has always strived to live by. She believes in dreams and helping every child's dreams come true! She gives 100% credit for all their success to our Lord and Savoir, Jesus Christ! |
Frankie Zimmer
Miss Frankie has ten years of dance studio experience. She has experience in tap, ballet, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, hip hop and kick-line! She was a cheerleader for four years in high school at Sheridan, and one season for ISU Hockey! She has danced and also choreographed several numbers for Orchesis II at Iowa State University. She was also the President of ISU TAP! Miss Frankie and Miss Lexi work together as co-teachers and make a wonderful team!
Katie Willey
Miss Katie is a motivated instructor with a decade of experience teaching dance and fitness education. She has taught a range of genres including: ballet, modern, lyrical, jazz, tap, acro, tumbling, cheer, pilates, yoga, and cardio.
Her background includes: Tri-Valley High School for four years as their Flag Core Instructor, she worked as an instructor at "Melody and Motion" dance studio for three years (she taught private lessons for eight years), and has also taught as a personal instructor.
She is a devoted, loving, qualified instructor with an abundance of teaching experience. She is looking forward to the upcoming season with her competition dancers as well as her recreational dancers!
Her background includes: Tri-Valley High School for four years as their Flag Core Instructor, she worked as an instructor at "Melody and Motion" dance studio for three years (she taught private lessons for eight years), and has also taught as a personal instructor.
She is a devoted, loving, qualified instructor with an abundance of teaching experience. She is looking forward to the upcoming season with her competition dancers as well as her recreational dancers!
Gracie McDonald
Miss Gracie has been raised in the studio. By day she is a Cosmetologist and by night she is a Dance Teacher. She has many plans to use her dance career and is excited to officially be a part of our teaching staff!
Gracie has trained in New York City with the Rockettes, Broadway Dance Center, attended World’s in NYC, trained with Mia Michaels, trained with Patty's Dance Center in Newark, OH, and many others! Gracie is planning to pursue dance in some aspect of her life in the future. Her dream is to take a large part in A2J Crew Dance Kompany one day!
Gracie has trained in New York City with the Rockettes, Broadway Dance Center, attended World’s in NYC, trained with Mia Michaels, trained with Patty's Dance Center in Newark, OH, and many others! Gracie is planning to pursue dance in some aspect of her life in the future. Her dream is to take a large part in A2J Crew Dance Kompany one day!
Brianna Anderson
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Miss Bri is currently attending Central Ohio Technical College (COTC) and majoring in Radiologic Technology. Bri attended Licking Valley High School and was a varsity cheerleader all four years of high school. She danced through middle school and part of high school at Reinita's Baton and Dance where she also taught four classes in her final year at the studio: lyrical, ballet, and two levels of cheer. This was before the studio closed due to COVID-19.
Then, she joined the A2J Crew Dance Kompany where she found a perfect fit! In her younger years, when she lived in Texas, she attended workshops with the choreographer Afton Beadles. She has participated in many competitions and conventions since moving to Ohio, and placed third runner up for Miss Dance of KAR. |
Carly Bice
One of our wonderful Ready Set Dance Teachers as well as a valuable assistant. Former A2J Dancer of the Year
Tiffany Furbee
One of our wonderful Ready Set Dance Teachers as well as a Co-teacher and assistant in many classes. She also assists with maintaining the website as well as creating content for social media.
Parker Lanning
Miss Parker is a Ready Set Ballet assistant. She is currently an Honors Student at West Muskingum High School and has been dancing for 5 years, with a special love for contemporary and modern. Though, she enjoys exploring all genres. Dance has become one of the most important parts of who she is.
After graduation, she plans to attend college to pursue her dream of becoming a youth educator. Outside of school and dance, she is an active member of Meadow Farm Church, where she serves as the Youth Advocate on the church board.
A2J Crew is her safe space, and the people there have grown to feel like family. She is so grateful for everything dance has give her and hopes to share her love of dance with you this year.
After graduation, she plans to attend college to pursue her dream of becoming a youth educator. Outside of school and dance, she is an active member of Meadow Farm Church, where she serves as the Youth Advocate on the church board.
A2J Crew is her safe space, and the people there have grown to feel like family. She is so grateful for everything dance has give her and hopes to share her love of dance with you this year.
Scott Ritchie
Our amazing tumbling instructor!