We had the good fortune of connecting with Jamie Perrin and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jamie, can you tell us more about your background and the role it’s played in shaping who you are today?
I grew up in Missouri and I come from a musical family. My mother played flute and saxophone, my brother was a drummer, and my father is world renowned jazz music educator, Jim Widner. My parents owned a music store that was next door to a dance studio. I would go to the store with my parents sometimes and I would ask to go watch the dance classes. I was 2 years old, and I was hooked! I started taking classes and here I am 40 years later still dancing.

With my dad being in the entertainment industry I grew up understanding the life of not working 5 days a week 9-5. Being exposed to concerts, rehearsals, traveling, weekend gigs, starting work at 7:00pm, that was a “normal” life for me. Watching the dedication my dad had for his career and teaching really shaped how I approached dance and teaching. He sets his standards high and he doesn’t settle for mediocre. I have learned to do the same from my students. Having a mom that is so supportive of his career and how she understands the craziness of being in the music industry, really showed me you can have a wonderful career and family life at the same time.

My upbringing has guided me to have a wonderful career in dance and a wonderful husband and son that are incredibly supportive. My family showed me you can have it all!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I think what sets me apart from others is the level of standard I expect from people. I know everyone can push more than what they think they are capable of. Wether I am teaching at my studio, or choreographing for a local theatre, anyone I work with knows they will be pushed to be their best.

It is hard to narrow down my favorite things I am most proud of from my career. One thing would be when I graduated with my Master’s Degree in dance at the age of 23. School and I don’t get along, so this was a huge accomplishment for myself. The second would be choreographing for Six Flags Over Texas during Fright Fest two year ago. I conceptualized, directed and choreographed a show called “Hellz Bells.” I have never had an opportunity like that and I put everything I had into that show and the cast I worked with were incredible. I go back and watch that show once in a while and I still don’t know where I came up with everything. Of course opening my own studio is in my top favorites. It has been a labor of love and I can’t wait to see how it grows in the future.

The two most important things I have learned along the way are getting back up when you are knocked down and professionalism. In this industry you will hear more “No’s” than you want to and it is important to keep going. You won’t always get the part you wanted, or the job you wanted, or accepted into the program you wanted. As long as you keep going, you will succeed. It is also so important to maintain professionalism. You never know when you will end up working with someone down the road and you don’t want to burn bridges. Because the dance industry is so small, we need to be supportive of everyone and keep building a strong dance community.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
My best friend and I live about 3 1/2 hours a part so it is not easy to see each other. Between work and mom life, we don’t get out much. If we were able to pull off a week long hangout just the two of us, it would consist of visiting a winery, shopping and a day at the spa!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would not be where I am today without the never ending support of my family and friends! My parents have supported me since I started dancing at 2 years old and they still do to this day. My husband has been by my side for the last 14 years and he believes in me more than I believe in myself. My circle of friends gave me the confidence to start a dance studio because they were willing to do whatever it took to help me make it happen. I certainly owe my career spanning 4 decades to them!

Website: www.tmadance.com

 

 

Instagram: jamieperrin17 / movementacademydance

Facebook: Jamie Perrin / The Movement Academy Mansfield

Image Credits
Shawn Robles

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