Jersey Cape Dance & Gymnastics Academy

Jersey Cape Dance & Gymnastic Academy is a crown for the talented jewels of Cape May County.
For twenty nine years this locally owned and operated school, nestled in an old church off of Route 9 in Erma, has provided Cape May County students with the very finest classes in dance and gymnastic disciplines.
Chosen by Dance Magazine as one of the top 50 academies in the nation, Jersey Cape Dance and Gymnastic Academy offers classes to all children whether they are seeking or currently in a professional career, wish to compete nationally or just have a burning desire to dance or perform gymnastics. Although enrollment is open to everyone, the classes are small with no more than 10 to 12 in each one, affording each pupil the individual attention needed for their personal development. An open door policy, in effect for all classes held in the four state-of-the-art dance rooms and gymnastics facility, allows parents and guardians to observe the hard work and discipline their children learn and accomplish . Visitors can behold their pupils’ workmanship discreetly from behind a waiting room two-way mirror.
The Academy offers preschool classes and provides a homework room for all the dancer students, and there is even a cafeteria on campus. Each pupil receives one-on-one attention from a staff that includes Stina Smith, proprietor and a former professional dancer and model; her younger sister, Annika Nash, the Director of Gymnastics and Contortion who is a member of the USA Gymnastics as a safety certified coach; Annika’s niece and Stina’s daughter Kendra who has worked professionally for Walt Disney and has studied with some of the leading choreographers in the dancing industry. Keeping
this all in the family, the talent resources are augmented by Bryce Sol Yerk, Kelli Rossie, Louise Marshall, Kim Gant and Christine Rossie Sundstrom, current professional dancers and graduates of the Academy.
Bryce and Christine are the founders of the “ Rising Star Performance Team”, a group of six to seventeen year olds from the school who do not have the time to compete for National awards but love to dance and augment their talents by
performing in local parades, nursing homes and other community events.
Admission to the school is open to all from the ages of 18 months to 18 years old.
Most people who watch TV have seen The Jersey Cape Dance’s National Teams. Three of their professional dance groups have appeared on NBC’s “America’s Got Talent”. Two years ago one troupe, “Unity In Motion”, was the only team from New Jersey to make the top 40 out of 75,000 acts. Another ensemble, “Shore Thing”, performed with the Paula Abdul show, “Live To Dance”. Professional students at Jersey Cape Dance & Gymnastics Academy have been backup dancers to some of the biggest names in the entertainment industry such as Justin Timberlake and Mariah Carey and have danced on Broadway in “Annie”, “A Chorus Line”, “Cats”, “Peter Pan”, “Grease”, “42nd Street”, “The Producers” and “Mamma Mia”. Yet, this is still a local school which opens its doors to anyone who wants to dance or practice gymnastics.
Multiple class tuition at the school is within most people’s affordability range and is considered the best price in South Jersey. Plus, military families receive a 10% discount. Once enrolled a youngster can pick and choose from any of the dancing arts; be it ballet and point, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, or hip hop. There is even an all boys hip hop class available. Additionally all varieties of gymnastics and contortion training are offered, with a power floor, trampolines, air track, balance beam and Gymboree Equipment at the disposal of every student. Each young gymnast’s advancements is carefully
monitored by a staff who have all been safety certified by the USGF.
Although many of the current and former talents at the school have gone on to become professionals in dance, education, community service and other fields, Jersey Cape Dance will all ways be another home for them. It’s this type of place. A place where a youngster learns the value of hard work and perseverance, disappointment and triumph, where friendships are made and memories cherished.
On the bulletin board at the school is a thank you note to Stina Smith from the mother of Megan Miller a former student who is now a Rockette. “Be proud of the Rockette you produced and the Rockette who looks up to you and loves you”. This simple note says it all about Jersey Cape Dance Academy. It aims to teach its students to be everything they can be in life by becoming confident through tough work and commitment to their own discipline, thereby educating them to extend grateful thanks and appreciation to the people who get them to be all they will become.
It’s not difficult to spot a graduate of Jersey Cape Dance & Gymnastic Academy.
By Jackie Atkins