Classical ballet, modern, tap, tumbling and jazz dance . . . Most young people know a little about these and other styles of dance. Thousands of youngsters dance as a recreational activity and of these, many develop a passion for this art form and dream of having some kind of career in dance.

Jeanne Wright loved dancing as a child, so it was probably fate that, during the depression, teachers were sent to the schools to teach classes for such things as guitar and dance. She took dance classes and loved them. In High School, Jeanne took every dance class offered and many in college also. After college, Jeanne attended every convention that she could find that had to do with dance.

In 1958, Jeanne's five-year-old daughter, Joy, was taking dance classes and enjoying them, when she got the news that the classes were being cancelled due to low enrollment. There were no other studios in Mesa, so Jeanne started teaching her daughter and two friends to dance at her house. She started this in February. By May, there were 35 kids attending classes. By the end of the first year there were over a hundred and by the second year, over two hundred.

Before Jeanne knew it, there were five to six hundred kids taking dance class - many of whom were from Chandler. So Jeanne opened up a Chandler studio. After that, Jeanne's classes grew so large in Mesa that a second studio was necessary. In 2005, because of growth again, a Queen Creek studio was added.

Jeanne's School of Dance is successful because of the teachers at the schools. Jeanne hires only the very best and her philosophy is that every child must feel successful. Jeanne has had many students become professional dancers. Her dancers have also traveled and danced at Disneyland, in Europe, New York and other places.

The performance companies at Jeanne's are Ballet Etudes, which began in 1986 and is recognized at the premier youth ballet company in the southwest, and the Power Force Dance Company tap and jazz performing companies who have competed and received much recognition.

Come by and see how great Jeanne's School of Dance is for yourself!