Foundations of Mindfulness: 4-week meditation series | Saturdays 12pm - 1:15pm | March 14th - April 4th | Reserve your spot

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Meet Jenna

Jenna’s passion for the arts is one of the main driving forces in her everyday life. She has trained in a wide range of dance forms including ballet, modern, jazz, hip hop, and tap, and has taught and performed throughout Western Massachusetts, New York City, and Vermont.

For the past ten years, Jenna has served as the dance coach for the Champlain College Dance Team and is the co-founder of Merde! Dance Co. in Burlington, VT. Through both performance and education, she is deeply committed to building spaces where movement is expressive, empowering, and accessible.

Jenna believes dance is one of the most primal relationships we have to the universe, and that movement is a powerful tool for connection, healing, and self-discovery. Having recently returned to the Berkshires, she now teaches yoga and is focusing on the development of movement rituals and offerings that invite people to slow down, reconnect to their bodies, and cultivate presence through intentional movement.

How did you discover your passion for movement?

Movement has always been a constant in my life! My parents put me in dance classes when I was 3 and it quickly became an outlet for me growing up. Over time, it became less about performance and more about connection- to music, to my body, and to something deeper within me. It also became about release, almost as a sort of therapy! That evolution is really what brought me to yoga and teaching dance all these years.

How has your personal practice supported your self-discovery and healing?

My movement practice increase my awareness and opened the door to meditation. These practice have helped me build a greater capacity to be with difficult thoughts/feelings/sensations as well as the awareness that we are bigger than our thoughts/feelings/sensations.

What can people expect from your teaching style and classes at BYDF?

My ballet foundations classes are welcoming, supportive, and rooted in building a strong foundation and having fun. I focus on breaking things down in a way that feels approachable, while still honoring the structure and beauty of ballet. You can expect a mix of technique, musicality, and encouragement with space to learn, make mistakes, and enjoy the process. Whether it’s your first class or you’re returning after time away, my goal is for you to feel more confident, connected, and inspired to keep moving.

What is the most inspiring thing about teaching students at BYDF?

Getting to witness people come home to themselves. Whether it’s a small shift or a big breakthrough, there’s something really special about holding space for that kind of transformation. It’s a reminder that we all already have what we need within us.

What do you enjoy outside of the Studio?

I love being outside- walking my dog, traveling, or just sitting in the sun. Music is a huge part of my life, and I’m always building playlists. I also really value slow, simple moments with people I love like good food, good conversation, and a little bit of laughter!

Flashback to your childhood. What do you want to be when you grow up?

Honestly, probably exactly this! I always knew I wanted to move, create, and connect with people. It’s really special to look back and realize I’ve found a way to do all of that in my own way.