Studio 210 JXN

Open House Week starts tomorrow at 4:30!! Come join us for some free classes, goodie bags, and a special surprise👀

The final staff intro is our Founder & Artistic Director, Ms. Taijah! Taijah is the founder of Studio 210 and serves as our Technique Instructor and Competition Team Choreographer. Her love for dance began as a praise dancer in church, and she started her formal dance training at the age of 10. She competed throughout her youth and is trained in ballet, modern, jazz, tap, hip hop, contemporary, lyrical, and acrobatics. A graduate of Belhaven University with a Bachelor of Arts in Dance and a minor in Global Studies, Taijah is also the Director of CityDance, the dance education program of the International Ballet Competition. Her award-winning choreography and passion for teaching inspire dancers to grow not only in technique, but also in confidence, discipline, and artistry. Taijah's mission is to create a positive, encouraging environment where every dancer feels challenged, supported, and inspired to reach their full potential. We’re excited for another incredible season under her leadership!

It’s Adult Friday! Let’s introduce you to some of our adult instructors!

Shawntel McQuarter teaches Salsa, Bachata, and Meringue. She managed Salsa Mississippi as their lead teacher from 2012-2020 . She is also a freelance line dance and Latin dance teacher in the Jackson metro area.

Arianna DiGiovanni is an artist and educator who values community engagement, collaborative exploration, and individual empowerment. DiGiovanni is currently a Specialty Instructor of Dance at Belhaven University. She and her husband live in Jackson, Mississippi.

Next on the list is Ms. Alicia! Alicia Bell is a South African-born vocalist, educator, and arts administrator dedicated to using music to foster connection, cultural understanding, and artistic excellence. A native of Cape Town, she brings a global perspective to her work as a performer, teaching artist, and creative leader.
An award-winning soprano, Alicia has performed with Opera Mississippi, FestivalSouth, Jackson State University, and regional musical theatre companies. Her performance credits include The Music Man, West Side Story, Die Fledermaus, Tosca, Mozart's Requiem, and Vivaldi's Gloria. She earned first-place honors in both the Classical and Musical Theatre divisions of the 2024 NATS Southern Region Auditions.

With more than a decade of experience in music education, artist development, and arts administration, Alicia is passionate about mentoring emerging performers and creating meaningful arts experiences. Her impact as an educator was recognized in 2020 when she was named the Mississippi Music Educators Association Young Music Educator of the Year. She is the founder of Talent Tree Studios, where she provides private instruction, artist development, and arts administration services. She also serves as Artist Development Coach & Administrative Assistant at Studio 210, supporting artists through mentorship, program coordination, and organizational leadership.

Alicia holds bachelor's and master's degrees in Music Education from The University of Southern Mississippi and remains committed to expanding access to the arts through education, performance, and community collaboration.

Staff Introduction Alert! Next is our Tumble/Acro instructor Ms. Cat! Catherine Taylor is a tumbling instructor and certified athletic trainer with over 15 years of experience in cheerleading, tumbling, and athletics. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training from The University of Southern Mississippi, where she cheered for three years, helping her team earn a 4th-place finish at the NCA College National Championship in Daytona Beach, Florida. She was also honored with the All-Girl Leadership Award in 2016. While attending Southern Miss, she worked as a tumbling instructor for Ace Cheer Company of Hattiesburg. In 2022, she returned to her alma mater as a volunteer cheer coach while also working for the DuBard School for Language Disorders.

Prior to Southern Miss, Catherine cheered at Northwest Mississippi Community College, where she served as team captain and was nominated for Homecoming Queen in 2012. She also competed with DeSoto Starz All-Stars from 2008 to 2012, earning two UCA International All-Star National Championships and two CheerSport National Championships.

Catherine is passionate about helping athletes build confidence, develop strong fundamentals, and reach their full potential in a positive and encouraging environment. She is grateful to God for every opportunity He has provided and looks forward to sharing her passion for tumbling with the next generation of athletes!

Time for another Staff Introduction! Meet one Pilates and Technique instructor Ms. Aubrei! Aubrei Whitney is a movement professional from Moss Point, Mississippi, with a background in dance and Pilates. Her passion for movement began at an early age through praise dance and expanded into ballet, jazz, gymnastics, and lyrical dance. She attended The Mississippi School of the Arts and later studied dance at The University of Southern Mississippi, earning a bachelor’s degree in Liberal Studies with a minor in Dance. Aubrei is a former member of Kinetic Etchings Dance Company and currently serves as the Lead Pilates Instructor at Club Pilates Renaissance. She is also the founder and owner of Reflectiv, where she provides intentional Pilates instruction rooted in movement, faith, and awareness, helping clients build strength, confidence, and longevity through mindful movement. Ms. Aubrei is looking forward to watching her students grow in the studio and on the Pilates mats this season!

In honor of our fall semester beginning next week, we thought we’d give you all some LONG overdue staff introductions!

Kicking off Day One is our Baby Bop instructor, Ms. Olivia! Olivia Bonds is a 25 year old Jackson, MS native. She is currently a Kindergarten Instructional Assistant at North Jackson Elementary School while actively working towards becoming a full time educator. Olivia formally held the titles of Miss Sweetheart World 2024, Miss Sweetheart America 2022, and Miss Mississippi Sweetheart 2022. She has been involved in Performing Arts for 20+ years and began demonstrating musical virtuosity at an early age and classical dance training at age 7 under the IBC City Dance Program. An alumni of Murrah High School and Wells APAC, she received additional training in Dance, Theatre Arts, and Vocal Performance, acquiring various awards for her performances. She is eager to begin another semester with our little dancers and looks forward to continuing her journey as she follows God and opens her heart.

You know what today is!! It’s Friday!! Which means adult classes are in full swing. We have salsa, we have tumble…..the only thing missing is YOU! Come join us tonight for tumble at 6 PM and salsa at 7 PM! See you soon🤍

Have you been thinking about joining our dance family? There’s never been a better time!

Join us for:
- FREE trial classes
- FREE dancewear fittings
- Goodie bags for every visitor
- Register on-site during Open House and receive 50% OFF your first month of tuition!

Planning to attend? Register for Open House ahead of time on our website at www.studio210jxn.com!

Whether your child is dancing for the first time or looking to grow their skills, we’d love to welcome you to the Studio 210 family.

August 10–15
Register for Open House: www.studio210jxn.com

Tag a friend who’s looking for a dance home. We can’t wait to meet you! 💙

Fridays are for Adults!! Come join us tonight for adult tumble and/or adult salsa!!