We recently connected with Janell Burgess and have shared our conversation below.
Janell , we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
I remember vividly, it was around age twelve, when I decided, all I wanted to do was dance. The dance teachers of my youth had taken me to watch a performance at the Robert B. Moore Theater in Costa Mesa, CA and it was there I saw a piece of choreography by my soon-to-be mentor, Christine Baltes, that ignited my passion for dance. After that night, I refused to participate in other non-art-based activities. I recall asking my mom if I could be homeschooled as I felt intensely frustrated when other students my age were less focused and seemingly less driven. Dance artistry was a profound calling, something I could feel deeply inside my soul.
The following 25 years of my life were spent under the tutelage and mentorship of jazz dance luminary, Christine Baltes. Although I was the heir to her legacy, in 2018 I was wrought with devastation upon her passing.
Dedicated to the art and preservation of classical jazz dance, Christine Baltes founded Jazz Spectrum Dance Company in 1982 which housed her unique teachings & choreographic masterpieces. Many artmakers die with their craft, never fully realized to the world. One of the greats of her time, Christine Baltes dutifully handed down her craft, and I am beyond proud to stand upon the shoulders of her creations and purposefully carry on the work she once began.
Jazz Spectrum Dance Company 501(c)3 was re-ignited in 2019 under my Artistic Direction, has toured multiple cities, dance festivals across the United States, and winning choreographic awards. JSDC founded Spectrum Dance Center in 2022, dedicated to Christine Baltes, diversity, and equity in dance. How did I find my purpose? Fierce loyalty and conscious movement in gratitude to God and those He places on my artistic path.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
Janell Burgess is a mid-career professional dancer, choreographer, producer, educator, and artistic director in southern California. In 2018, her mentor, Christine Baltes passed away, leaving Ms. Burgess her choreographic & educational body of work. Since then, Janell re-founded Jazz Spectrum Dance Company, 501c3, an 8-member dance troupe dedicated to preserving jazz dance, produced multiple full-length concert productions and a short film winning numerous awards, founded a dance facility, Spectrum Dance Center dedicated to diversity, equity, & inclusivity, and continues to teach, attend festivals, participate in community outreach, and tour professionally as a dancer.
As we approach the end of 2023, Ms. Burgess looks forward to fundraising for JSDC’s next short film project set to the music of Carlos Santana and dedicated to the memory of Christine Baltes.
Spectrum Dance Center will have its annual bi-annual showcase produced by Ms. Burgess, Dec 16th & 17th, 2023 in the Spectrum Theatre. Tickets are on sale now at https://www.spectrumdancecenter.com/showcase/p/winter-studio-hour-showcase This choreographic cornucopia of dance will leave audiences feeling inspired and wanting to dance!
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
-Have a small circle of advisors you trust implicitly (and don’t take to heart what anyone else says) Keep your thoughts to yourself and or these few people until your creations are fully realized
No one else’s opinion matters unless you allow it
-Life is YOU pushed out
Don’t allow negativity to seep into your thought process
You are what you think about as much as you are what you eat!
-Discipline, Determination, Dedication
Make your bed and meditate every day, exhaust all options before giving up, and stay the course (you will eventually cross the finish line)
Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?
Being born 19 years after my siblings, I felt like I had two sets of parents growing up. With a brother and sister who were both in their twenties and a much older extended family, unintentional maturity was automatically built into my upbringing. Surrounded by a family of adults, personal space and autonomy came naturally to me, yet this didn’t seem to bode with my lackluster attempts at sharing with other kids my age!
Playing well with others wasn’t instinctually a part of my learned core values. However, as a business owner, artistic director, and leader, I am deeply grateful for the cards that have seemingly fallen in my favor! My parents had given me a life where independence and solo creativity were essential. This self-governing style of childhood gave me a great sense of responsibility and esteem for my life. Forming a deep bond with my parents, I developed a profound duty to care for their well-being and our household. My protective nature over them was fierce and today, extends into all aspects of my life. Cultivating qualities of trustworthiness, forthrightness, and strength, the childhood my parents gifted me has shaped me into the well-built, individualist artist & business owner that I am today. For that, I am eternally grateful.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.spectrumdancecenter.com
- Instagram: @thedancertplay @jazzspectrumdancecompany @spectrumdancecenteroc
- Facebook: facebook.com/thedanceratplay
facebook.com/jazzspectrumdancecompany
facebook.com/spectrumdancecenteroc - Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@JanellBurgess
Image Credits
Design Work: Brian Vermeire
