Life & Work with Jamie Barry

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jamie Barry.

Hi Jamie, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Dance has always been a part of my life since I was 12 years old. Locally, I learned and trained from some of the best instructors who helped to shape who I am today. I was blessed to be on the amazing Kansas State Classy Cats dance team, Chiefs Cheerleaders, and Kansas City Command Dancers. I choreographed for teams, coached a high school dance team for nine years, and judged competitions. Life as a studio owner, however, was not always a part of my plan. While dancing professionally, coaching, and teaching Elementary Education, my role in the dance world eventually changed dramatically to that of “Dance Mom.” At one point, my daughter found herself in need of a studio to train at, and as my family grew, I decided to step out of the classroom. It was then that it only made sense to take my love of dance and education and merge it into the creation of something that would not only bring me joy but would also help my daughter continue her training and love of dance.

We started small, with 12 dancers on our competition team and 18 dancers total at Premier, we rehearsed in a local gymnastics facility. We doubled in size in year two and moved to a one-room studio where we continued to focus on technique-based instruction in a positive and collaborative environment. It became apparent very quickly that we needed to make some changes because by the middle of year two, we had over 80 students taking classes, and our facility just wasn’t conducive to our needs any longer.

In a leap of faith, we purchased a 9,600 square foot facility in Olathe and built it out as a state-of-the art training facility where all levels and all ages of dancers can train at a high level of technique and learn from phenomenal instructors with years of experience, whose goal it is to help each dancer reach their personal best.

Going into year 4, we have almost doubled AGAIN, and we are excited to see what the future holds for Premier Dance!

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The road is never smooth, and we have experienced growing pains along the way, which is typical in this business. Most of all, the biggest challenge has been the global pandemic. I had friends who own studios around the nation that I watched shut their doors because they couldn’t make it work during such an uneasy time in our world. Refusing to fall victim to this as well, I worked hand-in-hand with my instructors to provide top-notch dance instruction from our living rooms and basements via Zoom. For months, we offered classes that were in complete alignment with our class schedule, modified it for the safety of our dancers considering their location, and boosted our presence on social media by honoring our dancer’s achievements and abilities. We took part in many virtual competitions and conventions and held online master classes from working choreographers from around the nation. Not only did we retain all our students, but we gained many more whose studios were not able to provide this.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
When I started Premier Dance, it was important to me that we were not a cookie-cutter studio. I don’t believe that there is a “one size fits all” way to teach dance and that training should be personal, individualized, communicative, and collaborative. Dancers come in all ways, and it’s important to train all ages and abilities to their personal best. I also do not believe in “minimums” in the dance world, with the hope that dancers should be able to pursue it without worrying that they cannot keep up with the major financial commitment that many studios require. If a dancer wants to take one class – they are always welcome. If a competition dancer can only participate in one piece, we can make that happen!

At Premier, we have ten levels of classes to best fit the needs of our dancers and keep class sizes smaller while offering classes that many studios do not provide. Our Competitive dancers have five programs to choose from as they are deciding what they would like their training and competitive path will be for the next season.

Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
Dance is ALWAYS evolving. While the trends come and go, a strong base in technique and a study of the greats never goes out of style. If studios can focus on that, build strong relationships with families and parents, continue to be transparent in their expectations and teaching methods, they will thrive. Social media will continue to be a huge presence, as well as the use of digital technology.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: www.premierdancekc.com
• Instagram: @premierdancekc
• Facebook: Premier Dance KC

Image Credits
Photos by Melissa McGee Photography