MISS KELLY - OWNER / DIRECTOR
For those of you that are new and may not know me, my name is Kelly Hodge, and I am the Owner/Director of Ballare Dance Centre. Dance has been a passion and a part of my life since I was 4 years old. Growing up I studied many forms of dance such as tap, ballet, jazz, and lyrical. I was 16 years old when I began teaching tap classes and have been teaching dance for the past 20+ years. Throughout middle school and high school, I was a member of a large competition team that was not only ranked as one of the best teams in California but also in the Nation. I also competed with my own choreographed solos. After high school I went to San Francisco State University to further my dancing career, before graduating from San Jose State University with a degree in Business Management. I learned very early that my calling as a dancer was to share my love and passion for dance with others through teaching and so in 2007, I opened Ballare Dance Centre. I want to make dancing fun for your dancer, as well as give them an outlet to express themselves through movement. In February 2013 my husband Tim and I welcomed our son Joey to our family. Then in February 2018 we welcomed our twin girls, Grace and Addison. They all enjoy visiting the studio and love all the attention they get from our dancers and their families. As we start the 2020 -2021 dance year, I look forward to seeing returning dancers as well as welcoming new dancers into our dance studio/family. I want to personally thank you for coming to Ballare Dance Centre and making it your home!
Miss Jenn - INSTRUCTOR / COMPETITION TEAM CO- DIRECTOR
In 2009 Ballare Dance Centre welcomed Miss Jennifer Palmer to our staff and are very happy to have her as a part of our Ballare family. Miss Jenn has been a friend of mine for many years and comes from a very large dance background. She also has a 10 year old boy, Mark, who makes frequent visits to the studio. She has studied jazz, tap, ballet, hip hop and lyrical. She danced competitively and received top honors for her group and solo work. After graduating from high school, Miss Jenn studied choreography at De Anza College and became a “De Anza Dancer.” It was shortly after leaving De Anza that she dove headfirst into teaching and performing. She has taught at various dance studios throughout the Bay Area, instructing dancers of all ages. She has also had the opportunity to perform at very exciting events such as the 2005 Emerald Bowl in San Francisco, the 2005 Miss Fitness America pageant in Hollywood, as well as many community events and concerts throughout the U.S. Miss Jenn has been a member of 2 professional dance companies, one being the Fashionate Rhythm Dance Company. She has also had the privilege to cheer and dance professionally for the San Jose Sabercats Arena Football team, the Golden State Warriors Basketball Team, and as an Inferno Dancer for the San Francisco Dragons Major League Lacrosse Team. This year Miss Jenn will be teaching hip hop, lyrical, tap and jazz as well as Co-Competition Team Director in our 2020 - 2021 dance year. We want to congratulate Miss Jenn and her soon to be husband James on their recent summer engagement, we wish them all the best.
I am excited to welcome back to Ballare Dance Centre, Miss Jasmine. Miss Jasmine recently graduated from San Jose State University where she studied cinematography. She grew up dancing at a studio in her hometown of Hayward. Upon her arrival to SJSU she joined the SJSU dance team. She recently completed her final year as a Spartan Dance Team member. Miss Jasmin will teach a variety of classes at Ballare this fall. I hope everyone gives her a very warm welcome.