A Letter from the Owners
We are so excited to be on the journey of Studio Ownership! This has been a dream in the making for many years! Together we have spent years formulating the space that we wanted to create for dancers of all ages to grow, learn and thrive. The most important thing to us was that every child who comes through our doors feels loved, supported, accepted and seen. Continuing on a 33 year legacy from Jillian’s mentor, Jenny, we are excited to share the next step in our journey with you and your families! Welcome to Studio J Dance Collective!
— Jillian & Regan
Jillian began dancing at age two with Jenny’s Studio of dance which she is incredibly honored to have purchased from her lifelong mentor, Jenny Renner. Studio J Dance Collective has been a lifelong dream and she is thrilled to have the chance to continue Jenny’s legacy!
Jillian has been an advocate of the arts and youth development through art for her entire life, As the Founder, Owner & Artistic Director of Studio J Dance Collective, she is excited to provide an inclusive, diverse, and family focused environment for children to learn the art of dance! Focused on technique and artistry, Jillian has won numerous awards for her choreography, costume & concepts. Trained in classical ballet, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, musical theater and (a little) tap, Jillian is excited to bring her training and excitement for the art form to her own studio! For 33 years, she has worked to perfect her art form, 17 of which she has been a teacher and instructor! She has appeared in numerous roles in classical ballets including; The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, and the Life and Times of Walt Disney!
Jillian is also the State Executive Director and Choreographer of the Miss Nevada & Miss Nevada’s Teen Scholarship Organization, the State Preliminary Competition to Miss America & Miss America’s Teen. She began with the Miss America Organization at age 18 and a Local Producer and Local Executive Director. Over her 17 years of involvement she has raised over $100,000 in scholarships.
Jillian is also the Board President for TheatreWorks of Northern Nevada, a local non-profit theater company in Reno, Nevada whose mission is to provide youth and the underserved in the community with quality performing arts opportunities and education. Through her leadership, TheatreWorks secured a permanent home in the heart of Downtown Reno in 2019. TheatreWorks specialized in children with neurodiversity including Autism, ADHD, ADD and ODD or who have been outcast from other arts programs due to behavioral issues. Jillian is proud to lead an organization that is inclusive of those within the LGBTQ community, most especially those who have been asked to leave their homes, or who may be in various stages of houselessness. Through TheatreWorks, Jillian has directed and choreographed numerous Broadway shows adapted for High School & Community Theater including; “Shrek the Musical”, “The Addams Family Musical”, “Aladdin the Musical”, “Little Mermaid the Musical”, “The Penny Dreadfuls” and “Elf the Musical”. She has also choreographed “Into the Woods”, “Oliver” and “Little Shop of Horrors”.
Jillian also plans and produces numerous non-profit and fundraising events throughout the year and serves as a member of Northern Nevada Pride as the Parade and Meet & Greet Chair. She is also the co-founder of “Drag Wars”, a family friendly Drag Competition which raises funds for the local LGBTQ Community Center in Reno, Our Center, which she is also a former Board Member of.
Jillian lives in Sparks with her partner of 13 years, Regan and their 2 little dogs, a chorkie named Penny & a toy poodle named Houston. Together the enjoy over the top Halloween decor, traveling, camping, Disneyland, attending events around Reno and more!
Owner & Artistic Director
Instructor
Jenny graduated from Dominican College in 1987 with a B.A. degree in Dance with an emphasis in ballet. While at Dominican, Jenny trained with the Marin Ballet Academy. During college, Jenny performed with the Dominican College Dance Troupe throughout the Bay area. After college, Jenny taught in the Los Angeles area before returning to her home in the Reno-Sparks area. She was a member of the Nevada Festival Ballet Company and performed in many ballets, including The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, La Sylphide, and Giselle. Jenny was Miss Sparks and Miss Reno and was first runner-up to Miss Nevada in 1989. Jenny opened her studio in 1992 and treasures having the chance to share her love of dance to her many students over the years. Jenny is the proud mother of two daughters and has been married to her husband since 1993.
