http://fhaloanmichigan.org/fha-loan-in-grosse-pointe-woods-mi/ Dear Joyful Families,

Santo André The 2025–2026 season is upon us, and my heart is so full of joy and hope for the future of our beloved Studio. After much prayer and deliberation, I have discerned that it is time for me to retire.

God led me to open Joyful Dance Studio in 2009 when my daughters were only two and four. The dance studio has been a ministry where children have come for years to find laughter, friendship, creativity, fun and learning. We truly do put our faith into action when we praise Him with the gifts He has given us and in our case, that’s dancing!

During the lockdown era, I watched as so many of my fellow studio owners close their doors for good and I thanked God every day for the ability to adapt and push forward and stay open so the kids could keep dancing. It was well worth it but if I’m honest, I know I paid a high price with my health and the stress of it all. Those health struggles have continued and although I realize I’m not in my 90’s, I’m also no spring chicken.

Your children deserve to have a wonderful, energetic, lively experience that this current body of mine can not give them. With that being said, I am very pleased to announce the future of Joyful Dance Studio!

As of July 11, 2025 the new owner of Joyful Dance Studio is Hadlee Willy. I couldn’t be more confident or more at peace with this decision. Hadlee has been my student since she was 2, she has been trained as a classroom assistant, a student co-teacher, and an independent student teacher. Her mom Amy has been my accounting assistant for many many years and she knows exactly how I do things and has made things a million times better just by being her and doing what she does. Ms. Brandi, will also stay in place just as she has been, teaching Littles and running the front office in her fabulous way.

Brandi and Amy (and Hadlee) have already been helping me run the studio these last couple of years so that I could step back to focus on my health so the only change is that my name will not be on the paperwork, the mail will now go to Hadlee’s address.

Next week, the whole team including me and Ms. Toni are going to Las Vegas to a dance teacher convention! Personally, I am so excited to see Hadlee step into this new chapter and see what God has planned for her to do with the studio! I will always be available to her and the team forevermore to assist with the transition or answer questions down the road.

Thank you to every single family that has walked through the doors, every child that has stepped foot on the floor, every little adorable face to kiss themselves in the mirror, every little foot I helped slip on a shoe. Thank you to every parent who helped behind the scenes, all the women who stepped up to teach when it was out of your comfort zone, all the dance dads and prop dads through the years, my former office helpers were the best and so sweet. So many people have helped make our studio what it is today.

Thank you to my sweet mom for being my number one fan for 31 years of dancing. But mostly, thank you to my husband for being by my side through thick and thin, for cooking dinner all those nights I was in class, for working all day and then holding down the fort without complaint, I love you and I tell our girls all the time, “find someone who will love you like your dad loves me”. I know you will always be for me no matter what God has me up to next.

No matter what I will always be JOYFUL that this dance studio will forever be a part of me and I’ll never stop praising His name with dancing!

Joyfully,

Shana Hartley

Before jumping into a dance class and working on turns, leaps, splits, and more, being fully stretched is so important. Cold muscles can lead to injury and damage to your body. This is why we take a few minutes during the beginning of all of our classes to make sure our dancers are properly stretched and warm.

Why do we stretch during class?

-To Improve Your Class and Performance Experience – Stretching enables you to loosen your muscles and gets your whole body prepared for dance class and performances. 

-To Increase Muscle Length and Flexibility – Stretching often will allow you to create length so you can do things like kicking your leg higher or have more extension in your leaps.

-Decreases and Manages Stress – Stress can have a ripple effect on your muscles and build up unwelcome tension. Taking the time to stretch properly allows your body to relax and ease tension.

-Promotes Blood Circulation and Relieves Pain – Stretching increases blood flow to your muscles which in turn helps improve your circulation and reduces pain.

-Improves Posture – No one wants to be a slouchy dancer, proper stretching helps relieve tight muscles and joints which leads to better posture and body alignment.

Join us at the studio July 24th-27th from 6:00-8:00pm for Open House! Enroll your dancer, check out the studio, purchase all your dance needs! We can’t wait to welcome you, or welcome you back!

Do you have a dancer between the ages of 2-5?

Research shows that movement is the KEY to a child’s development. Did you know that a child’s brain develops the most between birth and the age of 5? At JDS we take a brain-based approach and consider the developing brain in our dance education and curriculum. Children this age learn best through play! “Play” in dance class is exploring all the amazing ways our bodies can move, developing movement skills, and expressing our individual creativity.

Mrs. Shana has a GREAT Preschool Dance resource if you would like to read more. Just follow this link to see her post and find the file on BAND. As always, if you ever have a concern or question, do not hesitate to reach out to us! You can email the studio at JoyfulDanceStudio@gmail.com or text/call us at 918-944-6257, or message us here through BAND.

Enroll in our Summer Dance Adventure today and watch your dancer grow!

Join Mrs. Brandi as we travel around the world discovering new countries and cultures through dance! Classes will be on Tuesday evenings from 5:00-6:00pm starting May 9th. This class is for ages 4-8, please wear clothes that are easy to move freely in or dance attire, shoes are not needed for this class. Enroll TODAY spots are limited!

We are SO EXCITED to bring back Dancer Dedications in our Recital Program this year! We offer three sizes for the dedications, which are all in color. The pricing is as follows:

1/4 page $15 (one photo with limited wording)

1/2 page $25 (1-3 photos with limited wording)

Full page $50 (can have multiple pictures and as much wording as we can fit)

Wording can be something like “Dancer Name, we are so proud of you! You are a star!” or a Bible verse, favorite quote, etc.

Dedications will be billed to your JDS account and charged at time of purchase. If other arrangements need to be made, please let us know.

Feel free to share the form link with your family, or anyone you think would like to make a dedication to your dancer (grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc.)

All Dedications are due by March 14th. We are under a strict deadline and will not be able to accept any dedications after this date.

If you have ANY questions, please let us know!

Please fill out this form to enter your Dancer Dedication.

If your business would like to place an ad or sponsor a dedication in the program, please email Brandi at joyfuldancestudio@gmail.com.

Miss Hadlee will be teaching a Gymnastics Technique class on Wednesday nights perfect for those on the competition team (or looking to tryout) at Gym Dandies.

This class will help improve your core, strength, and flexibility! We will work on hurdles, leaps, jumps, turns, chasse, passé, coupe, and more!

Spots are limited! Sign up TODAY! This class will be on Wednesday evenings January 18th-February 22nd from 5:00-6:00pm at the studio.

Help your gymnast shine even brighter at their competitions this season!

Enroll today through our parent portal, send us a message on Facebook or call/text Amy or Brandi for more information.

Our Praise Dance class is now enrolling! Praise Dance is on Wednesdays from 5:00-6:00pm with Ms. Shana for ages 10 and up. Please head to our Welcome page to enroll today or view our Class Description page for more information.

Join us for an exciting week at our Encampo DANCECamp July 11th-14th! We are offering two camp times based on your dancers age. Your dancer will enjoy Encampo crafts, games, and also learn fun dances! Enroll today, spots are limited!

Next week, December 7th-9th, Dancers in our Baby Ballet, Princess Ballet, and Kinder Ballet/Tap are invited to Bring a Buddy to Dance! You MUST sign up by signing up through the Parent Portal, or by emailing Brandi at JDSBrandi@gmail.com.

Spots are limited so sign up TODAY!