By Terra Avilla
As I get older, I notice that people my age, really, truly have no idea what they are doing either. Unless you are Jessica Wade. If you are Jessica Wade, you most definitely know what you are doing and whether that is running your own business or being an awesome mother of three, that woman is straight up killing it.
Now, in true Susanville fashion, I knew of “Jessica” before I actually was lucky enough to meet her. I got to have an actual conversation with her when she was a volunteer dancer for Lassen Family Services’ Dancing for A brand New Me. She was partnered with an officer, and although he was the “star” she stole the show.
You guys probably know her as the owner and operator of J&J Dance. I can tell you this. In any community, dance and other art-based programs are crucial. Like molding youth, giving direction and purpose and discipline. Crucial.
When you speak about the dance culture in Susanville, J&J makes it impossible to ignore them. (Not that you would ever want to). They offer classes for mommies and their babies, daddies and their daughters as well as for every level of learner. They offer competition teams, scholarships and motivation for our youth to be a part of something that challenges them physically and mentally.
It’s not just a dance studio. It’s a place where young women and men can learn to be a part of something. And no one can bring that artistic side to life better than “Ms. Jessica”. Her new studio on Main Street but I used to love watching from the window when her studio was on N. Lassen St. Right before city counsel meetings, I would watch her teach and instruct. Dance, and laugh, and sharpen her dancers.
She is not just a dancer. She is not just a teacher. She is not just the owner or an entrepreneur who has managed to have success. She is just some magical being that puts magic into our county for over the past decade.
If you follow J&J’s Facebook page, you will see how she stays engaged with her dancers in a number of ways. You will also notice that if you watch how she watches her performers dance, she is wholeheartedly invested in them. She wants them to do well and has the unique ability to adapt to each of her student’s needs, to draw them out of their shells to become successful dancers.
I love watching her teach. Jessica is a presence for sure, and there is no forgetting her when she is in the room. Not in an obnoxious way, just in the way she carries herself. Like a truly well put together woman, who our teens and little kids could and should look up to.
When she isn’t running her studio, she is being a mom and a very supportive wife to her husband Ben Wade. To be honest, I have no idea how she juggles all of this, and still finds time to donate her time to a variety of events.
We are lucky to have as many art programs as we do in this county, but we are exceptionally lucky, that we have not just a dance studio- we have a Jessica. Pop in, take a class and say hello to one of the reasons, I love the place we live.
