...to my sister Onila. When I was about eight years old, like every little girl, I wanted to be a ballerina. My sister must have seen something in me because for my birthday she gave me ballet lessons. I know that the lessons were very costly for her, but she made sure that I was at that studio every Saturday morning. When the series of lessons were over, the director of the school asked my sister and I to his office. He asked me to do a few steps and then lifted me up into the air like a prima ballerina. The director said I had talent. My sister sensed he was correct because at the rehearsal for our school recital, my instructor pulled me out of line and had me dance in front of the whole beginners' class which consisted of at least 80 students from age six to eighteen. I could see how proud my sister was sitting in the front row watching the rehearsal. I also remember how upset my sister was because she could not afford to continue the lessons for me - she has never gotten over it. I have tried to tell her that as much as I love to dance, a ballerina I would never be. The fact that the director wanted me to lose weight should have given her a hint. I can never thank my sister enough for those lessons. They taught me discipline, posture, gracefulness and most of all a love for dance that I have always carried with me.

For more information about GOTTA DANCE, visit www.gottadancethemovie.com, or www.gottadancewithus.com

As every NETSational Senior knows, the ball is definitely in your court! Don't think too long -- you're never too old to learn to dance ..... just do it! Time to get down & boogie or is it step up to the challenge??? Whatever dance makes you smile the most, that's the one to start with! Who says you can't try them all -- from hip hop to salsa or quickstep to tango, each dance offers a chance for self-expression and personal fulfillment. And while you're smiling, friend, you are doing good things for your mind and body! Personally, I think this is what Ponce de Leon had in mind when he told us about the Fountain of Youth! Think no more ... the time is NOW! Go for it!

For more information about GOTTA DANCE, visit www.gottadancethemovie.com, or www.gottadancewithus.com

Being a NETSational Senior feels a lot like winning the lottery. I imagine that to be the case, because I've never actually won a lottery. Like most people, I fantasize about what such moments would be like, but who ever really expects to win the jackpot? Well ... here's my story....

As a child, I dreamed of dancing on a stage to the the thunderous applause of a large and adoring audience -- why not dream big? .... Even though I was only a child, I knew in my heart that such imaginings were nothing short of sheer fantasy! Never, never in my wildest dreams did I ever expect it to come true.

But at age 60, I was invited to join the new NJ Nets Senior Dance Team. And that was the day I won the lottery! Since then, three basketball seasons have come and gone -- and I'm still dancing -- in a huge arena before thousands of cheering fans -- and still in a state of total disbelief!

Thanks to destiny's merry pranks, my childhood dream has come true! And I am determined to live out my dream, no matter where it may take me!

For more information about GOTTA DANCE, visit www.gottadancethemovie.com, or www.gottadancewithus.com

"There are short-cuts to happiness, and dancing is one of them" â€" Vicki Baum

Have you ever seen a toddler move, rock or shake whenever he hears music?
This is where it begins, the love of dance. As young children we love to move and jump around, we think we are dancing. As we get older, we realize that we can actually dance to music, whether it be rock, pop, hip-hop, latin, etc. Some of us take dance classes at local studios, tap, ballet and jazz. Some of us take ballroom classes. Some just prefer social dancing at clubs or weddings, etc. No matter what kind of dancing we enjoy, we all have one thing in common, the love of dance. You do not have to be a professional dancer to feel the freedom and joy you get on the stage or dance floor. You can dance alone, with a partner or group, and the feeling in the same. There is a great song from an old Broadway show, Mack and Mabel and, although it refers to tap dancing it really says it all, "Tap Your Troubles Away". It could be re-written as "Dance Your Troubles Away".

For more information about GOTTA DANCE, visit www.gottadancethemovie.com, or www.gottadancewithus.com

When I took my first tap class at age 6, never in a million years did I imagine I would still be dancing at age 66. From that first class I loved to dance. As I became a teenager, my dream, of course, was to dance on Broadway. I was fortunate enough to do some professional dancing but never did make it to Broadway. I started teaching dance when I was about 16, to some local children and for my teacher in New York City. I got married, had a daughter and dance got put on the back burner for a few years. In 1973 I began teaching again. That was it, I was hooked. I am now celebrating my 35th Anniversary Recital this weekend, June 27, 2009. It has been a wonderful, satisfying journey. I started my studio with 11 students the first year and now have 2 studios and 140 students. There is nothing more satisfying than watching a child the first few classes in September, and then seeing the culmination of all their hard work in the show in June. We are now teaching children of my former students. When my parents sent me to dancing school about 60 years ago, neither they, nor I, had any idea that it would become such a huge part of my life.

For more information about GOTTA DANCE, visit www.gottadancethemovie.com, or www.gottadancewithus.com

I leave for Shanghai tomorow morning. The funny part is that Im exhausted from this past week and I'm not even in China yet! Today I packed - too much. The tough part about TV and dance is that its better to be over prepared than under prepared, so I have just about every Nets costume with me. My nets stuff has its own suitcase! I have about 8 CD's of music and I'm ready to teach. I also have my solo prepared (which will be performed on national Chinese tv station CCTV....only slightly nerve racking...ha!) I'll have my laptop with me so I'll be able to continue to blog from the other side of the world :-) Can't wait to meet all the dancers! I don't speak Mandarin, and they don't speak English, but we do all speak the language of dance - and that's all we need.

Stay tuned!

For more information about GOTTA DANCE, visit www.gottadancethemovie.com, or www.gottadancewithus.com

Big hello to all my fellow "Gotta Dance"rs :-)
This has been a crazy week! I found out that I will be flying to Shanghai in 9 days to teach, choreograph, and judge for a reality show - they are looking to put together the first ever NBA dance team in China! So far I have ZERO info. I dont know what type of dance I need to teach, or what music they want me to choreograph to. I also don't know the level of the dancers, so I have to be prepared for anything! Good thing being a Netsational coach has taught me lots and lots of patience.....ha!

While I'm trying to prepare for my international adventure, I'm also working on some choreography for the Nets adult dance clinic that I'll be teaching tomorrow afternoon. We've decided on the song "I know you want me" by Pitbull and I'm trying to come up with some new moves - I always like to challenge the Netsationals, but also keep the difficulty in check for the new dancers who are joining us for the first time (including those who have never done hip hop before). If you've never participated in a Nets dance clinic, you should definitely try it! We always have lots of fun....just ask the Netsationals. We also have clinics for kids, and dancers who are interested in eventually auditioning for the Nets Dancers.

For those of you who are familiar with the Nets website, http://www.njnets.com , you may also be aware that I have my own webshow called 'Jac of all Nets', and tomorrow I'll be filming an episode at Dunkin Donuts in East Rutherford, NJ with Devis Harris. I'll have about 45 minutes in between filming and teaching....ahhh the life of a dancer! Stay tuned for updates on the clinic and also on Shanghai - never a dull moment!

For more information about GOTTA DANCE, visit www.gottadancethemovie.com, or www.gottadancewithus.com