​Born To Dance Workshop 2018 is THE summer program for your daughter! Presented and instructed by ConfiDANCE co-founders Jessica Bell Blackshear and Melaneice Gibbs, Born to Dance focuses on strengthening the mental and physical well-being of young women by teaching them ways to improve and maintain their confidence. Additionally, they will also learn a combination of skills and routines from various dance genres such as jazz, hip hop, and majorette dance. Participants will rotate into their age appropriate breakout sessions led by ConfiDANCE leaders.

*Participants are encouraged to wear comfortable clothing such as leggings or workout clothes, and comfortable tennis shoes (jazz shoes are not required, but can be worn if your daughter has jazz shoes already).

​We invite family and friends of participants to join us at 1:30pm for a demonstration of what was learned in the “Born To Dance” workshop. This part of the workshop is open to the community. We cannot wait to meet your daughter!

​Jessica loves to teach confidence and empowerment classes to young women.  ​At a young age, her mother entered her in beauty and scholarship pageants where she learned about inner and outer beauty. ​Participation in pageants and athletic experiences with cheer, dance, and gymnastics, helped her overcome shyness. She danced for Karen's School of Dance, a gymnast with the Tumble Cats, and cheered for little league,  middle school, as well as the Varsity Cheerleading Team all years in high school.

​She graduated from Tennessee State University where she earned a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Psychology, ​and later received an Esthetics license from the Hair Design School in Elizabethtown, KY. She served as the Youth Services Center (YSC) Coordinator at Franklin-Simpson Middle school for seven years, and had the opportunity to facilitate and create various youth programs. Her experiences as the YSC Coordinator inspired her to obtain a Master's of Social Work degree from Western Kentucky University. She is currently a Certified School Social Worker for Metro Nashville Public Schools.

Jessica is also the owner of Jess Chimere, that promotes self-care, star power, and success for young women. One of the programs under the Jess Chimere brand is bellesbeautybrains (BBB). BBB offers individual and group coaching for middle school and high school young women, in particularly high achievers and athletes. She is the former Education Editor for the Model Mom Magazine, a virtual online magazine for women and mothers. ​ Finally, she is a proud and involved dance mom. 

​Melaneice is an avid dancer and baton twirler since the age of seven. She has received technical training in Ballet, Jazz, African, Contemporary, and Lyrical dance, as well as in baton and fire baton skills and techniques. Melaneice has competed in numerous state, regional and national competitions, and her awards are many, including:

2000 Grand Champion of Three Baton

2001 Grand Champion of Twirl

2005 National American Miss Tennessee Teen Spokesmodel

​Melaneice is a graduate of Nashville School of the Arts (2007), and former majorette & feature baton twirler for Pearl-Cohn High School marching band (2004-2007). Upon graduating, she received a band scholarship to attend Jackson State University where she was a Feature Baton Twirler for Jackson State University’s Sonic Boom of the South Marching Band (2007-2009).

Melaneice is a well sought after dance instructor in the Metro Nashville Public School system. She has coached the Maplewood High School Pantherettes (2014-2016), and has spent the last three years teaching dance to children in after school programs at John Early Middle School. Melaneice’s talents have awarded her many opportunities to partner & work with many companies and organizations, including:

Wallace Media Group

State Farm Insurance

Mel J’s Kid Fit Kamp, planning committee

Memphis Grizzlies “Get It On the Floor” Majorette Battle, event coordinator

Middle Tennessee State University Blue Essence Majorette Dance Team, Coach

Striving to create a dynasty of elite women through dance, Melaneice is the owner of Dynasty Dance Elite where she teaches classical dance techniques & majorette dance to children ages 3-17. Through her dance company, Melaneice volunteers with her students at local shelters feeding the homeless, and creating care packages for children at local children’s hospitals. Her love for giving back to the community is what led her to create “Dance the Halls” Annual Christmas Benefit Showcase, benefitting families for the holidays. Melaneice is also the choreographer and staging director for the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Miss Black & Gold Midwest Regional Pageant. Melaneice’s passion for dance & youth is what pushes her to continue to create events and opportunities for children to express themselves. She believes that with patience, attention and understanding her students will learn how to love, respect and believe in themselves and others through the art of dance.

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