About Me
My name is Nessa Whittington, I grew up dancing in Jacksonville Beach Florida. I have been dancing since I could walk and after assisting my teachers at my first studio, Polly B Dance Academy, I quickly realized my love for teaching and choreographing. I have been teaching since I was 14 and have loved having the opportunity to share my passion at many studios throughout the years. I spent my youth performing and competing from the ages 9 to 18. In high school, I started teaching a few classes at my studio and I choreographed routines for dance team, pep rallies, dance concerts, pageants, and even a few UDA solo’s. I then went on to get a BFA in dance and a minor in business at Jacksonville University where I graduated magna cum laude. In 2022, I received an Excellence in Dance Choreography, from the Linda Berry College of Fine Arts. More recently, I spent a year postgrad in Atlanta where I worked closely with Roswell Dance Starz setting over 20 pieces for recital and competitions. In 2024, I received an Excellence in Choreography and an Artistic Excellence award from Nexstar Talent Competition. I am currently the Fletcher High School dance team coach, a teacher at Village Dance Center in Jacksonville, FL and teaching adult dance classes at First Coast Center for the Arts and NOVA Dance & Wellness Academy. After teaching at dance studios for the past decade, my goals with who I can teach and how I want to teach grow bigger every day.
My Purpose and Goals:
My goal in anything I do is to bring the enjoyment and passion back into dancing, I feel as the competition dance world grows, we are losing what dance is -- which is art. I went through a lot of hard times in my youth, and I truly know if it wasn’t for dance I wouldn’t be the person I am today. I believe that dance can save the soul and heal wounds we don’t always want to talk about. I like to create an open environment when I teach, where everyone feels comfortable being themselves and telling their stories through their dancing. Although technique and training are equally as important, I think teachers must evenly teach the importance of expression and performance quality in dance. I aim to teach anyone in dance that there is no end to what makes someone a “good dancer.” In dance, it is easy to feel like you are competing with everyone around you no matter how old you get. But dance is just like a painting -- some may love it, some may be confused by it and some people may even hate it, but that’s art.
I always teach to dance from the heart and the fulfillment it will bring will carry you for a lifetime.
