My name is Janell Gadzalinski. I am 23 years old and currently located in LaCrosse, WI. I taught my first class at age 16 so I guess i've been teaching for about 7 years. My passion was always to perform. I grew up dancing for a big competition studio and dance was my life. I lived and breathed it. Yet, I was from Wisconsin where we know there isn't quite a whole lot to do with professional dance! So, getting up and leaving my family in Wisconsin was pretty much out of the question. I decided to do the college thing. I actually lowered myself to dance for a extremely mediocre pom squad in my college town for my first two years of college. Eventually I decided I had to get back into dance on a more intense level. I found a local studio and started teaching classes again. You know if it's something in your heart, you just have to do it!
I graduated from college a year and a half ago and ended up taking a full-time job with the dance studio who helped me to find dance again. I still keep strong ties with my hometown studio, Young Dance Academy. I never thought this is where I'd be but the lord works in mysterious ways!
I am now getting married and moving to Atlanta. Now I will be seeking a new direction in dance!
My first teacher, mentor, second-mother was Sandra Young. She's amazing and I will be forever grateful to her.
The first time dance ever truly rocked my soul was taking Doug Caldwell's class when I was about 13 years old. We watched his assistant perform to Tina Arena's: "Show Me Heaven". Dance took on a new meaning for me at that moment and I've never been the same!