Asheville Junior Theater - School of Dance

*Now registering for the FALL 2024-Spring 2025 Season*

AJT School of Dance is a vibrant dance school dedicated to nurturing artistic talent and fostering a love for the performing arts. Offering a diverse range of dance classes for children, teenagers and adults, our school provides expert instruction in various dance styles, including ballet, tap, jazz, acro, contemporary, lyrical, hip hop, and musical theater. With a focus on creativity, performance, and technique, students have the opportunity to develop their skills, build confidence, and express themselves through dance in a supportive and encouraging environment. Led by experienced instructors who are passionate about the performing arts, Asheville Junior Theater School of Dance strives to inspire the next generation of dancers and performers while promoting artistic excellence and personal growth.

Dance Class Schedule

Culture is Everything

Our culture is of the utmost importance to us at AJT School of Dance. We are dedicated to teaching our students the values that transcend the classroom setting, lessons they can apply into their everyday lives. One of these lessons is kindness: We believe that all of our dancers need to support one another as they try new skills on for size in a vulnerable experience. Another is dedication: We believe that children can achieve excellence if they are given responsibility and taught to work hard. Not all children at AJT School of Dance get a “trophy,” but those that do will be elated and proud of their achievements.

Providing Excellence

We are dedicated to creating a meaningful dance experience. We provide a strong technical base, while guiding every student towards self-confidence. We want our dancers to have a healthy relationship to movement and to their bodies. AJT School of Dance promotes integrity, and a true passion for dance.

Our Instructors

Our instructors at AJT School of Dance take pride in making kids into great dancers, while instilling confidence and integrity in them at the same time. Every staff member treats each student as an individual dancer, and supports their growth by instructing them in a fun and nurturing environment. Our instructors push kids to be the best dancers and humans they can be.

Jarret Ditch

Director of Dance

Originating from Lafayette, Louisiana, Jarret Ditch has showcased his talents on diverse stages around the globe. From wielding swords as a knight at Medieval Times to performing thrilling stunts with Disney, Jarret’s career has been rich and varied. He has also graced the stage as part of the Radio City Rockettes and danced with the world-renowned Gus Giordano Jazz Dance Company. His theatrical journey includes national tours of “Showboat” and significant roles in productions like “Cabaret,” “Once on This Island,” “SHOUT,” and “Funny Girl,” as well as choreographing for various cruise ship productions.

Jarret had the privilege of working on “Encore Mr. Producer!” under the guidance of the esteemed producer Cameron Mackintosh. With a Bachelor of Dance & Performing Arts from Oklahoma City University and extensive training in stage combat, Jarret brings a unique blend of skills to every style of dance he teaches. He is excited to create magic at the Asheville Junior Theater School of Dance.

Morgen Gough

Ballet/Lyrical 12-18, Flight & Spin

Morgen has nearly 21 years of dance training and choreography experience. She has studied at the prestigious Alvin Ailey School, Ballet Chicago and studied choreography and musical theater at NC School of the Arts and American Dance Festival. Morgen’s classical training creates the basis for her modern ballet style. It is Morgen’s belief that the future of ballet is in the fusion of the traditional with diverse dance styles and wide ranging theatrical inﬂuences including aerial, hip hop and rock opera.

Susan Rosone

Aerial Silks

Susan “Susie” Rosone’s passion for aerial arts began with her ﬁrst swing on the ﬂying trapeze. What started as a one-time adventure has grown into a love of ﬂying and dancing in the air. As a life-long yoga student, Susie enjoys ﬂowing, moving and being present in the moment. While aerial silks are her specialty, her expertise also includes aerial hoop and duo static trapeze. Susie has had the honor of performing in various venues, including a Circus Fans of America private event, which included the once in a lifetime opportunity to perform for legendary trapeze artists Tony Steele and LaNorma Fox.

Prior to joining the AJT team, Susie was the former Assistant Director and Lead Aerial Instructor of Volusia Circus Academy, a small aerial arts studio in Central Florida. During her tenure at VCA, she choreographed dozens of routines and trained students, age 8 to adult. Susie has since relocated to Asheville, NC. She is looking forward to being a part of Asheville Junior Theater School of Dance and having a positive impact a new generation of aerialists.

Emma Dubin

Ballet/Lyrical, Foundations of Dance, Creative Mvmt 4-7 Emma is a creative individual that wishes to positively touch the lives of others. In her first years of training in NY, Emma learned from and was influenced by companies such as Alvin Ailey, NYC Ballet, American Ballet Theater, and Ballet Hispanico. At Adelphi University, Emma furthered her performance art education by receiving a BFA in theater and a BA in dance. Dance is a deep passion for her and she has pursued different avenues of dance study for the last 28 years. Emma’s dance training includes neoclassical ballet, various modern dance techniques, spanish dances, tribal fusion, clogging, hip hop, lyrical, and Broadway jazz and tap. Whether she’s teaching classes, performing at events, or creating a show, Emma loves inspiring others to feel the joy of dance. She is honored and grateful to be teaching at AJT.

Sarah Ragon

Tricks & Stunts

Sarah is a multidisciplinary aerialist and acrobat who has trained and performed diﬀerent circus disciplines since 2012. She attended New England Center for Circus Arts’ Professional Training program from 2015-2017, specializing in Chinese pole and partner acrobatics. Growing up, she trained as a gymnast, but had to step away due to joint issues; Sarah has taken that experience into her coaching and teaches with the approach of respecting and listening to the body. She has lived in Asheville since 2020 and is excited to work with Asheville Junior Theater!

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