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JustJacki

After a long career as a ballroom dancer I am now transitioning into an author. It is now in the process of being published.

I completed my memoir BeDazzled Trauma: Memoir of a Midwest ballroom dancer back in December of 2025. I have been a ballroom dance instructor since the age of 17. I built a career around dance including a competitive dance career as well as studio ownership for 22 years. Off the dance floor I enjoy other sports such as golf and bowling. I have an incredible husband and family which consists of 3 daughters, a son in law, a daughter in law and 2 amazing grandchildren! My life is beyond full and my heart is grateful.

07/03/2026

True humility is still my greatest goal and my biggest challenge.
The first thing I remember being taught about what it means to be humble is too first stop talking about how humble I was, If I have to tell people I have already failed. Humility is an action word. I have found that growth and change is a slow process that takes humility to truly look at and admit faults and be willing to try for something different. Some days I’m better at it than others. This was shown to me years ago and has touched my heart. I fail on a daily basis and I will probably never fully achieve all of this but it is a great standard to strive for.

07/01/2026

If I’m awake, I’m dancing in some way or fashion, even if only in my head!
I’m intrigued by those who can stand perfectly still while music plays, it seems so unnatural. My body starts moving in immediate response to music, sometimes without thought or decision, it just happens:)
In church, I dance during worship! In bowling, I dance on the approach! In golf, I dance on the tee box!
It’s as much a part of me as my eye color is blue. I’m grateful for the gift of joy that expressing myself through movement gives me. That joy, it is pure, and it comes naturally. No falsehood, no pretense, just immense joy exuding happiness.
Where would I be without it? I’m convinced I would not have survived my life without it:)

06/16/2026

Golf, teaching me to apply all of the greatest life lessons I’ve ever learned. Lessons like: take life on life’s terms and accept current circumstances as being exactly how it’s supposed to be in that moment. Can’t do anything to change what has already happened…just figure out what is the next right thing to do to get back to where I need to be. And probably most important, there will be good days and bad days but always be grateful for the opportunity to play and still be in the game….

06/11/2026

Yesterday marked a significant milestone for me. My dads birthday and my dance journey have coincided from the beginning. I took my first official, signed for lesson, on June 10th, 1985. That was 41 years ago yesterday!
I never ever dreamed that first lesson would take me to the places I’ve been. I so needed something to focus on at that point in my life, I needed direction, and I needed discipline. Of course I would have never admitted that then, but I know now without a doubt that God used dance to save my life. Dance was my pathway to life. It fixed this broken part in me and helped mend my broken family dynamics...I somehow built a successful career, I met my future husband, and I employed others.
I am proud of the accomplishments, winning rising star events, top teacher awards, top student awards, coaching national amateur and collegiate champions. The truth is I’m more proud of the hundreds upon hundreds of people I’ve met and taught along the way. People who were discouraged by dance and thought they were incapable, I got to help them find their place. Men who didn’t want to dance but loved their wives so much, I got to help them surprise her. Wedding couples starting their journey, people married a long time that needed to re connect, I got to be a part of that! There are also numerous people who came to be students but remained to be friends, and they are still some of the most important and treasured people in my life today.
When you hear me talk of dance, know that it is so much more for me than moving to music, it was, is, and will always be my lifeline to happiness.
41 years is a long time...I don’t think I’d change one second of it!

06/02/2026

From 2021:

Have you ever felt like you’ve went through life hoping to not mess up instead of knowing what to do, or proving your ok, instead of allowing yourself to feel all the things that are not ok?
Feelings take COURAGE, courage takes commitment, commitment requires character.
Strong people feel, it does not come from a place of weakness. It does not mean you will never be ok...A change in this mindset has set me free from a place I’ve been stuck in for far too long, that place where only anger, resentment, regret, and fear live, leaving little room for anything else and stunting any potential for healing.
I hope this is encouragement to pursue and explore what you feel and not what you think.❤️

05/30/2026

Something I wrote back in 2017:

But a picture remains....

As I was home in Ohio over the weekend I saw my parents home ( my childhood home) empty for the first time. It is officially on the market and getting lots of activity. It's more likely than not that this was my last chance to say goodbye. I walked the property and spent some time in each and every room. Everywhere, the window coverings, flooring, even the paint colors, are my mom's design and my dad's handy work. This picture is the addition my dad added to the house by himself. They loved this home and took great pride in it. People just don't live in homes for 50 plus years anymore, but they did. They were content with what they had and never really wished for more, except, maybe, for more time in their beloved home...

05/26/2026

I have danced with demons and fought with angels but then I let go, broke that embrace with darkness and ran to what once terrified me….peace.
What does peace mean to you? For me it’s contentment. It’s acceptance. And it’s healing.
Peace, such a soft and gentle emotion yet not easily attained. When chaos has always been comfortable, fighting for peace takes strength and courage. Living within peace takes practice, it doesn’t come naturally. Most of my life has taught me that the other shoe will always fall, but I’ve learned to not live in the fear of what might be just around the corner. I practice the ability and make every effort to stay in today, in each moment, enjoying life rather than being continually fearful and on high alert. There I found happiness within myself and that is the deepest kind of peace one might ever achieve!
Have a blessed day!

05/20/2026

I saw on The Voice last year where the contestants were asked to write a letter to music. I thought what if I did that in honor of my 40 year relationship with dance💃
Here is what I wrote last year:)

My dearest dance,
Thank you. Thank you for the life you’ve given me, for being the most consistent part of me these past 40 years. That’s right 40 years! Can you believe we’ve known each other that long? As everyone always says, “Seems like yesterday,” I’m not sure my body feels that way as it’s felt the brunt of every hip twist, spin, and dip along the way.
A lot has changed over the years hasn’t it my friend? Even you:) You’ve come a long way from catsuits and feather boas into the modern age of less is more. It’s been fun to watch you evolve and grow. I’m sure you’ve seen change in me as well. Thank you for snatching me up the way you did. That girl you met back then was carrying way more than she should have been. Meeting you changed my life. You gave me a focus and a purpose, a reason to stay out of trouble. You gave me escape from my escaping. The life you built with me has been the things dreams are made of. A career, a husband, a family, a legacy really. It’s been beautiful for sure but you and I also know that it’s been a bumpy road as well. I picked up some toxic traits and beliefs from your world. Often times believing I didn’t belong and other times not wanting a relationship with you at all due to burnout, both physical and mental. But here we are you and me, 4 decades later, having fought through everything thrown at us and still we stand strong, side by side, so you can keep holding me up. Dance, I love you! Always have and always will. In fact, would you believe I still get to spread my love of you to others? I know your surprised as I had always said “I’ll never be an old instructor😂”
In fact I’m still pursuing learning more about you myself, and returning to performing you! I’m blessed to have been on this journey with you, orchestrated by a God who knew me before I knew Him, he brought us together in the strangest plot twist I never saw coming. I’m excited to see what’s next for us. See you on the hardwood my dear dear friend!
Love,
Your forever student

Address

N Lyon Street
McKinney, TX
75491

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