09/11/2026
MEET THE TEAM | TEEN/SENIOR SPOTLIGHT
Some dancers join a studio along the way… and some dancers grow up right alongside it. Avaeh is one of those dancers!
At 16 years old, Avaeh has been dancing for 11 years… every single one of them at Just Dance. She started with us at just 5 years old, and over the years, she has danced at every location JDS has called home (Lumberton and Pembroke). She hasn’t just watched this studio grow… she has grown with it!!
Her favorite styles are Lyrical and Hip Hop, but for Avaeh, dance has always been about so much more than steps. She describes dance as a language… a way to express emotion, connect with others, celebrate her culture, and tell stories without saying a word. She hopes that through the stories she tells onstage, she can inspire others to find their own voice too. ✨
When asked what she loves most about JDS, Avaeh talked about inspiring our younger dancers while continuing to grow herself. She also shared that her teachers have become more than teachers… they’ve become family, both inside and outside the studio.
And then she got Keno and myself right in our feelings! 😭😭
When asked who inspires her, Avaeh chose Ricky Bullard and Keno Lowery, sharing that for the past 11 years, they’ve been there through the highs and lows… showcases, plays, talent competitions, dance and cheer competitions, pageants, and most importantly… life. She said their impact has gone far beyond the studio and that she’s grateful to call them her teachers, mentors, and family!
Those words mean more than she probably realizes. ❤️
Outside of JDS, Avaeh stays BUSY! She is a junior at RCC Early College High School, a varsity and competitive cheerleader, and a fourth-year Carolina Civic Center Civette. She describes herself as humble, determined, and goofy, her favorite color is turquoise, and she’s choosing dance shoes over sneakers!
But her answer about our Sweet 16 season may be one of our favorites yet. Avaeh said she’s most excited to:
“Experience the same number birthday with a studio and family that has basically grew up with me.”
Avaeh is 16!
Just Dance is celebrating 16 seasons!
And she has spent 11 of those years with us!
There’s something incredibly special about that.
When Avaeh dances, she says she feels “everything all at once.” And this season, she wants to go beyond and be challenged.
Avaeh, you’ve gone from that little 5-year-old dancer walking into JDS to one of the older dancers our babies now look up to. We’ve watched you grow, change, fall, get back up, accomplish incredible things, find your voice, and become the young woman standing before us today.
You are woven into the story of Just Dance Studio. Every building may have looked different, but there you were… dancing through every chapter with us!
Now here we are… Sweet 16 together.
Here’s to going beyond.
Here’s to being challenged.
Here’s to telling your story.
And here’s to one more unforgettable year with the studio that helped raise you!
We love you, Avaeh. Let’s make 16 one we’ll never forget! 👑💗
Photography 📸 Ricky Lee Photography
