Starting over in a place can feel like learning a new dance. Janice Long felt this when she moved to St. Augustine in 2014, knowing no one and soon losing her husband, but she refused to step back from life, continuing Rotarian service and joining Flagler College’s Women of Vision to support her new community. In August 2018, while perusing the month’s SOCIAL Magazine, an advertisement for Dancing Stars of St. Johns caught her attention, inspiring her to begin classes at Arthur Murray Dance Studio where she met her dance instructor and partner Ilia Kuplin with the goal to compete at the next competition. After the event, she realized her dancing journey was only beginning. The music paired with the equally lively, supportive community reignited her energy, reminding her how important it is to keep both your mind and body active to feel healthy and mobile. Ballroom dancing challenges the body with coordination and balance, while also continuously sharpening your memory, focus, and quick thinking to keep you moving on the floor.
These skills become especially important on the competition floor, whether dancing in heats, navigating a floor crowded with couples, or performing solo routines that demand confidence and precision. When missteps happen, Janice has learned the key is to stay in rhythm, keep moving, and trust her partner to guide her back on course.
Now at First Class Classic, she competes across Florida, gravitating toward fast-paced styles such as cha-cha, tango, swing, and waltz. Every new step she masters helps her overcome fear, making accomplishments on the dance floor sweeter and releasing tension as she learns to stay loose. Some of her favorite routines blend style and storytelling, accentuated by glamorous costumes like her “Grease” performance as Sally in a playful swing number and her first out-of-state appearance in New York, where she danced to Miley Cyrus’s “Flowers,” moments that showcase not only her talent but her ability to connect with audiences through both emotion and motion.
