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"COMIC-CON CHAOS" - 2026
Celebrate your dancer and what they work so hard for all year. Grand Finale Performance choreography is well on the way to making a fabulous show all brought to you by the students @ Jdance.
Permission slips and costume order details are being sent out in the next few days. I've been working hard setting up a new online Google Sheets system to automate the process allowing you to fill it out online. And best of all, a % payment plan so the total cost is not due upfront. Now we all know how fantastic Jdance costumes are, so keep an eye out for that special email coming soon. Your dancer has worked so hard & will be so excited to perform for family & friends!

Hi everyone,

This is exciting news… and a very big moment.

I’ve made the decision to step back, and I am now putting plans in motion to retire as owner of Jdance.

Now I want to say this clearly and honestly, because this hasn’t been something I’ve been planning in a fixed or rushed way. It’s not been about a date on a calendar or a sudden decision.

It’s something that has always been in the back of my mind in a very natural way — more in the sense of when do you know it’s the right time?

And I think I’ve reached that point.

I’ve often heard from people who have retired that one of the most common reflections is that they wish they had stepped back a little earlier — while they still had the energy to really enjoy what comes next.

And that’s something that has stayed with me.

I also want to take you back for a moment, because my journey with dance didn’t start with any certainty at all.

I actually left school at 15, and at that time, dance was not considered a real career — it was seen as a hobby, something you did alongside “proper work.”

I was also told by my high school English teacher that I didn’t have a creative bone in my body.

And I didn’t — not in the way they meant it. Not in the traditional academic sense of creativity.

But I took something that was seen as just a hobby, and I worked incredibly hard to turn it into a career — and then into a business.

There was nothing easy or automatic about that path. It was built slowly, with a lot of hard work, resilience, and determination over many years.

And over time, as both a professional dancer and a studio owner and teacher, I often worked the equivalent of one and a half to two full working weeks in actual work hours within a single week.

And when you love what you do, you don’t always question it in the moment… but over time, you do begin to recognise what that level of output means for you physically and mentally.

Recently, I’ve found myself getting more tired.

Not tired of Jdance — never that — but simply recognising that my body is telling me something important.

That it’s time for a different rhythm.

A different season.

A step back.

And I do believe there comes a point where you need to make space for change, for new energy, and for the next generation to step forward fully.

For me… that time is now.

And I also want to acknowledge something very important.

I’ve been incredibly fortunate to continue building Jdance through a lot of life changes and challenges over the years — including major financial setbacks, divorce, and the impact of COVID lockdowns that affected so many businesses.

But I’ve always kept going. And I am proud of that.

So this decision is not about stepping away from something I don’t love.

It’s about recognising the right time to step back while everything is strong, supported, and ready for the next chapter.

⸻

Now, one of the most important parts of this decision for me has always been what comes next for Jdance… and in particular, Miss Ashleigh.

Over the past few years, you would have seen her step into leadership — first as Assistant Principal, then Co-Principal last year — and that was always done very intentionally as part of preparing for this transition.

For those who’ve known Ashleigh a long time, you’ll know she wasn’t exactly the “top of the class” type in her early years.
In fact… she was usually coming last… or second last. But I never worried, because she had a different kind of smart—she was kind, caring, happy, and had this natural way with people.

She actually struggled quite a bit with reading, so much so that she was placed into ESL—English as a Second Language—even though English was the only language she spoke.

Mum and I would go to the school assemblies every year, sitting there proudly… but if I’m honest, not exactly on high alert waiting to hear her name called.

Then one year… her name was called—and we didn’t even realise at first because we weren’t really paying attention. We sort of looked at each other like, “Wait… did they just say Ashleigh?” Total shock.

She’d won the “Most Improved” award from the ESL teacher.

She comes running over to us afterwards, absolutely beaming, holding this massive trophy and says—completely serious—

“Look Mum… I’m the smartest of the dumbest.”

(pause for laughter)

And honestly… that moment sums her up perfectly. She keeps it real, she owns who she is, and she takes everything in her stride with a smile. And I truly believe that’s exactly what makes her so relatable, so grounded, and so loved by all of her students.

I’ve seen Ashleigh really step into her role as co-principal over the past few weeks. Recently, she managed a challenging situation independently—keeping me updated, while allowing me to stay focused on the building renovations during what has been a very busy time. What really stood out to me was her ability to communicate through written emails at a level that would rival even the most experienced educators. She has truly come such a long way since her ESL days.

Situations like that are never simple, and they require clear communication, professionalism, and a balanced approach. Ashleigh handled it in a calm and considered way, ensuring all parties were heard while keeping the best interests of the students at the centre.

And that’s what matters. Not every situation has a perfect outcome, but it’s how you approach it—with integrity, respect, and consistency—that defines you as a leader.

But I need to be really honest about something that has always been at the centre of my thinking.

I never wanted this to simply become my dream continuing through her by default.

Because it would have been very easy — as a parent, and as someone who has built something so deeply personal — to gently steer things in a direction that suited what I had created.

And I was always very conscious not to do that.

I needed this to be entirely hers.

Not influenced. Not expected. Not assumed.

Fully hers.

So over time, I didn’t just ask once and accept the answer.

Even when I thought she was sure… and even when there were moments where it seemed clear this was what she wanted… I still found myself wanting more clarity.

I would revisit the conversation. I would bring it up again in different ways. I would ask her about her future, outside of Jdance, just to make sure nothing else was pulling her in a different direction that she hadn’t fully explored yet.

Because I didn’t just want her to say yes.

I wanted her to want it without hesitation, without pressure, and without question.

And that took time.

And honestly, I did that repeatedly — not because I doubted her capability, but because I needed to be absolutely certain this wasn’t expectation, familiarity, or the easiest path.

This is a huge responsibility. It is long hours, constant pressure, behind-the-scenes work that most people don’t see, and a level of commitment that affects your entire life.

And I needed to know she understood that fully — and still chose it anyway.

And eventually… what became clear over time was not just that she could do it…

But that she consistently returned to the same answer, even after reflection, even after space, even after honest conversations about what else her future could look like.

She stayed with it.

She chose it.

Fully, and with understanding.

And that is when I knew I could step back with complete confidence.

Not just in her ability… but in her commitment, and in her certainty.

And that means everything.

And so tonight, I can officially share that Miss Ashleigh will be stepping into full ownership of Jdance.

(pause)

But I also want to be very clear — this is not an immediate overnight handover.

This is the beginning of a planned transition. It is about putting the wheels in motion in a way that is thoughtful, stable, and sustainable for everyone involved — students, families, and the future of Jdance.

And part of that process is also something I need to be very honest about.

It is not easy working under the direction of a boss who is also your mum.

No matter how capable, ready, or aligned we may be, there is always an additional layer in that dynamic — expectations, familiarity, and long-standing roles that naturally exist between us.

And while I will always be a prominent figure in the history and foundation of Jdance, I am also very aware that my continued presence in the same capacity would not give Ashleigh the full space, freedom, and authority she needs to truly step into leadership.

Because leadership cannot fully develop when there is still someone else, especially a parent, operating in the same role above you.

And for her to truly grow into this role — to lead, to make decisions, to implement her own ideas, and to shape the studio in her own way — she needs that space.

Not partial space. Not shared space.

Full space.

And that is why it is so important that I step back now, in a structured and intentional way, so that she has the best possible chance to make Jdance fully her own and become the leader this studio needs for the next chapter.

Now, just over 20 years ago, after running Jdance from scout halls and community halls for around 15 years, I purchased the Agincourt Road property to realise a dream of mine — to have my own studio. It has been a great asset to Jdance over the years.

It is with a heavy heart that I have made the hard decision to sell the property, as it has become too large, the retail space has become a liability, and it has become too much to maintain and manage.

This has been a very emotional and considered decision.

It ultimately came down to a choice between selling our family home or selling this property, and we had to make the hard choice of selling this property. This was not a decision made lightly, and it has been a very emotional process.

Because you cannot put a price on your home. It is our place of peace, safety, and stability. There really is no place like home, and in the end, that was something we could not give up.

The property will be going to auction in early June, and it is a unique property that will need the right buyer.

If it does sell this year, I have made it a condition of sale that Jdance continues operating as normal until at least the end of December, and possibly beyond.

And that leads into what happens next.

We will be continuously and actively looking for a viable and suitable premises to lease that meets the needs of Jdance, and I have also offered to provide initial financial assistance to Miss Ashleigh, if required, once she is ready to make those decisions.”

This process may take time, because suitable and viable properties are not always readily or immediately available, and timing is dependent on availability and viability aligning.

In the meantime, we will also be looking at suitable local venues such as school and community halls.

And I want to acknowledge something very important here — this is not a fallback option.

In fact, it was Ashleigh who suggested and preferred starting in school and community halls.

And I think that says everything about her mindset.

Because in many ways, this is a very practical and viable way to begin this next stage of Jdance — just as I did all those years ago when Jdance first started.

It is about building from the ground up again, rather than stepping into something already fixed.

And that is something I am very proud of — because it reflects exactly how this business was originally built: from halls, community spaces, and wherever we could make it work.

And interestingly, many of our most successful Jdance students who went on to pursue full-time careers in dance actually trained through those early hall-based years.

So there is something very powerful about that foundation.

And I am incredibly proud of Ashleigh — not just for her ability, but for her mindset.

She has not focused on convenience or an easy path.

She has shown a willingness to build, to work, and to grow step by step.

And that gives me complete confidence in this next chapter.

As many of you know, after the COVID lockdowns I introduced our mid-year mini display as a fun, relaxed performance opportunity, and it’s been such a special part of the past three years. However, with so much happening this year, we’ve made the decision to take a break from this event in 2026. That said, Jdance will still be out and about in the community, performing at fetes and festivals throughout the second half of the year, and I’ll be looking to create performance opportunities as routines become ready.

And now… to something very exciting.

We are going back to the theatre.

This year’s end-of-year concert will be held at the Greenhalgh Theatre at Lindfield Learning Centre.

This is the first theatre Jdance ever performed in, and we were there for around 15 years.

It has recently reopened, and I booked it immediately. It is a significant investment, and not the easiest decision financially — but I chose to do it anyway. It is a beautiful professional theatre stage, and I wanted our students to experience that again.

Because this is about more than just one performance.

And to help support this, and to support the continued growth of Jdance, Miss Ashleigh will be running a Bring a Friend Week.

Bringing friends into class helps build momentum towards the concert, but more importantly, it supports the continued growth of Jdance under Ashleigh’s leadership.

Because growth creates opportunity.

It strengthens social connection and camaraderie between students, builds energy in classes, and creates a stronger sense of belonging.

It also allows us to continue offering better performance experiences and securing higher quality venues in the future.

So while this supports the concert, it is really about building something longer term — a stronger, growing Jdance moving forward.

And ultimately, it is about giving our students the chance to go out with something truly special — in a professional theatre venue… and take 2026 out with a bang.

This decision to retire brings both sadness and excitement. After more than 40 years in dance, I’m incredibly proud to step into retirement and celebrate a career that has given me so much joy, connection, and purpose. I’m looking forward to travelling and embracing the next chapter of life while I’m still young enough to truly enjoy it. At the same time, I couldn’t be prouder of Miss Ashleigh for stepping into this role. It takes strength, resilience, and heart to run a business like this—because the truth is, you can’t keep everyone happy all the time. And that’s okay. I’ve always believed that if we were all the same, the world would be a very boring place.

Ashleigh brings something truly special—kindness, warmth, and a genuine love for her students. Many of you know her journey, and I’ve always believed that success isn’t defined by school reports, but by character. She has faced challenges, grown through them, and continues to show strength, professionalism, and care in everything she does. Watching her step up recently, handle challenges, and lead with integrity has been incredibly reassuring—and made me so confident that Jdance is in the best hands moving forward.

While I may be retiring, and not before the end of 2026, I’m not disappearing. I’ll still be around in some shape or form—supporting behind the scenes, helping with admin remotely, and of course staying connected to the studio. Dance will always be a part of my life, and I do hope to pop in to teach Zumba or possibly run some adult classes moving forward when I’m not travelling … because let’s be honest, the laughs and friendships we’ve built mean far too much to walk away from completely. Many whom I now consider great friends & want to continue dancing together in some shape or form.

So as we move into this next chapter, I’d love for us to embrace it together—with positivity, support, and excitement. Let’s use this time as a celebration: of the journey, the memories, and everything still to come. Jdance has always been about community, passion, and heart—and with Ashleigh leading the way, that future is looking very bright.

Much Love
Miss Jenny & Miss Ashleigh!

Tonight - Important NEXT LEVEL NEWS!

🚨 THE BIG REVEAL IS TOMORROW NIGHT 🚨

After a week of teasing… it’s finally time 👀

Miss Jenny & Miss Ashleigh are so excited to officially share the BIG news with our Jdance families tomorrow at 7:00pm via Zoom.

We’ve chosen Zoom to make it as easy as possible for everyone to attend wherever you are, and we would truly love to have as many families there as possible for this exciting moment.

Trust us… you won’t want to miss this one ✨

Jennifer Engelmann is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Jdance Big News 12th May
Time: May 12, 2026 07:00 PM Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us05web.zoom.us/j/82045608909?pwd=s0mAMaSZCanwp2dUDmIOUjubiBheU1.1

Meeting ID: 820 4560 8909
Passcode: jdance

Join instructions
https://us05web.zoom.us/meetings/82045608909/invitations?signature=39UHPgkduqvxrAF70LLhkJx_Qr6Wr9iajYMMV6su7lE