What's next for the Trenton Dancer who recently won $100,000 as a contestant on Dance Your Ass Off reality TV Show? See what Buzz is all about in People & US Magazine! A Star is Reborn...
It feels to good to see a home grown young lady reach her dreams. I'vebeen knowing Latoya since she was about 10 years old. I remember the day her mom enrolled her in Watson-Johnson Dance Theatre. Each year I watched her mature into the beautiful person she is today! I recall the recital parties at the house when all the children would come celebrate, swim in the pool and play hide and go seek while the moms and dad would talk about how excited they were about the little ones performances. I used to wish I had a daughter like Latoya. We loved her as one of our own. She was a real sweetheart, always smiling and rehearsing the new steps she had just learned from Ms Carol. I just want to jump for joy and celebrate her new accomplishments.
Latoya will be teaching class this weekend Friday and Saturday 16 & 17th at Watson Johnson Dance Theatre 1015 Prospect Street, Ewing New Jersey 08638. Call for registration 609-403-8476 or 609-937-2201.Spread the word and bring your children to register at the dance school where stars are made.
"THE WATSON-JOHNSON DANCE THEATRE"
God Bless Latoya and I wish her the best in her new found career
Mr. George - Co-Founder WJDT
TRENTON — When LaToya James auditioned for the Oxygen Network show, “Dance Your A** Off,” her goals were modest: She intended to lose only 20 pounds.
“I was in denial about how obese I was,” she said.
The self-described “Trenton girl” more than exceeded her expectations by landing in the finale and pirouetting away with the $100,000 prize Monday night.
“I am in awe right now,” she said in a telephone interview yesterday.
“I am speechless and overwhelmed with excitement. I am overjoyed. Words cannot express how excited I am. I lost my voice last night.”
When the competition began June 7, James weighed 217 pounds. By Monday’s finale, she had shed 63.6 pounds. That, and her combined dance scores, made her the clear-cut winner.
“I absolutely never thought I had it in the bag,” she said.
James competed against 11 other contestants in the battle of weight loss. Each week, the contestants, who lived together in a house stocked with food — some healthy, some tempting — were paired with professional partners and learned various dance styles from Latin to jazz to hip-hop, burlesque and ballroom. They also participated in weigh-ins, much like those on “The Biggest Loser.”
This season, hosted by Spice Girl Melanie Brown (otherwise known as “Mel B” or “Scary Spice”) and judged by Danny Teeson (an American Idol choreographer) and dancers Mayte Garcia and Lisa Ann Walter, definitely had its share of drama, and lots of excitement for viewers in New Jersey.
At one point, Katie Fanok, from Skillman, was called back in a wild-card round for the reunion show, in which three eliminated contestants who have lost the most body weight got a chance to dance to be the third finalist. It seemed the two Garden State competitors seemed to be heading to the finals together.
“We were like, yeah! Two Jersey girls back in the finals,” James said.
By the finale, James was the last girl standing against Las Vegas makeup artist “Addame” and Virginia’s “Michael,” a contestant who previously toured with Britney Spears.
James’ all-encompassing routine, set to Alexandra Burke’s “Broken Heels,” featured multiple styles of dance and a chance to “express myself as a dancer.” James scored perfect scores of “10.”
“Danny T. got choked up for the first time this season ever,” she said of the judge’s reaction after one of her dances.
She credited host Mel B for her words of encouragement throughout the season for getting her through the intense competition.
“Every time we were standing up there waiting for the judge’s critiques, she had great words of encouragement,” she said. “She understood the struggle because she gained 70 pounds and lost it on ‘Dancing with the Stars.’ She is a breath of fresh air and a very nice lady.”
James had tried dancing from the time she was 10 years old, signing up for lessons at
Watson Johnson Dance Theatre in Ewing and continued until she enrolled in college. She even earned a dance scholarship to Howard University. She had a self-described “breakup” with dance over personal issues, and filled that void with food.
Ms Carol, founder and teacher @ Watson-Johnson Dance TheatreCall for registration 609-403-8476 or 609-937-2201. The school offers ballet, pointe, modern, jazz, tap, hip hop, and zumba. Ms. Carol is available for consultant, choreography, solo and company performances, master classes, artist in residence, workshops, tours, fashion shows, fundraisers, t.v., print etc.
Over 50 years of dance and acting experience started dancing at age 3. Took Latoya underher wings at 10 years old as she had done for hundreds of other dancers in Trenton NJ. Ms. Carol ishighly respected throughout the church and educational community. She owns and operates one of the most prestigious schools in the area. She accepts students from age 3 to adults. Register today! "20 Years of Excellence"
Now, James is going back to Los Angeles in September to pursue her lifelong dream of being a professional dancer.
“I want to see all that the industry has to offer,” she said, adding that she plans to go on dance auditions as soon as possible.
“Going on this show was a life-changing journey for me,” she said. “This was a second chance to redo that part of my life and recreate my dreams ... .
I have a new-found look on life. It really is a dream come true.”
A second season of shaking and shimmying, weighing and winning has led to the crowning of another Dance Your Ass Off champion on Oxygen’s weight-loss competition. The final routines pitted the spirited Adamme against a determinedLatoya.
Who won? Spoiler alert!
Losing close to 60 lbs. and moving with fluidity and verve, Trenton, N.J., dance instructor Latoya James, 26, became theDYAO season 2 champ on Monday night.
“My future is looking so bright and it’s a little overwhelming,” James tells PEOPLE. “You just never think in a million years that you will get a second chance to do some things you’ve always wanted to do in your life.”
At the age of 14, James received a scholarship for the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and studied for many years at Waton-Johnson Dance Theatre until she quit dancing at 21, unable to deal with criticism. Though she eventually became a dance instructor, she hadn’t found fulfillment in teaching or dancing.
“Going through this journey, I learned a lot about myself,” James says. “When the weight continued to come on, I became very angry inside. I wasn’t that same, joyous person I used to be and I didn’t realize that until I came to the show. I was hiding behind a mask for so many years to maintain the cover that I was happy when I really wasn’t … But this change in life has helped me become a better person, and I love who I’ve become.”
Now, James is just 10 lbs. away from her target range of 140-145 lbs. “When I look at myself in the mirror, I remind myself of how far I have come,” she says. “I see the picture of the first time we weighed in at 217 lbs. and I keep that picture on my refrigerator every time I want to go there to get something unhealthy, I say, ‘No, no, no, no, no!’ I have pictures on my treadmills of what I used to look like, and that’s my motivation when I don’t want to do that extra mile. “
With her $100,000 grand prize, James hopes to start a dance school. “I want to give back,” she says. “I want to give inspiration to young dancers and share my testimony with them so that they don’t have to go through some of the things I went through.”
In the meantime, she is re-dedicating herself to dance instruction. “Going back and teaching now is definitely different,” James says. “The students that I teach, I can just see the excitement in their eyes, like they believe in me and the words that I’m saying to them. They see the new body and they say, ‘You look like you’re in high school, like you’re our age, Miss Latoya!’ It’s really exciting because the way I was going when I was teaching a move before when I was 217 lbs., it was so hard to get across what I want to have done. I can show them the moves now!” –Cynthia Wang
On Monday's finale of Oxygen's Dance Your A** Off,LaToya and Adamme are among the final three competing for the top prize -- and UsMagazine.com has a peek at their impressive weight transformations.
Latoya, 26, of Trenton, NJ: She always wanted to dance -- she even won a prestigious dancing scholarship at age 14 -- but she ruled out the profession because she was always ridiculed for her size. Weighing in at 217 lbs, she is now an impressive 162.7 lbs. She tells Us, "I feel like I'm on top of the world - mind , body and soul!"
Adamme, 31, of Las Vegas, NV: With a starting weight of 301.8 lbs., the professional make-up artist says his appearance has kept him from ever stepping foot on stage (he dreams of being a performer). His final weight: 213.9 lbs. "I finally feel like my new body represents my inner 'Glam Rock Star,'" he tells Us. "In this new body, I have a new found world of neverending love for myself and for everyone else."
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Looking forward to this Sunday Serenade come Sunday April 24th, when VTY Jazz pays their respects to trombonist Benny Powell. All of this will be going down live at the fabulous Cutting Room and just to pull your coats, their will be no squares allowed �de42. If your Hip you know the deal and where to be come Sunday April 24th. Reservations are strongly suggested, 917-882-9539. April is Jazz Appreciation month, but for the Hip, Jazz appreciation is 24/7 twelve months a year. If your not Hip you need to get Hip quick because you're missing some great music and vibes. Hope to see you live and in-person at the Cutting Room on April 24th.
The DC Jazz Festival in collaboration with the Howard University Department of Music is presenting jazz pianist Orrin Evans in a 3 day jazz residency beginning on March 15-17, 2022.
W.D.C.J.N. is one of the first American Jazz Networks to embrace the remaining truly great Jazz legends of our times and upcoming Jazz greats through today’s social media.
The W.D.C.J.N. is now internationally reaching Jazz musician, enthusiasts and aficionados, promoters, festivals of Jazz around the world. A real eye opener for people researching the history and present day development an evolution of America’s only original art form and historical legacy.
I fully endorse this institution "The Washington DC Jazz Network" and encourage anyone that is fond of Jazz to visit the Washington D.C. Jazz Network; today and become a member or make a donation to a worthy cause.
Hello George, I am proud to be a member of the Washington DC Jazz Network (WDJN).
I am able to find out what's going on in town and on the east coast
and to network with other musicians. I get a lot of my news from the emails I receive from WJN.
I also would like to thank you for supporting the Jazz
program at Howard University in Washington, DC. Keep up the great work.~~~FRED IRBY
The Howard University Jazz Ensemble will present it's Fall Concert @ Andrew Rankin Memorial Chapel.
The guest soloist will be saxophonist Javon Jackson. Mr. Jackson is a veteran of the bands of Art Blakey, Freddie Hubbard, Elvin Jones and Les McCann. There will also be a performance by AFRO BLUE, the award winning vocal jazz ensemble.
Critics have their purposes, and they're supposed to do what they do, but sometimes they get a little carried away with what they think someone should have done, rather than concerning themselves with what they did~~~Duke Ellington
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WATSON-JOHNSON DANCE THEATRE
Trenton New Jersey's Premiere Dance Institution
Presents
"NUTCRACKER CAFE' AU LAIT" Sat., Dec. 22, 2012 RSVP Today!
Bring the Entire Family!
Available for
Bookings & Tours
609.403.6070
Ms. Carol Artistic Director Founder Choreographer B.F.A. Howard University 1980 A Member of the Washington DC Jazz Network
W.D.C.J.N. is one of the first American Jazz Networks to embrace the remaining truly great Jazz legends of our times and upcoming Jazz great through today’s social media.
The W.D.C.J.N. is now internationally reaching Jazz musician, enthusiasts and aficionados, promoters, festivals of Jazz around the world. A real eye opener for people researching the history and present day development an evolution of America’s only original art form and historical legacy.
I fully endorse this institution and encourage anyone that is fond of Jazz to visit the Washington D.C. Jazz Network; today and become a member or make a donation to a worthy cause.
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Round Rock, TX —November 6th, 2023 – Brandon Allen, known in the music world as Allen B, is a rising star in the Jazz and Blues genres, reshaping the music soundscape with his soulful and evocative musical styles. While still a budding presence in United States due to limited media…
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A second season of shaking and shimmying, weighing and winning has led to the crowning of another Dance Your Ass Off champion on Oxygen’s weight-loss competition. The final routines pitted the spirited Adamme against a determinedLatoya.
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