Community Highlights: Meet Tania Chegini of JT Ballroom Dance Studio

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tania Chegini.

Hi Tania, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Dance has played an important part of my life for as long as I can remember. It is where I feel the most powerful, the most authentic and the most free, especially when I am performing or on a competition floor. From a very early age, I also felt a very deep connection to music, particularly Middle Eastern and Latin music as I grew up listening to this.

That love of dance really came from my mom. I grew up watching her dance every day, and to this day, she is still one of the most beautiful dancers I’ve ever seen. She introduced me to traditional Persian dance at a young age, and I eventually transitioned into competitive figure skating. I loved everything about it. I loved the beauty, the strength, the discipline, but most of all, the sense of community and connection. I stopped skating at 12 when my parents separated, and naturally, life shifted. Losing something that had brought me so much joy during such formative years was difficult. Looking back, that’s when I really understood how important dance was to me. It was not just an activity, but an outlet and a sense of belonging. It also became a way for me to stay connected to my Persian culture and begin developing my own personal style.

I continued dancing here and there through high school, but it wasn’t until college that I realized how much I truly needed it back in my life. That’s when I made the decision to pursue it seriously. I had grown up watching America’s Ballroom Challenge on PBS, a televised dance competition, and I was always drawn to ballroom. It was completely different from anything I had done before, the partnership, the individuality, the expression. Each couple had their own style, their own presence, their own story on the floor, and I knew I wanted to be a part of that.
I wanted to be on that floor!

Returning to dance at that age could be considered late for some but I never allowed that to define what was possible. If anything, it pushed me to be more focused, more disciplined, and more intentional. From that moment on, I was all in. I devoted every minute, every resource, and all of my energy into becoming a ballroom dancer. I’m incredibly grateful I did, and for the support of my family who have been with me from the very beginning.Dance is where I found myself. It gave me my community, my career, my husband, and now the life we’ve built and our beautiful son. It’s shaped every part of who I am, and in many ways, it’s given me everything.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It hasn’t been a smooth road, but it’s not meant to be. Building something at a high level requires resilience and the ability to move through challenges with clarity and purpose. For us, growth has always been non-negotiable. A business can only evolve to the level that its leaders do, and we’ve consistently pushed ourselves to grow both professionally and personally in order to lead at the level our vision requires.

Early on, one of my biggest transitions was moving from being purely an artist and performer into a business owner, and eventually into leadership and motherhood. I’ve always been very all-or-nothing, so learning how to balance those roles in a way that allowed me to not only function, but truly lead and grow, took time and intention.

As our company has grown, the challenges have evolved. Today, one of the most important is scaling while protecting quality and culture, making sure that as we expand, the level of experience, the standard of dancing, the strength of the team we’re building, and the environment we’ve created all remain consistent and high.

Another major focus for me has been addressing something I see firsthand in this industry: many incredibly talented artists and teachers struggle to build sustainable, successful careers. That’s something we’ve been very intentional about changing. We’ve worked to create a structure where dancers are not only developed artistically, but are also given the tools, training, opportunity, and support to build real careers and long-term success.

My perspective as a dancer, teacher and a business owner allows me to bridge that gap. I understand the artistic side, but I also understand what it takes to build something that continues to grow and evolve for our students, our team, and the industry.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
JT Ballroom is a Ballroom and Latin dance
studio for people of all ages and backgrounds. We officially opened in 2019 in Tarzana and we are so proud to have become one of LA’s top studios in this short amount of time. Our mission is to
share our passion and the life-changing power of dance with everyone who walks through our doors. We provide the highest level of dance in a space filled with love.

What sets us apart is that we don’t believe people should have to choose between having a great experience and achieving a high level of skill. Many studios tend to lean one way or the other, either very social and casual, or highly technical and performance driven. We’ve built a structure that allows our students to have both. We can create incredible social dancers, and we can also develop champions, depending entirely on each individual’s goals. We use a structured, personalized approach through our JTB Method, guiding each student from their very first lesson through advanced levels in a clear and supportive way. There is a defined path for growth, no matter where someone starts.

Beyond the dancing, a major part of our focus is the environment and community we create. Customer service and the energy of our space is incredibly important to us. It’s also important that people feel supported, challenged, and part of something meaningful. That standard carries through everything, from the level of instruction, to how we train our staff, to the overall experience within the studio.

Our philosophy extends not only to our students, but also to our team. We’re equally committed to creating real career opportunities for dancers, which is something that has historically been lacking in this industry. We want our team to not only grow artistically, but to build successful, long-term careers.

From a brand perspective, what I’m most proud of is that we’ve been able to build something that is both high-level and welcoming at the same time. From the moment you walk in, you will find a safe and encouraging environment that feels like a second home, filled with brilliant instructors committed to your dancing goals and growth. People from all ages, backgrounds, and dance abilities all grow together, supporting one another and creating lasting memories. It is home, and it is so important to me to make sure that every person that walks in feels that way.
We’ve created a space where adults can come in, try something new, and over time develop real skill, confidence, and a true sense of belonging.

I’m so proud to witness first hand the impact we have on people’s lives. Dance is incredibly powerful. It builds confidence, creates connection, and provides an outlet that is physically, emotionally and spiritually transformative. We see it as a tool for growth, and we’re intentional about continuing to use it to help as many people as we can build happier, healthier, more fulfilled lives.

What was your favorite childhood memory?
One of my favorite childhood memories is watching my mom dance. She would dance every day just for herself or at family gatherings. In our Persian culture, music and dance are such a big part of how people come together, and I remember the energy, the joy, and the sense of connection in those moments. I felt how powerful it was. I didn’t realize it at the time, but that’s really where everything started for me. Those moment shaped my connection to dance, and ultimately the path I chose.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://jtdancestudio.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jtballroomdancestudio/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jtballroomdancestudio
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/jt-ballroom-dance-studio-los-angeles?osq=JT+Ballroom+Dance+Studio

Image Credits
Stephen Marino
HFW Photography