Conversations with Jadell Lee

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jadell Lee.

Hi Jadell, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I grew up as a kid who simply loved to move — dance was the first place I ever felt both inspired and purposed. What started as taking classes after school eventually led me into the commercial dance industry, where I learned early the value of mentorship, opportunity, and resilience. Those experiences shaped me long before I knew I would become a leader in the space.

In college, I pursued dance professionally and began teaching, choreographing, and mentoring young dancers. But alongside dance, I explored other parts of myself — writing, speaking, leadership development, and entrepreneurship. I always felt called to build things, not just participate in them. Every job I took, from education to nonprofit work to creative projects, taught me something about integrity, professionalism, and delivering results.

But those years weren’t easy. There were seasons when I was sleeping in parks, sharing food with homeless people, and couch surfing just to get by. I was teaching and going to class, but you could literally smell me some days because I didn’t have consistent access to laundry. I worked with whatever was available in real time and rarely let people know what I was facing, even as I battled moments where I felt like giving up entirely. Navigating those seasons became the foundation for the resilience and resourcefulness I carry today.

As I continued to grow, I noticed a significant gap in the industry: dancers were training hard, but not always being developed as leaders, professionals, or whole people. That realization is what pushed me to launch Elevate Convention — a touring dance experience focused not just on technique, but on confidence, character, and personal and professional development. The response was overwhelming. Our first event sold out, and since then, dancers have earned scholarships to programs in New York City, Memphis, and San Francisco — and even performed live with American Idol finalist La’Porsha Renae.

That momentum expanded into ElevatePro, an industry mentorship program that equips dancers with tools for the real world — headshots, dance reels, professional branding, audition training, and hands-on mentorship. In its first year alone, ElevatePro helped more than sixteen dancers secure talent agency representation as a direct result of participating in the program, launching their careers.

But my story isn’t defined by just one lane. I’ve built projects outside of dance as well — from writing books on leadership, to performing TEDx talks on personal and professional development, to developing men’s Christian fellowship programs, to being an adjunct professor of dance, to coaching others on how to become creative entrepreneurs. Each season of my life has sharpened different gifts: creativity, leadership, teaching, vision, and strategy.

A major turning point in my life and career came through my marriage. My wife’s presence, faith, and partnership brought clarity, momentum, and stability to everything I was building. She encouraged me to dream bigger, challenge myself, and step into opportunities I once questioned. So much of what I am doing today — Elevate Convention, ElevatePro, authorship, leadership programs — grew because of the foundation we built together.

Where I am today is really the result of all those experiences converging. I’ve learned to embrace every pivot, every risk, and every reinvention. And more than anything, I’ve learned that my aspirations are to build environments where people can grow — whether on a dance floor, on a stage, in a studio, or in a room designed for leadership and transformation.

My journey hasn’t been linear, but it has become intentional. Every step has prepared me for the work I’m doing now, and for the impact I hope to continue making.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road, but the challenges I’ve faced later in my journey were very different from the ones I experienced early on. Once I began working professionally, I realized that having talent wasn’t enough. I had to grow in my character — in my integrity, reliability, communication, and consistency. Those weren’t skills anyone taught me directly; I learned them through failure, accountability, and the grace of people who were willing to pause and teach me rather than discard me. In many industries you don’t get feedback — you just get replaced — so I’m grateful for the leaders who helped shape me instead of shutting the door.

I’ve also dealt with the more complex challenges that come with navigating people. I’ve experienced racial discrimination, had my character attacked, and encountered individuals who tried to undermine my reputation or access to opportunities. I’ve had moments where my livelihood was affected by dishonesty or hidden motives, and I had to learn quickly how to protect my work, my boundaries, and my peace.

And when I launched Elevate Convention, I faced another hard lesson: support doesn’t always come from the people you’ve supported. Some publicly celebrated what I was doing, but privately withheld their time, resources, or actual belief. At the same time, others showed up in ways I didn’t expect and became pillars of what Elevate has become. That contrast taught me a lot about human nature, leadership, discernment, and the importance of building with people who genuinely want to build with you.

All of these experiences — the failures, the lessons, the disappointments, the discrimination, and the unexpected support — have strengthened my leadership and deepened my resilience. They pushed me to grow not just as a creative, but as a professional, a founder, and a person committed to operating with purpose and integrity.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a professional dance educator, published author, and TEDx speaker specializing in the intersection of creativity, leadership, and personal development. My work focuses on helping dancers grow in vision, strategy, and professionalism. My background spans the academic, commercial, and convention sides of the industry — from serving as an adjunct professor of dance at Seton Hill University, to guest lecturing at Southern Utah University, to being a guest master instructor for Abby Lee Dance Company, and touring with national conventions like Thrive, Headliners, Symposium, and USTD. I’ve also been featured in Yahoo, Thrive Global, and SiriusXM for my advocacy around mental health and leadership in the arts.

Today, much of my work centers on Elevate Convention and ElevatePro. Elevate Convention exists to equip dancers with the personal, professional, and technical skills needed to thrive in the dance industry. We do this through dynamic masterclasses, competition opportunities, and mentorship-driven scholarship workshops taught by industry professionals whose careers span television, concert dance, and commercial work. Our dancers have earned full scholarships to programs such as Collage Dance Conservatory in Memphis, Joffrey Ballet School in New York City, and TapIN Youth Dance Ensemble in San Francisco, as well as performance opportunities with artists like La’Porsha Renae.

Through ElevatePro, we provide the real-world tools dancers need to transition into the industry: professional headshots, dance reels, branding consultations, resume development, agency mock auditions, and one-on-one mentorship. These efforts have produced measurable results, including multiple dancers securing talent agency representation within their first year of participating.

I’m most proud of the environments I’ve created — spaces where dancers feel seen, supported, challenged, and equipped to step confidently into their potential. What sets my work apart is my commitment to developing the person as well as the performer. Whether I’m teaching, speaking, writing, or mentoring, my approach blends technical training with leadership, mindset, discipline, and emotional intelligence. My goal is not simply to train dancers for the stage, but to prepare individuals for meaningful, sustainable success in both their careers and their lives. That intentionality — and that focus — is what distinguishes my work in this industry.

Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
The most important lesson I’ve learned is that God has carried me through every season of my life — often before I even recognized it — placing people in my path who corrected, challenged, taught, and equipped me. Those experiences didn’t just help me accomplish more; they shaped who I needed to become, forming the character and perspective that talent alone could never provide.

Early in my career, I discovered that talent can get you in the room, but integrity, consistency, and follow-through determine whether you stay there. As I grew in my work, I had to learn how to communicate clearly, set boundaries, take accountability, and deliver results — not just when it was convenient, but when it mattered. And even though building disciplined habits was a struggle at times, I began to understand the value of showing up with excellence, reading the environment I was stepping into, protecting my reputation, and adapting when the season demanded something different from me.

Community also became a turning point. The right people challenge, support, and hold you to a higher standard. For a long time, isolation felt normal to me — but I realized nothing in my life was growing because I wasn’t allowing myself to grow with others. Learning to embrace humility, feedback, collaboration, and the willingness to be sharpened by people I trusted fundamentally changed how I developed as a person and a leader.

Over time, I’ve come to understand that real development happens internally before it shows up externally. To step into new responsibility or opportunity, you have to cultivate the parts of yourself no one sees — your discipline, emotional maturity, mindset, resilience, and integrity. Failure taught me that success isn’t just about being skilled; it’s about becoming someone who can carry the weight of what they’re asking for.

As my wife would say, I am still a work in progress. But what has grounded me is the combination of character, clarity, consistency, and adaptability that’s been built over time — and that now guides how I lead, how I work with others, and how I build environments that help people grow.

Pricing:

• Elevate Convention: Convention $325-$375
• Elevate Convention: Competition $65-$140 (Solo’s, Duo’s, Trio’s, Groups)
• ElevatePro: $1750-$2000 (Scholarships Available)

Contact Info:

• Website: https://letselevatedance.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elevateconvention.dance?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==
• Facebook: https://www.instagram.com/jadelllee?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==