Life, Values & Legacy: Our Chat with Samantha James

Samantha James shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Good morning Samantha, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: What are you chasing, and what would happen if you stopped?
As a business owner in the dance industry, especially one who works closely with young people, our role goes far beyond teaching choreography or running classes. We’re not just building dancers — we’re shaping lives of the next generation.

Dance studios are often safe havens for youth. In a world full of distractions, pressure, and uncertainty, the studio becomes more than just a place to move — it becomes a second home. It’s where kids learn discipline, resilience, teamwork, and self-expression. These are life skills that extend far beyond the stage or the mirror.

By continuing to be an outlet for kids, we’re chasing the goal of providing a space where they can process emotions, build confidence, and discover their voice. We pride ourselves in giving them structure without judgment, creativity without limits, and a community that supports them even when life outside the studio feels heavy.

Many young dancers carry what they learn in the studio — commitment, patience, leadership, and emotional intelligence — into their schools, homes, and eventually, their careers. They become great not just at dance, but at life.
So yes, it’s about business — but it’s also about impact. When you chase the dream of impacting your dancers as whole individual, not just performers, you create a ripple effect that strengthens families, schools, and communities. That’s the kind of legacy that lasts long after the music stops and for as long as I own the business I will never stop trying to be the best I can do for my kiddos because its simply not an option.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Ms. Samantha James. I’m a mom, a wife, dog lover, and someone who has lived and breathed dance from a young age. I trained in many styles, in different cities—New Hampshire, New York, Boston, London, Africa—and I carried with me the desire not just to perform, but to teach in a way that lifts up youth and community.

In 2018, I made the dream real: opening Sampul Dance Academy in Chatsworth, CA. It was born out of a passion not only for dance, but for building a space where everyone—no matter their ability or level—could feel seen, grow, and become their best selves.

What Makes Sampul Unique is The “More Than Just Great Dancing” philosophy—we want students to be great dancers and great human beings, our instructors who are trained, certified, caring, local, yet also connected to broader dance communities, and our programs that push for excellence (competition, pre‑professional) but also celebrate the joy of movement—combo classes, tots, parent‑and‑me, special needs, and so much more. Everyone has a place here.

Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
I wouldn’t be where I am today — a business owner, teacher, mentor, lifelong dancer, Mom, and Wife — without the unwavering support of my Mom and Dad.

At just 16 years old, I left New Hampshire to study at The Hip Hop Dance Conservatory in New York City during the summer of my Junior year in High school, driven by a dream and a fire that had been growing in me for years. By 17, I made the bold decision to move to NYC on my own to fully pursue a career in dance. It was a path most would hesitate to take — but not my parents. Not once did they question my passion. Even during the sleepless nights of worry from being so far away. Not once did they ask me to “play it safe.” They saw the spark in me, trusted it, and allowed me to pursue my dreams.

While many families might have insisted on college full-time, mine chose to support the unconventional take a few classes here and there method. They knew that my classroom was the studio, the stage, the grind, and the hustle of chasing this art form in one of the toughest cities in the world. Their faith in me gave me the strength to keep going.

So thank you, Mom and Dad. Your love made my dream possible. And because of you, I get to live that dream every single day — and help others do the same.

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
To my younger self: A letter written on being a plus size dancer in the industry.

I see you — standing in the back of the studio, trying to shrink yourself in a space where you were born to shine. I see the fire in your eyes when the music starts, the way your heart beats in rhythm, even when the world tells you you’re not the “typical” dancer.

And I want you to know something — you were never meant to be typical.

Your size does not define your talent. Your body is not a barrier. That passion inside of you, that spark that won’t fade no matter how many sideways glances or quiet doubts you face — that’s your superpower.

I know it felt lonely sometimes. Like no one saw the strength it took just to show up, to keep dancing, to demand space in a world that wasn’t built for bodies like yours. But every time you chose to keep going, every time you said “yes” to your dream when others said “no,” you were building the foundation for the woman I am today.
And let me tell you — she’s proud of you.

Because that strength you held onto? It carried me through training in New York, through countless auditions, through starting a dance academy where every dancer feels seen and celebrated — regardless of their size, ability, or background.

You didn’t just survive — you led the way.

Now, I get to guide other young dancers who feel like they don’t “fit the mold.” I get to tell them: You belong. You are worthy. You can do this. Not because it’s easy, but because we’ve done it before — and we’ll keep doing it.

Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
I asked one of my former students and now a teacher at Sampul and a good friend, “besides my employees & families that are the heart of my business, what strengths do you feel like I have?” Here was her response that meant the world;

“I definitely would say that you’re an inclusive, caring and empathetic person. You always treat and look at people for who they are on the inside and treat them with care. When you don’t know someone’s situation, you try your best to understand and make them feel heard while also guiding them to solutions. Your heart is open to everyone, which is a quality that not many people have these days. But collectively these these traits are what has left the people around you feeling loved, cared for, included and what is at the heart of Sampul culture. It is made you not only successful in business, but successful in friendships and family.”

Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. Could you give everything your best, even if no one ever praised you for it?
The thing about praise is that it doesn’t always come in the form of words.

It’s easy to think that validation has to be loud — claps, compliments, or recognition shouted from the rooftops. But in reality, praise can live in the smallest, quietest moments. A smile when someone enters the studios doors. A hug at the end of a class to their teacher or friend. A knowing glance that says, “I see you.”

And that’s why I’ve learned that praise isn’t the reason to keep going. It’s beautiful when it comes, but it’s not the fuel. The real reason to continue — whether in dance, leadership, or life — comes from within. From the love of the craft. From the joy of showing up. From the quiet courage to keep going, even when no one is watching.

Praise is sweet. But purpose? That’s powerful.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Sampuldanceacademy.com