Life & Work with Jessica Sober of Brea, CA

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Sober.

Hi Jessica, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My name is Jessica Sober, and I’m a seasoned dancer, instructor, and judge with over 30 years of experience in the dance industry. I am the Director at my new dance studio, Studio J Dance Collective in Brea. I started my dance career as a teacher’s assistant at the age of 13 and am now a full-time competition teacher, choreographer, and jazz instructor, working with award-winning competitive dance teams.
A few months ago I was faced with the imminent closure of the studio I not only grew up in, but had been an instructor at for over 15 years. Not ready to part with the families and students I had mentored for years, I made a quick decision to venture into studio ownership and start my own endeavor.
Together with a partner, we built a new business, found a new location, started construction, and were up and running within 3 months!

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?
Nothing about the process of getting open so quickly was SMOOTH!
The decision was abrupt and the process had to happen very quickly since our team was still within our competition season. Opening our doors on June 2nd was non-negotiable as our dancers would have no where to go! While securing capital and finding a new location was challenge, we were eventually able to meet each obstacle head-on.

I’m sure anyone who has had to deal with city officials for permits while opening a business would understand the immense hurdles we faced. We could film a whole reality show season on the hoops we jumped through for the city officials.

A dance studio requires special flooring that eliminates stress and absorbs shock for dancers. When it came time to bring in dance flooring experts, we encountered many special “personalities” that were not easy to work with. Together with kind friends, neighbors, and family we donned drills and built 3000 SF of dance floor ourselves! Any business has it challenges getting started, we’re so proud that every obstacle that fell in our path we were able to overcome and push through.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Studio J Dance Collective is a technique focused dance studio rooted in 45 years of dance education. Our mission is to create a space that meets the needs of BOTH parents and students while fostering growth, passion, and the highest standard of the arts through dance training. At Studio J Dance Collective, we are more than just another dance studio; we are a community. We aim to create a space where dancers can grow, form lasting relationships, gain confidence, and excel in a variety of dance styles. We have both a competitive team AND recreational classes from toddler through Adults specializing in Ballet/Pointe, Tap, Jazz, Lyrical/Contemporary, and Hip Hop.

As the director of Studio J Dance Collective, I’ve built on years of extensive training in dance and know the ins and outs of the Dance Competition circuit. My business partner, Jomana Siddiqui, comes from a graphic design and business background. Having these two creative sides come together is one way that sets Studio J Dance Collective apart from others. Together, we have created a fully branded and atypical modern dance studio while still maintaining the level of technical excellence and creativity needed to run a dance program.

Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
A blanket memory of mine is going to dance competitions with my mom, who was and still is my biggest supporter. The memories of dancing with my close friends are ones I look back on fondly. I’m even lucky enough to have one of those friends on my teaching staff now!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.studioj-dance.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/studioj_dancecollective
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/studiojdancecollective
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@StudioJDanceCollective
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/studio-j-dance-collective-brea
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@studioj_dancecollective