About

Jana Smith became a ballroom dancer in 2002, shortly after graduating from Virginia Tech with a degree in Agriculture. Several years later, her love of dancing had led to intensive training and competition…and a lot of lower back pain.

Seeking advice from a professional coach, she was told that equipment based Pilates would strengthen her core, eliminate back pain, and improve her overall dancing. She took her first Pilates lesson the next week and was surprised to find how challenging it was and how much her body needed it. After several months, her lower back pain was gone and her flexibility and strength were improving dramatically.

What is more, the change in her physical conditioning encouraged her in other forms of exercise. Soon she found herself running half marathons. Then full marathons. Then taking up swimming, biking, and even a half ironman. She continued to train in Ballroom, traveling back and forth to Los Angeles to train with some of the country’s most prestigious coaches. She competed nationally in Ballroom Dance while continuing to train in Pilates and participate in endurance racing events.

The change in her physical strength and flexibility, strongly brought about by Pilates, combined with the exceptional coaching she received in California, led to her winning the 2011 United States Open to the World Pro-Am Ballroom Title. In 2012, Jana decided to make Pilates her vocation. She received her certification with the Romana Pilates certification program through True Pilates Studio, New York. She is thrilled to be teaching both Pilates and Ballroom/Latin Dance at various studios throughout the Hampton Roads Area.