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Catching Up With Hip-Hop Phenom Anaya Jones

At just 16 years old, Anaya Jones has a lot on her plate—and it’s not just her next English paper. In 2024, she was crowned Tremaine Dance Convention’s Freestyler of the Year and took home several first-place trophies at various competitions with her self-choreographed hip hop solo. This past summer, she became a member of the KĀOS Dance Convention’s KĀOS Squad and signed to Bloc, a top talent agency.

Dance Spirit caught up with Jones to ask her about how she started her dance career, her signature style, and the advice she’d give her younger self.

Photo by Michelle Nicole Photography, courtesy of Jones.

How did you start your dance training?

I’m originally from Miami, but now I live in Naples, Florida. I began dancing when I was 3 and started on a competition team when I was 6. My cousins were in dance classes, and I watched them one day and came home and couldn’t stop dancing. My mom enrolled me in hip hop, but then I was so interested in how everyone was moving (and having so much fun) that I wanted to have fun too. So I added jazz, ballet, and tap.

Now, I compete with my team in tap, jazz, contemporary, and sometimes ballet and ballroom. I also choreographed my own hip-hop solo last year and again this year.

What are some highlights of your dance journey so far?

The overall growth I had this summer in L.A. is a highlight. At their event in Miami, I qualified for the chance to audition for the KĀOS Squad, so my mom and I went to Los Angeles for two weeks. When I was there, one of the agents from Bloc saw me in class, asked my name, and gave my mom her card. I was so surprised and happy that she was from Bloc, because they were at the top of my dream agency list.

What’s one signature element you include in your choreography?

When I was younger, I taught myself to flip, and my current studio (Elite Dance Center) helped me to clean up my tricks.

Choreography by Jawkeen Howard at Tremaine Dance Convention Nationals. Video courtesy of Jones.

What advice would you give to your younger self?

My teachers preach to me a lot to have more confidence in myself, because I am a good dancer but tend to lack confidence sometimes. When I was younger, I was bullied a lot in school. Dance was my safe space. I’d tell my younger self to keep pushing, be more confident, and never give up.

What are your dance bag essentials?

My headphones, because when I’m backstage I’m always listening to either my dance’s music or calm music, like Mac DeMarco, that makes me feel like I’m floating on air.

What would you do if you weren’t a dancer?

I’d probably do track, because I love to be athletic. I’d be a track star, hopefully!

Any dream dance jobs?

I would definitely love to go on tours, get into commercials, get into movies that have dance scenes. I’d love to do a music video one day. I really want to work with Parris Goebel and Robbie Blue. Then, I’d like to become a dance teacher to inspire kids.

Jones’ self-choreographed solo at Fusion National Dance Competition, courtesy of Jones.

Fave food and drink?

Tacos, and Dr. Pepper!

What’s your favorite dance outfit?

Always baggy clothes. I have these baggy red pants from Urban Outfitters, and a crop top.

The post Catching Up With Hip-Hop Phenom Anaya Jones appeared first on Dance Spirit.

Tapas Das: Tapas Das, a young entrepreneur of our times started TWIST N TURNS in 2005. A person who is kind, generous, creative and down to earth wanted to start his own one of a kind dance academy. According to him, Dance is a language of movements that involves space, time and the human body. He was born and grew up in Kolkata, the cultural hub of India. Being appreciated in the field of dance all his life, he is extremely talented. He has been dancing since the age of four. Once he finished his high school, he learned jazz/modern and contemporary dance. His horizons were broadened even more when he started dancing Bollywood with Beat Busters for 4 years, which then was the most upcoming dance crew in Kolkata. After that exposure, he studied how to be a dance teacher, which later started helping him impart his knowledge about dance. Thus, in 2005, with the help of family and friends, he started TWIST N TURNS. Starting with a mere number of 40 students, today TWIST N TURNS currently has over 500 students. Over the time Tapas has taught and performed all over the country. He has performed in cities such as Kolkata, Delhi, Chennai, Jhansi, Jaipur, Jodhpur, and Udaipur etc. He has been an active participant in the Salsa India Congress in the cities of Bangalore and Bombay, and he has also visited various International Salsa Congresses in Europe, namely in Berlin ,Singapore, Hong Kong,Dubai. He is been also trained recently at Broadway Dance Center (New York), Alvin Alley (New York) and Steps on Broadway (New York). He is not only a dancer or teacher. He is a successful choreographer and has coordinated various shows without difficulty in our country. His leadership skills are exceptional, thus he is where he stands today. His aim in life would be to become a dance educator. He wants to share his tremendous knowledge in the right way to the right people. He is also, simultaneously running other brands like Zumba Kolkata, Bollywood Studio ArtistWala.com and India International Dance Institute.