Meet Jennifer

Jennifer Gooding

Jennifer S. Gooding, owner, instructor of The Annapolis Dance Academy has been a dancer since the age of 2. She got her start with Rockette, Miriam Sellers at Sellers Studio of Dance in Wheaton, MD where she studied Tap/Jazz & Ballet. After years of instruction & performing, Jennifer started student teaching where her love for dance really come through by instructing others.

After high school, Jennifer went to college, became a Registered Nurse where she specialized in Labor and Delivery & Same Day Surgery for 8+ years. After college, Jennifer got back into dancing full steam where she was introduced to Ballroom Dancing, her new found love. In April of 1996, Jennifer opened the Annapolis Dance Academy part-time in addition to her nursing job and worked both simultaneously for 6 years. In 2006, she made the difficult decision to leave her nursing career behind and never looked back. She continues her Ballroom, Dance & Fitness training to this day believing that to be a good instructor, one must always continue growing in their craft.

In Ballroom, Jennifer is certified through the NADTA and NDCA and has her member and associates certifications in American Style Ballroom & Rhythm. Jennifer does continuous education in Ballet, Jazz and Tap to stay current with trends give her students the best she has to offer in overall health.

After several challenging pregnancies with the last leaving her on complete bedrest for 3 months (2008), Jennifer had to rebuild her body focusing on her spine & core, she re-invested her training into the fitness industry including but not limited to Personal Training, Barre fitness, Group Exercise and Corrective Exercise Specialist. Alignment, Posture and development of grace has been the key. “Posture is everything in dance, fitness and overall health”, let Jennifer assist you with learning about your body.

She and her husband & partner, Jim participated in the Virginia State Ballroom Championships for years as well as competed in the Pro/Am category with students. Since 2019-present she now competes kids and adults including her own two children at the Baltimore Dancesport Competition. Jennifer can help you prepare, train,& follow through with testing and competition. The studio also participates in Bi-Yearly Recitals to showcase all of her students from littles thru seniors.

“I really love what I do, and I hope the passion and joy I feel from dancing, comes out to my students and encourages them to develop their own love and joy of dance”. “To me, Dancing is truly living!”