Today we’d like to introduce you to Jay Owens.
Jimmie “Jay” made his mark in the dance community through his performing and teaching Houston Two-Step. In 2008, he started his training as a student taking basic Houston Two-Step lessons under Instructors Lee “Smooth” Perry and Deborah “Fanci Dancer” as well as Henry “Zeus” Harvey, where he started to learn the basic structure of the dance. While in Henry “Zeus” Harvey’s class, he met Willie “2+2” Fleming, who noticed his talent and began training him in intermediate and advanced Two-Step. This training would lead to him entering and winning his first Two-Step competition in August 2008.
During this competition, Jay was spotted by Master Redd who immediately took him under his tutelage and groomed him for competing and showcasing. Over the course of his grooming, Jay studied under legendary Houston Two-Steppers Lee “Smooth” Perry, Willie “2+2″ Fleming, Master Redd, Jordan Sapp, Johnny B and Cochise & Evelyn.
Jay continued his education in dance by taking dance lessons and attending various workshops in order to continue to grow, learn proper dance and spin techniques, class structure, teaching techniques, musicality and much more at studios like Arthur Murray Dance Studio, The Dance Place, Houston Dance Factory and many others. As a result, he has become very knowledgeable and well known as a dancer and teacher of proper dance and spin techniques as well as his class structure.
In July 2009, Jay founded Flo-Motion Dance Association in Houston, TX and in Baton Rouge, LA. Jay also innovatively developed and wrote a curriculum entitled “Houston Two-Step Basic Instructions” in order to create a structure in which to more effectively teach Houston Two-Step. Respectively, in August 2010, Jay’s curriculum was copywritten and registered in the Library of Congress. Then in 2015, Flo-Motion Dance Association was established as a 501c3.
Flo-Motion Dance Association has and continues to produce the next generation of some of the best up and coming Houston Two-Steppers. Jay, along with several of his students, continue to do well competition. His most recent awards include:
• 2013 National Swing Dance Championships “Houston Two-Step Invitational Champion”
• 2014 International Swing Dance Championships 2014 “Houston 2-Step Strictly Champion”
• 2015 International Swing Dance Championships “Houston 2-Step Pro-Am Champion”
• 2015 International Swing Dance Championships “Houston 2-Step Invitational Jack & Jill Champion”
• 2016 International Swing Dance Championships “Houston 2-Step Pro-Am Champion”
Flo-Motion is committed to advancing and preserving the art of Houston Two-Step by teaching the dance at a high level in a fun, friendly, family-oriented social environment in order for it be passed on and enjoyed by generations to come. Jay resides in Houston, Texas where he continues to teach Houston 2-Step and when time allows, he enjoys traveling across the country to dance, showcase, judge and compete in.
Has it been a smooth road?
Most of the struggles came in the form of resistance to change. In order for anything to grow it requires change. The ideas that I came into the dance community with were different from what was being done at the time. So understandably there was resistance by those individual that had been doing it for years and pioneered a lot of what was being done and taught at the time.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Flo-Motion Dance Association (501c3) – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Flo-Motion Dance Association Is a dance organization that teaches Houston to step in the Houston and Baton Rouge Louisiana area. Because Houston 2-Step is a part of our historic Houston culture and heritage that began back in the late 1930s we strive to not only our Houston culture but our African American culture alive and thriving.
Flo-Motion Dance Association is known for excellence. Not only do we want to grow and preserve this part of our culture, we want to do it with excellence because this is what our community and I culture deserves.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
What I like best about Houston is its rich African American history and culture.
What I like least is the fact that we have allowed so much of our history and culture to die out and that it has been very difficult for us to turn Houston’s attention back to this part of our culture, so that it is not another part of our history and our culture that we allowed to die.
Pricing:
- Adult classes are $10 per class
- We offer a free youth class for ages 11 to 17
Contact Info:
- Address: S.H.A.P.E Community Center
3903 Almeda Rd.
Houston, TX 77004 - Website: www.flo-motion.org
- Phone: 281-687-9351
- Email: info@flo-motion.org
- Instagram: @flo_motion_houston
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jay.owens.524
- Twitter: @FloMotionHou
Getting in touch: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
