We are Journey!
Our mission is to provide an enthusiastic, safe, nurturing and positive environment for dancers of all ages, backgrounds and abilities. We offer positive instruction while providing quality dance education with the best technique. We strive to enhance each and every dancer’s creativity, self-confidence, and self esteem.
The Journey Dance Center Objectives
To provide a carefully organized and affordable dance program.
To provide training for all dance levels from beginner to advanced.
To maintain a studio with a warm, inviting, supportive and positive atmosphere in which to provide great service.
To provide performance opportunities and display new talents.
Teach the importance of feeling, behaving, and performing in a positive manner
To educate students in the areas of dance terminology, movement, and technique along with historical and cultural elements from a variety of different dance forms.
What People Are Saying
“We have been with Journey Dance for 3 years now, and our experience has been nothing short of amazing. My daughter has grown and developed under the direction of Mrs. Myatta and Miss Stephanie from following directions to blossoming into a little “prima ballerina”. The foundation and material are all there with the correct terminology for our Brown Ballerinas. Definitely a “once in a lifetime experience” right in the middle of the southern Dallas area. If you’re thinking about joining, do it! It’s worth the smiles on our children’s faces.”
-Causha F.
“I have watched my daughters grow tremendously since becoming dancers at journey. My oldest has found her passion. My baby girl has come out of her shell and is very confident. It's evident that Myatta and Stephanie teach from a place of excellence and love. Thanks JDC!”
- Nicole T.
Journey Dance Center Staff
Myatta Flanagan,
Founder/Owner
Myatta Flanagan is a professional dancer, choreographer, and instructor whose career spans more than 30 years. The founder and director of Journey Dance Center, Myatta provides technical instruction to more than 100 students in several dance forms including lyrical, ballet, jazz, tap, and hip-hop.
Myatta has judged more than 20 dance competitions across the country and has produced and choreographed 65 award-winning competition performances; including a 2008 performance that earned her the Showbiz Dance Competition National Choreography Award.
Since relocating to Dallas/ Ft. Worth from her native Minneapolis, Minnesota, she has served as an Angelina Ballerina Dance Academy instructor, as well as Lead Dance Instructor at the Musical Arts Schoolhouse in Frisco, Texas.
Myatta has been featured as a dancer in dozens of shows and performances, including dancing back up for the legendary country music group Big & Rich. She has been featured as a member of The Exhibit Dance Collective and was a member of the inaugural Dallas Rattlers Dancers (Major League Lacrosse).
Myatta Flanagan has made it her life’s mission to have a first-hand role in inspiring and molding the next generation of creatives. She encourages each of them to follow their dreams; as doing so every day has been the realization of her own.
Stephanie Washington
Instructor
Born and raised in Minneapolis, MN, Stephanie found her passion for dance at the tender age of 3 training in tumbling, ballet, tap, hip-hop, lyrical and jazz. At age 7, she began competing nationally across the country.
By age 10, Stephanie was training at numerous dance conventions including the world renowned the Pulse Dance Experience, where she has trained under the direction of choreographers such as Mia Michaels, Lorrie Ann Gibson, Dave Scott and Brian Friedman, receiving awards such as the Broadway Dance Center Scholarship.
Stephanie began teaching recreational level classes at the age of 14 before expanding to training competitive level at the age of 16. While training under the direction of Myatta Metzger, she has been sought out as lead choreographer for her eye for detail and ability to push children beyond their expected potential. Her groups have traveled across the country winning many awards such as Showbiz National Dance Choreography Award Small & Large Groups and Top 5 at numerous National Competitions. She has choreographed for events such as half-time shows for the Harlem Globetrotters, MN Lynx, MN Timberwolves and Miss Black MN Pageants.
Stephanie relocated to Dallas, TX in 2014 where she continues to pursue her career as a professional dancer and instructor. She currently trains across the country and is signed to The Lincoln Talent Agency.
Tristan Rodney
Ballet Instructor
.Tristan Rodney is a graduate of the University of Technology, Jamaica earning a BA. in Communications Arts & Technology. His dance training includes the Quilt Performing Arts Company, Ashe, University Dance Society, the Company Dance Theater & Texas Ballet Theatre. He was a founding member of TMJ Dance Project, Ballet North Texas, soloist with Dallas Neo Classical Ballet & company member with Anita Martinez Ballet Folklorico and Urban Performing Company. He’s currently in his 4th year with Beckles Dancing Company.
Bijou Taylor
Instructor
Bijou Taylor started dancing at the age of three at Stage Door of Performing Arts in Minnesota. From the age of 4- 16 she was a part of the competition team at the studio. After graduating High School she attended Florida A& M University where she joined Mahogany Dance Theatre for 3 years. Since her college years she has taught dance to children starting at the ages of three and up along with dancing at her church!
Lisa Linson
Adult Instructor
I’ve been dancing since the age of 3. My dance training includes Storybook Dance Academy , The Dancer’s Studio of Cedar Hill, Tyler Junior College Dance Program and the Internationally Famous Apache Belles. During my time at TJC, I performed for US Troops in Hawaii and China. After college, I danced with the Frisco Roughriders, Dollhouse Dance Company, and N2It Dance Company/The Move to Groove Ball, as Creative Director of the Groove Dolls. I have traveled all over the world, judging Allstar Cheer and Dance.
Currently, I assist/teach Dance Fitness for fundraising events. I am a member of MOM Crew, a Dallas-based Hip Hop Dance team. I reside in Arlington, TX with my husband and 3 beautiful children, and I am working on my BS in Human Resource Management.
Laila Lewis
Assistant Instructor
Laila was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the first of two children. She started dancing at the age of three at The Art of Dance Studio in North Minneapolis and spent four to five years in recreational dance. She later joined their performance team and a year later moved up to the competition team.
While on the competition team her team won national and regional titles and were extremely successful. At the age of twelve Laila moved to Dallas, Texas where she was apart of the middle school dance program, as an eighth grader, through Richland High School.
Laila’s freshman year of high school she tried out for the drill team and made the Dixie Belle elite team, in which she is currently still on. The team is now called Royal Line Varsity Dance Team, and she is which she is a standout dancer for her senior year.
Laila plans to attend college in Houston, Texas and hopefully continue dancing.