Biography

San Antonio native Jana Matthews has performed from coast to coast. She has worked as a dancer and magician's assistant for Aaron Radtz at Six Flags Darien Lake in New York and for Brandon Baggett at Holiday World in Indiana. Jana spent three summers as a featured dancer in the outdoor musical drama TEXAS at Palo Duro Canyon State Park. She has danced at Sea World San Antonio and Six Flags Fiesta Texas. While in San Antonio Jana also got to dance in the Fiesta Flambeau and Battle of the Flowers parades and in the city's Dia de los Muertos celebration. During a two year stint in California, Jana was a member of the Nannette Brodie Dance Theatre and performed with Tap Overload. She has performed on Disney Cruise Lines with Magician Scott Pepper and in Las Vegas with the MagicIAN Tour. Additionally, Jana has continued to teach at various studios, accumulating ten years teaching experience.

In 2016, Jana received a BFA in dance from West Texas A&M University, where she studied under Edward Truitt (ballet), Crystal Bertrand (tap, jazz) and Leslie Williams (modern). During her college years, Jana was privileged to work with guest artists such as Mindy Copeland (tap), Steve Norman (ballet) and Katharyn Horne (ballet), among others. Jana is especially proud of her two WTAMU solos and of her “Silent Night” dance video made for GLO. Amarillo area residents may have seen her dancing in GLO at Victory Church or in an Amarillo College commercial, which began airing in July 2014.

A versatile dancer, Jana’s early training included classes in ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, lyrical and hip-hop at Dance Plus San Antonio. While in high school, she performed with the Alamo City Dance Company and taught at Dance Plus, where she choreographed for classes and competitions. During those years, Jana trained with Scott Conway (ballet), Buddy and Susan Trevino (ballet), Barbara Phillips (tap), Anthony “Ninja” Grant (hip-hop) and Deborah Pamplin (ballet, jazz, tap), as well as many other amazing teachers who impacted her life and taught her to love dance. Soli Deo Gloria.

PERFORMANCE RESUME (Partial list)

The Full Spectrum - “In Waiting,” “It Will be For Always" (Duet)

Jazz Spectrum, Director: Janell Burgess. Choreographer: Nanette

Brodie

Holiday World & Splashin' Safari - Dancer & Magicians Assistant

LOL Comedy Magic Show. Producer - Brandon Baggett.

Choreographer- Jana Matthews

Six Flags Darien Lake - Dancer & Magician’s Assistant,

Radatz Magical Production. Choreographer- April Radatz. Producer- Aaron

Radatz

Fright Fest - Dancer in "House of Bones" and "Monster Mash Bash"

Six Flags Fiesta Texas. Choreographer- Carla Sankey

Electric Ocean - Dancer

Sea World San Antonio. Choreographer- Ashley Craddock

TEXAS Dancer – featured in "Cowboy & Lady" in Overture

Texas Panhandle Heritage Foundation. Choreographer- Crystal Bertrand. Director- David Yirak

THE MAGICIAN'S AGENCY- Magician's Assistant,

Included performances with Disney Cruise Lines. Producer- Scott Pepper

TEDx Conference, Mission Viejo- Opening “Perceptions, ”

Nannette Brodie Dance Theatre. Choreographers- Nannette Brodie, Erica Villalpando

TEXAS ORIGINALS “Array of Emotions," "Drop the Bass," "To Each Their Own"

Texas Panhandle Heritage Foundation. Choreographers- Jana Matthews & LaTroy Gable, Charles

Anderson, Jr., Cassie Montgomery & Jana Matthews. Directors- Haley Baker, Caleb Brink

Amarillo College Commercial Dancing College Student

Amarillo College. Director & Choreographer- Jason Crespin

GLO “Silent Night” Dance Video, others

Victory Church, Amarillo. Choreographer-Jana Matthews

Nutcracker Spanish, Snow, Flower, others

Alamo City Dance Co. Choreographer- Scott Conway

Time Step “13 Seconds”

Lone Star Ballet. Choreographer- Crystal Bertrand

Spurs Half-Time Show “Thriller”

Dance Plus, Choreographer- Stacy Jones

2010 - present

CHOREOGRAPHY RESUME

THE KING: THE TRUE STORY OF CHRISTMAS. (Jazz). Now Word Covenant Church, Judson Performing Arts Center, San Antonio, TX

"Spanish"and "Dancing Dolls" (ballet), THE NUTCRACKER, American Dance Company, Bulverde, TX

"Array of Emotions," with LaTroy Gable (contemporary), TEXAS Originals, Texas Panhandle

Heritage Association

"To Each Their Own,” with Cassie Montgomery (contemporary) , TEXAS Originals

Texas Panhandle Heritage Association

"Material Things” (pointe). Falling Into Dance

West Texas A&M University

"Hardship and Hope" (contemporary). Falling Into Dance

West Texas A&M University

“Home” (Lyrical) . Competition Solo. Dance Plus

Placed in top ten Starbound Regional, San Antonio

""Come Home” (lyrical). Competition Solo. Dance Plus.

Judges Awards- Perfect Passion, Attitude, Starbound Nationals , San Antonio

“Mirror” (contemporary), Competition Solo. Dance Plus

“By Your Side,” with Julie Matthews (contemporary). Competition Duet . Dance Plus

“Matlock” (pointe) . Competition Solo. Dance Plus

“Jocks vs. Nerds” (character). Competition Student Duet . Dance Plus

“Beauty From Pain (pointe) . Competition Solo. Dance Plus

Numerous recital pieces for Tippi Toes-Amarillo, WTAMU Dance Academy, Dance Plus San Antonio (styles -ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop; student ages- preschool, early elementery; 10+ levels I & II).

Various church performances at Concordia Lutheran Church- San Antonio and Victory Church –Amarillo.