Amaris (Starr) Ballard (instructor) found her passion for dance at 2 years old in Tyler, Texas. Taking a variety of classes in Texas with Arts With A Mission (AWAM), she had the opportunity of using dance to glorify God through performing at Six Flags and a variety of other venues. At 8 years old, her family moved to Junction City, where she would later join Junction City School of Dance in 2007. Growing up as a pastor’s kid Amaris had multiple opportunities to bring dance internationally during missions trips. One of her highlights was performing in front of 800 college students in Thailand.
Over the years, Amaris was able to take ballet, pointe, hip hop, lyrical/modern, and more through JCSD. She had the opportunity of being a part of the JCSD apprentice program in the early years and studied under Amy Baker. During that time she was able to travel to Los Angeles and study under many professional dancers. Her heart was always, when the timing was right, to teach dance. Amaris took a couple of years off from dance to get married and start a few businesses with her husband Ben Ballard. In 2020, she began to pursue her dreams of teaching dance and is currently taking technique classes at Junction City School of Dance, while teaching and co-teaching a variety of classes.
If Amaris isn’t at the studio or running her business, you can find her spending time with her little family (husband and fur baby, Bentley) in the great outdoors or traveling to a far-off land.