Thank you all for your incredible support!
You have overloaded the City Council with your calls, emails, and messages, and we appreciate it more than you know.
Update: Our zoning project will NOT be voted on at the upcoming council meeting on Tuesday, April 29.
More details to follow soon — stay tuned!
An Open Letter to Our Community: Seeking Your Support for DanceWorks Studio’s New Home
Dear Jerseyville Friends, Families, and Neighbors,
For the past 26 years, DanceWorks Studio has proudly served thousands of children and families in our community. From tiny ballerinas taking their first steps to teenagers building confidence through movement, our studio has always been more than just a place to dance.
Our mission is to provide space to explore, to create, to dream, and to belong.
We are writing to ask for your support.
Our current location on Highway 16 is no longer meeting the needs of our growing student body. Parking is extremely limited, traffic congestion creates ongoing safety issues, and our schedule is completely maxed out. We’ve explored every option to expand or remodel, but the layout and footprint of our building simply won’t allow it. We already have waitlists for several classes because we simply don’t have the space.
We are ready to grow — and we’ve found the perfect spot to do it. On the corner of Franklin and June Street, on land we already own, we envision a fresh start in a space with ample parking, better accessibility, and room to expand. The property is in a TIF district, which indicates a plan for eventual development, and is located near the city park, city pool, baseball, soccer, and football fields, surrounded by public and recreational facilities — making it an ideal location for the family oriented business that we envision.
Unfortunately, in a narrow 4–3 vote, tonight the Planning and Zoning Board chose not to recommend our rezoning request to the city council. The city council will have the final say on Tuesday, April 29.
If this decision stands, we will be forced to permanently close our NinjaZone program — our newest and fastest growing class for kids who love movement, obstacle training, and building strength. There is simply no room left in our schedule at our current location to continue offering it. (The nearest alternative option for similar ninja training is in Collinsville, IL or Chesterfield, MO.)
We hear it all the time: "Our kids need more to do."
We agree — and we’re trying to be part of the solution.
DanceWorks has always strived to create a place where children and teens can stay active, make friends, express themselves, and grow into confident young people. This new facility would allow us to continue doing just that — and more — for families in Jerseyville and the surrounding towns. It would also bring people into our area, support local businesses, and help our community thrive.
If DanceWorks has made a difference in your child’s life — if you believe in the power of the arts, in inclusive spaces for kids, or in supporting small businesses that give back — we ask you to speak up.
Please contact your city council representatives and tell them you support our rezoning request. Here is their info: https://jerseyville-il.us/government/staff_directory.php
Tell them why DanceWorks matters. Why having something to do matters. Why keeping programs like NinjaZone alive matters.
Your voice can help turn this around.
With heartfelt gratitude,
Shannon Blackorby
Owner/Director, DanceWorks Studio
[email protected]
Updates
Reached 500 supporters
April 19, 2025
Reached 100 supporters
April 18, 2025
142 Comments
Danceworks not only benefits those in jerseyville but many kids that attend are from surrounding areas. And when our kids are brought to jerseyville to dance classes we support a lot of other jerseyville businesses from restaurants to shopping. Jerseyville should support those that support it.
I danced at DanceWorks as a teen, and now my son is in the Ninja program. It’s such an important place for kids in our town to stay active and be part of something positive. Please support the rezoning so it can keep going and growing!
I drove by the potential site and believe this is a great location for the studio. What a great opportunity for our youth and community. It’s proximity to the park is great and there is already traffic along that road so I am not seeing how the studio would make that any worse.
This is a great place I had 2 daughters take classes here from 5 yrsto senior in high school . I support their journey to continue to grow feel this would be a great location to do that. I support re zoning this location for them to expand.
I’m sure there’s more to the story. But these are people trying to offer more for the kids in our community. The ridiculous part is that it’s on their own land. Let’s help people like this succeed.
This definitely should be approved!
Support Our Young Women Support Our Youth Support Our Town
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Thank you all for your incredible support!
You have overloaded the City Council with your calls, emails, and messages, and we appreciate it more than you know.
Update: Our zoning project will NOT be voted on at the upcoming council meeting on Tuesday, April 29.
More details to follow soon — stay tuned!
An Open Letter to Our Community: Seeking Your Support for DanceWorks Studio’s New Home
Dear Jerseyville Friends, Families, and Neighbors,
For the past 26 years, DanceWorks Studio has proudly served thousands of children and families in our community. From tiny ballerinas taking their first steps to teenagers building confidence through movement, our studio has always been more than just a place to dance.
Our mission is to provide space to explore, to create, to dream, and to belong.
We are writing to ask for your support.
Our current location on Highway 16 is no longer meeting the needs of our growing student body. Parking is extremely limited, traffic congestion creates ongoing safety issues, and our schedule is completely maxed out. We’ve explored every option to expand or remodel, but the layout and footprint of our building simply won’t allow it. We already have waitlists for several classes because we simply don’t have the space.
We are ready to grow — and we’ve found the perfect spot to do it. On the corner of Franklin and June Street, on land we already own, we envision a fresh start in a space with ample parking, better accessibility, and room to expand. The property is in a TIF district, which indicates a plan for eventual development, and is located near the city park, city pool, baseball, soccer, and football fields, surrounded by public and recreational facilities — making it an ideal location for the family oriented business that we envision.
Unfortunately, in a narrow 4–3 vote, tonight the Planning and Zoning Board chose not to recommend our rezoning request to the city council. The city council will have the final say on Tuesday, April 29.
If this decision stands, we will be forced to permanently close our NinjaZone program — our newest and fastest growing class for kids who love movement, obstacle training, and building strength. There is simply no room left in our schedule at our current location to continue offering it. (The nearest alternative option for similar ninja training is in Collinsville, IL or Chesterfield, MO.)
We hear it all the time: "Our kids need more to do."
We agree — and we’re trying to be part of the solution.
DanceWorks has always strived to create a place where children and teens can stay active, make friends, express themselves, and grow into confident young people. This new facility would allow us to continue doing just that — and more — for families in Jerseyville and the surrounding towns. It would also bring people into our area, support local businesses, and help our community thrive.
If DanceWorks has made a difference in your child’s life — if you believe in the power of the arts, in inclusive spaces for kids, or in supporting small businesses that give back — we ask you to speak up.
Please contact your city council representatives and tell them you support our rezoning request. Here is their info: https://jerseyville-il.us/government/staff_directory.php
Tell them why DanceWorks matters. Why having something to do matters. Why keeping programs like NinjaZone alive matters.
Your voice can help turn this around.
With heartfelt gratitude,
Shannon Blackorby
Owner/Director, DanceWorks Studio
[email protected]
Updates
Reached 500 supporters
April 19, 2025
Reached 100 supporters
April 18, 2025
142 Comments
It would be a shame for the expansion to be denied. I have two grandsons participating in the Ninja programs and a granddaughter participating in the dance program. We are a second generation of the DanceWorks family; my stepdaughter attended DanceWorks when she was young as well.
Danceworks not only benefits those in jerseyville but many kids that attend are from surrounding areas. And when our kids are brought to jerseyville to dance classes we support a lot of other jerseyville businesses from restaurants to shopping. Jerseyville should support those that support it.
I danced at DanceWorks as a teen, and now my son is in the Ninja program. It’s such an important place for kids in our town to stay active and be part of something positive. Please support the rezoning so it can keep going and growing!
I drove by the potential site and believe this is a great location for the studio. What a great opportunity for our youth and community. It’s proximity to the park is great and there is already traffic along that road so I am not seeing how the studio would make that any worse.
This is a great place I had 2 daughters take classes here from 5 yrsto senior in high school . I support their journey to continue to grow feel this would be a great location to do that. I support re zoning this location for them to expand.
I’m sure there’s more to the story. But these are people trying to offer more for the kids in our community. The ridiculous part is that it’s on their own land. Let’s help people like this succeed.
This definitely should be approved!
Support Our Young Women Support Our Youth Support Our Town
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It would be a shame for the expansion to be denied. I have two grandsons participating in the Ninja programs and a granddaughter participating in the dance program. We are a second generation of the DanceWorks family; my stepdaughter attended DanceWorks when she was young as well.