There were big smiles, bold moves and a few butterflies as Shuffle Studio’s young performers took centre stage before 300 cheering spectators at Umhlali Prep Hall on Saturday.

The Jive on Stage show was the culmination of months of practice, with Shuffle Studio founder Jenna Lee Page encouraging her young dancers to express themselves and have fun.

“It takes courage to get up in front of so many people and be yourself, and I was so proud to see them do that while having so much fun,” said Page.

Originally from Johannesburg, the 32-year-old moved to Ballito in 2020 and launched Jive with Jen during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“When I started Jive with Jen, I saw a gap for dance classes that were fun, expressive and gave kids room to freestyle,” she said.

Her love for teaching children led her to establish Shuffle Studio in 2022 and begin studying towards a teaching degree.

The studio recently moved to new premises in Rehan Park. Including sessions at Bloom, Page now teaches about 110 children a week, catering for different ages and abilities, including children with disabilities and additional support needs.

For Page, the show was also a celebration of the families who have supported the studio’s growth.

“The community we’ve built together is very special and dear to my heart,” she said.