Llaina's Dance and Gym was founded in 1995 by Llaina (Bose) Groves.
Llaina has been dancing and competing in tumbling and gymnastics since she was 2 1/2 years old. Llaina was a member of the Turner Jr. High Pom Pon squad, and also a 4 year member of the Jacksonville J'ette Pom Pon Squad. After graduating from Jacksonville High School in 1994, Llaina went on to Illinois College where she received her Bachelor of Arts degree in 1999. Llaina has 20 years of teaching experience. Her first four years were spent assisting and teaching at Jacksonville Academy of Dance and Gymnastics before realizing her dream and opening her own studio in 1995. In addition to managing her own studio, Llaina also stays busy as a wife and mother.
LDG is a locally owned and operated dance studio, proudly serving Jacksonville and it's surrounding areas since 1995. LDG originally opened as Llaina's Academy of Dance and Gymnastics (1850 South Main St.) in South Jacksonville. We soon outgrew our original facility, so after a long search for a bigger and better building, LDG moved to 895 West Walnut St. and has been growing ever since! A recent addition was added to create an in-ground trampoline pit with an overhead spotting belt. Our new studio has allowed for newer equipment to be utilized, and an even more exciting and comprehensive teaching/learning environment to be established.
When you dance,
your purpose is not to get to a certain place on the floor.
It's to enjoy each step along the way. - Dr. Wayne Dyer
MISSION STATEMENT
Our mission is to introduce the art of dance and tumbling to each student and to instill confidence, self-expression, discipline and passion for dance and tumbling through our performance and educational programs. Our primary focus is fun but we also strive to nurture leadership skills and excellence in all our emerging artists. "Your Child Is The Star" at Llaina's Dance & Gym.
Meet Our Staff
Jerry and Ruth Bose
Jerry and Ruth enrolled Llaina into Dance and Tumbling at age 2.5 so they are no strangers to the sport! They spend countless hours in the gym and at competitions. Ruth is a Senior Director for Mary Kay Cosmetics and Jerry is retired from Aramark Food Services. Both enjoy spending time at the studio and assisting as office managers. In their free time they like to travel and spend time with their grandson Nolan. Either Ruth or Jerry will be in the office to assist you in answering any question you may have.
Morgan Hansmeier
A Jacksonville native, Morgan has danced and tumbled competitively for thirteen years. She discovered her love for the sport at 9 years old, as one of LDG's very first students! By age 12, Miss Morgan had come out of her quiet shell and was an Assistant at LDG, and became an instructor 5 years later. A two-time National Champion and one time Scholarship Nominee, she has been on the LDG competition team and has competed at Nationals 7 times in her career, moving all the way through the Sub-Advanced levels in Trampoline and Double-Mini and Novice level in Tumbling. As a certified coach for LDG's competition team, Morgan goes to Congress each year to further her education of the sport. Morgan was the first recipient of LDG's Esther Award (given to Outstanding Students) and has competed in numerous talent shows, placing first at both the Cass County and South Jacksonville shows and taking second place at Tremaine National Dance Convention for her tap performance of 'Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy'. Recently graduated from Illinois College in Jacksonville, Morgan received BS in Physical Education with a Health endorsement. Morgan is a one-on-one aide for South Jacksonville School.
Continuing to be a vital part of the LDG family, Morgan's favorites are: green and teal, Disney's Aladdin, spending time with friends, and taking pictures. Her energy infects everyone around her and is contagious!
Brian Coats
Brian is currently a Senior at Jacksonville High School. He was introduced to dance and tumbling 13 years ago when he was dragged into the studio by his sister. Brian finally relented and took a class, that one class led the way to Brian finding his amazing talent for dancing and acting. Brian has competed on the competition tumbling and trampoline team and currently teaches and assists with tumbling and dance classes at LDG. He has been involved in both the Jacksonville Theater Guild and Jacksonville High School theater productions. During the spring of his sophomore year he choreographed his first production, Charlie Brown, for Jacksonville High School. Since then, Brian has choreographed the JHS play Seussica the Musical, as well as being a member of the cast. He also choreographed "The Fantasticks" for Mac Murray College. When not busy in theater production or working at LDG, he is involved in the JHS film club, in which he is co-president. He is also a member of The National Honor Society. In his free time he enjoys anything Harry Potter or Glee. He plans to attend Webster University and major in theater. Known to the gym as "Mr. Brian", he has become a favorite in the tiny tumbling and tap classes!
Olivia Rossi
Miss Olivia is in her second year assisting at LDG. Starting out by coming in once to fill in, Miss Olivia then volunteered to help in the tiny tumbler classes and has been there since! Olivia has been dancing at LDG since she was 12, but has taken dance since she was a child. Her favorite classes are ballet, pointe and jazz/hip hop. Olivia is a 2011 graduate of JHS where she was an active member in the choir. Anytime you need a smile, just come and find Olivia!
Monica White
Monica attends JHS and has been dancing and tumbling at LDG since she was a child. Miss Monica is in her second year assisting at LDG and is always at the gym with a smile or a helping hand. Monica was the 2008 Esther Award winner and enjoys ballet, tumbling, and pointe at LDG. At JHS Monica is a member of the swim team and she enjoys using the trampoline to further her diving skills. You can find Monica bouncing on the trampoline or doing back handsprings at the gym and always with a happy face!
Meghan Carriger
Meghan has been dancing at LDG since she was six years old. She is a Senior at Bluffs High School and is actively involved in the FFA (Future Farmers of America) and Student Council. An interesting fact about Meghan is that she was born on Valentine's Day! She is in her second year of assisting and has become a valuable asset to Monday and Wednesday nights at LDG. She always looks forward to seeing all her students every wee as well as participating in almost every dance class. Meghan's favorite class is ballet and if you get here early enough you can catch her flying high in the trampoline room.
Brooke Evans
Brooke joined LDG in 2011 and is enjoying all her dance and tumbling classes. She is in her Senior year at North Greene High School and has cheered there for three years. She is also active in the Student Council and is a member of the NGHS Track Team and Dance Team. Another holiday birthday girl, Brooke celebrates her birthday on Halloween! Her favorite dance classes are ballet, tap and jazz/hip hop.
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In addition to the teachers, LDG has awesome Jr. High and High School assistants. We pride ourselves on our staff and hope you find them as great as we do! Each of our tumble bug classes are chock full of staff members to better assist YOUR child. Our philosophy is that learning should be fun. Every child in LDG matters and every child is a star!
Our staff members love what they do! You'll find each staff member to be caring, professional and talented. Our students are our stars! Each member of our staff continues to enhance their own dance education by attending numerous clinics, classes and seminars every year. Llaina has completed the bronze and silver levels of tumbling certification in USTA tumbling!
Llaina and her full time staff are CPR certified and USTA safety certified, to ensure that your child is learning and having a blast in a safe and nurturing environment.
COME AND TAKE A TOUR 
Take a virtual tour of our facility or stop in anytime and check us out!!
Enter through our doors into our parent waiting room- at LDG, parents and guardians are welcome either to stay in our waiting room or to 'go' during class. Inside our fully stocked office, Jerry or Ruth will be happy to help you find new dance or tumble shoes, leotards or to assist you with any questions you may have.
Before heading to class, students may drop their dance bags in our colorful cubbies. Restrooms are located outside the tumble and dance rooms.
Our spacious facility has 2 separate dance rooms - The big dance room for larger classes and a smaller dance room for LDG's tiniest stars!
Our tumbling room boasts a 90 foot carpeted power tumbling floor, 50 feet of panel tumbling mats, a 10 foot tumble trak, 2 balance beams, a double mini trampoline, parallel bars, and plenty of preschool equipment. Our trampoline room features an in-ground trampoline with an overhead spotting belt.
Adult Workout Room is DONE! Come and check out our newest addition! Fully stocked with treadmills, ellipticals, and other cool fitness machines. Our new work out room was built strictly for the adults of LDG! That includes parents and guardians who are waiting for their children during their class times.
Did You Know...
facts
Llaina's Dance & Gym is the only gym in Jacksonville to teach clogging
Llaina was crowned the 1995 Morgan County Fair Queen 
Llaina's Dance and Gym participates in IC and Mac's Homecoming parades
LDG has bring a friend to class week! There are also tons of other FUN days like: crazy sock day, LDG spirit wear day, wacky hair day, and more!
Llaina's Dance & Gym believes that learning should be FUN! Walk into our gym at anytime and you will hear laughter, peek into our classes and you will see children growing and building self esteem!
LDG's competition team has produced 15 NATIONAL champions since 2011!
In 2006 Llaina's Dance and Gym was awarded the Small Business of the Year Award from American Business Women
Llaina's Dance & Gym has weekly dance and tumbling awards
Llaina's Dance and Gym is a proud member of
The United States Tumbling and Trampoline Association
The Amateur Athletic Union
Big Brother Big Sister of Morgan County
Relay 4 Life - Team Member for Morgan County
ASCAP/BMI
Sponsor of Llaina's Dance & Gym brown soccer team
Sponsor of the Morgan County Fair Queen and Princess Pageant
Sponsor of the local Children's Miracle Network