Today we’d like to introduce you to Jade Greenough Powell.
Hi Jade, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Growing up as a true Austinite, born and raised, dance has always been part of who I am. I started dancing at four years old and instantly fell in love thanks to my very first teacher, Ms. Trish, whose passion made the studio feel magical. From that moment on, I was hooked.
Dance was my constant through every season of life, but more importantly, it shaped the leader I would become. Leadership has honestly always been in my blood. I mean, I am a Capricorn and an Enneagram 7, so motivating people and bringing energy into a room feels natural. Somewhere along the way, I realized I did not just love performing. I loved helping others grow.
I started teaching at 17 years old and never stopped. Dance has never just been a career for me. It has been my purpose, a way to connect, and honestly, home.
In 2008, at 28 years old, I was diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer. During one of the hardest seasons of my life, dance remained the thing that grounded me. It gave me something familiar to hold onto and reminded me why I loved inspiring young dancers in the first place.
Owning a dance studio had been my dream since I was a little girl, and in 2016 that dream became reality when my boyfriend at the time, now my husband, bought me a dance studio. I always joke and call it my “first ring.” Since then, Pivotal Academy of Dance in West Buda has grown into a community I am endlessly proud of. Almost 10 years later, I still cherish every dancer, every family, and every moment.
In 2024, Marc Powell and I officially got married, which felt like the perfect full circle moment.
Today, alongside owning Pivotal Academy of Dance, I also teach at Texas State University and created Talks with Jade, a platform built around real conversations on leadership, communication, mindset, and culture. After years of pouring into dancers and teams, I realized leaders need someone pouring into them, too.
My story is really about passion, resilience, and believing fully in the dream, even before it exists. Dance has given me purpose, community, healing, and a whole lot of joy. And honestly, I still feel like that four year old girl walking into dance class for the very first time.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Not at all. Life and business have definitely come with challenges, and honestly, I think I learned most of my lessons in the middle of the hard moments. I have made mistakes, failed, felt completely drained, and questioned myself more times than I can count. Owning a business, leading people, and constantly pouring into others can be overwhelming at times, but it has also been incredibly rewarding.
One of the hardest seasons of my life was battling Ovarian Cancer at 28 years old. During that time, the studio became the place where I felt whole again. Dance gave me something steady to hold onto when everything else felt uncertain. My students gave me purpose, motivation, and so much joy. Their smiles, their passion, and the love we shared inside the studio helped carry me through that time in my life.
Looking back, every challenge shaped me into a stronger leader, teacher, and person. The hard moments taught me resilience, grace, and the importance of staying connected to your “why.” And through it all, dance has always remained my constant.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I wear a lot of hats, but at the core of everything I do is people. I am the owner of Pivotal Academy of Dance in West Buda, where for nearly the last decade I have focused on developing not only strong dancers, but confident, thoughtful, and resilient young leaders. To me, dance education is about so much more than performance quality. It is about teaching responsibility, self trust, teamwork, and helping students discover who they are beyond the stage.
I have been teaching for 29 years, and that experience has shaped every part of how I lead, mentor, and connect with others. One thing about me is that I will forever be a student myself. The dance world is constantly evolving, and I believe it is important to continue learning, growing, and staying relevant for the dancers I teach. My job is not just teaching choreography. It is understanding how to motivate different personalities, create healthy learning environments, mentor young artists, and prepare students for both the dance industry and life outside the studio.
In addition to running the studio, I teach within the dance department at Texas State University, where I work with future professionals preparing to enter the industry. One of the courses I teach is called Teaching Dance, which focuses on the art of teaching dancers of all ages while also giving students real insight into studio ownership, leadership, and the business side of dance. I love helping future educators realize that great teaching is not just about knowledge. It is about the small moments, the big celebrations, the hard work, and heart.
I also founded Talks with Jade, which grew from my passion for honest conversations around leadership, growth, communication, and culture. After years spent mentoring dancers and directing teams, I realized the people constantly supporting others often need encouragement and guidance themselves.
What I am most proud of is the lasting impact of the relationships I have built throughout the years. Whether I am working with dancers, college students, educators, or studio owners, my hope is always that people walk away feeling confident, capable, and connected.
I think what makes my approach different is that I lead with ambition and heart equally. I value excellence, but I also value authenticity. I believe growth happens when people feel safe enough to be challenged, honest enough to learn from mistakes, and supported enough to keep going. I do not just want to create successful dancers or leaders. I want to help create good humans.
How do you think about luck?
Honestly, this question is hard for me because I do not know if I would call it luck. I think so much of my life and career has come from passion, perseverance, and continuing to show up even when things felt really hard.
Have there been moments that felt incredibly special or meant to be? Absolutely. Owning a dance studio was a dream I had since I was a little girl, so having my husband buy me my studio was one of those surreal, life changing moments that still feels emotional to talk about. I have also been lucky to be surrounded by amazing mentors, students, families, and people who believed in me throughout different seasons of my life.
At the same time, life has definitely thrown challenges my way too. Battling Ovarian Cancer at 28 completely changed my perspective on everything. But honestly, even during that season, dance gave me purpose. My students gave me a reason to keep showing up, and the studio became the place where I felt most like myself.
I think more than luck, what has shaped my life and business is grit, heart, and relationships. I was raised on a handshake and a smile, and that is still how I try to live and lead today. I have always been willing to work hard and grow through every season, even the messy ones. I also believe deeply in people and community, and I think that support system has carried me farther than anything else ever could.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.pivotalacademyofdance.com / www.talkswithjade.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pivotalacademyofdance/ and https://www.instagram.com/talkswithjadetx/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pivotalacademyofdance
