Our Story
The J.E.T.S. 717 Dance Program was founded in October 2016 in a converted faculty teacher's lounge at Encinal Jr/Sr High School in room 717. The program included a rotation of over 60 students in three different classes from 7th to 12th graders coming from diverse backgrounds and experiences with movement. Regardless of circumstance, they stepped up to challenges, overcame obstacles, and continued to come together as one unified team to bring dance to Encinal Jr/Sr High School in a way the school never witnessed before.
Now, the program has branched out into including the 6th grade class, where 80 Jr. Jets performed together for the '1st Annual 6th Grade Dance Battle' just earlier this year. Congratulations to 'Angels Crew' who are the 2018 champions! We now also have the 'Encinal Elite Dance Team', whom after two seasons this year earned a 1st and 2nd place regional title, 7th place at the USA All-Star Championships, an invitation to the U.S. Finals, and bid to the World's Championship Competition.
J.E.T.S. 717 is an acronym for 'Just Embrace The Stage' in combination with the room number where the dance program all started. Students of J.E.T.S. 717 are encouraged to know their power, use their voice, and embrace whatever stage they find themselves on; whether they are performing on a theater stage, presenting an oral report for their peers and teacher in class, or how they show up in their community. We all have the capacity and capability to make a difference, be seen, and embrace exactly who we are. We are J.E.T.S. 717.
Now, the program has branched out into including the 6th grade class, where 80 Jr. Jets performed together for the '1st Annual 6th Grade Dance Battle' just earlier this year. Congratulations to 'Angels Crew' who are the 2018 champions! We now also have the 'Encinal Elite Dance Team', whom after two seasons this year earned a 1st and 2nd place regional title, 7th place at the USA All-Star Championships, an invitation to the U.S. Finals, and bid to the World's Championship Competition.
J.E.T.S. 717 is an acronym for 'Just Embrace The Stage' in combination with the room number where the dance program all started. Students of J.E.T.S. 717 are encouraged to know their power, use their voice, and embrace whatever stage they find themselves on; whether they are performing on a theater stage, presenting an oral report for their peers and teacher in class, or how they show up in their community. We all have the capacity and capability to make a difference, be seen, and embrace exactly who we are. We are J.E.T.S. 717.
- ©2019 Marjorie Ortiz All Rights Reserved.