Jojo’s Dance Divas & Dudes

Look Ma!  I Made the Papes...

” I gotta be either dead or dreamin’ cause look at that pape with my face beamin’.
Tomorrow they may wrap fishes in it, but I was a star for 1 whole minute!” -Newsies


Hi Joanna, other than deciding to work for yourself, what was the single most important decision you made that contributed to your success?
I would say that the single MOST IMPORTANT THING that ANY of us can do in life is to be ourselves. When I finally made the decision to stop being what/who I thought everyone else wanted me to be & I stopped trying to “fit in” well…that is where I found true freedom & Jojo’s Dance Divas & Dudes started to gain momentum. I am Miss Jojo, a person who LOVES Children, Toys, Playgrounds, Disney Musicals, Stuffed Animals etc…I chose to color my hair blue & am allowing my BIG OVER THE TOP personality to lead me both in the classroom & on camera.


Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I would say that the #1 thing that sets me apart from every other adult in the World is that I am NOT 1. I am truly a child at heart who wants to have fun through education & movement. I have wonderful artist friends who have BIG goals and will absolutely work in TV & Film, however none of them are envisioning Sesame Street or Blue’s Clues as their DREAM JOB like I have. Or at least not to my knowledge, so if you are reading this & this is you then let’s be friends! I am always wanting to team up & make friends with others who have this same unique interest that I have. As a matter of fact, I recently learned that some of my family members draw & write amazing poetry so I am happy to share that we have teamed up and will be releasing a project this spring that I am very proud of so keep up with me on IG for all the latest & greatest.


I would say that the BIGGEST challenge I had to overcome was accepting the fact that I am different…REALLY different and embracing & falling into that rather then trying to change or conform to my idea of what I should be or what everyone wants me to be. At the end of the day the bright light is always going to shine through so why waste time trying to dim it? I think that has been my BEST life lesson so far. You can deny who you are all you want, but you are still going to be that person, even when you have shoved the real you so far down you think it can never be found again that person will still appear & guide you through this life.


TRUST ME when I say that it is SO MUCH LESS WORK to embrace and lean in to who that person is that you shoved way deep down cause they aren’t going away and there is no sense in wasting time & energy.

Everyday I am making new discoveries about myself & my brand & I am not afraid to be ME & dream BIG about all the things I want to do for children & certain celebrities I would like to partner up to make a difference with. If you are reading this & believe I can be of service in some way of something YOU are creating, please don’t hesitate to reach out.


Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? 

If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
A lot has changed since COVID and we are still going through it here in California, which on the positive side has allowed for a bit more down time with friends & family. If I had a friend visit for a week, I would see if we could hit a theme park like, Universal Studios or Disneyland. Let’s face it, theme parks can be exhausting so after running a-muck all over & bouncing from the Magical Kingdom to Hogwarts I would say it is time to order in & just spend some down time with one another. I am a firm believer in NOT always having to be “out & about”. COVID has taught me so much & 1 for sure thing is that home is such a wonderful place to be.


Upon being bored of my own home, I would suggest finding an Air B & B with either a private pool, where I would of course bring a HUGE unicorn float to lay on while floating around & listening to GREAT music, or a beach front property where one could experience what it might be like to live at the beach.


Of course while I am enjoying a lovely “staycation” I have to eat, but don’t want to be ripped away from the pool & my unicorn float…time to hit those delivery apps & I have to say that Joselitos in Montrose is one of my favorite spots to order in from. When I am not ordering Joselitos, sushi or an acaí bowl from somewhere I am using my Tovala Oven which I am now completely obsessed with for many different reasons, from price, convenience, the food being top quality and healthy…you should absolutely check it out. The food cooks itself with the scan of a barcode so I have all the time in the world to keep floating around on my unicorn with great company during “staycation” mode, & it is also such a great tool when I am back to my regular Miss Jojo “on the go” routine.


Hands down if I was vacationing with a friend we would have to get massages, facials, manicures & pedicures. When it comes to my fingers & toes I frequent a place called Nails Paradise in Glendale, and to be completely blunt, a massage & facial is a treat I practically NEVER treat myself to but when I able I really like visiting Burbank Spa & Garden.


Of course, if you are vacationing with me you must also be ready for early morning football on the weekends! If Manchester United is playing you can find me by Patch Moore’s side at The Fox & Hounds in Studio City with the rest of the United supporters.


Shoutout LA

Life & Work with Joanna (Jojo) Burke


Joanna Burke article

Today we’d like to introduce you to Joanna (Jojo) Burke.


Joanna (Jojo), we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?

When I was growing up in Phoenix, Arizona dancing & acting was such a big part of my life. I always found so much magic in listening to music, telling a story through movement, creating characters, & in my free time I loved going to the movies. The thought of being a contribution to the entertainment industry had me at a young age & at 17 years old I said goodbye to my family and came out to California.


I landed my 1st gig as a performer in West Hollywood & would attend rehearsals at a dance studio out in El Monte. I made friends at the studio & was invited to substitute teach some dance classes for kids. After about two days on the job, it became obvious that I was a “pied piper” of children & was loving every minute of giving back to my students the BEST PARTS of MY childhood. I became an official faculty member, looked forward to seeing my students every week & creating a magical experience for them in the dance studio. When you came to “Miss Jojo’s” class all your troubles were left at the door and it was time to embark on a magical & creative journey of self-expression.


With the success & pure JOY I was experiencing as a teacher & remembering the entrepreneurial mindset my parents had instilled in me, I started a business called “Jojo’s Dance Divas & Dudes” in 2011. I began by providing dance & acting classes for a handful of Preschools, Community Centers & it wasn’t long before Private Schools were contacting me to bring enrichment programs to their facilities.


As time went on, I was asked to partner with a handful of Summer Camps as well as partnering with companies that provide entertainment at children’s Birthday Parties. Companies I partnered with were even able to provide remote services during COVID which is something I never would have imagined that I could do till it happened.


During COVID, I was not only offered & accepted a part-time job as a 1st-grade teaching assistant, I also started creating digital pieces of entertainment with my students which they LOVED cause they not only got to create a lot of their own content but also saw themselves as “movie stars” which inspired me to create a YouTube channel full of kid’s content which I want to continue to take to the next level in 2021.


Being Miss Jojo, owner of Jojo’s Dance Divas & Dudes is such an incredibly rewarding responsibility & experience! From enrichment to education to entertainment, the possibilities of the brand I have created are endless & the BEST part is that it is ALL about our youth!


Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?

1. Right before I took the 1st step to start a business, my Father passed away leaving myself & my family, who was still miles away in Arizona, in emotional & financial shambles.


2. Upon filing a DBA with the county clerk, I experienced scam after scam after scam. I was receiving scams when it came to publishing, my website, and even when it was time to refile.


3. When COVID hit, the entire operation came to a screeching halt. As I was doing my best to pivot and keep my head above water, I started averaging three panic attacks a day. Luckily I was able to move passed…there is nothing worse than wanting to forge forward in your business but feeling like you physically just can’t.


Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?

I am 100% a kid person! I am known for bringing children a magical experience in a loving & safe environment. For me, this started in a dance studio as a dance teacher. I currently hold dance classes at The Community Center of La Cañada Flintridge, will be hosting a handful of Summer Camps there, as well as at City of Burbank Parks & Recreation. Once we move further passed COVID, I am hoping to bring enrichment programming back to Preschools and Private Schools.


Fun Fact: Prior to COVID, I was teaching dance during after school programming at Chandler Private School. It was that experience that led to my teaching assistant opportunity.


Another Fun Fact: It was also my work as a dance teacher that led to my providing activities for large groups of kids & it was that work that led me to Birthday party entertainment.


I found it so exciting that I could work with kids doing so many different things that I love. From dance class to conventions/special events to parties to assistance with school work, I am loving it all.


Something else that I really love is asking kids questions & getting to know them. This even has to be a magical experience so the sparkly microphone comes out and BAM…I am all of the sudden a host & the kid is a star! This inspired me to learn more about hosting & I was fortunate enough to train at “Become A Host” under the instruction of Marki Costello. The more I came to class & created content, it became so clear that a goal I have is to host a children’s tv show.


Something that I am really proud of is my ability to keep going. There have been so many times the deck has been stacked against me and I still keep going-will NOT give up.


Something that sets me apart from others is also something I am really proud of and that is the ability & confidence to be 100% myself. What is crazy is even though I have created this character called “Miss Jojo” I feel like that is really who I am at heart, to me it is a lifestyle choice to be a FUN colorful adult who is a good role model, and I want that part of myself to ALWAYS show. Yes, I am over the top with unicorn wigs, magic wands, etc. when I am entertaining children, but when I am just being ME, even though my streetwear is WAY toned down, it is still a pretty “out there” different from the way your average professional adult would dress. I am also full of energy and over the top in my movement & speech which is just who I am. It took me a very long time to accept that person, that person who is never going to blend in. Once I embraced that part of myself I felt so free, had so much more confidence in my work, and gained so many more opportunities.


What’s next?

I want to keep expanding. ANY opportunity that Miss Jojo/Jojo’s Dance Divas & Dudes has to work with kids I am all about! What else can I teach them that will help shape them for the rest of their lives?


I am really serious about being a host for a children’s tv show. I do have a background in entertainment so there is no reason why I can’t take this dream to the next level. I plan to start small by creating some of my own content for YouTube and continue to forge forward with this dream by reaching out to others who can maybe offer assistance in this area.  ~Vogage LA
VOYAGE LA

Every day is a party with Joanna Burke, and her energy is contagious. Known as Miss Jojo to her dance students and online fans, Burke brings her extra-animated personality to her classes, videos, and live shows so that her audience, typically the 10-and-under crowd, is soon giggling and smiling as much as she is. Register early for her tap/ballet and hip-hop classes at the La Cañada Community Center, as they fill quickly. Young fans can also review rhyming and compound words and take brain breaks with Miss Jojo via her new, colorful video series on YouTube. “With a huge love for Fred Rogers and Shari Lewis, I treat every interaction with children like I am taking the stage,” Burke says. “The kids are my audience, and it is my job to share information with them in a way that is clear, fun, and memorable.”

Pasadena Magazine

Alright, Miss Jojo thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Coming up with the idea is so exciting, but then comes the hard part – executing. Too often the media ignores the execution part and goes from idea to success, skipping over the nitty, gritty details of executing in the early days. We think that’s a disservice both to the entrepreneurs who built something amazing as well as the public who isn’t getting a realistic picture of what it takes to succeed. So, we’d really appreciate if you could open up about your execution story – how did you go from idea to execution?


When you find something you really love the thought that follows is how can I set myself up to do this for the rest of my life? Is it possible to make a career out of doing something that brings me this much joy? Perhaps so if I turn it into a business, so let’s start where what everything in life comes down to, money.


Logic told me that if I want to start a business, I should probably open up a business account where I bank. When I attempted to do that I learned that in order to make that happen, I would 1st need to acquire something called a DBA, which stands for “Doing Business As”. This is a form that needs to be filed with the county clerk and refiled every 5 years. Once you file you are required to publish within a certain amount of time and then your DBA is official and the bank will work with you. Of course this would have been nice to know before I got all gussied up to go down to the bank thinking I was taking a forward step only to realize I should have started my journey at the court house.


Upon filing, publishing and finally opening my account, there was not a whole lot of money I was working with and I still hadn’t secured a location to operate out of until a family I provided services for recommended that I look into holding some dance classes at a Community Center. I took this forward step and upon building a relationship with the team there and within the community I was invited to work directly with the children at the Community Center Preschool.


Now that was not all as simple as that just sounded…there are a lot of requirements a person must meet to partner with schools, parks and recreation centers.


You are required to get finger printed, obtain insurance that meets each locations’ requirements with each location listed as an additional insured, and propose a program based on the guidelines & calendar provided to you by the location you are working with. This can get pretty confusing when you are pitching programs to multiple schools & locations so it is important to stay organized.


Then once you are in, it doesn’t mean your programs are going to fill. There were several nights when I was paying to rent space and was committed to coming even though there was a potential to not have any students show. For months, I came to the hour I payed for, set up a table, had it all decorated with music playing and my receipt book in case I got a client. I did get about 3 students and this particular location took notice of the relentless optimism I had to get something going contributing to the lives of children so they presented me with an opportunity to partner with them & the preschool running my programs as a partnership as opposed to a renting the space. This was such a blessing because not only did it eliminate my renter’s fee, it made me feel part of a team and I felt an incredible amount of support moving in the direction that I had hoped.


From there schools started reaching out to me for after school enrichment & other special events, parents started hiring me to entertain at Birthday parties, I have had opportunities to host, and lend my voice for cartoons, I had the opportunity to work at a private school as an assistant teacher and last year I was even approached to consult with a toy company for a new product.


Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.


If you want to know how I became Miss Jojo, Creator of Jojo’s Dance Divas & Dudes, well it all began in Phoenix Arizona when Joanna Christine Burke was 3 years old. I was told that I had a lot of energy as a child and to unleash some of it my family thought dance would be a good idea. I could be a bit of a problem child in class, but I loved to perform for an audience and entertain them with my skill sets. I knew that one day I would venture away from the dry heat and follow my performance bug which led me to LA.


I took many odd jobs for work and fell into substitute teaching at a dance studio. I enjoyed the job a lot and eventually was offered my own class which grew into more and more as the years went on. The only thing I loved more then nurturing my own dancing, singing & acting skill sets was sharing it with our youth. As time went on I could not ignore the passion I had for making a difference in the lives of children and was starting to think about how I could turn this into a career for myself.


I figured I could start small by building up my dance classes and then branch out from there. Once I became established in the communities I did business with that is when more opportunities started to come my way. It felt nice to no longer have to look for the work, the work was finding me, I was hungry for every unique opportunity coming my way and would climb over any obstacle. During the pandemic I started utilizing YouTube as a way to keep educating & entertaining children even if we couldn’t be together in person. A goal I have for this year is to do more in children’s entertainment so please don’t hesitate to reach out if I can support a project you are working on. I am passionate about seeing others succeed so if I could in some way be a contributing factor to your success then sign me up.


I think it is easy to say that passion sets one apart form the competition, but really what that means to me is empathy & emotion. I believe a passionate person has empathy toward others and puts emotion into everything they do. I put my heart & soul into my creative endeavors and lesson plans. When I am in the classroom I connect with my students on an emotional level & cater to their needs. I tailor my lesson plans to what will help them learn as individuals and how and what is it I need to present to them based on their personal ability level & interests. I will go above & beyond to ensure a child has fun, understands, feels included, loved, supported, challenged, safe, special, I love celebrating their milestones & achievements, and I have been around so long that I even get to say I LOVE watching these kids grow up & go on to do BIG things.


How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?


I think that because I stayed consistent and never operated unless it was organically, I was able to attract others who believed in me as much as I believed in myself. There comes a point in time where the hard work, dedication, relentless optimism even when you find yourself in the face of no agreement time and time again does pay off.


For me, the turning point was when my hard work was noticed by Amanda Balcazar. She, at that time, was the program director at The Community Center of La Cañada Flintridge where I was renting a room. Once she saw how determined I was to get my business off the ground, she gave me that opportunity to partner with the facility and reach the students enrolled at the local preschool. The families were very excited about the new dance options coming their way, it was a perfect fit for everyone as here I am today, over 10 years later, daily welcoming in new friends and seeing all the siblings of the families I have connected with over the years come through the school.


Being a part of the Community Center & Preschool has taught me so much about what the word community actually means and how wonderful it is to be a part of.


I also believe in the golden rule and that people deserve to know the truth, so I keep a very personal touch in my business. I am not one person behind closed doors and another publicly. Miss Jojo is just who Joanna Christine Burke is at the core and because I am consistently living my truth, I was able to acquire friends in the community and establish a positive reputation.


Can you talk to us about how your funded your business?


If you are like me and want to start a business but just don’t have the capital and don’t want too much risk, I highly recommend you begin like I did. There was no way I could afford a brick-and-mortar not to mention that fact that even if I could, how am I going to get the clients to come to my store front? They don’t even really know I exist yet…


Your answer is to start at a school or community center. You really don’t even need to be an established business to get started…rather than thinking of yourself as an employee, switch gears into thinking of yourself as an independent contractor. Even though independent contractors take on more responsibility like having to submit their own invoices and putting their own earnings aside for taxes, in the long run you have more room for growth and it literally does not cost anything.


If you are currently employed, you could start a DBA today with the money you are making right now! Filing cost is less then $50 and that is including publishing. I recommend putting at least $300 in your business account to start and once a facility choses to bring you on board the live scan cost per facility is about $100, then you will most likely need to acquire liability insurance listing each facility as an additional insured. The cost on this varies because each facility will have different requirements, but you can find great deals and pay monthly.

Having NO overhead is the best way to start your business because I guarantee you, you already have the capitol. In time you can invest in branding and start a website, but in the meantime you can begin to reach an audience at no cost using Instagram and other social media platforms.


It’s funny how we can get in our minds thinking that we need all this stuff to begin to make a dream happen, when in reality the greatest adventure can begin with what we have in place already. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any further questions on how to get your business started or bypass obstacles in your way. There is always a “work around” and sometimes it takes someone to open up that blind spot so you can find solutions and move forward.

Canvas Rebel

Meet Miss Jojo Joanna Burke


Joanna Burke article

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Miss Jojo Joanna Burke. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Miss Jojo below.


Miss Jojo , we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?

The Arts! I began dancing at age 3 and have been plugged into the arts ever since. Be it dance, acting, music, etc…it is these environments where the education goes beyond the classroom. Enrichment of this nature helps a child develop discipline, thick skin and responsibility. These environments encourage and support being bold & taking risks, going as big as you can, looking up to those who have skill sets you desire & forming relationships with them. Being involved in enrichment programming put into practice the concept of failure being celebrated. When failure occurs you have got to be proud of knowing that you went for it and have done something another did not, it is important to reflect on the steps that were made, celebrate the small wins, and then keep forging forward. Even though I spent MOST of my childhood in performing arts classes, there are other programs such as sports & fitness that I believe embrace this same concept. You won’t always win the game, pick up that heavy weight, jump over the high jump bar at it’s highest, but getting plugged into a program with a great teacher/coach plays a HUGE part in resilience.


Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

Miss Jojo is a “kid person” through & through! I get so much joy out of doing ANYTHING with children! I happen to have a background in dance (started when I was 3 years old) so it was very easy for me to begin there when it came to starting a business. In 2011 I launched Jojo’s Dance Divas & Dudes. I began providing dance education/enrichment to children of all ages and in the past year have created a Leadership Program for Teens & Tweens who have an interest in assisting in younger/lower level classes.


I believe that teachers are very much like performers and improv actors. We have to be able to deliver the lessons to children in a fun and memorable way so we must tap into that entertainment element. As far as the improv side of entertainment goes…well you never know what child is in the mood to heckle your act or make you have to pivot because sometimes they will just not be “picking up what you are putting down”


I love children & I love performing so it was very easy to make the transition into presenting kids with the ABCs, 1,2,3s or any other life skill they made need such as washing hands, brushing teeth or tying their shoes. I have a handful of videos like this on YouTube and this summer I will be branching out and partnering with a handful of individuals to provide not only in person dance, but acting, sports & family fitness as well.


There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?


As a young dancer I participated in a lot of dance conventions and competitions. These events gave me courage, confidence & inspired me to strive for more in my journey. If I can offer any advice it would be to find a supportive community offering something of interest to you, like a gym, ceramics class, book club etc. and then just throw yourself in there ready to take on more risks. No matter where you are or what you are doing it will transfer over to your professional career and transform you as a person. If you are parent reading this, I highly recommend enrolling your child into some sort of performing arts or sports program. There they will develop a tremendous set of tools that will be incredibly valuable later in life.


Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?

My whole life I have wanted to be a contribution to childrens’ content in the entertainment industry. When the pandemic hit in 2020, I had A LOT of time on my hands and began to create a YouTube channel as a way to stay in touch with my students during lockdown. When we, as a Nation were at home with little to do it was easy to create EVERY aspect of an entertainment project by myself…now that I have been back in the classroom up to 13 times a week and running the administrative side of Jojo’s Dance Divas & Dudes, I do not have the time to pour into EVERY aspect of a project, but I am a wonderful contribution when I am working with a community & sharing responsibility. If you are creating kids & family content I would LOVE to be of service so please reach out via my website jojodd.com or Instagram @jojosdancedivas to connect.


Outside of entertainment, I have created a program which I mentioned earlier, for teens & tweens where they can come into my classroom, assist with younger dancers or any other aspect of Jojo’s Dance Divas & Dudes they can lend a hand in based on their specific skill sets. I really enjoy helping our youth grow, teaching them to be leaders by giving them responsibility and setting a good example. I have been fortunate to have some great volunteers enter the program and one of them even received a special award from the President of the United States for all the work she did helping out with students who have special needs.

If you have a teen or tween at home that would like some volunteer hours please feel free to contact me. I would be happy to plug them into our programs as well as sign off on volunteer hours for school & assist in their journey when an acceptance letter is needed for an upcoming school opportunity.
Bold Journey
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