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A group of dancers at Royal Dance Factor practice a new dance in Reconciliation Ministries International, 2200 Mount Pleasant St. They went on to perform Sunday between games at the Put The Guns Down Basketball Association. Founders Chloie Smith-Jones and Shalan Johnson created their dance company to teach young women the fundamentals of dancing and sisterhood.
Michael Izquierdo
RACINE — Chloie Smith-Jones and Shalan Johnson don’t learn their dances from TikTok. They’re professionally trained.
The 20-year-olds are well-known dancers in the Racine area, from their competition days to the videos they film in their living rooms and at the roller rink and share on social media.
Family and friends kept prodding the young women to start their own dance studio, but they would always shrug it off as a compliment.
However, last spring, Johnson received a text from Smith-Jones asking: “Do you really think we could start our own dance company?”
The two created Royal Dance Factor, a Racine-based dance company, to teach young women between the ages of 5 to 18 years old the fundamentals of dancing. And of sisterhood.
Shalan Johnson and Chloie Smith-Jones smile during Put The Guns Down Basketball Association games on Sunday. The dancers and Racine natives created Royal Dance Factor to teach young women the fundamentals of dancing and sisterhood.
Long-time dancers
At the age of three, Johnson was dancing at her father’s church, Reconciliation Ministries International, 2200 Mount Pleasant St., through the dance ministry her godmother taught. Before even starting grade school she was learning liturgical dance — a religious worship dance — from her godmother, who led the church’s dance ministry.
Johnson and Smith-Jones, both 20 and Racine natives, met each other when they became teammates on Starbuck Middle School’s cheer poms squad.
“With poms, you can be trained in all types of dance from jazz, contemporary and modern dance to hip-hop and African dance,” said Johnson.
Johnson became captain of her poms team at Park High School her senior year, while Smith-Jones was on the poms team at Sweatshop Movement, a local hip-hop focused dance academy.
Royal Dance Factor came about after the two women graduated high school and craved to share their passion with youth.
“It all started with me making a flyer and a Facebook post,” said Smith-Jones. “We posted the flyer a couple months before the tryout date and a bunch of people shared it. We had about 30 girls try out from Facebook alone.”
Johnson and Smith-Jones held their initial tryouts at Humble Park in July 2020, and a second tryout date during May of this year where they amassed a team of 54 girls.
The team is always looking for new members, operating under the motto that “No one gets left behind.”
From practice to performance
During the pandemic, Royal Dance Factor had no space to hold their practices due to building safety regulations, leading Johnson and Smith-Jones to host practices at Humble Park and use their garages as impromptu studios during the colder months and when it was raining.
In October 2020, Royal Dance Factor began using the Reconciliation Ministries International space as a temporary dance studio for their twice-weekly practices on Mondays from 4 to 8 p.m. and Wednesdays 4 to 7 p.m.
A group of dancers at Royal Dance Factor practice a new dance to perform between Put The Guns Down Basketball Association games scheduled for Sunday, August 8. Founders Chloie Smith-Jones and Shalan Johnson created their dance company to teach young women the fundamentals of dancing and sisterhood.
Practices range from learning a new dance for a performance that week or the girls choosing to have a dance battle against each other.
“I feel like everyday is something new with these girls,” laughed Johnson.
For the summer, practices have become more specific as the troupe had landed opportunities to perform at Racine’s Fourth of July parade and at Put The Guns Down Basketball Association’s Sunday games at Racine Dream Court.
“For the Sunday games, the team gets right into learning a new dance because we only have two days to practice,” said Smith-Jones. “The basketball games have helped motivate them to get out there and perform.”
Although everyone is allowed to join the team, the young women are divided into a showcase and a competition group.
“The competition group is for our more experienced girls,” said Johnson. “However, we tell all our girls their goal is to be on that competition team. We’re trying to build up their confidence.”
Beyond dance
The Royal Dance Factor wasn’t created to only serve as a dance company, but a safe haven for the young women to build their confidence.
Johnson and Smith-Jones began sharing their experiences of the fighting and jealousy that can arise from being on a team, and teaching the girls how to respect one another and build sisterhood.
They achieve this by eliminating habits of saying “shut up” or “dumb” when the girls speak to each other. Instead, the coaches encourage the girls to openly express their frustrations, whether it’s dance-related or personal.
Royal Dance Factor dancers practice in Reconciliation Ministries International, 2200 Mount Pleasant St.
“My dream was to always have a girl group home,” said Johnson. “For me, Royal Dance Factor is deeper for me than dance. Each and every single one of these girls go through something, and they’ll come to either me or Chloie and open up.”
Although Johnson and Smith Jones’ long term goal has been to have their own dance studio, their main objective right now is to remind the young women a career in dance is obtainable.
“I want them to grasp how serious the dance industry is because I don’t think they’re aware what’s really out there competition-wise,” said Johnson. “I’m trying to get them to understand that they can go so far. They could be at the BET Awards. They can make a whole career for themselves.”
To achieve this greatness, they say it begins with the mindset you have when you walk into a room.
“When they go to competitions, I teach them to remain humble but remember who they are,” said Johnson. “They shouldn’t care if someone can do 20 more kicks than them. I want them to remember what they bring to the table. That’s why we’re Royal Dance Factor — we’re royalty.”
Photos: Second-ever Juneteenth celebration in Burlington draws a diverse crowd to mark holiday
Welcoming sign at Burlington Juneteenth event at Echo Park in Burlington
A welcome sign greets patrons at Echo Veterans Memorial Park in Burlington for the second annual Juneteenth event presented Saturday by the Burlington Coalition for Dismantling Racism.
SCOTT WILLIAMS
Harley Bagley, 5, joins other dancers on stage at Burlington Juneteenth event
Harley Bagley, 5, right, of Milwaukee, checks her moves with other dancers on stage Saturday during the Burlington Juneteenth celebration at Echo Veterans Memorial Park.
SCOTT WILLIAMS
Brooke Bell and mother Monique Abujana and friend Casey Sellers at Juneteenth
Enjoying a moment in the sun during the Burlington Juneteenth celebration are Brooke Bell, from left, her mother, Monique Abujana, and friend Casey Sellers, during the all-day event Saturday at Echo Veterans Memorial Park.
SCOTT WILLIAMS
Organizer Darnisha Garbade welcomes crowd at Juneteenth event in Burlington
Darnisha Garbade, left, president of the Burlington Coalition for Dismantling Racism, leads the festivities June 19 at her group’s Juneteenth celebration, joined by a private security guard, at Echo Veterans Memorial Park in Burlington.
SCOTT WILLIAMS
Hannah McMartin and father Bill McMartin at Juneteenth event in Burlington
Hannah McMartin, left, joins her father, Bill McMartin, both of Burlington, while taking in the music, dancing and messages of the Burlington Juneteenth event Saturday at Echo Veterans Memorial Park.
SCOTT WILLIAMS
Dance troupe Signature Dance entertains at Burlington Juneteenth event
Members of the Signature Dance dance troupe deliver a performance Saturday at Echo Veterans Memorial Park in Burlington during the Juneteenth holiday celebration.
SCOTT WILLIAMS
Jacob Mersberger and Jeanne Heyer have fun in photo booth at Burlington Juneteenth
Jacob Mersberger, left, and his wife, Jeanne Heyer, of the Town of Spring Prairie, have fun Saturday at the Yellow Bus photo booth for 1960s flashback photo poses during the Burlington Juneteenth celebration.
SCOTT WILLIAMS
Line dance gets people moving at Juneteenth event in Burlington
Joining a line dance Saturday at Juneteenth festivities in Burlington are Makalaya Howard, 9, from left, Mariah Robinson, 12, Jendora Kelley and Tecia Sellers, during one of many musical moments in the all-day celebration at Echo Veterans Memorial Park.
SCOTT WILLIAMS
Colorful balloon display at Juneteenth event in Burlington
A colorful display of balloons and curtains brightens up Echo Veterans Memorial Park in Burlington for Saturday’s all-day Juneteenth celebration presented by the Burlington Coalition for Dismantling Racism.
SCOTT WILLIAMS
Donald Lee of Big Daddy’s BBQ at Burlington Juneteenth celebration
Donald Lee, owner of Big Daddy’s BBQ and Soul Food, manages the grill Saturday at Echo Veterans Memorial Park in Burlington during an all-day Juneteenth celebration.
SCOTT WILLIAMS
Casey Sellers and others dancing at Burlington Juneteenth event
Casey Sellers, left, joins other dancers on stage Saturday for a musical celebration during the Burlington Juneteenth celebration at Echo Veterans Memorial Park.
SCOTT WILLIAMS
Ken Dues and Kenda Dues of Racine relax at Juneteenth event in Burlington
Ken Dues, left, and his wife, Kenda Dues, of Racine, relax and watch the festivities unfold Saturday during a Juneteenth holiday celebration at Echo Veterans Memorial Park in Burlington.
SCOTT WILLIAMS
Tajzee Strong reigning Miss Black USA contestant from Wisconsin
Tajzee Strong, the reigning Miss Black Wisconsin USA, pauses at Echo Veterans Memorial Park in Burlington after addressing the crowd Saturday during a Juneteenth holiday event.
SCOTT WILLIAMS
Sunshine Tidwell, 2, and Morgyn Oberlin, 11, dance on stage at Burlington Juneteenth
Sunshine Tidwell, right, who turns 2 next month, gets her moment to dance on stage, joined by Morgyn Oberlin, 11, during a break Saturday in the Burlington Juneteenth celebration at Echo Veterans Memorial Park.
SCOTT WILLIAMS
In photos, a prom night to remember at Home Harbor Assisted Living Community
Hors d’oeuvres
A table of hors d’ouevres was served at the Home Harbor of Racine prom on Saturday.
Diana Panuncial
Before the party
From left, Sheryl Redmond, Marilyn Kelso, and Mary Noe wait for Home Harbor’s third prom event to begin on Saturday.
Diana Panuncial
King and Queen crowns
Crowns for prom king and queen sit atop a pillow waiting to be given out to Home Harbor residents on Saturday.
Diana Panuncial
Cool in shades
Prom dates Robert Nichols and Carrie Ahrens arrive at Home Harbor’s prom event on Saturday.
Diana Panuncial
A sharp suit
Leo Miller arrives at Home Harbor’s prom event with his granddaughter, Nicole Borgardt, on Saturday.
Diana Panuncial
Floral fun
From left, Home Harbor Activities Director Candy Talavera and Sue Fortier pose for a photo at prom on Saturday.
Diana Panuncial
Delicate corsage
Candy Talavera shows off her corsage on Saturday. Talavera wanted to thank Miller’s Flowers, 219 Sixth St., for their flower contributions to Home Harbor’s prom.
Diana Panuncial
Nice to see you
Two Home Harbor residents greet each other at prom on Saturday.
Diana Panuncial
A couple’s arrival
A couple matching in purple arrive at the Home Harbor prom on Saturday.
Diana Panuncial
A beauty in beige
Daniel Martinez arrives at Home Harbor’s prom with his grandmother, Minnie Rangel, on Saturday.
Diana Panuncial
Smile for the camera
Alexandria Martinez, who handles leasing and admissions for Home Harbor, arrives at prom with her date on Saturday.
Diana Panuncial
Blooming on camera
Marilyn Kelso gets her photo taken by photographer Curt Kratowicz during prom on Saturday.
Diana Panuncial
In front of the flowers
A Home Harbor resident gets her photo taken by Curt Kratowicz at prom on Saturday.
Diana Panuncial
We can match, too
Home Harbor Resident Deedee Avila shows off her dog Peanut on Saturday. The two match in outfits of denim and light pink.
Diana Panuncial
Couple’s prom photo
A Home Harbor couple sits for a photo on Saturday.
Diana Panuncial
Sparkly bowtie for the win
A Home Harbor resident shines in a sparkly bowtie on Saturday.
Diana Panuncial
Big smiles
Marty Karls, Home Harbor resident, gets her photo taken with her prom date, Nurse Santa Marzette, on Saturday.
Diana Panuncial
Spinning around
A little girl twirls in her dress at Home Harbor’s prom event on Saturday.
Diana Panuncial
Here for the show
Children watch as prom at Home Harbor unfolds on Saturday.
Diana Panuncial
Sitting together
From left, Miriam McNeilly, Dolores Fargus, Natalie and James Fay sit at a table together during prom on Saturday.
Diana Panuncial
Enjoying the show
A group of Home Harbor residents sit front and center of the dance floor during prom on Saturday.
Diana Panuncial
With Mr. Puerto Rico
Siblings Manuel Rivera, former Mr. Puerto Rico, and Candy Talavera, activities director at Home Harbor pose for a photo during prom on Saturday.
Diana Panuncial
Luxe in lavender
From left, Nya Lewis, Olivia Gonzalez and Santana Marzette, employees at Home Harbor, pose for a photo during prom on Saturday.
Diana Panuncial
Sharing a table
Home Harbor residents Janet Hoffman, Mary Erickson, Honey, Carol Rangstrom and Michael Timler share a table during prom on Saturday.
Diana Panuncial
A little bit of moolah
A Home Harbor resident shows off her raffle winnings during prom on Saturday.
Diana Panuncial
Pretty in purple
From left, Mary Noe, Candy Talavera and Carrie Ahrens dance at prom on Saturday.
Diana Panuncial
Can you can-can?
From left, Mary Noe, Robert Nichols and Carrie Ahrens do the can-can dance during prom on Saturday.
Diana Panuncial
Living it up
Carrie Ahrens dances with Robert Nichols on Saturday.
Diana Panuncial
Slow dancing
Alexandria Martinez dances with a Home Harbor resident on Saturday.
Diana Panuncial
Using a disposable camera
Mary Noe takes a photo on a disposable camera of a dancing pair at the Home Harbor prom on Saturday.
Diana Panuncial
Watching your feet
Resident James Fay dances with a prom guest at Home Harbor’s prom event on Saturday.
Diana Panuncial
Can I have this dance?
A prom guest invites Sue Fortier to dance on Saturday.
Diana Panuncial
A prom night to remember
Marty Karls dances with her prom date, Nurse Santana Marzette, on Saturday.
Diana Panuncial
Smiling
Emmie Boedecker, a prom guest, smiles at her dance partner while they share a dance on Saturday.
Diana Panuncial
Round and round
Kathleen Enstrom, employee at Home Harbor, does a double spin with Robert Nichols on Saturday.
Diana Panuncial
And the winner is…
Mary Noe accepts her title as prom queen at Home Harbor’s prom event on Saturday.
Diana Panuncial
Hold the applause
Home Harbor residents applaud as Robert Nichols, standing, gets announced as prom king on Saturday.
Diana Panuncial
Manuel Rivera
Manuel Rivera, who once held the crown as Mr. Puerto Rico, delivers a speech after crowning prom king and queen at Homer Harbor’s prom on Saturday.
Diana Panuncial
At the throne
Robert Nichols and Mary Noe, prom king and queen, sit at their thrones and listen to Manuel Rivera’s speech on Saturday.
Diana Panuncial
Come join us
Prom queen Mary Noe and prom king Robert Nichols invite others to join the dance floor after sharing a king and queen’s dance on Saturday.
Diana Panuncial
Enjoying the song
James Fay dances with a Home Harbor employee on Saturday.
Diana Panuncial
Leather jacket styling
At right, Carrie Ahrens pulls a Home Harbor resident onto the dance floor with her on Saturday.
Diana Panuncial
May I take your hand?
A prom guest invites a Home Harbor resident to dance on Saturday.
Diana Panuncial
Teaching the hand jive
A Home Harbor prom guest teaches the hand jive, a popular dance from the 1950s, on Saturday.
Diana Panuncial
Joining in the jive
Prom guests join in on the hand jive on Saturday.
Diana Panuncial
“For me, Royal Dance Factor is deeper for me than dance.”
Shalan Johnson, Royal Dance Factor co-founder