Culture & Entertainment Notebook: From Disney to One City: Jecala Amos dances to dream career

Jecala Amos started off her dancing career in Cairo, Illinois, at the age of 8. After moving several times -- and learning some moves of her own -- she has initiated her latest career venture as artistic director at Dance City in Cape Girardeau.

Amos graduated in 2012 with a general studies degree from Southeast Missouri State University after a time of indecisiveness on her career goal -- which involved a brief interest in majoring in dance and psychology.

Before graduation, she spent time in Orlando, Florida, pursuing an internship at Disney. Her intention was to audition and be either a Disney street dancer or "some type of princess," she said.

But after two auditions and a six-month effort, she realized it was "more work than anything" -- and was too tall to be a princess. Amos didn't meet Disney's 5-foot, 5-inche height requirements for the role, she said.

Amos then moved to Dallas to join well-known dance company Millennium Dance Complex, she said. But Amos turned it down because she would be unable to devote time to her church.

KASSI JACKSON ~ kjackson@semissourian.com Jecala Amos hops through an exercise with her baby hop class at Dance City Monday morning, Feb. 4, 2019, in Cape Girardeau.

Eventually, Amos ended up back in Cape Girardeau, where she began working with On Cue Dance Studio, which then led to connecting with the One City organization.

She discovered One City was looking for a lead dance instructor, Amos said, and it struck interest. Because of her experiences, she was familiar with ballet, tap dance and jazz. She decided to give it a shot.

She received an almost instant reply from Dance City executive director and co-founder of One City, Raelenna Ferguson, and Amos' next journey was about to take shape.

"We ended up meeting that same week," Amos said. "She expressed to me what their dream was for One City. They basically wanted a fine-arts-for-kids program, and they wanted it to be a dance program."

Amos jumped at the chance to direct, operate and teach at her own studio.

Jecala Amos claps for Greta Oslund, 2, after she completed an exercise during the "baby hop" class Monday at Dance City Monday morning in Cape Girardeau.KASSI JACKSON

"It's One City's building, but it's my dance company," Amos said.

The week of Feb. 4 was the first official week of classes at Dance City -- managed by Amos.

According to Amos, she wants Dance City to operate as a dance school.

"Not only are [the students] dancing, but they're learning dance terms and information about dance," she said. "Because to me, the more you know about dance, the more confident you are."

Thirty-four students are enrolled so far, Amos said, taking advantage of offerings such as baby hip-hop, baby jazz, youth hip-hop, youth jazz and ballet.

The ballet classes are taught by Parker Jacques, a student at Southeast, Amos added.

The hip-hop classes cater to babies; Amos refers to it as "baby hop." Amos' goal is to keep the classes structured and to maintain the "school feel."

Each lesson begins with sitting in a circle, listening to anything the children need to "get off their chests," stretching, a game, followed by Amos teaching a combination of dance moves.

"May 18 is going to be our Dance City finale," she said. "And that's what we're going to be working to."

But what does Amos enjoy most about her career?

"Actually dancing," she said. "The best part is actually being in that class with them dancing."

jhartwig@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3632

A life to celebrate

Poplar Buff, Missouri, native and opera star Jerome (Jerry) Pruett died Christmas morning, but the Daily American Republic reports the magic of Pruett's dreams live on.

Pruett, 77, died after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease.

Jacquelyn (Kimberlin) Pruett, his first wife and the mother of his daughters, told the Daily American Republic, "We always believed that having dreams and goals and keeping those in the heart and mind, would ultimately lead to some sort of iteration of them."

A celebration of life is set for Saturday, Feb. 16, at Cotrell Funeral Chapel in Poplar Bluff. Specific arrangements will be announced at a later date.

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CBS News reports the "NCIS" advertisement that aired during the Super Bowl on Sunday teased a major character -- Ziva -- may be making her return to CBS. But we won't know for sure until Tuesday.

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Along with fellow trolls Poppy and Branch from the animated film "Trolls," a purple troll named Guy Diamond is the park's gassy newcomer.

Check that local listing

Documentary and ode to "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood," "Won't You Be My Neighbor?" is set to air 7 p.m. Saturday on PBS and on HBO.