Dance is a tough business. In an industry obsessed with body type, and where 100 dancers compete for one of 10 spots, the bar to success seems impossibly high.

Dance studios are the dancers’ career entry point. Finding a studio to study and practice the craft can be difficult if you don’t have the right body type, such as physique, height or other aesthetic qualities. But that’s not the case at Jimmy Locust’s studio.

“I’m a smaller man,” said Jimmy Locust, the artistic director and owner of Locust Performing Arts Center (LPAC) in Stamford, Connecticut.

By “smaller,” Locust speaks only of his physical stature. His towering career represents a Who’s Who of popular culture. When you meet Locust, your Six Degrees of Separation list instantly becomes more impressive. Locust’s connections and accomplishments include:

• Janet Jackson, with whom he danced in the Rhythm Nation 1814 music video.
• The 1996 Olympics in Atlanta where he was a choreographer.
• Nicholas Cage, with whom he worked on a commercial for Sanyo.

A featured dancer in the Coming to America wedding dance scene, choreographed by Paula Abdul. Eddie Murphy starred in the movie.

 He also performed with Michael Jackson at the MTV Video Music Awards, and Jackson’s European Tour, as well as the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards.

At just under 5 feet tall, Locust’s height presented an early obstacle. “I fought to get people to recognize me,” he recalled. “I look different, but I have something to share. I go into dance with confidence.”

Confidence and encouragement are the central life lessons that Locust’s students learn at LPAC, pronounced “L-pack.”

The Value of Dance

More than graceful steps, eye-popping moves, or a mere cardiovascular workout, dancers develop the tools they will use for the rest of their lives, whether they pursue dance, business, or public service.

“When children walk into LPAC, they walk into a place of acceptance. Income levels, professional or working class, and an array of ethnic and racial backgrounds define artificial bubbles that people tend to live in,” Locust explained. “We mix these bubbles. When you’re in my studio, you will learn to accept and appreciate people from other bubbles.

“The impact is deep,” Locust continued. “The children work hard, and they see the results. They don’t simply feel confident, they are confident. Equally important, the families see how their children can soar and learn to navigate through obstacles. These are the tools they will need in life.”

Jimmy Locust’s Stamford Story

Born in Dayton, Ohio, Locust’s dance moves took him to Los Angeles, Chicago and New York. It’s where the jobs are, and it’s where he earned success.

While working in New York as a choreographer of internal product fashion shows, Locust’s client list included Reebok, New Balance, Fila and Avia. A single degree of separation – his roommate – brought him to Stamford.

“She asked me to substitute teach in Stamford for her, and I fell in love with this community,” Locust recalled. “The beautiful greenery up here is a big change from New York.”

He founded his first studio with two business partners in 2005, the Stamford Performing Arts Center. His partners co-owned 50 percent of the successful venture that attracted 350 students.

“In 2010, our visions for the studio diverged and I pursued the solo venture that I’m running today,” Locust recalled, “The first venture was my ‘business of dance education.’”

He found the resources he needed to run a successful studio, and his relationship with Stamford has blossomed. Moreover, his portfolio has expanded to include the Locust Dance Academy in Miramar, Florida.

“I’ve nurtured positive relationships, and I work closely with Stamford Downtown on many of their events,” Locust explained. “I hire some professional dancers for larger jobs such as TV shows, commercials and videos. In some cases, I audition dancers in Stamford before I look to New York.”

Locust notes that LPAC’s children represent the most positive impact upon the greater Stamford area. “They typically join in the second grade, and stay with the studio until they leave high school, but the studio accepts students starting at three years old,  Locust said. “My methodology aligns with healthy boundaries that children will need as they move through the rest of their lives.”

And, yes, some LPAC alumni become highly recognized artists on Broadway, film and stage, and they have started their own professional dance companies in New York.

Your Six Degrees of Separation just got a lot more impressive.

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Learn more about The Locust Performing Arts Center