Jonia McClenney

Teaches at Athletic Garage Dance & BodyWork Studio

Born in Pernambuco, Brazil, Jonia began Brazilian folk dances when she was just five years old. By age 10, she studied Jazz and then Hip-Hop. With a scholarship to study ballet, she graduated at the 6th Level from London¢s Royal Academy of Dance Program in Sao Paulo. Jonia has always had a passion and fascination for dance and went on to graduate from the University of Sao Paulo with a Bachelor¢s in Physical Education. Competing and placing in numerous dance festivals in Sao Paulo, and finally in one of the largest dance festivals in the world, the Joinville Dance Festival, Santa Catarina, just south of Brazil. She also danced professionally in Hip Hop with Reebok-sponsored Cia de Performance Dance Company and performed for such corporate notables as Coca-Cola, Dupont, Amway and Procter and Gamble. Her love of Hip Hop brought her to Los Angeles where she danced with Madonna Grimes Dance Theatre Company and Culture Shock Los Angeles. Out of her native Brazil, she rediscovered the beauty of her own culture as she developed deeper dance appreciation and skills. She has been teaching at Athletic Garage since its opening in 1999. After eight years performing Samba/Brazilian rhythms and hiphop all over the U.S., and internationally in Lebanon and China, Jonia decided to bring her cheerful passion and extensive experience as a dancer to her own dance company, and in 2007 she founded Raiz Brazil Dance Company which is highly supported by Athletic Garage.