Jann Davis is an internationally experienced educator, dance education consultant, curriculum developer, former multi-location dance studio owner, and dance competition pioneer. Her teaching experience includes American Literature courses for Virtual High School students in Great Britain, France, Saudi Arabia, and the United States. She helps dance educators and studio owners develop clear classroom benchmarks, practical lesson plans, meaningful assessments, structured curriculum, and effective classroom-management systems.
With more than 45 years of combined experience in dance education, studio ownership, and public education, Jann has influenced generations of dancers, teachers, and studio owners. She owned and operated the Jann Davis Dance Center in Westwood, Canton, and Easton, Massachusetts, and founded the American Dance Invitational® in 1977. Her work also includes creating Dance Moves programs for municipal recreation departments and YBrand programs across Massachusetts, directing and choreographing productions of Annie Junior and The Wizard of Oz, and coaching competitive high school dance teams.
A respected figure in the professional dance community, Jann served on the executive board of Dance Masters of New England Chapter #5, including as First Vice President. She also adjudicated numerous competitions for DMA Chapters #2, #5, #8, and #18, as well as Andy Yosinoff’s New England Cheer & Dance Competition. She was a member in good standing of the Dance Teachers’ Club of Boston and Dance Masters of America.
In public education, Jann served as a Senior Trainer and Master Teacher for the Intel® Teach to the Future initiative, sponsored by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. She taught English and technology education at Mashpee High School, Cape Cod Technical High School, and Virtual High School. She holds degrees from Northeastern University (BS, MA Ed), Smith College (MFA), and Harvard University (M.Ed.), and is professionally certified by the Massachusetts Department of Education in four fields, including dance. Jann also received a scholarship to attend the Harvard Kennedy School and holds a Master of Education (Ed.M.) in Technology, Innovation, and Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. In addition, Jann completed professional development courses through the Disney Institute®.
In 1976, Jann developed the original adjudicated scoring system for studio dance competitions, using a bell-curve model to bring greater structure and consistency to judging. For American Sport Dance Games®, she created a different system: a rubric-based scale designed to evaluate the specific skills and elements contained in each routine. This model moves judging away from personal preference and toward objective, curriculum-based assessment. The competitive material is drawn from Domain Dance®, the curriculum used to prepare routines for ASDG events. Together, these systems reflect Jann’s long-standing work to address concerns that dance teachers and studio owners have raised for decades about subjective competition judging.
Jann is also the creator of EXPECTATIONS for Dance Curriculum Frameworks® and American Sport Dance Games®, a modern alternative to traditional studio dance competitions. Through seminars, workshops, and private consultation, both virtual and in person, she brings an educational and 21st-century perspective to dance teaching, studio development, and student achievement. To inquire about a consultation, seminar, or professional program, please use the CONTACT FORM on this website.