When I grow up I’m going to be a ballerina!”

Such a pure and naive declaration bursting out of a twirling, pig-tailed little girl dressed in pink sequins, tulle and tights brings joy to all of us. We grin and chuckle, our hearts melt a little bit, and something aches as we realize the desire for greatness still lingers deep within us; but do we really believe her?

Joni Jackson sure does. “If that little girl says she’s going to be a ballerina when she grows up, believe her! If you nurture that dream, she just might!” Years ago, Jackson herself was that little girl making that big declaration, and today she is in fact a ballerina who is making not only her own dreams come true, but the dreams of hundreds of children also. In the 20 years since she began Messiah Dance Theatre, a couple thousand children have jetéd through her doors, full of hope, excitement and the sure confidence of knowing that there is indeed a time to dance.

Being one of five children in a family working hard to make ends meet, Jackson recalls asking for years to be able to take ballet classes. When her tenth birthday came around, it was her only wish: “No presents — just ballet lessons please!” Her wish was granted, and that dream, which began in her heart when she was a little girl prancing around the kitchen, has shaped her life ever since. “God put this desire in my heart and I just knew I was meant to dance.” Dancing quickly became Jackson’s love and obsession. Jackson danced all the time and everywhere, bribing her younger brother to be her partner so she could practice routines at home. By the time she was 14, she was accepted into the Royal Winnipeg Ballet summer training program. Desiring to devote more time to training, Jackson chose to homeschool for middle and high school. Jackson spent three summers during her high school years training at Ballet Magnificat in Jackson, Mississippi, which is a world-acclaimed Christian dance academy.

Upon the completion of high school, Jackson pirouetted off to Mendocino County, California, to study and teach dance at Mendocino Ballet. After a year out West, Jackson missed home and knew that God was prompting her to teach dance back in Fargo. Additionally, she knew that she was being called to create a new dance studio in which she could teach dance as a form of worship, incorporating Christian music and pointing students to Jesus and His love for them. “To me, the highest form of art is worship, and I wanted a place where I could teach dance like that,” says Jackson. “Also, at that time, the dance world was kind of harsh on kids. Kids were getting torn down and being pressured in ways that too often led to eating disorders. I wanted to build an uplifting and positive dance studio where everyone — every body type, every ability — could come to learn that they are beautiful and created by God.”

Thus began Messiah Dance Theatre. As she shared her excitement about opening a Christian dance studio, 20-year old Jackson was met with disbelief and hesitancies from nearly everyone. “But I was young and just crazy enough to think it might work,” she laughs. With a dream in her heart and boldness in her step, Jackson approached a nearby church to ask if she could utilize a room in the evenings for dance classes. To her own surprise, she received a ready and warm welcome from the church. She leaped into action, began advertising, and opened the doors of Messiah Dance. Starting with 50 students and teaching all classes herself, Jackson was thrilled to offer a place to which children were so thrilled to come. “When I started ballet as a 10-year-old girl, it was the highlight of my week. Every week I looked forward to the day I got to go to dance. And now, it’s the highlight of their week. I get to see them all excited to dress up like a princess and dance around.”

As a young woman doing a brand new thing, Jackson quickly learned that she couldn’t do this all by herself; she needed a support team. Surrounding herself with fellow small business owners, including her sister and her husband, became critical as they learned from one another and networked together. Her dear friend and dance partner Diane Pfeffer was with her in the very beginning and has been with her ever since, through all the twists, lifts and turns of running a dance company. Five different buildings in Fargo-Moorhead have been home to the studio at various times, and her team of teachers has grown to six, most of whom grew up dancing at her studio. “My team is my right and left arm. Our team allows us to provide quality service to our families — to know all their names and what’s going on in their lives. Each of my teachers has the heart to connect with kids. We just want to build up students and give them a place where they can shine and share their heart. Sometimes when a student comes to class, sharing what’s on her heart is more important than dancing that day; we want to be there for her.” Growing accustomed to having dance instructors pray for them, whether it’s regarding a big test, an upcoming game or a personal struggle, students know that Messiah is a safe place where they can talk about anything and find love and support.

Intermingling well-loved, classic ballets with modern hiphop and jazz, Jackson creates all her own choreography and curriculum to stay fresh, relevant and exciting for both the dancers and the audiences. Jackson models her own love of dance by often dancing the lead role in their annual Christmas and spring recitals, and many times convincing her husband Reggie, owner of Jackson Recognition, to be her dance partner. Although he’s always been an athlete and travels as both a minor league baseball umpire and a college basketball referee, adding ballet to his athletic repertoire wasn’t a spin Reggie was expecting. Yet he’s taken to it like a prince.

As the years raced by with both husband and wife building their businesses, the question about whether or not they would have children always landed on, “Oh, maybe someday.” Maybe after getting established; maybe after growing our businesses; maybe next year. To their surprise, that someday came with the news of pregnancy at age 39. Sweet little baby boy Reggie has changed life more than Jackson ever thought possible. “I never understood what my girlfriends meant about the sleep deprivation, but whoa! It’s real!” But being his mama is the greatest joy she has ever known. In the year and a half since Reggie entered center stage, Jackson has reduced to teaching one to three evenings per week, relying more heavily on her excellent team of teachers. She does her business management from home and no longer dances the lead in every recital. Little Reggie, or “Bubba,” as they call him, is now her primary dance partner as they waltz around the house together. In true form, he began doing chaîné-turns all over the house practically before he started walking, and he’ll be in ballet classes as soon as he turns three.

As she looks to their 20th Spring Recital, which will be Swan Lake (her personal favorite), Jackson attributes every move and transition over the years to the Lord’s faithfulness. “This has always been the Lord’s thing. The fact that I could accomplish anything was a miracle in itself. It was in His heart before He ever put it in my heart, and His hand has been all over it, from every building to every teacher to every student.” She looks forward to the endless possibilities ahead, excited to see more and more dreams unfold.

So the next time a sweet little girl in pigtails and pink tulle tells you that she’s going to be a ballerina when she grows up, you’d best believe her. Because there’s always a time to dance.

LIFE words by REBECCA SUNDET-SCHOENWALD, MSU MOORHEAD photography provided by JAMES SEWELL BALLET and ZIPPORAH FILMS