Our Team.
Jali Stafford
Founder
Jali Stafford started her dance journey in Bossier City, Louisiana at the age of 2. She trained in many styles of dance on her competitive journey including ballet, pointe, contemporary, lyrical, modern, tap, hiphop, musical theater, and jazz. When Jali turned 14 she started choreographing/student teaching at her home studio. By the age of 15, she had her own recreational dance classes and by the age of 16 she was choreographing competitive routines. She won multiple titles while competing including Senior Dancer of the Year at Celebration Talent Competition. After high school, Jali went on to major in Dance Performance at the University of Arkansas in Little Rock and received her Bachelors in Fine Arts. During her undergraduate experience, she worked at Triumph National Talent Competition as backstage manager, and is now the official Emcee and Sound Technician. She earned the competition director position at her home studio in Arkansas and received a multitude of technique, choreography, and overall awards this season such as; the 12 and Older Most Entertaining Award at KAR Dance Competition, the 11 and Under Technique Award at Edge Talent Competition, and the Teen Encore Award at Triumph National Talent Hot Springs Nationals. Jali is now working to create her very own dance convention debuting in October called “Double Take”. Double Take is Jali’s chance to extend the opportunities and experiences from her past three year as a traveling choreographer across Louisiana, Missouri, Arkansas, and Texas. Her main goals as a dance teacher and choreographer are to create smart, employable, and empowered dancers ready for their next step into the professional industry!
Laney Belle
Teacher
Laney Smith was born and raised in White Hall, Arkansas. She graduated from The University of Arkansas at Little Rock and received a Bachelor’s in Fine Arts with an emphasis on Dance Performance. She has studied and continues to study various styles of dance that include ballet, contemporary, hip hop, jazz, modern, musical theater, and tap. She also studies gymnastic disciplines when she is not dancing. Laney found her love to dance at the age of two and now shares her love with students across the nation. Laney has been in the competition dance world for 22 years as a student and now an instructor. In those years, she has received multiple national titles and awards. She as trained and performed in various cities and is now employed by Triumph National Talent as a Director/ Production Manager. In her free time, Laney enjoys traveling and spending time with her family and with her dogs Earl and Sam.
Bailey Riley
Teacher
Bailey Riley is from the city of White Hall, Arkansas. Bailey began dance at the age of 2 years old, and continues to grow in her love and passion for dance. She has trained in all styles of dance such as jazz, tap, contemporary, hip hop, musical theatre, ballet, and pointe. Bailey loves to share her love of dance with kids of all ages by traveling across the country to assist and teach classes and choreography. Bailey attended the University of Central Arkansas, where she is an alumni of Sigma Kappa at the and she held the position of dance chair. She also made the UCA dance team her freshman year. She choreographed two winning dances for her sorority as a freshman. Bailey also choreographed her own senior solo that holds many overall titles and choreography awards along with duo/trios and groups. Bailey is very excited to be a part of Double take staff and looks forward to working with all of the talented students this year!