Dance has always been a major part of Kayla Jones' life. The Callaway High School junior figures that her love for the art form began around age 2.
"What I like most about dancing is the ability to express yourself," she says.
Jones is currently in her sixth year with the Dancing Dolls, a Jackson-area dance team that Dianna Williams formed in 2001. The squad is currently the focus of a new reality series on the Lifetime television network called "Bring It!", which documents the team's journey as it prepares for competition.
The squad scored a major victory in Memphis March 29 at the Bay Area Battle, where it was crowned the Grand Champs for the seventh year in a row. Competition can be nerve-wracking, Jones says, but that's not always the main emotion. "Depending on who you battle, it's sometimes fun," she says. Jones has served as the team captain for three years.
Being featured on the television show and at the receiving end of the subsequent attention, has been an eye-opening experience for Jones and the other dancers.
"To actually experience that, it's crazy. It's fun, though," she says. Her school has been abuzz about the series since its March 5 debut. "Now every time I come to school, it's about the show," she says. "It's different."
Jones, the daughter of Tina Jones and Terrell Vaughn of Jackson, admits to having little involvement in activities other than dance at the moment. "There's no time," she says with a laugh. When not at school, Jones can usually be found at the team's studio, Doll House Dance Factory (1410 Ellis Ave.), where she practices four evenings a week.
It is her lifelong love for dancing and performing that keeps her motivated. "Since I've been doing it for so long, I can say I don't want to stop," she says. "I can stay on this team until I'm 80. The people around me, what I do, my squad and Miss D., that's what inspires me."
While currently undecided about her college plans, Jones says she wants to become a dance teacher. She says that the television show has presented her and the entire team, with enormous opportunity.
"We've been here and been a great team for a long time. The biggest accomplishment was them picking us," Jones says. In the wake of the show's debut, the team traveled to New York City, where they performed on Bethenny Frankel's television show and visited the A&E Television Networks office.
While the team's fan base has grown nationally as a result of the show, Jackson remains at the core of everything Jones holds dear. "My family is here, my dance team is here, we originated from here. Here in Jackson, they've shown us a lot of support," she says.
"Bring It!" airs on Lifetime Wednesdays at 9 p.m. For more information on the Dancing Dolls, visit dollhousedancefactory.com.
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