Meet The JDP Faculty
Troy Jansen
Troy is a multifaceted artist with a background in performing, arts administration, business, and education. As a performer, he studied with Frank Hatchett and danced in the New York and New Jersey theatre scene before joining the company of JazzMet in Columbus, Ohio. Troy later worked as a tap instructor and, eventually, the tap director for BalletMet, where he developed all new tap dance curriculum. During his time in Ohio, he also served as a tap and jazz dance instructor at Youngstown State University.
Upon moving to Tampa, FL, Troy and his wife Kristen founded the Jansen Dance Project (formally Children's Dance Workshop) which, for the last 16 years, has been a leading studio in the Tampa Bay area. While continuing to serve as the director, middle school division tap and jazz teacher, and a co-owner of the studio, Troy also teaches tap dance in the musical theatre department at Florida Southern College. He is passionate about providing young dancers with a holistic arts education, creating opportunities for his students to train as singers, actors, and even design technicians. Troy is a proponent of community outreach, having founded the non-profit arts organization Collective Soles Arts Group to enrich the Tampa community with accessible arts performances, lectures and workshops.
Kristen Jansen
Kristen was born into the dance industry and raised within the walls of a dance studio in Warren, OH. She attended The Ohio State University where she danced alongside industry professionals like Tony Calucci, and Stella Kane. While completing her degree in pharmacy, Kristen danced professionally at BalletMet and JazzMet in Columbus, OH where she met Troy Jansen... and the rest is history!
Today, Kristen in the pharmacy manager at Tampa General Hospital and simultaneously teaches ballet at Jansen Dance Project. She has 3 children who she has shaped into beautiful artists over the years.
Jacqueline Jansen
Jacqueline Jansen is the director of the Musical Theatre program here at JDP. She is currently studying at the University of South Florida and has directed the musicals Chicago, Cats and Honk Jr. this past year.
Prior to joining the JDP faculty, Jacqueline has performed alongside the UF School of Theatre and Dance and Broadway Theatre Project. Jacqueline has trained with musical theatre professionals including Andrew Cao, Donna McKechnie, and Ryan McKinney.
She is so happy to be on faculty and cannot wait for this upcoming season!
Jasmine Jones
Jasmine Jones is excited to be returning to Jansen Dance Project! With her Bachelors in Psychology and extensive dance training, she looks forward to sharing her positivity and enthusiasm with everyone. Jasmine has had the privilege to study dance at the University of Florida and the University of South Florida performing in various pieces and works choreographed by faculty, students, and guests. She has also had the opportunity to study with great artists such as Troy and Kristen Jansen, Margaret Morrisson, Baakari Wilder, and Chloe Arnold. She has been teaching throughout the Central Florida area and can't wait to dance with you!
Della Marsan
Della has professionally danced for Columbus Dance Theatre under the direction of Tim Veach in Columbus, Ohio and was a founding member of Collective Soles Dance Company in Tampa, Florida. Della spent 13 years as the Primary Dance Director and Instructor at Jansen Dance Project in Tampa where she greatly enjoyed teaching ballet, creative movement, jazz and more to hundreds of students. In addition, Della is an experienced registered yoga teacher with over 2,000 hours of training and teaching experience as well as a month spent studying Ashtanga yoga in Mysore, India. She is very passionate about sharing the art of yoga with young dancers to help strengthen the mind body connection as well as creating a positive connection to the whole self.
Dr. Christianne Roll
Dr. Roll received her B.F.A. in Musical Theatre from the CAP21 studio of New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. Her Master's Degree and Doctorate is from Columbia University, where she focused her studies and research on musical theatre vocal pedagogy. As a member of the Actors’ Equity Association, Christianne has performed at the Goodspeed Opera House, the Lucille Lortel Theatre, the York Theatre, and internationally as the principal singer for Norwegian Cruise Lines. As an educator, Christianne is the head of the Musical Theatre Program in the Theatre Department of Florida Southern College. In 2017, she won the college's Miller Distinguished Faculty award. Previously, she was in charge of the Pre-Professional Musical Theatre track at Emory & Henry College.
Christianne joins Jansen Dance Project as the in-house vocal director for Season 22.
Carley Ragsdale
Carley Ragsdale has been with JDP since she was 4 years old, she has graduated from The University of Tampa with a BA in Dance and minor in Exercise Science. She has been teaching at Jansen for three seasons now and is super excited for this upcoming one!
VISITING ARTISTS
Kendra Andrews, Tatianna Eriksen, Tiffany Mellard, Audrey Richter, Juan Rodriguez, Andrew Cao.