Today we’d like to introduce you to Jackie Zamora.
Hi Jackie, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My name Jackie Zamora and I was born in the Dominican Republic and raised in Brooklyn, NY. I moved to Maryland in 2005 and worked as Assistant Teacher for two private schools for children with special needs. Today, I am the founder of ZamDance. I launched the first class on September 28, 2013. I only had 50 dollars in my pocket to rent the dance studio for our first ZamDance class. At that time, I was living with one my students from the Ivymount School. Her dad needed help at home with his daughter so I also became her nanny. I lived with them for over 10 years. One day, I sat with her dad who owns his own Patent firm. We discussed the idea of starting a dance fitness class for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. He immediately jumped and said, let’s call it ZamDance. I totally agreed and then he trademarked the business.
The first class was a success. The students loved it and the parents were amazed that their children were engaged in the class. They began to spread the word about ZamDance. We had about 15 students in the second class. There was one parent who heard about ZamDance. She brought her son who is on the spectrum. I heard that she was well-known lady in the community. Her name is Whitney Ellenby, she is the founder of Autism Ambassadors and the Author of a book called, ” Autism Uncensored. ”
She was so happy to see that her son for the first time was so into this new activity. She shared the great news about this class to 500 parents. ZamDance was never the same after that. Today, the DMV area knows about this program. I work in every special needs facility and in the schools and the list goes on.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
One of the challenges is not being able to find sponsors so ZamDance can expand nationwide and worldwide. It the DMV area, ZamDance a very essential movement for my students and their families. This program has changed their lives completely. It’s one of the most important activities they look forward to.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I was always a dancer but I do have a degree in Latin Americans Studies and trained in Modern dance for over 3 years at Brooklyn College. Music and dance is my world. I was a certified Aerobics instructor for a gym in NYC called Ballys then I was teaching classes at the World Trade Center.
I trained in Jazz at the Broadway Dance Center and African dance at Djoniba the dance studio. I performed a modern
dance piece at the Brooklyn Academy of Music for the David Rousseau dance production. I was the director of the choreography for the first Bollywood on Broadway called, Rang, Shades of my Soul.
What do you like and dislike about the city? I was raised in the city that never sleeps and that’s New York. I do love my city but I will never live there. I do enjoy living in Rockville because of its diversity and there is always something fun to do.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.zamdance.com
- Instagram: @zamdance
- Facebook: @zamdance/zammovement,inc
