Meet JonesDance
Photography by Michelle Carr
Waylon Jones
Owner
Professional Ballroom, Latin, Partnering Specialist & Ballet Instructor
Waylon Jones is a professional ballroom champion and a retired professional ballet dancer. Waylon began his dance career in Tennessee at the age of 10, and quickly progressed, ultimately receiving multiple scholarships and was invited to attend North Carolina School of the Arts. Waylon danced with The Pasadena Ballet, The Nashville Ballet, and The Joffrey Ballet in NYC to name a few.
After he retired from professional ballet, Waylon started training in Ballroom, Latin and Cabaret dance styles. He won several regional competitions in American Rhythm, Ballroom, and Theatre Arts. He placed 3rd in the country and 4th in the World. After this achievement he was invited to represent the United States twice at the British invitational, Blackpool Dance Festival.
He has owned multiple, successful dance studios in Tennessee and Georgia and still teaches master classes and choreographs across the region. Waylon also headed up the North Georgia Dance Officials Association as the head official for GSHA (Georgia State High School Association) from 2020 to 2023. He was awarded twice by the state of Georgia for his volunteerism and service toward the sport of dance.
Locally, he recently performed with GO! Contemporary Danceworks, alongside his wife, Julie, in the leading role as Hades in The Search for Persephone.
Photography by Lindsay Bell
Julie Cox Jones
Professional Ballroom, Latin & Ballet Instructor
Julie Cox Jones hails from Knoxville, TN, where she began her training in ballet, modern, and ballroom dance at various studios. She continued her education at the Virginia School of the Arts under the late Petrus Bosman and later launched her professional career with the Nashville Ballet after graduation. As her career progressed, Julie danced with the Richmond Ballet and several seasons with the boutique company, Paradise Ballet Theatre in Key West, Florida. During her travels, she operated a dancewear store with her mother for 20 years in Knoxville and earned the title of "master fitter" of pointe shoes. Following a series of injuries, Julie became a guest artist, teacher, and choreographer for East Tennessee companies: Appalachian Ballet Company, Oak Ridge Civic Ballet, Tennessee Children's Dance Ensemble, and GO! Contemporary Dance Works. While residing in Winston-Salem, North Carolina from 2015-2020, she was a guest artist and performed with High Point Ballet, a Regional Dance America company, and served as principal and guest artist for Winston-Salem Festival Ballet, portraying roles "Sugar Plum Fairy" in Gary Taylor's Nutcracker and "Mina" in Gary Taylor's Dracula. Recently, she performed alongside her husband, Waylon, as "Persephone" in The Search for Persephone by Lisa Hall McKee.
Julie is certified in Progressive Ballet Technique and enjoys sharing her expertise in biomechanics for strength and conditioning to prevent injuries. She is a devoted advocate for retired racing greyhounds, having had many in her family for the past 30 years. Julie also enjoys collaborating with Gregory's Greenhouse Productions to enhance the beauty of the Knoxville area with wonderful seasonal outdoor flower designs in landscaping beds and containers at small businesses.
Jennifer Aull
Professional Ballroom, Latin & West Coast Swing Instructor
Jennifer Aull's journey into ballroom dance began 13 years ago when she first stepped onto the dance floor as a student. She quickly fell in love with the joy, connection, and confidence that dance can bring. That passion soon grew into a love for teaching others.
Today, Jennifer brings that same enthusiasm to every lesson she teaches. She affectionately calls her students her "duckies," and takes great pride in helping each one paddle at their own pace. Her teaching focuses on building strong fundamentals and proper technique - which in turn helps students to know the how and the why.
Jennifer believes learning to dance should be both rewarding and fun. Whether working with someone taking their very first steps or helping an experienced dancer refine their skills, her goal is to create a welcoming environment for learning, laughter, and challenges.
Teaching ballroom is about more than learning steps, it's about helping her "duckies" become confident dancers and watching them discover their own love for dance.