Jennifer L. Young Memorial Dance Scholarship

This scholarship annually supports a dancer's instruction at A-List Dance Academy (ALDA) in memory of Jennifer Lynne Young's contributions to expanding the performing arts in Franklin County and her passion for making dance accessible for all. Scholarship application review and distribution of funds will be completed by Jennifer's family and distributed to ALDA under the direction of Jennifer's mentee and friend, Brittany Alexander. Dancers may apply via the online scholarship application.

Jennifer Lynne Jamison Young danced her way out of this world on September 19, 2021 at the age of 57 after a courageous battle with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or Lou Gehrig’s Disease). For more than 40 years, she committed her life to inspiring others through the performing arts. She began dancing as a child when her parents took her to the dance hall at Roanoke Civic Center for ballroom dancing. She began taking lessons at the age of 7 under Ray Hollingsworth and taught her first class for younger students when she was 15. During her school years, she also was a percussionist for the Franklin County High School marching band and sang in the Piedmont Presbyterian Church choir.

After graduating from high school, Jennifer went on to teach dance at local firehouses and attended Ferrum College where she was part of the Ferrum Singers. At the age of 22, she opened Jennifer’s School of Dance in a rented space in the basement of Hollywood Beauty Salon. Several years later, she launched a dance and theater program at the Franklin County YMCA that remained under her direction from 1997 until 2006. During this time, she also sang for The New Virginians based in Roanoke, Virginia, directed the church choir and led after-school and summer music programs at Piedmont Presbyterian Church, and also sang gospel music with her parents and daughter as part of The Jamison Family Singers.

In 2006, Jennifer opened the Blue Ridge Performing Arts Academy (BRPAA), her life’s work and love, where she offered instruction in dance, piano, voice, and theater. She directed countless productions for the Franklin County community, exposing residents to the arts and reviving art education, and also competed and won numerous local, state, regional and national awards. She directed theater productions at Franklin County High School and also choreographed for the Miss Virginia organization.

While Jennifer was often recognized for her talent with choreography, she was most proud of seeing and hearing from students that they had grown in confidence. Her legacy will live on in the countless lives of those she taught, mentored, and inspired.