pictured above, Janice Freeburg (wiles)
shortly after janice’s passing in 2016, a local couple gave our family this photo that they found in an iowa thrift shop. years ago the wiles family farm house burned down, along with many memories, making this photo so treasured as it is one of the only images we have seen of janice dancing.
our story
Janice’s Dance Studio was founded in 1954 by Janice Freeburg. She owned and operated the studio for 58 years, starting when she was 18 years old. Janice, her husband Don, and their children (Tad, Tim, & Tammy) moved to Oklahoma for 1 year while Don was getting his Master’s Degree, but Janice was eager to get back to Plattsmouth to run her dance studio.
The studio started in the basement of the public library. Eventually Janice had her family dig out the basement of their house and she began having classes at her home. Janice was then able to build a new home and dance studio on family land in the early 2000’s.
Janice’s granddaughters, Jill and Julia, took over the studio in 2013 and 2016 as co-owners. In 2017 they were able to expand the studio out of the basement and build a larger studio across the street. Tim (Janice’s son & Jill & Julia’s dad) built the new studio in his mother’s honor in order to allow for more students to attend and learn. The studio is still ran by the help of the entire family, just as it has been since the beginning.
The legacy that Janice left behind is such a gift to be carried on. It is so wonderful to see generations of Janice’s students coming back to either assist, teach, and/or bring their children and grandchildren to take dance lessons. The studio will always be known as Janice’s Dance Studio, but today you may hear it called JDS!
All of our instructors/choreographers have been taught by our founder, Janice. And now some of our younger instructors/choreographers have also been taught by Jill & Julia as well.