Jonathan Vazquez

Jonathan Vazquez, who graduated from Reading High School in 2014, has not only been a dance coach, but also an inspiration and a role model for all his students over the years. As a young child, he gained a love for the performing arts, specifically singing, but by the time he was around 14 years old and a freshman in high school, that love naturally transitioned into dance. “I used to spend hours watching dance videos, completely fascinated by the creativity and energy. When I moved to Reading and saw the RHS Dance Team for the first time, I was instantly inspired. I made it my mission to become a part of that team. Once I finally did, my passion for dance just kept growing from there and hasn’t stopped!” He has taught numerous students since 2019 after he was advised by his old coach, Mrs. Davis, to run the team. She was there for him when he was just getting into learning how to lead a team all by himself. “Mrs. Davis, was a huge inspiration for me. A lot of my coaching style comes directly from her–the way she led, motivated, and pushed us to be our best. She had this balance of tough love and genuine care that made such a lasting impact on me. The dedication and groundwork she put in truly paved the way for the team I lead now, and it’s something I’ll never take for granted.”

While looking back on his years, he didn’t always have his eyes on becoming a coach. Instead, his plan was to go to college for marketing and graphic design, specifically in the visual effects industry. “My dream job back then was to become a graphic designer who created the kind of visual magic you see in movies like Harry Potter—the explosions, the spells, the CGI, and all the storytelling that happens through visuals.” But while that was his dream career, he mentioned how if he wasn’t coaching, he would still be fully immersed in the dance industry, continuing to train, travel, and keep growing as a versatile dancer. Exploring different dance styles from around the world, and using those experiences to open new doors–whether that means performing as a backup dancer, a creative director, or eventually opening his own studio to teach and inspire others–Jonathan is someone that has inspired and continues to inspire many of his students, especially those who’ve graduated and gone on to continue their journeys in the performing arts. “A lot of them stay in touch and share their amazing accomplishments, which means so much to me. At the end of each season, my dancers often tell me what they’ve learned or how the experience has impacted them, and hearing that is truly rewarding. There’s nothing that brings me more joy than seeing a student not just remember what I’ve taught, but actually live it, applying those lessons and succeeding beyond what they ever imagined.”

Being a member of the Red Knight community, Jonathan has found many different ways to give back. “I’m very active in finding ways to open up the world of dance to the entire Red Knight community. My goal is to start a youth dance program that helps students build confidence and discover a love for the performing arts–the same passion that shaped me growing up. I want to create a path for younger students to eventually join the high school dance team and experience the incredible opportunities it offers, like competing on big stages and even at world competitions.” Whether that includes helping his students find different opportunities at multiple competitions, or learning how to be a voice within the dance community for everyone, Jonathan will always be the one behind all of this hard work.

As we know, Jonathan has helped find opportunities for his students all over the country. One of those opportunities was competing at World of Dance. World of Dance is a national competition that travels the world finding the best dancers in two divisions, Upper Division and Junior Division. All of the choreographies performed were created by Jonathan, his three captains at the time (Pablo Martinez, Stacy Soto, and Angel Gonzalez), and volunteer coach, Raymond Torres; he also received inspiration and help from his fellow students throughout this process. All of their hard work, dedication, and practice was worth it in the end as the Red Knights Dance Team landed a spot in the Top 10! “Coaching my students for the World of Dance competition was overwhelming, stressful, and bittersweet. But above all, it was incredibly rewarding. It took countless hours of hard work, filled with sweat, tears, and laughter. Every moment, even the toughest ones, was worth it once I saw my team step onto that stage and give it their all.”

 Aside from helping his students at the World of Dance competition, Jonathan has also made it through the LA finals with his dance studio, Creative Reaction. They performed a choreography mixed with all different styles of dance, including vogue, step, and many more. This experience was a moment in Jonathan’s life that he will never forget: “Having that experience–being surrounded by some of the greatest dancers in the world, meeting them, and even dancing alongside them–will always be one of the greatest treasures of my adult life. I never had the chance to compete in a major competition before, let alone on a world stage like that. So even though we didn’t take home a championship title, I still felt like a winner. That experience opened doors for me in ways that a trophy never could.” This is a moment that not a lot of people get to experience, but Jonathan pursued his dream of becoming a well-known dancer, and it has paid itself off in dividends.

But that wasn’t the only dream that he accomplished. His dream of working in graphic design became true once he decided to make his own design business, JayAlexis.com. It started off as something small, just him, making his team’s uniforms and merch to wear during practice, performances, and around school. “My long-term goal is to build Jay Alexis into my primary, full-time venture and truly step into entrepreneurship. With the business and human resources management experience I’ve gained throughout my career, I want to use that knowledge to create a brand centered entirely around dance, offering high-quality gear, apparel, and accessories that reflect the energy and creativity of the dance community.” What began as a simple craft quickly grew into a passion, and now it’s evolving into a full-fledged business. He makes his own designs which includes shirts, cups, keychains, phone cases, and similar items. 

It is truly amazing how much Jonathan has accomplished in such a short amount of time. Being in a place where you can have so many different opportunities to achieve your dreams has really made him who he is. It has helped him grow into the person that he is today. He is continuing to help put Reading on the map of the dance world, not to mention the Red Knight Dance team that he coaches. Despite having gone through hardships and troubles, he is not going down without putting his team on the right track!