Janet Graham has been dancing since she was a child, and she always loved it, but she never dreamed it was going to be her career.

On Friday, at the Missouri Military Academy gymnatorium, Graham, owner of Janet’s Dance Studio, watched her students take to the stage for their 46th annual recital. From the bleachers, all the way down to the front of the stage, the gym was packed with spectators.

But that’s normal, according to Graham, who said she expected to see over 1,000 people in the audience.

The annual recital features three shows — the Friday night premiere, Saturday morning matinee and Saturday night finale. And you can always expect to see a little bit of everything.

“You’re going to see a variety of things on stage from ballet, acro, tap, jazz, whatever,” Graham said.

One thing the recital is well known for is the fun and unique theme chosen by Graham year after year. This year’s theme, “Oh the Places I’ll Dance,” was inspired by her seniors.

“I always have seniors graduating, and when you go to their graduation parties, they always have that Dr. Seuss book there because it always gets read to them in kindergarten or preschool,” Graham said.

Some of Graham’s seniors choose to stay or find their way back to the studio as instructors, but senior Miah Sprock, who has been dancing for 12 years, said this chapter of her life will be closing.

“Janet’s Dance Studio is so special because you build a community of people,” she said. “I think the community and the friendships that you make along the way is the best part.”

Before she started her studio, Graham was in a similar situation.

Even though she loved dancing, Graham embarked on a different path after high school and went to college to be an accountant.

“I didn’t enjoy that part at all,” she said. “At that point, I kind of cried to my
dad.”

Graham asked her father if she could come home and start a dance studio until she figured out what she wanted to do with her life.

“I’m still trying to figure it out 46 years later,” she said.

Janet’s Dance Studio was established in 1980. Graham registered students in mother’s living room and rented a small space in downtown Mexico. When she ended up with 30 students her first year, she was able to rent the entire building and start her program.

In 1983, Graham’s father helped her build her current studio at 1014 W. Liberty St. Janet’s continued to grow.

“After 46 years, you just kind of go on autopilot and get it done,” she said. “Every year, we just build on what we already have, and we scratch the things that don’t work.”

Graham’s brand continues to grow year after year and she has had so many highlights along the way that it’s hard to keep track. Looking back, however, Graham said the most special moment, in her eyes, was seeing her son, Jacy, dance. Jacy died in February 2026, but Graham still remembers a special moment in 2020 when her staff and former students, including Jacy, worked together to prepare a throwback tribute dance just for her.

Many of Graham’s students and staff consider her their family — relationships supported by years of trust and respect built one day at a time.

“I never really said, ‘I’m dreaming to have a big studio with lots of kids and rent MMA,’” Graham said. “It was just one day at a time.”

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