Dancing Through the Decades With Julie Wilson!

I’ve known Julie Wilson for a long time, and if there’s one thing I can say about her, it’s that she truly lives and breathes dance. When I sat down to talk with her, it was clear that she has a lot of passion, not just for movement, but for the people and stories that come with it. “I think I started dancing in the womb,” Julie laughed. She officially began at age three with the late Cleo Smith and continued her training with Mary Wempner, who she describes as a second mother. “She taught me the discipline and dedication needed to be a good dancer.” Julie studied tap, ballet, pointe, and jazz through her early twenties before discovering the world of Ballroom, Latin, and Swing in her thirties. Eventually she began to compete across the United States in the International Latin category, and she’s been moving ever since.

When we talked about her biggest influences and accomplishments, she paused for a moment before answering. “There have been so many people who’ve inspired me, I’d need to write a book,” she said with a grin. “But my biggest achievement isn’t a title or a trophy, it’s all the wonderful people who’ve crossed my path. Relationships have formed in my studio, people have met and gotten married, careers have been launched. Hopefully, when people hear Shut Up & Dance, they’ll think of me and not the song… I came first!”