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Weeks after Hurricane Melissa damaged its western Jamaica facility in Montego Bay, St James, and wiped out nearly a month of training, First Dance Studios has successfully defended its national gymnastics title, emerging First Place Club at a major competition in Kingston.
The studio captured top honours in the JGR division at the Jamaica Gymnastics Classic, held on Sunday, November 30, outperforming at least five other clubs from across the island. It marked the second consecutive year that First Dance Studios has won the First Place Club title in the division.
The victory came against steep odds. Hurricane Melissa, which struck on October 28, caused extensive damage to the studio, including flooding of the main training area, destruction of gym flooring and damage to key equipment such as mats, beams and bars. The studio also lost its sound system, electronic devices and suffered water damage to costume and prop storage areas.
In the aftermath of the storm, CEO Jody-Marie Smith and Head Coach Sheri-Lee Smith led an urgent recovery effort, mobilising staff, parents and volunteers to salvage equipment and establish a temporary training space. The athletes had just one week of preparation in the makeshift facility before travelling to Kingston for the competition.
While the title defence was not unexpected from a technical standpoint, the head coach said the emotional weight of the win was significant, given the challenges the team faced.
“We were not surprised by the win, but we were overwhelmed with joy,” Smith said. “We knew our students had the talent and our team put in the work, but, after losing a month of training and dealing with the psychological impact of the hurricane, we are truly grateful that we were able to overcome those challenges and retain our title.”
Beyond the First Place Club trophy, the studio’s athletes delivered a series of standout individual performances. One student was named top performer overall, earning a near-perfect score of 29.7 out of a possible 30. The team also secured the First Place Club banner and collected 13 medals across various events.
The Kingston triumph may also open doors for the studio’s athletes on the international stage. Top performers from the competition are typically drafted to join a combined national ‘All-Star’” team representing Jamaica overseas, with selections expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
In addition to potential national team call-ups, First Dance Studios is already setting its sights on an international club competition planned for the summer.
As the studio continues repairs and fundraising to restore damaged areas and replace essential equipment, Smith said the win has reinforced the role First Dance plays beyond medals and podium finishes.
“In the midst of devastation, our athletes chose resilience,” she said. “This victory shows what is possible when a community refuses to give up.”
English (US) ·