UTC Kids Club participants dance through another Wednesday

Jodi Sobol or “Miss Jodi,” as she’s known around The Green at UTC, grew up dancing. At 44-years-old, the dance teacher and studio owner is on her second generation of students. 

“It blows my mind,” she said. “Although if I get to a third generation, I might have to say, ‘Thanks, Sarasota, we’ve put in our time together.’”

By 12, Sobol was learning to teach dance. By 19, she opened her own dance studio, Miss Jodi’s School of Dance. 

Every other Wednesday, Sobol drives a purple van from her studio in Sarasota’s The Landings to UTC to host the Kids Club. 

Sobol pumps up the music and never stops smiling. The kids run in circles pretending to be chased by bears. They hop, skip and march, too.

“I love doing this,” Sobol said. 

The kids, parents and grandparents love following along with the fun. All ages happily stopped whatever they were doing anytime Sobol shouted “Freeze!” 

After the April 3 class, several of the grownups also stopped to thank Sobol on the way out. 

Melinda Croce brings her fraternal twin grandchildren, 3-year-olds Arleana and Olin Croce, at least once a month. It never gets old watching her granddaughter Arleana drop to the ground and pretend to be asleep every time Miss Jodi says “quiet time.” 

“She thinks ‘quiet time’ means a nap,” Croce chuckled.