Instructor

Jayden Leighty

Jayden started his ballroom dance career when at the age of 14 he volunteered to be his Grandmother’s dance partner.  It quickly became clear to Jayden that dancing was an activity that he loved to do.  He attended a professional dance competition as a spectator and the energy he felt in the ballroom sealed the deal. 

 Jayden has studied with world class professional teachers, world ballroom dance champions and celebrity ballroom dancers.  He started teaching his own students and is now the co-owner of his own business, In Motion Ballroom Dance, LLC.  

Jayden is a member of the National Dance Council of America and a certified dance instructor.  He offers top-notch instruction in many dance styles such as Rhythm, Smooth and club styles. 

Jayden currently competes in Professional divisions of NDCA sanctioned competitions across the United States with his partner on the dance floor and in life, his wife Susanna.  

Susanna and Jayden live in Enfield Connecticut.  They support many local fundraisers in the community and are thankful for the opportunities to teach folks who participate to raise money for the many causes. Fundraisers supported include:

• Shriners Dancing with Heart

• West Springfield Boys and Girls Club “Flute’s and Flavors”

• Cutchins Programs for Children & Families, “Dancing with the Local Stars”

• Hartford Health Care “Dancing for Parkinsons”

• Artistic Dance Conservatory Dance Festival 

• Holyoke Children’s Museum “Fancy Steps”

In 2024 Jayden and his fundraiser partner Danielle won the Mirror Ball - First Place!

Jayden has a relationship with Kingswood Oxford School in West Hartford, CT where he has taught high school students and prepared students for their schools Choreographers Showcase.  Teaching young people the art and sport of Ballroom Dancing is a passion of his. 

Jayden believes that dancing is the gift that Jesus his Savior has bestowed upon him to bring joy and love into the world.

Instructor

Susanna Leighty

Susanna began her dance journey as a young girl, discovering early on a love for dance, singing, and theatrical arts—passions that would ultimately lead her into the world of ballroom dance. A creative soul at heart, she thrives on expressing emotion and storytelling through music, movement, and performance.

She has trained with world-class instructors, ballroom dance champions, and celebrity professionals. Susanna began her teaching career at a franchised ballroom studio and is now proud to be the co-owner of her own business, In Motion Ballroom Dance.

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Susanna is a certified dance instructor and a member of the National Dance Council of America (NDCA). She specializes in personalized and creative ballroom dance instruction, including Wedding, Social, Rhythm, Smooth, and Club-style dancing.

Together with her husband and dance partner, Jayden, Susanna competes professionally in NDCA-sanctioned competitions across the United States.

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They reside in Enfield, Connecticut, and are active supporters of local community fundraisers. Their participation helps raise money for meaningful causes through dance-focused events such as:

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• Shriners Dancing with Heart

• West Springfield Boys & Girls Club – Flutes and Flavors

• Cutchins Programs for Children & Families – Dancing with the Local Stars

• Hartford HealthCare – Dancing for Parkinson’s

• Artistic Dance Conservatory Dance Festival

• Holyoke Children’s Museum – Fancy Steps

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In 2025, Susanna and her fundraiser partner, Michael, were honored with the First Place Mirror Ball at the Shriners Dancing with Heart event.

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Susanna also partners with Kingswood Oxford School in West Hartford, CT, where she and Jayden teach ballroom to high school students in preparation for the annual Choreographers’ Showcase. She finds great joy in introducing young performers to the world of ballroom, blending her love of dance and theatrical arts with their talent and enthusiasm.

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Susanna believes that, by the grace of God, she has been given the gift of dance to share with others—and she’s grateful every day for the opportunity to do so.

Events Coordinator

Donna Loomis

Donna’s love for dance began in childhood at Charmaine's School of Dance in Springfield. From those early days, her passion for movement and music never left her heart—even as life took her in many different directions.

After proudly serving in the U.S. Marine Corps, building a successful career in the insurance industry, raising a family, and bravely overcoming a battle with cancer, Donna felt a powerful pull back to her first love: dancing. That opportunity came in a beautiful and unexpected way—through her grandson, Jayden, who offered to be her ballroom dance partner at just 14 years old.

Today, Donna is an accomplished ballroom dancer on the NCDA Pro/Am circuit. She has competed in numerous events across the country and internationally, including an elite competition in Iceland. Her achievements include multiple first-place awards in both American Smooth and American Rhythm categories. Notably, she took home top honors in the American Smooth Bronze Championships at both the Tri-State Dancesport Championships and the Viking Dancesport Open in Iceland.

Donna continues to train with her professional instructor and two time US nine dance Champion, Gunnar Sverrisson, with ambitious goals to advance into the Silver and Open levels of competitive ballroom dance.

Now retired, Donna dedicates her time to her family, dancing, traveling, camping, and working with In Motion Ballroom Dance to share the joy of dance with local communities.

She lives in Feeding Hills with her husband, Jim, and their two spirited dogs, Bruzier and Henry. Donna is a proud mother of two daughters and the doting grandmother of five grandboys—who remain the greatest joys of her life.