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2010 - 2011
Laurel Zimmerman Spears - Chief Operations Officer
Head Competitive Coach
Director of Dance
Ms. Laurel Zimmerman Spears, our head gymnastics coach and director of dance, has been associated with Huff ‘n Puff from its beginning in 1980. She began taking dance and gymnastics at age three and became a serious student of dance and gymnastics at age ten with the opening of Huff ‘n Puff. Ms. Laurel began assisting Huff ‘n Puff dance instructors at a very young age and as a young teenager, she began teaching ballet and tap to young students and jazz and tap to adults. Her background in dance comes from many years of study with well-known Arkansas instructors, through studio classes, college courses and private lessons. She also began teaching gymnastics at Huff ‘n Puff at age 14.
Several years ago, Ms. Laurel and her family returned to Arkansas so she could once again be a part of the business. She is a member of the professional USA Gymnastics Federation and is our head gymnastics and competitive team coach and director of both dance and gymnastics. Ms. Laurel is safety certified by USAG and is a USAG Skill Evaluator; she has also been a USAG Junior Olympic Judge. She has completed her Kinder Accreditation, a preschool gymnastics certification. She teaches advanced gymnastics and prepares the more advanced students for competitions. Eleven years ago, she began the Jacksonville Gymnastics Competitive Team with eleven Level Four members. This summer our competitive team, Levels Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine and Ten, numbers around 65 competitors.
Laurel also oversees the dance programs. We all have so much confidence in our instructors; they are fantastic and they know what is expected (having grown up in the business) and they accomplish it. Laurel formed the Jacksonville Dance Company seven years ago and it continues to grow and succeed.
While managing Huff ‘n Puff, Laurel earned her second associate degree in 2003. Her first associate degree from the Art Institute of Dallas was in interior design and her second was in Business Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management, in which she graduated magna cum laude. She is the mother of sixteen-year-old Tori and soon-to-be twelve-year old Madi. Both girls are active in Huff 'n Puff classes - Madi on competitive team and Tori in dance company. Tori helped coach team this summer and will be busy this school year with dance company and working; she will also be a second-year cheerleader at Cabot High School.
Laurel, Tori and Madi at TOP Nationals, Branson, July, 2010
Laurel, Lindsey, Lois and Sara at TOP Nationals, Branson, July, 2010
AFTER RECITAL 2009
2009 - 2010 Jacksonville Dance Company Instructors - taken after Aug 8 auditions.
Spring, 2008
Ms. Laurel and daughters, Tori and Madi - Christmas 07
Ms. Laurel and some of the Dance Instructors - 2008 JDC Audition Day from left to right are Ms. Emily, Ms. Laurel, Ms. Lindsey, Ms. Lois and Ms. Sara
Coach Laurel Spears, Head Team Coach
Coach Laurel at the Gym
2010 Team Coaches
Lois, Lindsey, Christy, Laurel and Erin
Our Jacksonville Gymnastics USAG Junior Olympic Competitive Team Coaches -
Ms. Lois, Ms. Lindsey, Ms. Laurel, Ms. Erin and Ms. Christy - 2008!