Meet Dr. Janet Bentley-Ewers | Playwright, Dancer, & Doctor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Dr. Janet Bentley-Ewers and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dr. Janet, where are your from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?
I am originally from Brooklyn, NY so was raised with the hustle and bustle of the city around me. Using public transportation to get from point A to point B was my main mode of getting to school and around. It taught me to be independent as well as navigate my own path from young. This independence in a robust city like New York also sparked my interest in all things creative including the arts, museums, theatre, festivals and music clubs. I remember spending a lot of my time with fellow creative minds as a teen and young adult, whether they were artists, dancers or the like, and I continue to do so to this day. The creative community has always been a welcoming and amazing beacon for friendship and a place to hone my craft for dance and theatre.

Fast forward to the present and I see the creative arts influence not only in my personal and professional life through my love of dance and theater, but also through my children’s lives who are each talented in their own right creatively. My daughter, Jordin, 16, is a gifted dancer, my son, Jaylen, 22, is an accomplished painter and artist, and my other son, Elijah, 21 loves to play the piano. This is the legacy I want to leave- a legacy of creativity and artistry that spans from generation to generation. Art, to me, has always been the gift that keeps on giving in one way or another. Who I am today is directly impacted by my immersion in all things creative in my past.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Professionally, I am a Vice President at a large bank and have worked in the financial industry for the past 23 years. Creatively, my passion has always been helping others find their purpose, whether it is through dance or otherwise. My personal purpose of helping others find their purpose through faith in God and building their gifts, prompted me to create the “Level Up with Janet E.!” platform in 2020. Through this platform, available on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook, I offer words of affirmation, support and guidance into finding your God-given purpose through videos, scriptures and quotes. The platform has grown to over 23,000 subscribers and followers and I feel blessed to have God use me as a vessel to pour into others. As a dance leader for the past 12 years in my current church in Atlanta, Ga and past church in Pennsylvania, I always sought to not only build a team of dancers but a team of spiritual leaders who can pay it forward to the next generation of dancers. I have been blessed to see this come full circle as 3 of my previous young dancers to date have taken over the helm of leading the dance ministries at their respective churches.

While the journey to find who I was and what my gifts are was initially not an easy path, I was glad to have strong advocates on my side that saw the potential in me not only to dance and grow in dance but also to pour out that gift onto others through teaching. The lessons I learned while growing in my craft have allowed me to be a better dancer and person. When something was tough or didn’t seem like it would get finished (like a dance or task), then a creative spark would arise that would catapult it to the finish line. Not just relying on myself but knowing that this gift was given to me by God to be used for the world makes all the difference when endeavoring to get to the end result.

My story continues to this day- building on new experiences, new adventures and ways to impact those around me and the world through my journey.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
When I arrived in Atlanta in 2019, there were some many places I wanted to visit, like the zoo, the museums, and the like, but the Pandemic put a hiatus on that for a few years. However, I have recently been out visiting a few places that I love- one of my favorite things to do is to see a play or dance performance, so would coordinate visiting Fox Theatre for one of their performances, then eat at one of the local restaurants in the area. A favorite of mine is Bartaco, has simple and easy food and drinks with more of a clean palette slant. The botanical gardens is a must see especially when they have lighting events in the evening. I also love seeing the Atlanta Ballet in Cobb Energy Center or catching an Atlanta Hawks basketball game at State Farm Arena. There is so much to do in Atlanta so a week may not be enough but we can get in what we can!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There are a few people throughout my life that have encouraged and supported me in my creative journey. There were those who recognized my gift and love for dance and encouraged me to grow in that gift, including Keisha Simmons, the first praise dancer ministry leader that I started under (thank you for filling me with everything that was in you about the true spirit of praise dance!), My first ballet instructor, Paula Heeschen, was also instrumental in my life and my growth in dance- she inspired and continues to inspire me with her energy and love for the craft. And throughout my years in the arts, I have encountered so many people, too many to name, that have provided words of support, expressed love and have lent a kind heart and hand when help was needed- thanking you more than you can know! Finally, I want to express my love for my mom, my husband and my 3 children for always encouraging and supporting me in my creative growth experience- you rock!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjanetandjordinthedancers/

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/dr-janet-bentley-ewers-03b73959

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/levelupwithjanete/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@jbentleyewersaa