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

Hi Dr. Janet, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Often when people think about “risk” and taking risks, there is a level of anxiety and fear that arises in our bodies and souls- the heart starts pumping faster, the pulse quickens, and our thoughts turn to what can go wrong, not right. But the Bible says that “we are not given a spirit of fear, but a spirit of love, power and a sound mind.” For me, that means that whatever we are going through in life, including things that are considered risky, like starting a business or a new creative venture, the fear that comes will not be overridden by the love, power and sound mind that God provides. Risk-taking is a natural part of a successful person’s journey, but the difference is that as we go along that journey, we are trusting in God for every decision and every action we take. In essence, the “risk” of an action is superseded by trusting and believing that moving forward according to God’s will indeed produce good fruit. When I first started my social media platform, “Level Up with Janet E.!” in 2021, it was under an unction from God to pour out the scriptures, quotes and words of wisdom that He had bestowed upon me daily to others to help build their relationship with Him. And after 4 plus years, almost 40k subscribers/followers, and several industry awards later, “Level Up with Janet E!”, a once “risky move”, is now a beacon to help guide and lead thousands of people on a journey to find their God- given purpose. I believe the key to risk taking then is to take calculated and strategic risks- for me that means asking myself these important questions before any risk-taking action- what does God want me to do, when does He want me to do it and how? The strategy of following God’s plan for my professional and personal life has never failed- and the only risk is in not being obedient to His guidance and Word.

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.
\
I have been a part of the dance community for the past 15 years- first joining in ballet classes in my 30’s and then progressing through contemporary, modern, African and jazz as I advanced into my 40’s. During the years, I have been a part of various pre-professional dance companies and headed youth and adult praise dance groups in Pennsylvania and my current hometown, Atlanta, all with a purpose to share my love of dance, creativity, and the Lord. While my professional career has been in financial services for the past 25 years, my passion and love for dance has led to different ventures in my life, including the opening of a new dance studio in 2024. Along the way, I have learned to trust in God fully and be obedient in what He wants me to do and when. Each encounter with building my creativity, whether through writing screenplays, books, choreographing dances and being a part of dance companies, has prepared me for the next chapter of my growth when I encounter something new along my journey. My brand has always been and will continue to be to lead people to their God-given purpose through words, scriptures and other forms of messaging to build up and edify the people in whatever form that God chooses.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I would bring them to downtown Atlanta for a brief tour around the Centennial Park area, location of the Olympics, then we would take in some nature at the Botanical Gardens. I am a big Atlanta Ballet fan so would also take them to one of their ballet performances at Cobb Energy Center. Mostly I would show off the beautiful city of Atlanta (hopefully without too much traffic!) with its great food spots, parks and great weather.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to recognize those who have been a integral part of my professional, spiritual and creative journey- including my husband and children, my Bishops, Pastors and Elders from my current and previous churches- Bishop Hunt, Bishop Bothwell, and Bishop Boone, Pastor Don and Pastor Terry Lynch and Elder Amelia Wood and Elder Claire Carter. All of them have been an important part of encouraging me to be the person I am today. Along with my spiritual mentors, my creative support people have always been there to inspire me when I feel down during particular seasons in my life- LaShaun Dodds, Keisha Simmons, Deidre Sears, Paula Heeschen and countless others. Finally, my mother has always been my inspiration to strive towards my purpose.

Website: https://www.metroatlantadance.com

Instagram: Janetandjordinthedancers

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

Facebook: Level Up with Janet E.!

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

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutAtlanta is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.