Welcome to the JJGirl Spotlight, a series featuring the smart, talented, fearless young faces of Jo+Jax.
Today, meet 14-year-old Quinn Starner. In addition to her 69,000 Instagram followers and just as many awards on the competition circuit, Quinn is a serious standout in the dance world. In 2014, she nabbed the role of Clara in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, and last year she appeared on So You Think You Can Dance: The Next Generation. She’s been named first runner-up at The Dance Awards for the past two years, first as a junior and then as a teen, was the 2016 West Coast Dance Explosion Teen National Champion, and attended the School of American Ballet summer intensive. Talk about a boast-worthy list of accomplishments! Here’s more to know about this beautiful and bendy blonde…
Favorite dance styles: Ballet and contemporary
Favorite choreographers: “I love all my teachers! They’re always there to support me and push me, and I’m so thankful to have them in my life. There are so many other choreographers who have also helped me get out of my comfort zone, like Travis Wall, Teddy Forance, Francisco Gella, Jason Parsons, Kyle Robinson, Sonya Tayeh, Stacey Tookey, and Joey Dowling-Fakhrieh.”
Dance idols: “There are so many people in the dance world who have inspired me. All of my teachers have shaped my life, and I respect and look up to them so much. The choreographers I’ve met on the convention circuit have shown me what I want to become as I move into the future. And I look up to so many of my dance friends from around the country. This is a hard world to navigate, and so many of my friends do it so well.”
Dream role: “A principal dancer with New York City Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, or Boston Ballet.”
Favorite school subject: “History, because I like to learn about the things that happened in the past that have helped shape our country and our lives today.”
Favorite ice cream flavor: Vanilla
If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be? Hummus
Favorite book: The Fault in Our Stars
Favorite movies: Center Stage, High Strung, and First Position
Must-see TV: Dancing with the Stars and So You Think You Can Dance
If you could perform a duet with anyone, who would it be? “I would perform with Chantel Aguirre, because she’s an amazing dancer and I feel like I really relate to her style. And I’d either want her to choreograph it, or we would have Travis Wall do it. I love the way they each tell a story when they create. Their movement is so unique and filled with deep emotion.”
If you could travel anywhere, where would you go? “Paris or London. I’ve always wanted to go and see the beautiful sights, and I’d love to train at one of the ballet schools there.”
If your life were a movie, who would you cast in it? “Sabrina Carpenter or Peyton List would play me, since they’re both blonde. And my love interest would be Liam Hemsworth!”
What’s the weirdest thing in your dance bag? Gum wrappers
Favorite way to hit the stage: “I like everything for different reasons. I love solos because I can express myself and my emotions, and I have total freedom to dance how I’m feeling at that moment. Duets and trios are great, because you can share the emotions of the song and tell a story with one or two other people. And I love to be in small groups, large groups, lines, and productions because it’s so fun to see a piece come together. We all work together to perform a piece, instead of working independently. The emotions and movement of each dancer have to be melded together. I love to see how the routines start out looking crazy but end up so beautiful.”
Favorite Jo+Jax: “My go-to outfit is the Monroe Trunks and a neon Tri-Top. I also love all my jumpers and cover-ups.”
Meet the rest of the JJGirls!