Jessie Dolezel
Jessie Dolezel is the Owner and CEO of Ascend Studios Dance Studio in Midwest City, Oklahoma, where she has led the studio for over 12 years. With a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Ballet Pedagogy from the University of Oklahoma, Jessie has dedicated her life to dance education and arts-based youth development. She specializes in building non-competition studio models that emphasize character development, confidence, leadership, and inclusion, providing students with a holistic learning environment that goes beyond rankings and trophies. Under her guidance, Ascend Studios serves over 350 families weekly, offering 57 classes, multiple annual shows, and scholarship programs that make dance accessible to all.
Jessie’s expertise extends to leadership programming, curriculum development, community-centered arts education, and studio management. She has a proven track record of designing programs that foster student growth and professional development for her staff, while mentoring and inspiring the next generation of leaders in the arts. Her most notable professional achievement is transforming Ascend Studios into a thriving, non-competition studio that maintains strong enrollment and community engagement, even through challenging periods such as 2020. She attributes her success to her bravery, vision, and willingness to pioneer programs without a roadmap, focusing on people and community needs rather than traditional models of competition.
Beyond her studio, Jessie is passionate about leadership development, storytelling, and mentorship. She actively invests in her scholarship and leadership programs, creating opportunities for students who might otherwise be unable to access high-quality arts education. Jessie also seeks to expand her impact through writing, speaking engagements, and thought leadership, aiming to inspire other studio owners and arts educators to reimagine inclusive, community-focused approaches to dance education. Her career reflects a dedication not only to artistic excellence but also to shaping confident, capable, and compassionate young leaders.
• University of Oklahoma - BFA Ballet Pedagogy
What do you attribute your success to?
Jessie attributes her success to bravery and vision specifically her willingness to step away from the traditional competition-based studio model and create something new. She credits her courage to pioneer programs without a roadmap, invest deeply in people, and focus on community needs rather than comparison or competition.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Jessie shared that her growth came from learning through experience, observing gaps in studio culture, and allowing those lessons to shape her leadership philosophy. Her mentorship journey has been largely self-directed through lived experience.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Jessie advises young women to be brave, start small, ask for help, and trust their vision. She encourages them not to wait for perfection, not to fear doing things differently, and to surround themselves with people who support growth rather than comparison.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge she identified is staff management and leadership development, especially in growing organizations. At the same time, this is also the greatest opportunity to develop leaders, create sustainable teams, and redefine success in arts education beyond competition models.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Jessie values courage, integrity, community, investment in people, and long-term impact. She prioritizes creating environments where students feel seen, supported, and empowered, and where success is defined by personal growth rather than competition.