Jennifer Hand

Jump Start Plus Dance Program Director

Following in her mother's footsteps, Jennifer Reiter Hand began dancing at the age of six in Peoria IL. She received her Master's degree in dance from New York University's Tisch school of Arts and her BFA in dance from the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign. Both of her degrees are in performance and choreography. Ms. Hand has taught and choreographed for private studios, universities, summer intensives, and theater companies in the Midwest and East Coast, including New York City. Her students are presently performing in national tours, ballet and modern dance companies, for Disney, in Hollywood, and on Broadway. Ms. Hand is also the author of several dance articles and has served as book consultant for publishers Taylor & Francis and DK/Penguin Random House.  Ms. Hand believes that to learn to dance well, dancers must find joy in the simple act of moving. To that end, she constructs an environment that encourages a sense of play, experimentation, community, and humor. She works in an organized and respectful way not only towards everyone participating in the class, but also to the noble tradition of dance - a tradition she believes is beautiful and worthy of reverence. "Dance should never hurt the body or force it into feelings of strain or tightness. Instead, dance can open the body and create a freedom from within that can be pleasurable for your emotional and spiritual self, as well as the physical."  

Classes  

Jump Start has a rolling registration system. You may enroll and un-enroll at your convenience. Students usually attend one class one time a week. Class lengths vary based on the age and skill level of the students.

• Registration is ongoing throughout the year.  Tuition is pro-rated based on your start date.

• Tuition is auto-debited on the 25th of every month for the upcoming month. (example: tuition for March will be auto-debited on February 25th) 
• DROP POLICY: In order to avoid future auto-payments, you must let Jump Start office staff know of your intention to drop ON or BEFORE the 20th of the month for the following month of classes. You may call, leave a message, or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. We do not credit or refund for past missed classes.

Click Here to View our 2023/24 Payment Calendar

Please see our Policies for more detailed information!

Totally Toddler

Jungle Gym

Ninja Zone

School Age Girls Gymnastics

Dance

Tumbling

Kids in Motion

  NINJAZONE IS MOVING TO JUMP START SOUTH IN 2024!

Beginning in January 2024, all NinjaZone classes will take place at Jump Start South. Brand New equipment includes a NINJA RIG! Similar to what you see on 'American Ninja Warrior,' the Ninja Rig will feature several attachments for students to climb, complete obstacle courses, and more! Check out the photos below to see the new gear!

 

In addition to new equipment and a new space, we are excited to be able to offer MORE NinjaZone classes with this move! Be on the lookout for additional class offerings for all levels. We have been working hard to put together class rotations for our South location to be able to accommodate our existing classes, the current NinjaZone schedule, and new Ninja classes, so everyone can experience equal, fun gym time!

 

We understand that many NinjaZone families also have other children in classes at our North location and now will have to juggle getting to 2 locations. The good news is that our South location is just down the road from our North gym! If you are a current NinjaZone family and need to change class times due to the location change, please take the month of December to contact the Front Office Staff for a transfer. You can reach the office at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by phone at (309) 692-5867.

   

JUMP. LISTEN. FLIP. LEARN. KICK. FOCUS. FLY. CHALLENGE

Lil' Ninjas

Lil’ Ninjas is the entry level to the all-new sport discipline inspired by gymnastics, martial arts, obstacle training, and freestyle movement. This of offered for kids 3.5 to 5 years of age. 

Class goals: Listening skills, confidence, trying new things, working through frustration, and manners. We do all this through a strategic mix of skills and progressions.

Ninjas will learn progressions and terminology for skills used in Ninja training including rolling, vaulting, basic large gross motor skills, jumping, falling, swinging, climbing, etc with a goal to develop body coordination, awareness, and listening skills required for Ninja White Level. 

NinjaZone

Children learn a combination of flips, rolls, jumps, and kicks. Strength and agility are tested through obstacle courses and various training techniques.

A progressive level system evaluates and advances children in their skill and knowledge of core values as described in the NinjaZone creed. Children advance and learn at their own pace.

The levels of NinjaZone are defined by the headband colors of White, Yellow, Green, Blue, and Purple.

NinjaZone - White Level

Ninjas train for fundamental body movement, basic skills including Ninja rolling for safety, rolls, carts, basic vaulting, wall & bar progressions, basic kicking & punching technique, development of core strength & speed.

NinjaZone - Yellow Level

For Ninjas who pass the White level Ninja Mission, Yellow level includes total mastery of the White level skills, as well as progressions into some basic flips and more intermediate skills.

NinjaZone - Green Level 

For Ninjas who pass the Yellow level Ninja Mission, Green Ninjas demonstrate mastery of all safety techniques & ability to follow Ninja standards in focus & taking direction. Green Ninjas also work skills such as back flips, gainers off the bar, kick and skill combos, and more advanced circuts. 

NinjaZone - Blue Level

For Ninjas who pass the Green level Ninja Mission, Blue Ninjas continue to work on skills of previous levels with advancement in the difficulty of progressions. Blue Ninjas start to work on more advanced skills and flips, with an emphasis on flipping combos and more kicks into more difficult skills. 

Ninja Missions

Ninjas move through the levels when they compete in NINJA MISSIONS!! When an instructor thinks your child is ready to move to the next color they will be invited to a mission and presented the next color headband.

 *** Per the NinjaZone licensing agreement, students are required to wear the NinjaZone Uniform to class each week. The uniform consists of a NinjaZone shirt, NinjaZone Headband and red, white or black shorts. The NinjaZone/Jump Start Plus branded T-shirt is $27 +tax & the NinjaZone headband is $10 +tax. 

 Created for the sporty, fearless, little girl that loves to flip, but prefers headbands to bows!

School Age Gymnastics

(Kindgergarten and up)

Our school age gymnastics classes focus on teaching a carefully designed curriculum of progressive skills on the women’s artistic gymnastics events – Vault, Uneven Bars, Balance Beam, and Floor as well as on the TumbleTrak and trampolines.   These one hour or 1 ½ hour classes for girls in Kindergarten and older build strength, flexibility, endurance, coordination, and self-confidence while students are learning and having fun with the sport of gymnastics.   Students are encouraged to challenge themselves and given the opportunity to celebrate accomplishments to form a strong sense of self.

 ATTIRE:  Girls must wear a leotard with no skirt attached to it and no tights.  Tight fitting gymnastics shorts are allowed.

What to expect/goals from your class:

The goal of the School Age Gymnastics program is to provide students a quality noncompetitive means to learn the basic fundamental through advanced gymnastics skills using a progressive curriculum called the Rainbow Skill Program.  It allows for easy tracking of skill achievement and level advancement, beginning with the red level and ending with the purple level.  Emphasis is placed on learning proper form and technique for all skills so students can build and progress successfully through the curriculum.

See the complete schedule

School Age Boys Gymnastics

(Kindergarten and up)

Our school age boy’s gymnastics classes focus on teaching a carefully designed curriculum of progressive skill development on the men’s Olympic events – Vault, High Bar, Parallel Bars, Pommel Horse, Rings, and Floor as well as on the TumbleTrak and trampolines.   These one hour classes develop the building blocks for enhanced participation in any other sport: strength, flexibility, endurance, coordination, and self-confidence while teaching and having fun with the sport of gymnastics.  Students are encouraged to challenge themselves and given the opportunity to celebrate accomplishments to form a strong sense of self.   

Attire:   Boys must wear a t-shirt with shorts that have an elastic waistband with no buttons or zippers, and bare feet.

What to expect/goals from your class:

The goal of the School Age Boys Gymnastics program is to provide students a quality noncompetitive means to learn the basic fundamental through advanced gymnastics skills using a progressive curriculum called the Rainbow Skill Program.  It allows for easy tracking of skill achievement and level advancement, beginning with the red level and ending with the green level.  Emphasis is placed on learning proper form and technique for all skills so students can build and progress successfully through the curriculum.

See the complete schedule

Our approach is to engage students in tactile, vestibular and proprioceptive play using movement/gymnastics activities and equipment as the tools. 

The goals of the program are to address the physical, social, cognitive and emotional needs of each student in a safe and fun learning environment through guided play and instruction. 

• Physical Goals: Increase gross motor skills, postural control, balance, coordination, strength, flexibility, stamina and general physical health.
• Social Goals: Increase compliance with group activities, appropriate social interaction, comfort level in groups, integration into group settings as appropriate, and general communication skills. 
• Cognitive Goals: Increase attention span, ability to focus, ability to follow directions, motor-planning skills and problem solving.
• Emotional Goals: Increase self-confidence, ability to self-regulate, tolerance of surroundings and situations, and enjoyment of movement.

CLASS OPTIONS

Individual classes  ̶  Teacher works one-on-one with the child individually.  This class is scheduled on an individual basis and class length depends on ability of the child. 

Small group classes  ̶ Child is placed in a small group of 2-6 children with similar needs and abilities. Length of class time depends upon age and level of children in the group.

Integrated classes  ̶  Children participate in a regular age or skill appropriate class at Jump Start Gymnastics, independently or with an aid. 

Field trips  ̶  Organizations that offer programs for special needs children can schedule a one-hour field trip to our facility. Our staff will work with coordinators to plan activities based on the general needs of the group. Please call (309) 692-5867 for more information and available days and times.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Kids in Motion?

Kids in Motion are recreational gymnastics and movement classes for children with special physical and cognitive learning needs. The goal is to give each child what all children are entitled to: the opportunity to experience an active life that is filled with excitement, self-confidence, discovery and most importantly, FUN!

What are the ages?

We take anyone as young as 2 years old up to High School.

What about the evaluation?

Your child must have an OT/PT evaluation completed to participate in class. This lets our instructors know of any restrictions to adjust the class so your child can safely participate in class.

In addition, every child is scheduled for a free evaluation at Jump Start that lasts approximately 20-30 minutes. This allows the Kids in Motion Director to meet your child so she can properly place them in an appropriate class.

For more information, contact our Kids in Motion Director, Justin Hand, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 309-692-5867.