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Our Team

 Our team of creative professionals are dedicated to helping students develop their skills in reading, literacy, and math. As well as Dance, Theatre,  and Sewing. We want to help students explore and develop their creativity and understand the importance of community engagement. We believe that every child has the potential to shine and we are committed to helping them reach their goals. Join us today and let us help your child light the way to a brighter future!

Ruth Benford  aka " Mama Ruth" is a Georgia native, Founder, Director, and Sewing Instructor of  Light The Way Tutoring and Performing Arts, and founder of Little Fancys Fashion Accessories. Ruth has a Degree in Business, and has also studied Fashion Design, Garment Construction, Sewing, as well as Digital Media.

 

She is a member of the National Tutoring Association and the National Society of Leadership and Success. She has taught in the Jacksonville schools for over 7 years, and has volunteered around the community. She has served as Girl and Boy Scout Leader, Dance mom, has served in The Heart Walk, Jacksonville's Annual Christmas Party, and at several shelters, just to name a few.

 

She writes poetry, short stories, and songs. She loves, reading, drawing, photography, computers, doing research, and sewing. She has been sewing since the age of 7. She has also made costumes and accessories for several school stage plays, dance groups, and other organizations.

 

Ruth has taught Elementary, Middle, and High School academics, and has tutored and helped students virtually and locally.
 

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Ruth Benford
Founder / Director of Operations / Instructor

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Jocelyn Benford

Co-Founder /Director/ Instructor

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Jocelyn Benford aka “Jossi” is a Jacksonville native where she began her dance training at the age of 3 and has studied many forms of dance, including Modern, Ballet, Contemporary, Tap, Hip Hop, Jazz, Step, African Dance, and Modeling. She has been active in local community theater performances as a writer, choreographer, dancer, singer, and actress. Jossi has performed in several stage plays including “Music To My Ears”, “The Wiz”, “Dream Girls”, “Frat House”, “African Scream”, and “Queens of Harlem Renaissance”. 

 

She has hosted a summer camp for local kids, provided dance and Step opportunities at several Jacksonville schools, served as a Director of Dance at a local K-12 school, a Middle School Science teacher, and has also served as academic elementary teacher. She is a member of several performing arts organizations in the Jacksonville area such as Duval Dance Rally Movement, Three Hearts Dance, 21st Century Community Learning Centers, Step-In-Schools, and a host of others.  She choreographed, wrote, and performed in “African Scream” stage play put on by F.O.U.R.D. She has also choreographed for performing artists.

 

Jossi believes in community engagement and has been a member of and participated in The Heart Walk, The Mayor’s Ball, The Jacksonville Annual Christmas Party, Girl Scouts, 4-H, Girls Inc., JIW (Journey Into Womanhood), Toast Master, Holy Girls Rock Purity Rally, and other community events and organizations in the Jacksonville and Tampa areas. Her many accomplishments include Miss Teen Jax runner up, Cadette Program Aide Award, Girl Scout Bronze Award, selected featured artist dancer for the Three Hearts Dance 2022 season concert, and many others. She also designs and assists with costume making for stage plays.

 

Miss Jossi has a true passion for working with children and sharing the love for dance with her students.

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