12-Year-Old Dances to ‘Miss Showbiz’ Title

Jennifer Jouglard, a 12-year-old Orange resident, tapped and twirled her way to the title of “Miss Showbiz” for the junior division of the Showbiz National Talent Competition in Palm Springs this month.

Jouglard joined about 2,000 dancers from around the nation in competing for titles and cash prizes at the contest.

The weeklong event included competitions in all disciplines of dance: jazz, tap, ballet, lyrical and hip hop.

The Cerro Villa Middle School student proved herself in nearly all categories to win her title and a $1,000 prize, said her father, Jerry Jouglard.

“She probably will be a dancer and a choreographer,” he said. “It’s almost like training for the Olympics.”

Jennifer began studying dance when she was 4 years old and now trains between 20 and 25 hours a week at the West Coast School of the Arts in Cypress.