Jori's dance journey began at the age of three at her local dance studio in Burley, Idaho. At eight years old, she traveled to Salt Lake City to see Ballet West perform for the first time—an experience that sparked a lifelong love of ballet. She continued training in ballet and jazz throughout her youth and later spent two years performing on her high school drill team.

After graduating high school, Jori attended Ensign College (formerly LDS Business College), where she earned an Associate Degree in Accounting. During that time, she also met her husband. Together they have built a wonderful family with four amazing children and a couple of significant others who are dearly loved.

Years later, after some of her children began dancing, a new ballet instructor at their studio offered an adult ballet class. After nearly a decade away from the studio, Jori decided to return to dance. The experience reignited her passion, and she quickly rediscovered the technique she had learned as a young dancer. Before long, she began teaching beginning ballet classes and eventually expanded into additional levels.

Jori has now been teaching for more than 20 years. She believes that the classroom is a place where dancers should feel safe to make mistakes, learn, and grow. Watching her students develop into confident, versatile performers across many dance styles is one of the most rewarding parts of her work as a teacher.