Biography
JT Church, born on January 17, 2006, in Haymarket, Virginia, is a renowned young dancer and social media personality. Demonstrating a talent for dancing from an early age, Church honed his skills at home due to a lack of local dance schools in Virginia. Recognizing his potential, his parents enrolled him in the Gainesville Dance Center, a prestigious and costly dance school in Virginia.
Church gained significant attention after participating in and securing a place on the popular TV reality show, "So You Think You Can Dance: The Next Generation," in 2016. During the show, he partnered with dancer Robert Roldan and was acclaimed for his performances, finishing as a runner-up. This exposure solidified his reputation as one of America's most talented young dancers.
Notably, Church was named the NUVO Mini Male Breakout Artist in 2016. His skills, particularly in jazz dance, set him apart from his peers. Despite his youth, Church has shown a strong commitment to his craft and a focus on long-term career goals rather than fleeting fame. His efforts in the dance community extend beyond competitions, as evidenced by his participation in a 2014 charitable event for breast cancer awareness.
In addition to his success on television, JT Church has also made notable appearances in film and on Broadway. He starred in the Hallmark movie "Christmas Waltz" in 2020, showcasing his acting and dancing talents. Following this, he made his Broadway debut in the 2022 revival production of "The Music Man," where he was part of the ensemble cast.
JT, also known as John Talan Church, grew up in a supportive family environment with his parents, John and Leslie Church, who are involved in the realty business, and his older brother, Bradley, who is a skateboarder.
Biography timeline
January 17, 2006 JT was born in Bristow, Virginia.
2011 JT Church began dancing when he was five years old.
He gained his first dance experience in Gainesville Dance center.
2011 JT Church began dancing when he was five years old.
He gained his first dance experience in Gainesville Dance center.
2016 He finished as a Top 10 finalist on the reality competition series So You Think You Can Dance.
His first brush with fame was when he placed in the Top 10 Finalists on So You Think You Can Dance in 2016. He went on to be the runner up in the show’s 13th season.
2016 Mini Male Breakout Artist of the Year
JT was named Mini Male Breakout Artist of the Year at the 2016 NUVO Dance Convention.
2016 Mini Male Breakout Artist of the Year
JT was named Mini Male Breakout Artist of the Year at the 2016 NUVO Dance Convention.
2017 Emmy Award-Winning Dancer: The Mirror by Travis Wall
Travis Wall won the 2017 Emmy Award for 'Outstanding Choreography' for his groundbreaking work on the popular FOX television show So You Think You Can Dance. He was nominated for routines 'Send in the Clowns,' 'The Mirror' and 'She Used to Be Mine.'
2018 Dancing with the Stars Juniors
JT with Sky Brown won the competition.
2018 Dancing with the Stars Juniors
JT with Sky Brown won the competition.
2018 Nickelodeon performance
He performed a dance and lip sync to DNCE’s “Cake by the Ocean” on Nickelodeon’s Lip Sync Battle Shorties.
2020 Global Child Prodigy Award
Church received the Global Child Prodigy Award in January 2020 for his outstanding dancing skills.
2020 Global Child Prodigy Award
Church received the Global Child Prodigy Award in January 2020 for his outstanding dancing skills.
2020 Christmas Waltz
JT Church plays Nicky the dancing pro in Christmas Waltz on the Hallmark Channel.
2021 Young Artist Academy Award
JT was nominated for Young Artist Academy Award 2021 in TV MOVIE ARTISTS category (role Nicky in Christmas Waltz).
2021 Young Artist Academy Award
JT was nominated for Young Artist Academy Award 2021 in TV MOVIE ARTISTS category (role Nicky in Christmas Waltz).
2021-2022 The Music Man
JT was making his Broadway debut in The Music Man.