Still Dancing

The first lesson in ballet is not about steps or posture.

It is about listening—to music, to space, to the quiet inner voice that longs to move. For Jane Repp, that lesson began at age eight with a simple yet meaningful gift from her Aunt Betty Burns: a leotard, tights, ballet slippers, and a semester of classes at the Jordan Conservatory of Music. It was a small package carrying a much larger message—permission to dream.

Those early lessons marked the beginning of a lifelong relationship with the arts, rooted in beauty, discipline, and expression. They also reflected who Aunt Betty was at her core: someone who understood that art is not an accessory to life, but its rhythm.

Jane grew up in Indianapolis and later in Columbus, Indiana—the city she considers home. Her dedication to ballet deepened quickly. Each afternoon, her father would arrive after work and wait patiently while she finished her exercises at the barre, music drifting through the studio. His quiet presence became an enduring example of steady support—one that helped shape a life devoted to culture, education, and care.

After graduating from Columbus High School in 1956, Jane attended Franklin College, earning a Bachelor of Arts in English, history, and secondary education in 1960. Ballet remained central to her life; she regularly traveled nearly 20 miles to continue her training. She later studied in New York City at the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo School and the American Ballet Theatre School, immersing herself in the discipline and artistry of professional dance before returning to Indiana to share what she had learned. Back in Columbus, Jane devoted herself to both teaching and dance. She taught English at Columbus High School and founded the Jane Burns School of Dance, a classical ballet studio she owned and operated for many years. There, she instilled in generations of students not only technical precision, but reverence—for music, for form, and for the quiet strength found in grace.

Her commitment to the arts extended far beyond the studio. Jane served as president of the Columbus, Indiana Philharmonic Board and the Columbus Dance Workshop, helping bring world-class performances and arts education to the community. She volunteered with the Driftwood Valley Arts Council, served on the Indiana Arts Commission Dance Panel, and dedicated 24 years to the Franklin College Board of Trustees.

Her civic leadership also included service as an elder at First Presbyterian Church, along with roles on the Columbus Regional Hospital Foundation Board and the Heritage Fund Community Foundation Board. In 1991, she was honored with the Mayor’s Arts Award in recognition of her lifelong advocacy for music and dance.

Family has always been at the heart of Jane’s life. In 1964, she married Robert Hoffmeister, and together they raised four children. After his passing in 2001, Jane eventually found love again. In 2003, she married Duane Repp and moved to Naples, Florida, where she became an active member of Vanderbilt Presbyterian Church.

In Naples, Jane discovered a community that valued creativity, connection, and lifelong learning. She quickly embraced Artis—Naples, with its ballet, symphony, and Broadway performances, and a lifestyle that encourages engagement at every stage of life. Jane and Duane chose to move to The Arlington of Naples, a LifeCare community, drawn by the reassurance that as needs change, care remains available under one roof. The LifeCare contract, including its refundable clause, offered both financial confidence and peace of mind. “It made good sense for us,” Jane says. “It allowed us to plan responsibly while focusing on living fully.” After Duane’s passing, Jane found comfort not only in music and movement, but in friendship.

At The Arlington, she became part of a close-knit circle of women known as the “Linden Ladies”—neighbors who all live along the same street in the Estate Homes. As The Arlington celebrates its 10th anniversary, Jane is proud to be among its founding residents, helping shape the community from its very beginning. Bound by shared experiences, including the loss of spouses, the Linden Ladies have formed a wonderful support system. Like a corps de ballet, they move through life together—checking in, lifting one another up, sharing laughter, and ensuring no one faces life’s transitions alone. Their bond reflects something deeper than friendship: a daily commitment to presence, compassion, and resilience.

Today, Jane continues to live as she always has—attuned to the arts and community. She serves as a deacon at Vanderbilt Presbyterian Church and plays in the handbell choir. She attends performances, reads widely, participates in Bible study, and stays active with walking and bocce. She is the proud mother of four, grandmother of seven, and great-grandmother of ten, with additional grandchildren and great-grandchildren through her late husband’s family.

Ballet remains Jane Repp’s metaphor for life: balance, resilience, and the courage to keep moving forward with grace. And somewhere, the legacy continues—because of ballet and one quiet act of encouragement set a life in motion.

Through music, dance, service—and friendship—Jane Repp has shown that art does more than entertain. It connects generations, strengthens communities, and teaches us how to move through the world with elegance, intention, and heart.