Cambridge Chronicle

Wednesday, September 12, 2001

Hometown boy makes Spears dance group

By Sammy Lopez and Bethany M. Allen
Special to the Chronicle

Cambridge native Ramon Baynes just received his first professional dancing break. He performed with Britney Spears at the MTV Music Awards on Sept. 6, and is scheduled to appear in an upcoming video. He was chosen to appear as one of Spears' dancers after a three-day audition in Los Angeles where about 2,000 competitors were vying for the coveted role. Baynes said that the audition was grueling, but in the end was definitely worth the time. Baynes is thrilled to have the opportunity to dance with the celebrity, who is reknowned for her dance numbers.

Baynes began his dance training with Jam'nastics Inc. when he was 12 years old. Jam'nastics Inc. is a nonprofit organization based in Cambridge which provides quality and affordable dance and gymnastics classes to kids and adults in the community and its surrounding towns. The training he received at Jam'nastics proved helpful as the young dancer pursued his goals. While in this program, Baynes was not only a dance student, but also a group leader, gymnast, teacher, company director, and choreographer.

Ramon always knew that he wanted to be a dancer. He began entering competitions at a young age and, at 13, Baynes was selected for the Kennedy School Dream Team with Dave Villandry. A year later, he led the Jam'nastics Dance Company to first place at the celebrated Amateur Night at the Apollo. In the community, Baynes has taught thousands of kids gymnastics and dance. As testament to his commitment, in 1998 he won an award from the Governor's Subcommittee on Sports and Physical Fitness for his years of service to youth in the community. At age 14, Baynes was the youngest person ever to be hired to coach for the Cambridge Department of Recreation.

Baynes has also inspired many people with his enthusiasm and love for the arts. While at Cambridge Rindge and Latin High School, he choreographed various pieces for the pilot play and taught in the dance department. Baynes also earned a spot in the Alvin Ailey Summer Program at age 16. When Baynes was 19, he moved to New York City to continue to train at the Alvin Ailey School. Some of the other organizations that he has danced with include the cheerleading team for the WNBA's New York Liberty and the Black Door Dance Ensemble in Miami.

Anara Frank, founder and executive director of Jam'nastics, says that she remembers when she first met Baynes. He was a tall and skinny boy who had aspirations of becoming a dancer and an Olympic gymnast, recalls Frank. The two met at the Kennedy School after a Jam'nastics performance when Baynes approached Frank expressing an interest in the program. Initially, Baynes showed potential but needed a lot of work. But he was determined and focused, and eventually earned the opportunity to participate in a special intensive teacher training program. From there, his talent began to blossom.

In a letter to Jam'nastics from his mother, Linda Baynes, she states that Ramon wants to encourage children who want to become professional dancers to follow their dreams. It is his hope that all children will have the same opportunity he had to study dance, and he credits Jam'nastics for making classes attainable for children from low-income and minority communities. Linda Baynes writes, "Jam'nastics is a place where children can go after school to learn the craft of dance...parents can drop off their child and know that their children are in good hands with great instructors. Jam'nastics is [a place] where a child's dream can come true."

Marco Bonilla, a longtime employee of Jam'nastics, says that he was confident that Baynes would make it big in the dance world. Bonilla remembers when Baynes came into Jam'nastics as a young boy. Bonilla said that from the start Baynes worked hard to make himself better and stronger. "I'm happy for him," said Bonilla. "I always knew he would make it." Jennifer Janul, a dancer and a teacher at Jam'nastics and a student of Baynes, says that it has been Baynes' dream to be a famous dancer ever since he started dancing. Janul says that she's happy for Baynes, who was a great teacher as well as a great friend who she feels deserves to be on top. Janul says that she made everyone watch the MTV Music Awards, and that it was cool that she was able to point to the television and say, "That's my teacher, Ramon."