Jackie Lopez has spent decades inspiring dancers at Barbara & Tammy’s School of Dance.
SAN ANTONIO — Jackie Lopez has spent decades inspiring generations of dancers at Barbara & Tammy’s School of Dance. Now, those same students and community members are rallying behind her as she faces the toughest battle of her life.
Lopez, the executive director of the long-standing dance school, has been living with metastatic colon cancer for more than two years. Despite undergoing radiation treatment to her brain, pelvis and neck, she continues to lead with grace and resilience — both inside and outside the studio.
“I love dancing and I love being able to share the knowledge of what I do,” Lopez said. “A lot of my students go off to do great things: become doctors, become dance teachers.”
One of those students is Bianca Valadez, who has trained under Lopez for nearly 14 years.
“She’s taught me so many lessons not only just within dance, but to build myself as a person of character,” Valadez said.
Lopez’s diagnosis came unexpectedly after a hospital visit.
“I wasn’t feeling well… and they had diagnosed me with that. Very scary type of cancer because you don’t have a lot of symptoms sometimes,” she said. “It does limit me a lot.”
Though her health has changed, Lopez’s passion hasn’t wavered. She credits the dance community — past and present — for lifting her spirits.
“So much support with my dance family, with people that I’ve taught 10 years ago that I haven’t been in contact with,” she said. “I just have been overwhelmed with the amount of support that I’ve had and received from this. So I’m just very grateful.”
A GoFundMe launched to help cover treatment costs not covered by insurance has raised more than $14,000 in under a week — a testament to the lasting impact Lopez has made on her students and her community.
At Barbara & Tammy’s, the rhythm hasn’t stopped. With Lopez leading the way — even through adversity — the count continues: “5, 6, 7, 8.”