Shontavia D James

---

Shontavia James is the coach/choreographer for the Sophisticated Jewels of the Georgia Mass Band. She was born in Atlanta, Ga., and attended Spencer High School in Columbus, Ga. She graduated from Texas Southern University in 2012 with a bachelor’s degree in marketing.

Shontavia marched in the "Ocean of Soul" Marching Band as a "Motion of the Ocean" majorette and was co-captain in 2010 and captain in 2011. During her time at Texas Southern University, she received two scholarships for both dance and percussion ensembles.

She pledged to Tau Beta Sigma, the National Honorary Band Sorority, in the spring of 2011. In 2012, she moved back to Atlanta and joined the Georgia Mass Band as a dancer. After three summers of dancing, she was awarded the opportunity to coach the team.