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By Cynthia McFarland
Got Talent: Life under the Disco Ball – Indiana Jana and Studio 77
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When you see Jana Exposito on stage, it’s obvious in her element.
Widely known as “Indiana Jana,” the Indianapolis native is a familiar face around The Villages’ town squares as the female lead singer of the disco band Studio 77 and Top-40 band Dance Express, which play a square two or three times a month.
“Sequins, glitter and fringe all day long. I miss that we don’t dress like that now,” says Jana, who loves the 70s, even though she’s a few years too young to have experienced the disco years. “Something about that music made people get dancing and having fun.
“That energy and movement is good for your body and good for your soul,” she continues, adding that the hit song “Boogie Oogie Oogie” perfectly sums up that era.
As the only woman on stage with Studio 77, Jana says with a laugh that someone has to drive that Partridge Family bus.
“And that’s usually me!”
Before moving to Florida in 2011, Jana literally lived around the world, performing on cruise ship tours, as well as in New York and Los Angeles.
“A good friend of mine lived in Orlando so I thought I’d move here for a year, and 12 years later, here I am,” says Jana.
Today, she and her husband Antonio, who is also a musician, live in Groveland with their sons Nathan, 7, and Issac, 3 1/2.
Her day job at Universal Studios is a big hit with her boys; the family loves hitting the theme parks.
Jana and Jordan, the guitar player from Studio 77, also perform as a duo. They play at various locations throughout Orlando and are looking to bring their music to the restaurants around the Squares.
Still, the stage beckons.
“I love being on stage, especially in The Villages,” she says. “Everyone enjoys the music and there’s a lot of energy.”
Check the bands’ Facebook pages or The Villages’ entertainment listing for upcoming show dates.
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"I fell in love with words early on and knew from fourth grade that I wanted to be a writer,” says Cynthia McFarland. A full-time freelancer since 1993 and the author of nine non-fiction books, her writing has earned regional and national awards. Cynthia lives on a small farm north of Ocala; her kids have fur and four legs
First time seeing Studio 77 and Dance Express a few days apart from each other and I felt like it was dejavu since Jana looked so familiar…. now I know she sings in both bands and I wasn’t imagining things LOL. We thoroughly enjoy both bands and will come to see you again. Kudos to all!!!