Jillian Johnson Zenger: Age, Dance Career & Family (2026)
Jillian Johnson Zenger is an American competitive dancer, the second-oldest of 6 siblings in the Johnson family of Provo, Utah, and the older sister of Dancing with the Stars professional Jenna Johnson Chmerkovskiy. She trained in jazz, contemporary, and Latin ballroom from childhood, auditioned for So You Think You Can Dance Season 10 in 2013, and reached the Green Mile, the final elimination round before the Top 20 are announced, before being cut.
In 2026, Jillian Johnson Zenger is 34 years old and lives a private life under her married name Zenger. This biography covers every confirmed fact about Jillian Johnson Zenger, including her age, dance background, family role, education, and public appearances.
Quick Facts: Jillian Johnson Zenger
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Jillian Johnson Zenger |
| Also Known As | Jill Zenger |
| Age (2026) | 34 years old |
| Birth Year | 1992 |
| Birthplace | Provo, Utah, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | Caucasian |
| Religion | Mormon (LDS) |
| Education | Timpview High School, Provo, Utah |
| Profession | Dancer (jazz, contemporary, Latin ballroom) |
| Famous For | Older sister of Jenna Johnson Chmerkovskiy; SYTYCD Season 10 Green Mile contestant |
| TV Appearance | So You Think You Can Dance Season 10 (2013, Green Mile) |
| Father | Curt Johnson |
| Mother | Tamara “Tammy” Johnson |
| Siblings | Stacy Johnson Bills, Scott Johnson, Jason Johnson, Skyler Johnson, Jenna Johnson Chmerkovskiy |
| Husband | Mr. Zenger |
| Net Worth | Not publicly disclosed |
| Social Media | No confirmed public accounts |
| Current Status | Private life; active within Johnson family |
Who Is Jillian Johnson Zenger?
Jillian Johnson Zenger is an American dancer and the second-oldest sibling in the Johnson family of Provo, Utah, known publicly as the older sister of Jenna Johnson Chmerkovskiy. She trained in 3 primary dance disciplines including jazz, contemporary, and Latin ballroom at Center Stage Performing Arts Studio in Orem, Utah, under the direction of her older sister Stacy Johnson Bills. Her competitive career included regional circuit competitions and a national television audition on So You Think You Can Dance Season 10 in 2013, where she reached the Green Mile before elimination.
Jillian attended Timpview High School in Provo, Utah, the same school Jenna Johnson graduated from in 2013. Outside of competitive dance, she married and took the surname Zenger, making her publicly known as Jill Zenger in family references. She served as one of 2 maids of honor alongside DWTS professional Lindsay Arnold at Jenna’s 2019 wedding to Valentin Chmerkovskiy.
The Johnson Family: Dancers Raised in Provo, Utah
Curt Johnson and Tamara “Tammy” Johnson raised 6 children in Provo, Utah, in a home centered on LDS faith and competitive dance. Their 6 children are Stacy Johnson Bills, Jillian Johnson Zenger, Scott Johnson, Jason Johnson, Skyler Johnson, and Jenna Johnson Chmerkovskiy, the youngest. Jillian is the second-oldest, placing her 4 years ahead of Jenna in the sibling lineup and close enough in age to train as a direct partner and teacher to her younger sister.
The family trained primarily at Center Stage Performing Arts Studio in Orem, Utah, a school directed by the eldest sibling Stacy Johnson Bills. Wikipedia confirms that when Jenna was old enough to join Center Stage’s senior company, her sisters became “instrumental” to her progress. Jillian and Stacy both trained and competed before Jenna reached national television, building a dance household that produced a 5-time US National Latin Champion, a US National Youth 10 Dance Champion, and a 3-time National Contemporary Winner in their youngest sibling.
The 3 brothers, Scott Johnson, Jason Johnson, and Skyler Johnson, built careers outside dance. Scott and Jason are reported to work in healthcare-related fields. Skyler, the youngest brother, became engaged to Ashton Johnston in 2019 and experienced a family loss in December 2022 when their daughter was stillborn. Faith, family loyalty, and shared creative training remain the 3 defining elements of the Johnson household.
Jillian Johnson Zenger on So You Think You Can Dance
Jillian Johnson Zenger auditioned for So You Think You Can Dance Season 10 in 2013, the same season her younger sister Jenna Johnson broke into the Top 20. SYTYCD is a Fox reality competition that draws thousands of dancers nationally each season across 4 competitive styles including contemporary, Latin ballroom, hip hop, and jazz. Season 10 is recognized as one of the show’s strongest casts, producing 4 notable alumni including Fik-Shun Stegall, Amy Yakima, Aaron Turner, and Jenna Johnson herself.
Jillian auditioned alongside her older sister Stacy that season. Both reached the Green Mile, the final elimination stage where remaining contestants perform before a panel of judges including Nigel Lythgoe and Mary Murphy before the Top 20 roster is confirmed. Reaching the Green Mile from a national audition pool places a dancer in the top tier of all contestants reviewed that season. Both Jillian and Stacy were cut at that stage.
Jenna Johnson confirmed this directly in a published interview: “They both made it to the Green Mile, but both of them got eliminated. I had extreme pressure because I wanted to make them proud. They both had been my teachers growing up. I had so much respect and love for them. When I did make it, my family was the first people I called and they were the first ones in the audience my first episode as well. It was an awesome moment for all three of us.”
This quote establishes Jillian not as a background figure in Jenna’s story but as a direct teacher whose instruction contributed to a Mirrorball Trophy winner.
Education: Timpview High School
Jillian Johnson Zenger attended Timpview High School in Provo, Utah, the same school her younger sister Jenna graduated from in 2013. Timpview is a public high school in the Provo City School District known for strong performing arts programs, consistent with the Johnson family’s training history. Jillian’s enrollment there places her dance training squarely within the Provo and Orem studio circuit during the years before SYTYCD auditions became a realistic career path for the family.
No college or university enrollment for Jillian has been confirmed in public records.
Jillian at Jenna’s Wedding: April 13, 2019
Jillian Johnson Zenger served as one of 2 maids of honor at Jenna Johnson’s wedding to Valentin Chmerkovskiy on April 13, 2019, at the Terranea Resort in Rancho Palos Verdes, California. The other maid of honor was DWTS professional Lindsay Arnold. The wedding drew widespread coverage across entertainment media and was attended by several DWTS professionals including Witney Carson, Sasha Farber, and Peta Murgatroyd.
Jillian’s role placed her visibly at the center of one of the most documented events in the DWTS community that year. Wedding photos circulated widely on social media, introducing Jillian to a larger audience of Jenna’s fans and generating a measurable increase in searches for her name following April 2019. Her presence at the ceremony confirmed the close bond between the 3 Johnson sisters, Stacy, Jillian, and Jenna, that developed through decades of shared training and family life.
Personal Life: Marriage and Life in 2026
Jillian Johnson Zenger married and took the surname Zenger, making her publicly known as both Jill Zenger and Jillian Zenger across family references and public profiles. Her husband’s first name has not appeared in any confirmed public source. The couple lives privately, away from media attention.
She remains active within the Johnson family’s social life. In August 2025, Jillian joined her siblings including Jenna on a Disneyland trip documented through family social media posts. These regular family outings reflect the ongoing closeness among the 6 Johnson siblings that began in their shared childhood dance training in Provo.
Private lives built around a well-known family name, with no independent public presence, are more common than people expect — as seen in the story of Gabby Randallson, who is known almost entirely through her connection to WCW wrestler Buff Bagwell.
Jillian’s Role in the Johnson Dance Legacy
Jillian Johnson Zenger trained in 3 dance disciplines including jazz, contemporary, and Latin ballroom at Center Stage Performing Arts Studio, the Orem school her sister Stacy runs as director. Her role within the family’s dance structure was teaching and mentorship rather than professional performance. Jenna confirmed in multiple interviews that her sisters became instrumental to her progress when she joined Center Stage’s senior company, crediting both Stacy and Jillian as childhood teachers who shaped her competitive instincts.
The 3 Johnson sisters, Stacy, Jillian, and Jenna, represent a clear relay of dance training. Stacy built the studio framework. Jillian competed and taught alongside her. Jenna absorbed that foundation and carried it to national television, winning 2 Mirrorball Trophies on Dancing with the Stars and earning a Primetime Emmy Award nomination with Valentin Chmerkovskiy. Without the 2 older sisters, the youngest sister’s career does not look the same.
Johnson Siblings in 2026
| Sibling | Position | Known For |
|---|---|---|
| Stacy Johnson Bills | Eldest | Director of Center Stage Performing Arts Studio, Orem, Utah; SYTYCD Green Mile contestant |
| Jillian Johnson Zenger | Second | SYTYCD Season 10 Green Mile contestant; maid of honor at Jenna’s 2019 wedding |
| Scott Johnson | Third | Healthcare-related career; private life |
| Jason Johnson | Fourth | Private life; present at major family milestones |
| Skyler Johnson | Fifth | Engaged to Ashton Johnston (2019); experienced family loss in December 2022 |
| Jenna Johnson Chmerkovskiy | Youngest | DWTS professional; 5-time US National Latin Champion; 2-time Mirrorball Trophy winner |
FAQ’s
Who is Jillian Johnson Zenger?
Jillian Johnson Zenger is an American dancer and the second-oldest sibling in the Johnson family of Provo, Utah, known as the older sister of DWTS professional Jenna Johnson Chmerkovskiy.
How old is Jillian Johnson Zenger in 2026?
Jillian Johnson Zenger is 34 years old in 2026, born 1992 in Provo, Utah.
Did Jillian Johnson Zenger appear on So You Think You Can Dance?
Jillian Johnson Zenger auditioned for SYTYCD Season 10 in 2013 and reached the Green Mile, the final elimination stage before the Top 20 are confirmed, before being cut.
What is the Green Mile on SYTYCD?
The Green Mile is the final audition stage on So You Think You Can Dance where remaining contestants perform before the full judging panel, including Nigel Lythgoe and Mary Murphy, to compete for 1 of the Top 20 spots.
Who is Jillian Johnson Zenger’s husband?
Jillian Johnson Zenger is married to a man with the surname Zenger. His first name has not been confirmed in any public source as of 2026.
Is Jillian Johnson Zenger related to Jenna Johnson?
Jillian Johnson Zenger is Jenna Johnson Chmerkovskiy’s older sister, the second-oldest of 6 siblings raised by Curt and Tamara Johnson in Provo, Utah.
Does Jillian Johnson Zenger have children?
No children have been confirmed in any public record for Jillian Johnson Zenger as of 2026.
Final Thoughts
Jillian Johnson Zenger trained for years inside a family that turned competitive dance into a career path. She reached the Green Mile of one of America’s most competitive dance shows, the same stage her younger sister crossed to break into the Top 20 and begin a career that produced 2 Mirrorball Trophies. Jillian taught Jenna inside Center Stage studios in Orem long before any camera pointed at the Johnson name.
In 2026, she lives privately in Utah, attends family outings with her 5 siblings, and carries a name that connects her permanently to one of the most recognizable dance families in American reality television.
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Mamie I. Hernandez is a writer at CelebsOrbit.com, covering celebrity news, biographies, and trending entertainment stories. With a passion for pop culture and clear, engaging writing, Mamie delivers quick, reliable insights that help readers stay updated on their favorite stars.