Megan Johnson is in her 2nd season as a professional company member of Georgia Dance Theatre. She has performed professionally with the 14th Street Playhouse, Impact Dance of Atlanta, and the Woodland Performing Arts Center. Additional professional credits include the Will Rogers Follies, Spellbound, Copacabana and Pippin with various professional theater companies. She received full scholarships to Belhaven College and North Atlanta School of the Arts. She received additional training with Ballet Magnificate Trainee Program and Cobb County Center for Excellence in the Performing Arts. In 2011, Ms. Johnson performed the lead role of Maria in Sherri Davis’ original ballet of  West Side Story. She is a ballet, contemporary and early childhood educator for GAD & the Performing Arts.

Ms. Phillips is a graduate of Belhaven College with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Dance. While studying, she performed original and classical works with the Belhaven Dance Ensemble and Belhaven Theatre Department. She has recently continued her training in summer intensives at the Richmond Ballet and Atlanta Ballet. Ms. Phillips has also performed, choreographed and taught workshops for Shachah Touring Company in Shizouka, Japan. Ms. Phillips has studied with the Georgia Academy of Dance & the Performing Arts for 16 years and a member of Georgia Dance Theatre for 10 seasons. She has performed Alice in Alice in Wonderland, Kitri in Don Quixote and Clara in Georgia Dance Theatre’s production of the Nutcracker. Ms. Phillips is a professional company member of Georgia Dance Theatre.

Ms. Edwards trained with Central Pennsylvaia Youth Ballet and Boston Ballet and the Southwest Virginia Ballet. She has performed professionally with Ballet North Performance Company, City Dance Ensemble of Atlanta and North Carolina Dance Theatre. Ms. Edwards has performed soloists and principal roles in The Nutcracker, Carmen, Giselle, Paquita, Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella. She will be graduating this year with a degree in Communications and Public Relations from Georgia State University. Ms. Edwards is a professional company member of Georgia Dance Theatre.

Ms. Tardie received her dance training in North Carolina at Baylin Studios. She continued to dance while attending the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and later at Georgia State University where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Middle Childhood Education. Ms. Tardie has won several choreography awards as a coach for middle school dance students. She has been cast coordinator, performer and instructor for musical presentations of In the Fullness of Time and They Call Him Messiah produced by Bridgeover Ministries. Currently Ms. Tardie directs and performs with the Atlanta City Church’s dance ministry.

Ms. Bushmire, a Georgia Dance Theatre alumni, received her dance training from the Georgia Academy of Dance & the Performing Arts, Kris Cangelosi of Cangelosi Dance Project, Georgia State University and LaGrange School of Ballet. Ms. Bushmire has been a guest choreographer for Georgia Dance Theatre’s production of In the Spirit of Dance, 42nd Street Sinfonicron Light Opera Company and the College of William and Mary. Ms. Bushmire has been a guest performer with the Kris Cangelosi Dance Project, the Movement Force of Georgia State University and the Centennial Olympic Games Opening Ceremonies of 1996. Ms. Bushmire is a member of Georgia Dance Theatre Board of Directors.

Ms. Reynolds has trained at Georgia Academy of Dance & the Performing Arts for the past 21 years. She has received additional training from American Ballet Theatre, Atlanta Ballet, Alvin Ailey American Dance Center, Burklyn Ballet Theatre and The Lines Ballet of California. She has received apprenticeships with Alvin Ailey American Dance Center of New York and Lines Ballet of California. She has been a guest performer with Burklyn Ballet Theatre as the company toured Edinburg, Scotland and a member of the professional touring company of Angela Whitehill’s Paradise Ballet Theatre. Ms. Reynolds has danced soloist and principal roles as a Georgia Dance Theatre company member. These roles include Snow Queen in Georgia Dance Theatre’s production of The Nutcracker Ballet. In 2010, Ms. Reynolds performed the lead role of Swanilda in Georgia Academy of Dance & the Performing Arts production of Coppelia. Ms. Reynolds is a former member of Georgia Dance Theatre Pre-Professional Company and Professional Company. Ms. Reynolds is a dance educator of all dance disciplines at Georgia Academy of Dance & the Performing Arts.

Ms. Watson moved to Atlanta from Tampa, Florida in 1998 to further pursue her jazz career, having been invited by John Mattson to join his professional jazz company, The Phoenix Project. Soon afterwards she began teaching at Georgia Academy of Dance & the Performing Arts and other studios throughout the Atlanta area. In 1999 she was awarded a full scholarship by Suzi Taylor at Steps on Broadway. She has performed with several artists including: RJay Helton, recently featured on Fox’s American Idol, newly signed Dreamworks trio Da Rascals, and Heather Mitchell, also known as Aslyn. Ms. Jeanes-Watson has performed in industrials for Warner Brothers, Reebok and Compaq Computers. She was a member of Culture Shock Atlanta, a non-profit professional hip-hop company that performs extensively throughout the Atlanta area at events such as the Sprite Liquid Mix Tour, Janet Jackson’s All for You Tour concert promotion with 95.5 The Beat, as well as other promotional events and community outreach projects. She has provided choreography and/or performance consulting for various artists such as Grammy-award winner Rebecca St. James, new Sparrow recording artist Jadyn Maria, Daniel Langston, and Curb/ASAP Records’ S.O.N.Z. She has also appeared in Whitney Houston’s videos, Turner South’s B Street Live and Atlanta’s WGNX-TV 46′s Fourth of July Special sponsored by CBS and Peach 94. Ms. Katie Jeanes-Watson recently returned from Las Vegas where she performed with Culture Shock of Vegas.

Ms. Hamilton received her dance training from Gwinnett Ballet Theatre, Buford School of Ballet, and Brimingham- Southern College. She has received invitations to study under scholsrship with Point Park University, Nashville Ballet, Atlanta Festival Ballet, Mercyhurst Colleege, Goshen College and Birmingham Southern College. She has received gold medal status  and a national overall distinction award in the American Academy of Ballet Performance at the Alvin Ailey Theatre in New York.  Ms. Hamilton is a graduate of Auburn University with a degree in Communications Disorders.

Eric Clay has twenty years experience as a professional musician and music educator. Several of his former students are music teachers and industry professionals. In addition, Mr. Clay is also a mentor to beginning music educators. His instruction is well rounded with emphasis on performance skills and music theory. Mr. Clay is currently studying jazz and holiday music and maintains a professional music studio in his home. Mr. Clay also enjoys years of experience as an accompanist for church and school functions. Mr. Clay’s students will have the opportunity to participate in recitals and competitions. Mr. Clay offers instruction in songwriting and composition to any students interested in enhancing their music education. Mr. Clay is a member of the Music Teachers National Association, (Georgia Music Teachers Association), National Association ofr Music Education, and the Coweta Fayette Music Teachers Association. Mr. Clay holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education and is a certified Elementary School Educator.

Kristi Hartsell  brings a fresh new look to the world of vocal music. She is currently pursuring her Bachelors of Arts degree in Music with concentrations in voice and education at Clayton State University. Ms. Hartsell is  currently the  Music Director of First Baptist Church of Riverdale. She leads a hymn choir, gospel choir, and contemporary praise team while working closely with young children in Children’s Choir. Ms. Hartsell enjoys all genres of music and has experience working professionally in many venues.  Ms. Hartsell is a professionally trained singer and teacher, having studied classical singing and belting technique under Dr. Shaun Amos and Dr. Christina Howell.  Ms. Hartsell’s approach to lessons includes work on breath management, tone quality, performance techniques including stage presence, body posture, music reading ability, text painting, and improvisation if applicable. Ms. Hartsell has experience working with both children and adults in many settings including summer camps, church musicals, choir settings, and private voice lessons.