Elite Dance Academy in Buford, GA

	Bethany Doherty Cruze Artistic Director A native of Georgia, Bethany has been teaching dance professionally for over 14 years, and has studied ballet, tap, jazz and pointe since the age of 4. After attending Brenau University, she discovered her true passion of teaching and inspiring the next generation of dancers. Her top priority as Artistic Director of EDA is to bring out confidence in all students in a clean, well-organized and safe environment.
	Skyler Brennan Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Pointe Skyler has been an avid dancer for 14 years, studying ballet, tap, jazz, pointe, and contemporary. She has experience teaching and choreographing for multiple competitions while in college. Skyler is a recent graduate of Georgia Tech, and is pursuing her Master's degree in Epidemiology at Emory University starting in August 2014.

	Rebecca del Forn Jazz Rebecca began her dancing career at the age of 6. She later attended Brenau University majoring in Dance Performance. Her scholastic aspirations then prompted a transfer to Georgia State University (GSU) in Atlanta, GA. She continued to teach throughout college. Rebecca eventually took on the role of choreographer for The Dance Company Ensemble in 2009 and played an instrumental role in helping the girls achieve many high awards for their performances. She is now the Director of Senior Ensemble and they continue to receive Platinum ratings and placing in overall scores. Rebecca graduated from GSU in May 2011 with a BBA in Managerial Sciences along with a minor and certificate in Hospitality focusing on Events and Tradeshows to help with dance competitions and conventions. In Atlanta, she attends classes from multiple teachers and studios including Gotta Dance Atlanta, Dance 101, Atlanta Ballet, and Atlanta Dance Central. She also works with ATL Dance Source to keep abreast of the Atlanta dance scene and brings to her classes the newest dance trends. She takes pride in pushing her students to work hard in order to reach their full potential while making sure they have the best time of their lives.
	Darbie Duff Contemporary, Hip Hop Darbie started dancing at the age of three and is trained in ballet, contemporary, and hip hop. She was a member of Dance Theatre Suitcase (DTS), under Gabriel Otrevel. She has had the opportunity to dance alongside Nobel Peace Prize winner Elie Wiesel at the Jewish 200th Holocaust celebration, and to dance for the Queen of England during her visit to Jamestown, VA, as well as working with some of the most amazing teachers and choreographers. She also made it to the final cut of the TV show "Live to Dance". Dancing truly is Darbie's life and dream, and she is thrilled that she is able to share this talent and passion with the world. Darbie has also recently appeared in several shows and films, such as Scary Movie 5, Necessary Roughness, Vampire Diaries, Fast7, and The Originals.
	Kamali Hill Ballet, Pointe Hailing from the Nation's Capital, Kamali Hill began her professional career with Dissonance Dance Theatre in Washington DC, while earning her BFA in Dance and Choreography at Virginia Commonwealth University. Upon graduating she was given the opportunity by Artistic Director Shawn Short, to present a new work at the end of the company's season. It was during the creative process of "Vulnerable Confinement" where Kamali decided she wanted to establish herself as a choreographer in the dance community. Since then she presented and premiered several new works in Washington DC, Maryland, Virginia, and Philadelphia. In 2014, she relocated to Atlanta GA, and has had the opportunity to create and work with Fuerta Dance Company, the Young Choreographers Showcase, Fieldworks at CORE, Alan Kimara Dixon, Room To Move, Corian Ellisor, Dance Canvas, MAD Festival, T. Lang Dance, and Otis Sallid. Kamali is excited to begin teaching with Elite Dance Academy for the Fall 2016/2017 Season!
	Jazmine Wallace Hip Hop Jazmine Wallace is a southern girl with a love of all things performance. She spent most of her childhood devoting her free time to dance and theatre. She has performed in collegiate productions of Chicago: The Musical and Annie Get Your Gun and she has been featured with professional Motown Tribute groups in the USVI. Now a graduate of Kennesaw State University's Theatre program, she specializes in musical theatre, jazz, and hip hop dance styles. Jazmine also lends her expertise in audition techniques for youngsters with dreams of bright stage lights. Along with her collegiate theatre and dance studies, she had the opportunity to train with such greats as: Henry "Hyland" Scott (international musical theatre performer), Dr. Oral Moses (KSU music professor and international vocalist), Jen MacQueen (KSU Tap mistress and owner of Tap That), Marcus Alford (creator and sponsor of Ballet fest and Jazz on Tap festival), Lyn Cramer (University of Oklahoma) and many others.
	Katie Veldhuis Ballet/Pointe Katie Veldhuis is a Georgia native with a B.A. in Dance from Kennesaw State University. She began dancing at the age of 3, and has no stopped since. Training with Jonnie Kelley, Ruth Mitchell, Terrell Paulk, Nicolaus Picana, and other notable instructors at Dancers Studio Backstage, shaped her into the dancer she's become. She was a company member of Atlanta Dance Theatre for 8 years where she was able to perform in Ballets such as Sleeping Beauty, Coppelia, Alice & Wonderland, and Hansel & Gretel. She attended SERBA where she performed in the Gala Catagory for 5 consecutive years and was awarded a scholarship to the Lousiville Summer Intensive. Other summer intensives include: Festival Ballet, Metropolitan Ballet, and Ballet Austin. While she attending KSU, she danced with the KSU dance company, performing on campus and around Atlanta. Katie has performed on many stages across the country; highlights include performing at the Kennedy Center twice with Gala honors and working with Lauri Stallings and her company, gloATL, at Symphony Hall in Atlanta. She went on to cheer as an Atlanta Falcons Cheerleader with the NFL, and was able to represent to Atlanta Falcons in New York City, Mexico City, Jamaica, and of course Atlanta. After her second season, Katie moved to NYC to experience the city life. She promptly moved back to the South, and is excited to be back! She is looking forward to teaching and sharing her passion for dance around the North Atlanta area.
Master Teachers:
	Katie Stull Katie received her early training at the Academy of Ballet Arts in Marietta, GA. She attended Texas Christian University as a scholarship student, where she graduated summa cum laude with a BFA in Ballet and News-Editorial Journalism. Katie danced with the Georgia Ballet professional company for seven seasons, and her repertoire with the company includes Giselle, Paquita, The Firebird, La Sylphide, The Nutcracker, and George Balanchine's Valse-Fantaisie and Serenade, among other works. As a choreographer, Katie has created five pieces for The Georgia Ballet's "Swirling Soiree" spring performances and has also choreographed original pieces for Dance Canvas' series "Introducing the Next Generation" and "pARTy for Art." She currently teaches ballet and pointe classes at studios in Marietta and Cartersville where she contributes choreography to annual productions of The Nutcracker and other mixed repertoire shows. Katie teaches dance classes through The Georgia Ballet's "Momentum" program at Marietta High School and Sawyer Road Elementary School, and she also continues to work as a freelance choreographer.
	Beth Del Nero Beth Del Nero is originally from the Detroit area but has been in Atlanta since 1994. Her dance background includes training in ballet, pointe, jazz, modern, contemporary, and aerial dance. Almost all of her dance training has occurred at various Atlanta area studios and includes such notable teachers as Carol Szkutek, Jerylann Warner, Susan Eldridge, Bubba Carr, and Ginny King. Beth danced for Ginny King’s professional company at Bacchus Productions for several years, honing her skills in musical theatre, showgirl/cabaret style, latin dance, tap, and everything in between. Beth has also attended numerous masterclasses in NYC at Steps and Broadway Dance Center while attending the Martha Graham Summer Intensive on two separate occasions. In the past she has performed at Showbox nightclub as one of 6 can-can/showgirls, with Dance Brasil as a samba dancer, and with David Dorfman Dance as a guest, to name a few. Currently Beth dances with D’Air Aerial Dance Company performing on trapeze, fabrics, and various built aerial apparatus, while teaching children, teens, and adults at the D’Air Project under the direction of Nicole Mermans. Beth also dances and choreographs for Atlanta's Dames Aflame and has done so since 2004, performing often with the Kingsized Orchestra and their lavish Vegas-style productions as well as cabaret-style shows and corporate/industrials. Finally, Beth joined Gathering Wild modern dance company in 2010 and performed with them in “27”. Coming to dance late in life, Beth considers herself a student first but teaches ballet & jazz at local studios. Last summer saw her first piece of contemporary choreography, “Big Girl Pants”, which debuted at Dance Chance Atlanta, Skwhirlhaus, and Decatur's October Dance Gala.
	NaShayla Jones NaShayla Jones currently works as a company teacher and choreographer at Parker Dance Company where she has recently been promoted to Artistic Director. NaShayla has won numerous choreography awards for her thought-provoking and captivating choreography. NaShayla is quickly becoming a force in the dance competition scene. Her energetic personality and electrifying teaching style help set her classes and choreography apart. NaShayla is a graduate from the University of Alabama where she earned a B.A .in Dance. While attending the University of Alabama, NaShayla further developed her technical skills in ballet, modern, jazz, and contemporary. NaShayla was a member of the Alabama Repertory Dance Theater, the university’s pre-professional dance company; and the student dance organization Dance Alabama, where she was a performer and choreographer. NaShayla was also given the privilege to be an American Ballet theater counselor for three years. During NaShayla's last year at Alabama she performed at the American College Dance Festival Association (ACDFA). In recent years, she has worked for the Universal Dance Association as a head instructor and choreographer. NaShayla was signed to DDO South talent agency. NaShayla has had the honor of assisting many of L.A. and New York’s most notable choreographers. NaShayla’s work can be seen in many studios in the southeast. NaShayla has also choreographed for competitive cheerleading squads and dance teams. NaShayla teaches all dance styles including Contemporary Ballet, Jazz, and Jazz funk, Lyrical, Modern, Contemporary, and Musical Theater. She loves and believes in the art of dance and cannot wait to see it expand and grow in today’s world.