Meet Our Staff

Bethany Doherty Cruze

OWNER | ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

A native of Georgia, Bethany Doherty Cruze has been teaching dance professionally for over 25 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.

Miss Bethany's top priority as Owner of Elite Dance Academy is to bring out confidence in all students in a clean, well-organized and safe environment.

Skyler Brennan

BALLET | TAP | JAZZ | POINTE

Skyler Brennan has been an avid dancer for 23 years, studying ballet, tap, jazz, pointe, and contemporary. She has experience teaching and choreographing for multiple competitions while in college, and has over 14 years of class choreography and teaching experience.

Skyler holds a Master's Degree in Epidemiology from Emory University and also works at the Georgia Department of Public Health as a Zoonotic Disease Epidemiologist.

Darbie Duff

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR | CONTEMPORARY | HIP HOP

Darbie Duff 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 to share this talent and passion with the world. She has also recently appeared in several shows and films including Scary Movie 5, Necessary Roughness, Vampire Diaries, Fast7, and The Originals.

Erin Levenson Harms

BALLET | TAP | JAZZ | POINTE | ACRO | CONTEMPORARY 

Ms Erin has been dancing all her life. A well-known dancer and choreographer, she majored in dance at the University of South Carolina. In the Dance Department, Erin followed a dance performance and choreography curriculum with an emphasis on contemporary dance. There she was able to study and perform the works of Martha Graham including the world famous "Sketches from the Chronicles." After graduating, Erin returned to the University of South Carolina to earn her master's degree in Marriage in Family Therapy. For many years Erin owned Colonial Counseling, a counseling center in South Carolina and Georgia but in 2016 decided to retire from counseling and focus solely on her career as a dance and acro teacher and choreographer working with the Sumpter Civic Dance Company, of which she was a member for over 15 years. With award winning choreography, Erin has shared her work with thousands of dancers throughout the Southeast. She has taught all ages of students, youth and adults in a wide variety of dance arts including tap, ballet, gymnastics/acrobatics, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, hip hop, partnering and ballroom dance.  Ms Erin is also a licensed Zumba instructor and a certified Acrobatic Arts instructor.  

Ashley Bice-Atkins

BALLET | POINTE | JAZZ

Ms Ashley started dancing at the age of 3. She had the amazing opportunity to dance in the Opening and Closing ceremonies of the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. Upon high school graduation she got her first professional dance job in “TEXAS” the outdoor musical in Canyon, Texas. Ashley went on to get her degree in dance with a focus on Ballet from Point Park University in the Conservatory of Performing Arts. After graduating from college Ashley began performing for Stiletto Entertainment with Holland America Cruise Lines. She performed on many different class ships including the Prinsendam, also known as the elegant explorer, as the featured dancer. Ashley held Company manager and dance captain positions as well. She then went on to perform in Las Vegas, NV and Branson, MO. Ashley then got the opportunity to dance on Princess Cruises where she was also the Company Performance Manager/Dance Captain. She has also been a judge for Starpower National Talent Competition. Ashley is now happy to have started a family and be back in her home state of Georgia sharing her knowledge and passion with the up and coming stars of tomorrow!