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OUR TEACHERS

Meet our Teachers, Choreographers, Creatives & Dreamers.
These are the people who create the magic at dance 101. Today they are names on a screen but soon some of these extraordinary people will become very important to you.
*To read their full bios, click on faculty’s name

Kokayi Bakari Postell

Class(es): Intro to AfroBeats
Find me: @kokayi91

Kokayi is an American-Ghanaian citizen, who has been engaged in African traditional dance since the time he lived in Ghana (2014-2021). He was heavily involved with the Dance Department at the University of Ghana and continued to dance with a group in the Central region of Ghana called Akomapa. When he was a student at […]

JESSICA FLORES

Class(es): Live, Love, Ballet
Find me: @themotionchronicles

As an Atlanta native, Jessica learned her love for dance at a small interdisciplinary dance studio in Cartersville. During high school she transitioned to the Atlanta Ballet where she eventually danced in the second company for three years. While there, she performed work by various world-renowned artists including James Kudelka, Lila York, Bruce Wells, Michael […]

LEAH STERNBERG

Class(es): Front Desk

Leah is an Atlanta transplant originally from Chicago. From the age of 3, Leah has been building her dance skills and career. With a background in ballet, tap, jazz, modern, hip hop, and Irish dancing, she pursued a dance minor at Illinois Wesleyan University while getting her Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing. While at IWU, […]

JENA BROOKS

Class(es): Intro to Ballet Barre & Intro to Contemporary
Find me: @jenacbrooks

Jena was born and raised in Iowa City, IA where she began her dance training at the age of 3. She has that Midwestern charm and her subtle Iowan accent stays under the radar! She moved to South Carolina and trained at The School of Carolina Ballet Theatre (now called DanceArts Greenville) with the professional […]

QUINCY LAMAR

Class(es): Hip Hop 101 & Hip Hop 201
Find me: @_quincylamar

Quincy Lamar, affectionately known as “Q”, is a native of Dallas Texas, and a natural born lover of dance and music.   Quincy has a diversified career ranging between music videos, stage, screen, and television. After moving to Atlanta, Quincy landed his first performance with R&B artist Evelyn “Champagne” King. He has also appeared in […]

BRYN CHAFIN

Class(es): KaleidoSCULPT

Bryn has been dancing since she was 3 years old. She trained in a number of different styles including ballet, jazz, modern, character, and flamenco with the Atlanta Ballet Centre for Dance Education. As a teenager and a pre-professional with the Atlanta Ballet, Bryn was given the opportunity to perform roles with the professional company […]

GRACE CARTER

Class(es): Intro to Hip Hop & Sexy, Crazy, Cool + Turns, Hip Hop & Jazz Workshops
Find me: @move.with.grace__

With her mother and aunt being dance teachers, Grace was born and bred into the world of dance. She started her training at the age of 3, delving into any and every style she could sink her teeth into, eventually coming to love jazz and hip-hop most. Grace furthered her training at the CAP21 Musical […]

TARA MCCURLEY

Class(es): Ballet Center, Ballet Fundamentals & Pure Ballet

Tara began her training at age 3 in Enola, PA, later dancing with the pre-professional Cumberland Dance Company and studying at the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet. At 15, she was invited to study on full scholarship at the School of American Ballet in New York City, where she danced principal roles in Allegro Brillante, Concerto […]

OFELIA DE LA VALETTE

Class(es): Dancer's Stretch + Conditioning & The Dance Fundamentals Workshop

Though a passion for dance has been with her since childhood, it wasn’t until the age of 34 that former insurance executive Ofelia de La Valette dedicated herself to her true calling. For 10 years in pursuit of her passion, she navigated her corporate career, being a mother to two, and intensive training in jazz, […]

NICK WALKER JONES

Class(es): Broadway Repertoire
Find me: @nickwalkerjones

Joining the Dance 101 staff from NYC, Nick is so excited to share his love of musical theatre dance and Broadway rep with the Atlanta community! While based in New York, Nick participated in several workshops of new musicals, performed off broadway, toured the country, and danced and sang around the country from St. Louis to Boston. […]

JARED JAMES

Class(es): King of Hearts (int. hip hop) & J-Roc (beg. hip hop)
Find me: @jrocliving_

Jared was born April 1, 1990. Inspired by street dancers and poppers he started dancing at the age of 11, and that’s when Jared and his brother came up with the crew name Royal Flush. Throughout the years he continued to grow as a dancer and choreographer, despite the negative comments from his parents and […]

STEPHANIE KIRKSEY

Class(es): Heel & Now
Find me: @strutwithsteph_

Stephanie was born in Buffalo, NY (GO BILLS!) and grew up overseas. It was in Germany that she discovered her love for dance and developed her foundational skills in ballet. Throughout high school and college, Stephanie had numerous opportunities to perform with Paramount’s Kings Dominion, Richmond Speed Arena Football League Dance Team, a full dance […]

KATIE BRITT

Class(es): Ready! Set! Dance! & Tone + Stretch
Find me: @katiebrittdance

Katie Britt has a Bachelors in Musical Theatre and is an ACE® certified Group Fitness Instructor and Functional Movement Specialist.  Before all the degrees and titles though, Katie grew up dancing – first at a classical ballet company through age fourteen, then expanding horizons with forays into ballroom, jazz, and even Irish step dance. After earning […]

SHELLY COLLINS

Class(es): SoulFull (Contemporary)
Find me: @steps_and_movements

Shelly is a dance educator in the public school system with 16 years of teaching experience. She holds a dance degree from Brenau University, located in Gainesville, Ga. She is the mother of two amazing daughters and looks forward to presenting new and innovative dance experiences to the world. Catch her class, “SoulFull w/ Shelly.”

KEVIN K’SMOOVE MADDOX

Class(es): MADD-X Fitness (dance fitness)

Kevin is an established fitness instructor, originator of MADD-X Fitness, Hip Hop choreographer, founder and Executive Director of Culture Shock® Atlanta (a nationally recognized professional hip-hip dance organization that, among other things, produced some of Dance 101’s most popular dance teachers: Elaina Whitehead, Kevin Tyson, D Norris and Jeremy McShan). Kevin is considered the most […]

CHANTAL MAURICE

Class(es): This is Soca!
Find me: @chantalmauricedotcome

Dancing to the beat of her own drum. Chantal’s passion for dance started at an early age. Throughout college, she taught dance and was a backup dancer for local music artists in South Carolina. After college, she moved to NYC and began training in multiple Afro/Caribbean dance styles. In her journey to connect more with […]

BRAD DORFMAN

Class(es): Tap Basics & Intro to Tap Workshop

Are you learning to dance for the first time as an adult? Well, Brad WAS you. After getting his start right here at Dance 101 as an absolute beginner, he tapped his way to a spot in the Atlanta Rhythm Keepers before returning to Dance 101 as a teacher and choreographer. With a background in […]

D. NORRIS

Class(es): Latin Fiesta & Fuego!

D. Norris is a native of Atlanta, GA. He obtained a degree in Business Management from Alabama State Univ. He started choreographing in high school. D. has choreographed and danced for numerous theater and stage performances across the globe, including Miami, San Diego, Montreal and Mexico. He has worked with various artists, including Mary Mary […]

LARA MCGEE

Class(es): Modern Workshop & frequent Ballet sub
Find me: @lara_dances

Lara McGee has danced professionally with The Georgia Ballet, Watershed Dance Theatre, Dance Canvas, and Refuge Dance Company. She trained at the Tolbert Yilmaz School of Dance in Roswell, Georgia where she was a member of the student company, Roswell Dance Theatre (RDT), for 8 years. As a member of RDT, she received training in […]

SUSIE PAYNE

Class(es): Contemporary
Find me: @susieqz85

Susanne Payne was born and raised in Dayton, Ohio where she danced professionally with Dayton Contemporary Dance Company’s touring company, performing works by such noted choreographers as Eleo Pomare, Donald Byrd, Rennie Harris, and Ron K. Brown. She has also danced with Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company in New York City as well as Deeply Rooted […]

BARRY THOMAS

Class(es): Tap (beginner & intermediate levels)

Barry Thomas received his B.A. in dance at the prestigious Butler University. Several seasons in summer stock found him with his first job in New York and the world famous Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall. After numerous shows in and around New York, Michael Bennett cast Mr. Thomas in the role of Don Kerr […]

KEVIN TYSON

Class(es): A-Town Funk
Find me: @kjtx3

Kevin Tyson discovered his passion for dance as a Drum Major with his high school band in Decatur Georgia. Shortly after entering college in 1997, his exceptional dance ability earned him a spot on the Georgia State University Hip Hop dance team performing at halftime shows. In 2001, he was recruited to join Culture Shock […]

LAUREN MICHELLE

Class(es): Ballet Basics & Body Language
Find me: @lauren_mibelle

Lauren Michelle is a freelance movement artist and teacher in Atlanta. She has performed in soloist and ensemble roles throughout the U.S. with Fuerta Dance Company, The Esthete Collective, Chicago Repertory Ballet, the Portland Opera, and in other movement art projects. Her training has included artistic scholarships under Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, NW Dance Project, […]

PETER POULOS

Class(es): Video Pop, Pop Jazz & Turns + Leaps
Find me: @petedrinkswine

Peter Poulos has been an established instructor and choreographer in the Atlanta dance scene for over 20 years and on faculty at dance 101 for 9 years. His signature high energy jazz choreography regularly packs out classes at dance 101 and is popular among dance team celebrities needing to stay in shape in between seasons. […]

ASHLEIGH HUGHES

Class(es): Reb3l Groove & Reb3l Strength
Find me: @reb3l_ashleigh

Ashleigh does not come from a dance background but discovered it only by trying to “lose the baby weight”. She went to a dance fitness class back in 2009 after her second son was born and became hooked! The baby weight started to melt off and it was a release, it was fitness and it […]

KHALIL JOHNSON

Class(es): K-Funk (Hip Hop)
Find me: @specialkdancer

Caribbean in blood but born in California, Khalil Has Been Dancing Since the age of 8. He Has trained in various styles as seen in his style Of choreography that he calls “Special K Style.’ He has danced and worked with artists like Monica And TLC!