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
CATALINA ALVAREZ
Find me: @catdancingqueen
Cat is originally from Cali, Colombia- widely known as the salsa capital of the world. She began her dance training at just five years old, starting with ballet and later studying jazz under a Brazilian instructor whose annual productions were held at the city’s Municipal Theater were Cat regularly performed. At 18 she launched her […]
SHEY LANG
Shey began dancing and performing when she was 6 years old. Her training is rooted in classical ballet beginning with the Cecchetti ballet method. She quickly branched out into other classical techniques; Balachine, Vaganova, and Royal Academy in ballet as well as codified modern techniques such as Horton, Cummingham, and Graham all form the foundation […]
MARYANN COLANERO
Find me: @maryanncolanero
Mary Ann started her tap dance journey from a very early age. Her foundational training started in NYC studying under Ronnie DeMarco and Dorothy Jaggi (a former Rockette). She instructed classes and performed in NYC, South Florida, here in Georgia at Rhythm Dance Center and now at Dance 101 where she has been dancing for […]
MEGHAN RILLAMAS
Find me: @embodywell
Meghan has lived in Atlanta since 2022, originally from the Bay Area in California. She grew up doing musical theatre and got her BFA in Musical Theatre at AMDA in LA. She specializes in tap, ballroom and social dance styles and has been teaching since 2018. She loves sharing the knowledge and gift of dance, […]
L. WHITE
Find me: @lwhitehairartist
L. White is a native of Jackson, Mississippi, whose love for dance has been a lifelong constant. For her, movement is freedom, joy, and expression, something as essential as breathing. She trained in a performing arts program for seven years, where she developed strong technical foundations and a deep appreciation for the discipline and artistry […]
JANESSA DRAINVILLE
Find me: @joyfuljanessa
Janessa is a passionate dancer and fitness fiend who started her journey at the University of Nevada, Reno, teaching Zumba Fitness, Cardio Hip Hop, and Dance Bootcamp (2016-2020). After moving to Seattle right before COVID hit and continuing to teach Zumba online during the pandemic to her students, she discovered her abiding love for Pilates. […]
JESSICA FLORES
Find me: @jfloresmoves
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 […]
JENA BROOKS
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
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
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 […]
JOHN JAMES
Find me: @johnjamesATL
John James is a native of Atlanta, GA whose life has centered around music and dance. Since birth, John has been surrounded by vocalists, producers, and musicians which naturally helped him develop both a love and understanding for the entertainment industry. At a young age he studied instrumentation and music performance from some of the best […]
GRACE CARTER
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
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
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
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. […]
STEPHANIE KIRKSEY
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
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 […]
KEVIN K’SMOOVE MADDOX
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
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 […]
BARRY THOMAS
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
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
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, […]
ASHLEIGH HUGHES
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
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!