Dance It Out
The Faculty
Michelle Harris - (Co-Owner) Hip Hop and Jazz
Miss Michelle was a member of the color guard team for 3 years and a cheerleader for 4 years at Park View High School. During her Junior and Senior years, she was captain of the Park View Varsity Cheerleading Squad and was captain of the Marching Dragons Color Guard team her senior year. Michelle later choreographed the routines and instructed the color guard team at Randolph Henry High School, with her team having a successful competitive season.
Michelle has been trained largely in Modern Dancing and American Style Ballroom Dancing. Most of her training was done at the College of William and Mary. Michelle not only trained in Modern Dancing, but also took courses in Modern Dance history giving her a thorough knowledge of technique and background. While attending William and Mary, Michelle joined the ballroom dance club and competed and placed in numerous competitions. She competed mostly in Tango, Foxtrot, Waltz, Cha Cha, Rumba, Swing and Viennese Waltz. During this time, Michelle and her partner had great success competing, most notably 1st place in Tango against 75 couples at a D.C. competition. While with the ballroom dance club, Michelle performed at the annual Heart Ball which is held at the Science Museum of Virginia by the American Heart Association, two years in a row.
After college, Michelle continued training at Arthur Murray in Pittsburgh, PA and later taught ballroom with Dance Pittsburgh. Apart from Modern and Ballroom, she taught Zumba, a Latin-dance inspired fitness class, for a number or years. This opened her up to numerous new styles of dance; such as Cumbia and Reggaeton. Michelle has been exposed to many other styles of dance such as; Lindy Hop, Salsa, Mambo, Hip Hop and Ballet.
Miss Michelle enjoys exploring creativity in dance and nurturing free movement. Having been exposed to different styles of dance, she enjoys bringing a fusion of dance styles together in her teaching and choreography.
Angela Obst - Contemporary, Lyrical, and Tap
Miss Angela has been dancing for 18 years, 13 of which were under the instruction of Phyllis Daw and Shannon Smith with Shannon’s School of Dance in South Hill, VA where she was trained in classical ballet, jazz, tap and was introduced to lyrical. She also served as a dance assistant for two years to assist in conducting ballet classes for young students. Upon graduating from high school, Angela then attended Longwood University to obtain her Bachelor of Sciences degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders. During this time, she made the Blue Heat Dance Team and performed at university sporting events before auditioning for the Longwood Company of Dancers. She danced with the Company under the direction of Rodney Williams and served as Historian and then Rehearsal Directress for the Company as well as obtained membership in the National Dance Association. During her time with the Company, she was given the opportunity to choreograph multiple small and large group numbers that were performed at biannual shows which sparked her interest in integrating various dance styles into her choreography. Angela participated in dance workshops with guest artists including Desmond Richardson and Sarah Jo Fasio, and she was chosen to dance in Company pieces choreographed by Thomas Ragland of Richmond Ballet and Kenneth Greene who previously performed with Alvin Ailey and currently teaches drama and dance at Spelma College. Longwood University presented her with the opportunity to take classes such as Modern Dance, Zumba and Yoga as well as explore teaching group aerobic classes including dance aerobics and an intensive abdominal workout class.
To complete her academic career, Angela attended Radford University where she obtained her Master of Science degree and was given the opportunity to dance with the Contemporary Dance Ensemble for Virginia Tech as an associate member. She grew up dancing ballet, tap and jazz and was introduced to genres ranging from modern and contemporary to hip-hop, Broadway, and African in college. Her passion is contemporary choreography and partnering; however, ballet will always “enchant” her like no other dance. Outside of dance, Angela is an avid reader and enjoys exercising, kayaking and traveling with her husband. She is thrilled to join the family at Botofogo's Dance Studio and can't wait to share her love of dance with the students!
Deanna Rea - Irish step
Miss Deanna is a competitive Irish step dancer from Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. She has been practicing Irish step dancing for 14 years. Throughout her many years of dance Miss Deanna has competed as far south as Atlanta Georgia and as far north as New York and everywhere in between. She learned all of herskills through the Bell School of Irish Dance. Her instructor, Julia Bell has trained her for my 14 years in dance. Julia has helped Miss Deanna to place in the preliminary championship level of Irish step dancing. In this last year Miss Deanna qualified to represent her Irish Dance School at the regional competition called the Oriachtus.
Links :
Her school - http://www.bellschool.com/
Her shows - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tayGyupLao
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3O2lTa63ds
Lord of the dance - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjxTTjJtXDA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIWMH2RybPw
Riverdance - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8EXDtoGfrs
Dubstep - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSIMbqVP4ns
TLC competitive dance - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JiyGb_EY4PU
Alicia Washburn - (Co-Owner) Tutu Tots, Creative Movement, Classical Ballet, Pre-Pointe, Pointe’, and Musical Theater Dance Instructor
Miss Alicia received her early dance education from Joy Hargrave of Lockhart’s School of Dance of South Hill. She then became a student of Shannon’s School of Dance, under the direction of Shannon Smith and Phyllis Daw. She received training in classical ballet, tap and jazz for seven years, in addition to assisting ballet classes with Mrs. Daw for three years. This inspired her love of dance and cultivated an interest in teaching. Alicia furthered her ballet training at Raleigh Dance Theatre, under the direction of Mary LeGere , as well as the Chesterfield School of Ballet, under the direction of Patricia and Leona Dodd. While attending Radford University, she received her Bachelor of Fine Arts Minor under the direction of Frano Jelincic and Dagmar Kessler.
Ms. Washburn attended Summer Intensives at Raleigh Dance Theatre in North Carolina, Southern Ballet Theatre in Florida, as well as American Academy of Ballet in New York, where she also served as a counselor. During college and in her summers away, she expanded her knowledge by taking classes in modern, Pilates, acting, dance history, yoga, Brazilian, Russian folk dance, floor barre, swing, music appreciation, Spanish dance, partnering, Pointe, variations and mime. Summer study also enabled her to take classes with many prestigious Ballet Masters such as David Howard, Gelsey Kirkland, Stephanie Saland, Violette Verdy, John Meehan, Susan Jaffe, and Sean Lavery, to name a few. Having the opportunities to study with a wide variety of teachers and being exposed to many different methods and styles of dance, enabled her to become a more versatile dancer and gave her the ability to incorporate diversity in her teaching methods.
Currently, Ms. Washburn choreographs for the Colonial Theater in South Hill. She has choreographed for “Smoke on the Mountain” and the 50s and 60s revue, “The Totally Awesome Musical”, and "The Wizard of Oz", "Sound of Music", "Colonial Nutcracker and is currently directing the "Oklahoma".
Ms. Alicia currently has over 18 years of ballet training and 7 years of teaching experience. She is an avid runner who enjoys participating in various marathons and triathlons in her free time.
Teri DeLuca - Acro
Miss Teri competed in gymnastics for 10 years and made it to Level 9 (gymnastics goes from Level 1, being beginner, to level 10 being elite). She won several state championships, both on individual apparatus and All-Around. Miss Teri was a professional cheerleader for one year with the World Football League and the Raleigh Durham Skyhawks, and 2 years for the NBA with the Charlotte Hornets. Miss Teri has over 12 years of dance training in ballet, lyrical, and jazz. She has also had 20 years of Pre-School Class experience.
Miss Teri began coaching at the age of 15 at Gymcarolina Gymnastics in Raleigh, NC to help defray the enormous competitive costs. She learned she had a definite knack for coaching. By hersenior year, she was managing a satellite gym for Gymcarolina in Garner, NC (home of Scotty McCreeyJ). Miss Teri was there until the age of 21, when she moved to South Florida. She was a team coach, class coach, birthday party instructor, special needs instructor, and mobile coach (bringing equipment to daycares) for Treasure Coast Gymnastics.
While living in Florida, Miss Teri coached summer camps at the legendary gymnastics coach Bela Karolyi’s Texas ranch for 2 summers, and one summer at the Woodward gymnastics camp (both elite training centers). She has taken several athletes to Junior Olympics and also to AAU Nationals at Disney’s Wide World of Sports for many years.
Miss Teri moved back to Raleigh in 2009 and went back to Gymcarolina (by that time their enrollment was 1500 kids a month). She has taught parent and tot classes, preschool, beginner boys and girls, advanced girls and boys, team level (beginner and upper), and choreographed routines for floor exercises and balance beam. She has also taught tumbling and acro classes at several dance academies throughout the years and also taught tumbling for several competitive cheerleading squads. Miss Teri safety certified through the USA gymnastics and am a USAG professional member. She is also available for private lessons for students wanting to work on a specific skill.
Sandra Lowe- Act It Out
Resides in Crewe VA with her husband Chuck Lowe and son Kyle Kidd. She works for the US Army Corps of Engineers at the John H Kerr Powerhouse and has been the President, Vice President and Treasurer for SACT (Southside Area Community Theatre). Sandra was introduced to acting at an early age by her mother Evelyn Clay. She accompanied her mother on auditions and was assisted her in performed storytelling in elementary school. In the 70’s Sandra was paid to be an extra on the movie set of Rollercoaster set at Kings Dominion in Virginia. She then performed in high school productions all four years in everything from large musical ensembles to Shakespeare. When he mother passed in 1986 Sandra took a hiatus from acting but came back with a renewed passion with a local theatre group; Southside Area Community Theatre - SACT.
She trained with Upstage Acting by Christy Gray Aviles who is a Broadway performer and graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City. Sandra’s previous theater experience has included acting, directing and producing in shows such as Arsenic & Old Lace, Steel Magnolias, The Odd Couple, Dearly Beloved, Dixie Swim Club, The Mousetrap and Kitchen Witches. Not only has she worked with the Blackstone, VA theatre group she has also worked on the stages of the Colonial Center for Performing Arts and Clarksville Fine Arts Center with the local theatre group CATS and Clarksville Community Players.
As with all things theatre; it is the countless memories and new friends taken from each experience and the enjoyment of the audience that makes it all worth it. She would like to share her knowledge of theatre with you and your family in hopes that you will also render the pure exhilaration of a well performed show!
Harrison Runion- Act It Out
Is a recent graduate of Brunswick Academy and currently resides in South Hill VA. He is a student of theatre with Leslie Cline, an accomplished actor/director from South Carolina and Richmond’s Henley Street Theatre Company as well as Southside Virginia Community College. Harrison has a wealth of experience on the stags of the Colonial Center for the Performing Arts, Brunswick Academy, Southside Area Community Theatre and the Clarksville Fine Arts Center. Some of his favorite roles have been Leaf Coneybear in 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Seymour in Little Shop of Horrors, Will Parker in Oklahoma! and B-Flat in Second Samuel. Harrison gravitates towards musical theatre which took him to his early career choice of teaching Music to lower school students at his alma mater, Brunswick Academy, preparing young performers for stage through technique and form. He is hoping to attend VCU Fine Arts program in the very near future where he plans to pursue a career of entertaining on stage, television or film – or maybe all! The support of his family and friends has helped him to facilitate his goal to pursue a career on stage. He is eternally grateful to those that build him up and have the patience to allow him to fulfill a dream.
Patricia Mahaney- The Footnotes
Has many years of experience such as: 30 plus years of performing, 13 years of dance training, 1 year of vocal training, 12 years of piano training, and a pianist/musician for her church choir for many years. She loves using her talent to draw others to learn the fun in performing. She has been the Musical Director for Kenston Forest School; here she has instructed the following plays: Beauty and the Beast, Shrek, Annie. Patricia is also an active CATS member at the Colonial Theater. She has participated in productions such as: Rock Around the Clock, Vegas, Country Revue, Rock Around the Clock II, Christmas Revue and Sound of Music. Additionally, Patricia was the assistant music director for the Sound of Music at the Colonial Theater.
Tammy Hazelwood- Desk Manager
She has been married for 15 years and has one daughter. Additionally, she has been a resident of South Hill her whole life. Tammy loves the small town atmosphere. She is also employeed with Mecklenburg County Public Schools, and has worked in the office at Dance It Out for three years. Tammy loves being a part of this studio and seeing the sweet faces of all the dancers every night and seeing their hard work pay off at the end of the year Revue. Most of all, she loves seeing how much her daughter has grown with confidence and as a dancer over the past 4 years she has danced. Dance is a part of her families life and she loves her dance family.
Mary Glenn Coleman - Instructor (Ballet)
Miss Mary Glenn has been dancing for 14 years, with a focus on classical ballet. She trained under Sandra Zellinger at City Ballet in Raleigh, NC for 10 years where she studied the Cecchetti method. Mary Glenn performed in the Nutcracker for 10 consecutive years, holding a variety of roles. Following high school, Mary Glenn attended Wake Forest University where she studied Elementary Education and Mathematics. Her ballet experience continued with daily classes at the collegiate level. She had the opportunity to study under North Carolina School of the Arts faculty including Fanchon Cordell and Brantley Shapiro. Mary Glenn expanded her horizons and explored the world of jazz during her 4 years at Wake Forest. While she loved her experiences with jazz, ballet remains Mary Glenn’s passion.
Mary Glenn has 7 years of teaching experience as each summer during college, Mary Glenn returned to Raleigh to teach ballet classes at City Ballet. Following college, Mary Glenn began teaching 2nd grade in Raleigh and continued with substitute teaching at City Ballet. During the summers, Mary Glenn taught continuing ballet classes and intensive classes for students ages 7-16.
Mary Glenn moved to Boydton, VA in 2013 after she married her husband, Will. She took a few years off from dancing while she focused on completing her Master of Science degree and teaching 5th graders at Clarksville Elementary. Mary Glenn is so excited to join the Dance It Out family!
JoBeth Hardin - Guest Instructor (Ballet, Modern, Tap, Jazz)
JoBeth Hardin has over nineteen years experience in dance. She is a recent graduate with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance and a double minor in Business Management and Entrepreneurship from Radford University. She spent 10 years training at Ballet Arts in Henderson, NC under the direction of Alecia Lakernick. While at Ballet Arts she competed at many state and regional competitions. In 2011, she was selected by adjudication to attend Virginia Summer Governor School for the Arts. During her time at Radford University, she had the opportunity to perform various roles. Her most memorable production was a world premier performance and original cast member of a new musical entitled Keep This for Me: Memories of the Last World War. A few of her most recent roles have been Liesel in The Sound of Music at the Colonial Theatre, and Fritzie in Cabaret at Pridemore Playhouse. JoBeth has taught and choreographed for Radford University, Ballet Arts, Colonial Theatre, Clarksville Fine Arts Center, as well as the Vance Granville Theatre. Some of her choreography credits include Bye Bye Birdie, The Lion King, and The Music Man as well as Twelfth Night. During the summer of 2015, JoBeth completed an Internship at Theatre Arts Center in New York City. JoBeth’s most recent dance work Xerox was selected to represent Radford University in the 2016 Mid-Atlantic American College Dance Festival Adjudication Showcase.
