Decatur City Dance Company Members

We have four groups of company dance members:

Junior Ensemble | Apprentice Ensemble | Junior Rhythm Keepers | Rhythm Keepers

Mona Adams

Jessica Aponte, age 15, is a sophomore at St Pius X and is a member of the dance company there.  Jessica has been dancing since she was three years old.  She emerged under the instruction of Hannah Harris at Dance South Studios where she began pointe training and became a member of their Performing Arts Company. She continued dancing ballet and jazz, and found a love for modern dance with Candace Giyan. In 2008, Jessica came to Decatur School of Ballet where she is now in her second year of the Junior Ensemble.  Her other interests include art, photography, music, baking and hanging out with friends.

Maddy Berger, age 14, is a nihth grader at Lakeside High School. She started dancing when she was three, but moved to Decatur School of Ballet when she was seven. This is Maddy’s sixth year taking jazz and fourth year taking ballet. Maddy also enjoys playing the piano, photography, skiing, and hanging out with friends. Maddy says: “Dance is not only my passion, but also my dream.”   

Sarah Catherine Black, age 16, started her dance training at age three with the Lawrenceville School of Ballet where she studied until she moved to the Decatur School of Ballet in 2003.   In 2004 she joined Dance South Studios for their inaugural season in their performing arts division. In 2005  she was selected for the Dance South Company.  She remained with Dance South until they closed in the summer of 2008.  In the fall of 2008 Sarah Catherine returned to Decatur School of Ballet.  She has studied ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, and hip hop.  This is her second season as a member of the Junior Ensemble with Decatur City Dance. Sarah Catherine is a Junior at Decatur High School where she is a member of the school drill team and is a Sous Chef with the Decatur High Culinary Arts program. She also enjoys drama class.  Sarah Catherine has a sister, Jasmine, who also dances at Decatur School of Ballet and a little brother Candler.  Her mom and dad love watching her perform.  Sarah Catherine's favorite part of dancing is sewing a new pair of pointe shoes.

Sophie Britain, age 17, started her dancing career at Callanwolde Fine Arts Center at the age of five. Two years later, she left Callanwolde and continued to dance at Metro Dance Company for five years. She came to Decatur School of Ballet in 2006.  A senior at Decatur High School, she is a member of her school's drill team.  Sophie also enjoys being outdoors.  

Armena Brown 

Veronica Fleming

Rachel Manciagli

Olivia McDavid, age 16, has been taking ballet since she was 11. Olivia attends Decatur High School, where she is on the yearbook staff. Besides dance, Olivia enjoys art and travel, and her favorite subjects are Spanish, literature, and lunch.

Kate Napier, age 15, began dancing at Decatur School of Ballet when she was three.  She is a tenth-grader at Lakeside High School where her favorite subjects are math and science.  When Kate is not dancing, she enjoys playing the violin in her school orchestra, playing the piano, and singing in her church choir.  Kate loves her sister Sarah,who also dances at Decatur School of Ballet, her mommy, her daddy and her adorable dog Mickey.  Kate says she loves dancing because "it is peaceful and it is exciting to perform on stage."  

McKenzie Rhone, age 13, began dancing at Decatur School of Ballet  when she was three. She has always taken ballet and recently started tap and jazz. This will be her fourth year on pointe and her tenth year in ballet. McKenzie is an eighth-grader at Renfroe Middle School. She loves dancing, and she also likes to act, swim, travel, and just hang out with her friends. This is her first year in the Junior Ensemble of Decatur City Dance.  McKenzie says, "I'm excited and ready for the challenges!"

Jessica Van Meir, age 15, is a sophomore at Paideia School. She began dancing at age four at Vista Grove Dance Center, where she took ballet for one year. Jessica then took some time off, took a year of dance at a small studio in Tucker and took three years of gymnastics before returning to Vista Grove in 2004. In 2007, she joined Decatur School of Ballet. She has taken ballet, pointe, jazz, theatre, and some tap. This is her second year in Junior Ensemble, and she's very excited! Besides dance, Jessica plays violin, tutors, and enjoys acting, singing, and art.

Auyana Wilson

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Apprentice Ensemble 2008-2009

Jessica Ashley, age 17, is a senior at Paideia. She has been dancing since age three and started dancing at Decatur School of Ballet in 1998. This is Jessica's nihth year taking jazz classes, and she has been in and out of ballet classes since she began dance. This is her second year in the Apprentice Ensemble of Decatur City Dance. Jessica also loves drawing, photography, reading, and hanging out with friends, but she enjoys dancing most.

Virginia Catherine Cushing, age 15, began her dance training at age three at Decatur School of Ballet. This is her second year in the Apprentice Ensemble of Decatur City Dance. She is in ninth grade at Westminster.  Virginia Catherine lives with her mom Debbie, dad Paul and her brother Robert. She also enjoys competitive swimming, singing, reading and UGA football. Virginia Catherine says, "I enjoy dancing because it is a great way to relax, and I love to perform."

Sally Diguette, age 17, is a senior at the DeKalb School of the Arts.  She began her dance training with Decatur School of Ballet in 1996 at age three. Sally enjoys painting and sketching.  She has a 20-year-old brother named Andrew.  This is her fifth year in the Apprentice Ensemble of Decatur City Dance.  Sally says, “I have had a lot of fun!”   

Meg Gourley, age 15, is in her second year with the Apprentice Ensemble of Decatur City Dance. She has been dancing at Decatur School of Ballet since she was three years old.  She lives with her mom Leslie, who teaches at Decatur School of Ballet, and her dad Jamie, who is a heating and air technician. Meg is a sophomore at the Academy of Liberal Arts at Newton High School. Aside from dance, she enjoys riding horses and youth group at church. Meg says she dances for the rush and love of performing.

Elizabeth Harris, age 14, started her dance training at two years old. Lizzie was a junior member of the Atlanta Festival Ballet Company under the direction of Gregory Aaron and Nicolas Pacana during the 2003-2004 season and performed in The Nutcracker, Beauty and the Beast, and An Artist’s Life 2004.  From 2004 until 2008, Lizzie was a member of the Performing Arts Company at Dance South Studios, her mother’s dance studio, where she studied ballet, pointe, jazz, modern, tap, and hip hop. While at Dance South, Lizzie was home schooled, so she assisted in teaching Creative Movement, Tap and Jazz classes. She actually debuted her first piece of choreography at Dance South’s 2007 Spring Concert.  When Dance South closed in the summer of 2008, Lizzie came to dance at Decatur School of Ballet. This is her first season as a member of the Apprentice Ensemble of Decatur City Dance. Lizzie also studies Modern with Mrs. Jerylann Warner as well as being a part of the Emerging Artists’ Program of Zoetic Dance Ensemble. Lizzie is in ninth grade at Decatur High School and lives in the Druid Hills area with her family and her precious Yorkshire Terrier, Trixie Malone.

Shakeria Hicks, age 16, began her dance training at age four and came to Decatur School of Ballet at age seven.  This is her third season in the Apprentice Ensemble of Decatur City Dance.  She is in the eleventh grade at the DeKalb School of the Arts.  She enjoys swimming, tennis, cheerleading, gymnastics and, of course, dance.  Shakeria says,” I like to dance because it is fun, gives me a sense of relaxation, requires a lot of work and I enjoy the challenge!”

Hannah James, age 17, started dancing when she was eight at Metro Dance Company. She began dancing at Decatur School of Ballet in 2006.  This is her second year in the Apprentice Ensemble of Decatur City Dance. A senior at Decatur High School, she is a member of the Drill Team. Hannah likes music, writing, singing, and being outside, but she says, "I love dancing more than anything in the world!"  

Heather Lowery, age 17, began her dance training with Decatur School of Ballet at the age of 3, transferred to Studio One at age 7, and came back to DSOB last year. This is her second year in Apprentice Ensemble of Decatur City Dance. Heather is a junior at Dekalb School of the Arts. She loves to dance and act in her spare time. She loves to dance because "it's a way of expressing my feelings in a beautiful way."

Nitou Makidi, age 16, began her dance training at Decatur School of Ballet when she was seven years old.  This season will be her second in the Apprentice Ensemble of Decatur City Dance.  She is an eleventh-grader at Creekside High School in Fairburn, Georgia.  Nitou enjoys many hobbies - reading, cooking, watching soccer, swimming, sewing, playing musical instruments and dancing.  

Haley McDaniel, age 14, began her dance training at Vista Grove Dance Center when she was three.  She moved to Dance South during her third grade year and is now in her fourth year at Decatur School of Ballet.  Haley has studied ballet, pointe, modern dance, jazz, tap and hip-hop. This is her first year in the Apprentice Ensemble and her third in the Junior Rhythm Keepers. Haley is a freshman at St Pius X Hich School.  She thoroughly enjoys dance along with acting, singing, playing the piano and hanging out with her friends.  Haley's family consists of her mom, dad, brother and precious dog Daisy.

Delaney McIntyre, age 16, has danced at Decatur School of Ballet since three years old. This is her first year in the Apprentice Ensemble.  A junior at Tucker High School, Delaney is a member of Beta Club and Habitat for Humanity and a participant in the International Baccalaureate Program. Delaney loves dance for the discipline, physical training and personal and group accomplishments. She is active at Decatur's Lutheran Church of the Messiah, and is also planning her gold award for Girl Scouts as well as playing her harp at various functions in the community.

Emily Miller, age 15, began dancing at age three at Decatur School of Ballet. This will be her 13th year of dancing ballet. She also takes tap and jazz classes, and assists with modern dance classes. She is currently a tenth grader at Decatur High School.  Emily loves reading, writing, hanging out with friends, and baking, but dancing is her first love.  Emily says, "I love to dance, because it's an outlet of self-expression, and it just makes me feel good".

Maggie Miller, age 18, has been dancing with Decatur School of Ballet since she was five. This is her third year in the Apprentice Ensemble of Decatur City Dance. A senior at Decatur High School, she is a member of the school's drill team. Maggie says, "Dancing is something that I love; I hope to work hard and progress even more this year."  

Olivia Porter, age 16, is an eleventh-grader at Atlanta International School.  She started dancing at age three at Decatur School of Ballet.  Libby lives with her mother Donna.  Besides dance, Libby likes to read and to act.  Libby says, “I dance because it makes me feel as if I’m in a different world; all my troubles float away.”

Emily Rakoczy, age 17, has been dancing for five years at Decatur School of Ballet. She is in her second year in the Apprentice Ensemble of Decatur City Dance. Emily is a senior at St Pius X Catholic High School where she is involved in the school's dance program. Emily says, "I love dancing because of the exhilarating feeling I get when I go on stage. Dancing can relieve stress from a long day at school."

Eliza Reese, age 16, began dancing at Decatur School of Ballet when she was four. She is now in her third year of the Apprentice Ensemble. She says, “When I perform, it’s fun to wear all the beautiful costumes.”  She lives in Decatur with her mom Jessica, a teacher at Decatur School of Ballet, her dad Alan and her sister Rebecca, who also dances at Decatur School of Ballet.  A junior at the Academe of the Oaks, Eliza also enjoys art, music and swimming. 

Alexandra Taylor, age 17, began dancing with Lee Harper at the age of three and continued with Atlanta Ballet Centre for Dance for 13 years.  She has studied ballet, modern, pointe and hip hop and has performed in numerous Atlanta Ballet Nutcrackers. This is her second season with the Apprentice Ensemble of Decatur City Dance. A senior at the Atlanta International School, she speaks three languages and plays Ultimate for AIS. She also enjoys travel, having journeyed to over ten countries studying, working and discovering other cultures. Alix lives with her parents and brother and two unmannerly rescue dogs in Ansley Park.

Anna Mia Warner, age 17, started her dancing career at Callanwolde Fine Arts Center and came to Decatur School of Ballet in 2000. This is her second season in the Apprentice Ensemble of Decatur City Dance.  A senior at Decatur High School , she lives with her mom Jerylann, a teacher at Decatur School of Ballet, and her step family. She loves to swim and hang out with friends.   

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The Junior Rhythm Keepers 2009-2010

Emma Coulter, age 16, a junior at Paideia, has had 12 years of dance training (ballet with pointe, jazz, hip hop, modern dance, tap, ballroom and swing) at Georgia Dance Conservatory and Decatur School of Ballet.  She also dances with the Rug Cutters, a teen swing dance group at Decatur School of Ballet.  Emma also enjoys musicals, Club BAGHLT, Green Team, knitting and scrap-booking.

Matt Everett, age 16, is a junior at Paideia where he is an avid baseball player and is involved in chorus and musical theatre.  He started dancing at age three at Decatur School of Ballet and has taken tap, jazz, swing, ballroom, theatre dance, and bits and pieces of ballet and hip hop.  He has been a member of the Junior Rhythm Keepers since the group began.  He has been a member of the Rug Cutters, a teen swing dance group of Decatur School of Ballet, since it started.  His parents, Kathleen and Ron, are owners and directors of Decatur School of Ballet.  The family has a seven-year-old yellow lab named Hudson.  Matt says, "It was natural for me to start dancing at a young age because my parents own the school.  Now, as a teenager, I just think it's fun." 

SarahAnne Herbert, age 16, is a junior at Decatur High School where she is involved with swim team, nature club and band.  She took ballet when she was very young (kindergarten), and she started tap classes at age eight.  Her mom is a retired science teacher and her dad has a private practice as a psychiatrist.  The family has a very cute dog!  SarahAnne says, "I dance so I can stay fit and flexible and because it's fun."

Haley McDaniel, age 14, began her dance training at Vista Grove Dance Center when she was three.  She moved to Dance South during her third grade year and is now in her third year at Decatur School of Ballet.  She has studied ballet, pointe, modern dance, jazz, tap and hip hop.  This is her second year in both the Junior Rhythm Keepers and the Junior Ensemble of Decatur City Dance.  Haley is an eighth-grader at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic School.  She thoroughly enjoys dance along with acting, singing, playing the piano and hanging out with her friends.  Haley's family consists of her mom, dad, brother and precious dog Daisy.

Zoe Pollock, age 16, is a junior at The Galloway School.  She has been tap dancing at Decatur School of Ballet for nine years and has also taken jazz and musical theatre dance throughout those years. Last summer, she attended Interlochen Arts Camp in Michigan and was a part of the six-week Choral and Operetta program there.  Zoe is an active member of her school chorus, takes weekly piano lessons at Westminster, and runs with Galloway Cross Country in the fall.

Erika Redding, age 15, is a freshman at Westminster.  She began dancing at Decatur School of Ballet at age seven.  She first began her dance training in modern dance and later switched to tap.  She has been tap dancing for six years, and this is her first year as a member of the Junior Rhythm Keepers.  Erika swims year-round for DeKalb Aquatics.  She also swims for her high school swim team.  Erika also enjoys playing her guitar, cooking and spending time with family and friends.

Amber Reed, age 15, is a ninth grader in the Communication Magnet at Grady High School.  She began dancing at age two at the Nancy Page School of Dance in Statesboro, Georgia where she studied ballet.  Amber then moved to St. Simons Island and studied ballet, tap, jazz and modern dance with the Jill Stanford Dance Center.  Six and a half years ago, Amber moved to Atlanta and began dancing at Decatur School of Ballet.  She has studied ballet, tap, modern and swing.  She is also a member The Rug Cutters, a teen swing group headquartered at Decatur School of Ballet.  At her school, Amber is a member of the Advanced Women's Chorus and the 21st Century Leaders.  She loves to dance because she is able to express herself in a fun and cool way, and she enjoys the challenge and fun of learning new things.

Nancy Rekhelman, age 18, a senior at the Paideia School, started dance at age eight at Decatur School of Ballet.  She has studied tap and jazz.  Her other interests include art, rock climbing, her dogs, Halloween, tubing, camping, hanging out with friends and having fun.  Her mom Alison works as a tutor at Paideia, and her dad Michael is a chemical engineer.  Nancy has a 13-year-old sister Lauren who also dances at Decatur School of Ballet.  The family has two dogs named Murphy and Pepper and a lizard named Turbo.  Nancy says, "I dance because I love the feeling of moving together to a piece of music to create a great sound and look.  I also enjoy the thrill of performing." 

Jeremy Shaffer, age 17, is a junior at Paideia where he is involved in chorus, musical theatre and the student-run Green Team.  His mother works at CDC, and his father works at WHO.  His sister Rachel is a sophomore at Yale.  Jeremy began dancing when he was ten years old.  He has studied only at Decatur School of Ballet.  He has taken tap for six years and swing for four years.  This year he is Ms. Birda's assistant teacher in a beginning tap class.  Jeremy says, "I dance because I love to dance."

India Stubbs, age 17, is a junior at Paideia where she plays the violia in the school orchestra and plays on the girls Ultimate Frisbee Team (as well as a club team from Atlanta).  She started tap dancing at age nine at Decatur School of Ballet and added swing shortly after.  She has always danced at Decatur School of Ballet.  She loves baking, reading and working and playing with kids.  Both her parents work at Paideia. and her younger brother John, age 15, is a freshman at Paideia and also dances at DSOB.  Her older brother George is a junior at Harvard.  India says, "One of my favorite parts about dancing is sharing a p[assion with my good friends.  We work hard and have lots of fun, improving along the way."

John Stubbs, age 15, is in ninth grade at Paideia where he is a member of the swim team.  Also, he enjoys playing Ultimate Frisbee and tennis.  John's parents work at Paideia, and his sister India is a junior there.  His brother is a junior in college.  John started dancing when he was seven and has studied tap and swing.  He has always danced at Decatur School of Ballet.  John says also trains to be a clown.

Margot Van Horne, age 14, is a student at Paideia.  She plays the trumpet and likes swimming, tennis and horseback riding.  Her parents are Robin and George, and she has a 16-year-old brother, also named George, who tap dances.  The family has two German Shepherds.  Margot started taking ballet at Callanwolde when she was two.  She had tap on and off as well.  When she was six, Margot began studying at Decatur School of Ballet.  She has studied tap, ballet and some jazz.  She went on pointe when she was ten and started dancing with the Junior Rhythm Keepers when she was 11.  Margot says, "I dance because I love practicing a step until I get it right, and I love the energy that comes from performing.  I've danced forever.  It's just what I do."

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The Rhythm Keepers 2009-2010

Jenny Greene - "I feel more alive performing than I do anywhere else.  I began dancing at the age of three.  I studied ballet, pointe, tap, jazz and modern dance with the Doris Russell Performing Company.  I also performed with the Northside International Tour Show.  I have had numerous teachers, including Doris Russell, Douglas Scott, Maggie Maury, Tommy Sutton, Gary Harrison and Birda Ringstad.  I have been in many plays around Atlanta including shows at the Academy, the Georgia Shakespeare Festival, and Neighborhood Playhouse.  William has been my partner for 13 years.  We have one dog Jah, and we are getting a new cat soon.  I work as a library assistant."

Teri Hammond - "I began dancing soon after walking (if not before), but I began formal study at the age of six at the Dance Academy in Griffin, Georgia.  I studied tap, ballet and jazz through high school, and after a decade's absence, found the Decatur School of Ballet's adult tap and ballet classes.  I have enjoyed living in Decatur for the past 12 years with my husband Mike Lee, and renovating our circa 1919 home.  An erstwhile financial analyst, I am happily putting my International MBA to better (or at least much more fun) use raising two young boys, Owen and Griffin.  While dance is a great way to stay fit, it offers a great excuse for some 'Mommie time' and a rare opportunity to converse with adults."

Katie Mues - "I began dancing at age five in Cleveland, Ohio.  In 1998, I moved to Detroit, Michigan and continued my dance training in tap, jazz, ballet, pointe and hip hop at Center Stage Dance Company, where I also joined the teaching staff in 2002.  I received a BA from the University of Michigan Ann Arbor in 2008.  During college, I continued teaching at Center Stage Dance Company and was the director and four-year member of Michigan Rhythm Tap Ensemble.  I am now a student at Emory University's Rollins School of Public Health, working towards a master's in global epidemiology.  Tap dancing has always been a part of my life, and I am very excited to be a member of the Rhythm Keepers and to have found such a wonderful group of dancers!

Debby Pollack - "I began dancing at age five in Helena, Arkansas. I studied tap, jazz, and ballet through high school and then took a long break from dancing for college and medical school. I returned to tap in 1995 at Callanwolde Fine Arts Center with Julie Maynard and then found Birda Ringstad's wonderful adult tap classes at Decatur School of Ballet in 2003. I'm a pediatrician and busy mom of three school aged children, Max, Kate, and Emily. My husband and I have lived in Decatur since 1995. I love being part of the Rhythm Keepers because I get to spend time with a wonderful group of dancers and get some much needed exercise."

Birda Ringstad - "I started dancing at eight years old at Art Linkletter School of Dance.  I have studied with Tommy Sutton, Brenda Bufalino, Josh Hilberman and lots of others.  I am a single mom of two sons, Kyle and Mitchell, and one cat, and I enjoy bird watching.  I was born to dance.  I remember the day my mom asked me if I wanted to take dance lessons.  Apparently, I was dancing on the table in our local restaurant.  I have danced ever since.  I am so lucky to find a profession that I love!"

Salena Sandford Staub - "I dance because it is my passion, and I love passing it along to others.  I started tap dancing at age three.  I continued my multi-discipline studies of ballet, jazz and tap throughout high school.  I continued my dance education at West Virginia University where I danced with a modern dance company.  I am interested in achieving a certification in dance.  Soon after college, I put the tap shoes back on, studying with Johnny Kelly, Julie Maynard and Birda Ringstad.,  I have been the primary tap teacher at Lilburn School of Ballet for the past several years, and I am a proud member of The Rhythm Keepers.  I work as a claims specialist and a dance teacher.  My husband Mike and I live with our dog Azza and our cats, Wilson and Raider.  My other interests include soccer and live music."

Jessica Williams - "I began dancing at age four and wanted to tap from the start, but I have also studied some jazz, modern dance and ballet.  I started dancing with Decatur School of Ballet in 1997.  I couldn't tell you why I dance, but I keep coming back for more!  I live with my husband Emory and our two cats, Blue and Daffy.  I work as a restaurant manager.  My other interests include photography, coffee and visual arts."

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