About Our Faculty

 

Terri Allred ("Sadiya") has studied many forms of dance, including belly dance, for over 15 years; she performed with a Middle Eastern dance group, Qarisma Dance Company, and has personal and professional experience with children.

Mimi Benjamin has studied tap for over 20 years and is co-founder of Footnotes Tap Ensemble.

Betsy Blair is a local institution, having taught modern dance to youth over many years through the Durham Arts Council, Carolina Friends School and Arts Together.

Irena Brezinski came to the Triangle from Amsterdam and fell in love with Nia in 2001; she has been teaching since becoming a White belt instructor a year ago.

Leigh Brown is a certified Gyrokinesis® instructor and owner of Metaform Movement in Durham; she also studied Middle Eastern Dance in NYC and performs regularly in the Triangle.

Sharon Bryant has been teaching and performing flamenco for the last eight years and is founder and artistic director of Cai Flamenco Spanish Dance.

Christi Camper-Koplen, M.A.,M.Ed., teaches dance at the Durham School of the Arts and has had extensive training in various dance techniques and exercise physiology.

Concetta Duncan earned a degree in Cultural and Performanc Studies from Connecticut College; she spent the spring of '06 studying tradtional African dance and Afro-fusion in Capetown, South Africa.

Hannah Chalut has been teaching dance and meditation locally for the past six years; she is a practicing polarity therapist and performs locally with her group Open Air Dance.

Kristin DeMarco is a certified Pilates, yoga and fitness teacher and has been teaching locally for four years.

Michelle Draughon has trained with Latino professionals from all over the country and has been teaching since 1993; she has appeared in hundreds of events and on local television.

Jay Dunbar has studied T'ai-Chi for over 25 years and has taught all over the Triangle area since 1979.

Priya Gopal has studied and performed Indian classical dance for 15 years and teaches both adults and children.

Beth Hoke has studied and taught a variety of partner dances for many years and is never happpier than when she is dancing.

LaShawn Jones teaches hip-hop at a local gym and gives a truly awesome class.

Margaret Kay ("Aziza") has studied for over twenty-five years with many renowned belly dancers and has performed and taught throughout the Southeast.

Kadia Kaloko has taught & choreographed step for the past seven years; her experience includes stepping for her own sorority as well as coaching step teams in the Durham/Chapel Hill area.

Kayleigh Keith has studied ballet, jazz and hip-hop and has taught children for the past four years.

Fran Kissell has taught shag for the UNC Shag Club since 1998.

Krisis is a recent arrival from New Jersey, where he learned to dance; he has danced and taught breakdance internationally.

Amy Levine has danced since childhood and has taught both children and adults for more than ten years.

Anna Milling holds a BFA in dance from Meredith and taught middle school dance for several years; she loves teaching modern and ballet to all ages.

Sarah Nelson has been studying dance for 15 years, minored in dance at UNC-G, and performs locally with Choreo Collective.

Chris Newsome has been dancing since childhood and has studied various dance styles since the age of 13; he has a particular love for hip-hop.

Vanessa Otterbourg holds a BFA in Dance Performance and has danced with the Gainsville Ballet Company, among others.

Saliima Owen studied dance education at UNC-G and has taught hip-hop, swing and Latin dance for over six years.

Nicole Oxendine is a teacher/choreographer/performer who has studied ballet, modern and hip-hop for over 14 years and currently teaches dance for the Durham Public Schools.

Steve Payne has been dancing, competing, and teaching for more than ten years and serves as faculty advisor to UNC’s Shag Club.

Aaron Ratcliffe began his clogging career as a youth in western NC and now dances and teaches with the Cane Creek Cloggers.

Having taught movement arts for seventeen years, Carol Ryner says that dance is her passion; she teaches from the belief that "if you can walk, you can dance."

Daina Swagerty has danced since childhood and has taught jazz and hip-hop for the past four years.

Jenna Staples has practiced yoga for over seven years and taught for two.

Marsha Thomas holds a BFA in Dance Performance and dances with the Queen City Jazz Company.