Phyllis DeWeese, Academy founder and teacher, has studied in major ballet schools in the U.S., Canada and Denmark.  She was the local dance coordinatior for the Moscow Ballet Company's s Nutcracker in November 2003.  For 7 summers she was on the faculty of Stone-Camryn School of Ballet, Chicago, and was Co-Ballet Mistress of the Cincinnati Civic Ballet Company for 4 years.  She has choreographed 7 children's concerts which were performed with the Middletown Symphony and for the Sorg-Whitewater Opera Co.  She has taught for the Kids in College program at Miami University and numerous other academias.  Childhood training was with Henry Lubbers (tap) and Myrl Laurence (ballet).  Phyllis DeWeese is listed in the Profiles of Middletown Women book, and has received a Middfest volunteer Award for the Academy.

 

Julie Gibson, Academy owner and Director, assumed responsibility of the Academy of Dance Arts on January 1, 2008.  She has been and instructor at the school for the past 11 years.  Her childhood training was with Phyllis DeWeese and Henry Lubbers.  In addition, she has studied at the National Ballet School, Toronto; Lou Conte and Ruth Page schools in Chicago; and at the Edge in Hollywood.  She has performed with the Sorg Opera Company and Miami Valley Dinner Theatre.  She is a PTA and licensed massage therapist.

Danita Wallace Scoggins, Program Director and Instructor, begins her 8th year of teaching at the Academy since her return from performing on tour for 5 years.  She was a featured dancer on Japan & Holland American Cruise Lines and spent 3 years performing in Branson, MO.  Other credits include: Kings Island, LaComedia Dinner Theatre, Sorg Opera, and Middletown Symphony in addition to extensive choreographing experience.  She was children's rehearsal assistant to Mrs. De with the Moscow Ballet Co.  Danita has a BFA in dance from Wright State U., and currently teaches there.  She has also studied at the National Ballet School, Totonto.  Childhood training was with DeWeese and Lubbers.

 

Stephanie Mackey was on the All American Girls' Drill Team and has directed the Monore H.S. Sponsors.  She choreographs for local gymnastic teams and has studied at the National Ballet School, Toronto, and in professional schools in Chicago.  She has performed with the Middletown Symphony and at Americana.  She is currently an emergency department nurse at Bethesda North.  Childhood training was with DeWeese.

Kodee Van Nort, instructor, recieved her B.T.D. in dance from the University of Wyoming and M.F.A. in dance from Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas.  She has taught at Western Oregon University.  She performed for 15 months as a member of  "Ad Hoc" (an "in-house" improvisation company at the Lowry, in Manchester, England), and currently performs with the Cincinnati Contemporary Dance Theatre.  This begins Kodee's 9th year teaching at the Academy.

Jessica Chavez has lived, danced and taught in Boston, MA; Lakeland, FL; Flagstaff, AZ and Cincinnati, OH.  She is a devoted student of the art of movement.  She began dancing in her hometown Cincinnati, Ohio at the School for Creative and Performing Arts where she studied classical ballet, Graham and Horton techniques and discovered a love for performing.  After graduating she went on to attend the Boston Conservatory and earn her BFA in Modern Dance.  She was trained in ballet, Limon and Graham techniques, Taylor style, Improvisation, Contact Improvisation, and several eclectic styles with some of the most accomplished teachers in the dance world.  She has performed original work by Donald Byrd, Amy Spencer & Richard Colton and Sean Curran and Earl Mosley as well as classics by Martha Graham and Murray Luis.  She has danced with Florida Dance Theatre and Spitfury, a collective of performance artists.  She is also a Registered Yoga Teacher an avid practitioner of yoga and meditation.

Layla Cooper, instructor, is new to the Academy this year. She recently earned her B.F.A. in dance from Wright State University. She has choreographed and danced locally and in Salt Lake City. She has studied with ancers/choreographers from Ririe-Woodbury, Keigwin & Company,Complexions, Ballet West, DCDC, Dayton Ballet and other professionals from various parts of the world. She has attended American College Dance Festival and regularly attends Dance Masters of Ohio.

Margaret Donohue, instructor, began dancing and performing while living in Pittsburgh.  After moving to Middletown in the 5th grade, she began taking classes at the Academy.  During summers, she attended workshops at Pontecorvo Ballet, Ballet Tech, and was a member of the Next Generation Dance Company.  She has performed at the Sorg Opera House and the Aronoff Center.  While an undergraduate at Miami, Margaret performed, taught, and choreographed for Miami University’s Dance Theatre.  Two of her six pieces were presented at Cincinnati’s Performance and Time Arts Series, and one was performed at the American Collegiate Dance Festival in Bowling Green, Ohio.  While working on her Master’s degree, she performed with the University of Georgia’s dance department.  She currently works for Miami’s University Advancement Department and will be a guest teacher and choreographer for Miami’s Dance Theatre. 

 

 

Melanie Malicote grew up studying with Mrs.DeWeese and since then has been training and performing in New York City.  She performed with the National tour of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” as the Apache Dancer and at Radio City Music Hall in “The Christmas Spectacular”.  Also, she appeared in Bernadette Peters’ concert at Radio City and performed with Chita Rivera in a Broadway Benefit.  Other Credits include Disney’s premieres of “The Lion King”, “Pocahontas”, and “Hercules”, as well as “My Favorite Broadway” at Carnegie Hall.  In addition, Melanie was a featured dancer on The Rosie O’Donnell Show and appeared on Guiding Light.  Melanie is happy to be back at home in Ohio and looks forward to teaching at the Academy.

Michele O’Neal has been dancing for many years.  Childhood training includes Dotties Dance Studio in Newark, Delaware, Bill Graham Dance Studio and Kim Massey School of Dance in Edmond, Oklahoma and with Phyllis DeWeese during her high school years.  Michele has studied clogging performing with a local clogging troop at area festivals in past years.  She has also taken summer tap courses at Rhythm in Shoes (Dayton , Ohio).  Michele is a certified Zumba Fitness instructor.

Michelle Walker-Glenn has performed at Kings Island in more than 10 stage shows, and has worked numerous shows as Dance Captain. She has also performed in industrial shows, and done modeling for TV and newspaper ads. Studying at the DeWeese academy since age 10, she went on the major in dance for 2 years at Wright State University. After switching her major, she earned a degree in mathematics from Xavier University, followed by a Masters in Educational Leadership from the University of Cincinnati. She has taught high school math, and worked as an assistant principal and principal at both the middle school and high school level. She has also taught courses for pre-service teachers at Miami University. She is currently doing staff development for teachers on the topic of Numeracy Across the curriculum while working on a Ph.D. from Miami University. She hopes to become Dr.Michelle by 2010.