Joanne Davidson
President
Artistic Director
Instructor
Choreographer		 Joanne Davidson opened Elite Dance Academy, Inc. in August 2002 where she teaches Ballet, Pointe, Lyrical, Jazz, Hip hop, Tap, Pointe, and Leaps/Turns classes. She also serves as Director/Choreographer for the award-winning Dazzlin' Dolls. Formerly, she was the main instructor at BJ's Dance Factory for the previous eight years. She has been dancing for 27 years and received her formal dance education from Huntingdon College where she was on dance scholarship.

Joanne has trained primarily in Ballet, Pointe, Lyrical, Funk, Hip Hop, Jazz, Tap, Musical Theater, Acting/Directing, Gymnastics, and High Kick. She also has some training in Salsa, Swing, Hustle, African, and Flamenco. Joanne previously served as a high school and college dance team instructor for Universal Dance Association.

She has won numerous awards and dance scholarships and was chosen to perform in events such as the 1996 Olympic Ceremonies, Super Bowl XXVI, Nassau, Bahamas, and as a Golden Girl for the former Columbus Indians baseball team. She has also choreographed for high school and college cheer and dance teams. Her choreography has been seen at many local and state pageants, including Miss Phenix City and Miss Smiths Station where many of her students have been winners.

Joanne was awarded as an American All Star, Universal Dance Star, International All Star, and NCA Danz Collegiate All Star. Joanne was Miss Phenix City 1996 in which she won the talent award. She also won several scholarships including the Director's Award at the Miss Alabama pageant. She was also captain of the Pantherettes and a former cheerleader for Smiths Station High School. Joanne trains several times a year at Broadway Dance Center in New York City. In August 2002, Joanne made the final 40 in her audition for the Radio City Rockettes and received an invitation to a special audition after the opening of Elite. She is a former IT Manager at Vital Processing Services, LLC in Columbus. She also teaches part time for Columbus State University where she has instructed for the Columbus Ballet and for the Continuing Education Department at Columbus State University-Rankin Arts Center. Joanne's choreography has been performed and awarded locally and regionally.

Her talent in choreography has been sought after by show choirs and dance companies throughout the Southeast. Joanne is thrilled with the success of Elite Dance Academy, Inc. and looks forward to continued success in producing talent in the community.





Tamara Dupuis
Instructor		 Tamara joins us from New York City where her last three years were spent teaching and studying dance.  Her most recent tenure was spent in Greenwich, CT at Dance Adventure Inc.  In addition to teaching, she was a certificate student at the Alvin Ailey School of Dance.  Tamara studied at Broadway Dance Center and S.T.E.P.S as well. 

Tamara's dance career began in Slidell, LA at Galloway's Studio of Dance and Performing Arts.  She then attended the South Carolina Conservatory for Ballet.  She attended S.T.E.P.S. on scholarship and later graduated from the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA), Louisiana's performing arts high school.  When in Louisiana, Tamara danced competitively regionally and nationally garnering numerous awards at both levels.  Tamara is very excited to share her passion for dance with students at Elite Dance Academy, Inc. 

Tamara provides classes in Adv. Ballet, Modern, Jazz, Pointe, and Tap.  She is also choreographing for the Dazzlin' Dolls Lyrical Teams.





Aleta Brant
Ballroom Instructor		 Aleta is orgiginally from South Florida, where she performed and taught ballet, aerobics, and ballroom for over 20 years.  Beginning dance lessons at age 5, she received intensive training with Joan Miller with Palm Beach Ballet and performed with several different companies.  She studied classical ballet at the University of of South Florida in Tampa, then went on to discover the world of ballroom dance.  She and her dance partner owned and operated two ballroom studios in the Palm Beach area, taking students to competitions and performing exhibitions around the state.  After several years of raising her children, Aleta is excited to be back into teaching at Elite.  Her daughter has been a student of Elite for the past several years.  Look for new sessions in Ballroom!!






Renee Jenkins
Office Manager		 Renee Jenkins contributes to the success of Elite Dance Academy, Inc. by serving as Fundraising Champion for the Dazzlin' Dolls team and Events Assistant. She holds a degree in Elementary Education.

For the past ten years she has trained and supported physicians' practice management software for Medical Manager WebMD. Her daughter, Mary Alison, has been taking dance classes from Joanne for seven years. Renee brings a wealth of organization, creativity, and ideas to our studio.






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