Instructors
The best teachers introduce the basics, refine the fundamentals, and inspire the experts, while embracing the individual’s creativity. Our team features the most experienced and educated teaching staff available. Develop your creativity with help from our team of university-trained instructors.
Danielle's primary training is in classical ballet (Balanchine and Russian techniques) with additional classes in Musical Theatre, and Graham and Horton style modern dance.
She has trained with members of the Cunningham company, New York City Ballet, American Ballet Theater, Bolshoi Ballet, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and studied with names such as Gelsey Kirkland, Cynthia Gregory, and Doug Varone. Danielle has received dance scholarships to Stephens Summer Intensive, Dance Conservatory, University of Georgia, Radford University, and Winthrop University. She has been accepted to the Alvin Ailey Summer Intensive and fall study programs, Nutmeg Ballet Summer Intensive, the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company 2, and the Kim Robards Dance Company and summer intensive.
She has performed with the Ballet Theatre of Dover as a soloist and principal, as well as with Intersectionz Educational Artz, a Bahá'í workshop-based dance company. She has been the Artistic Director/Choreographer of the Delmarva Bahá'í Youth Workshop, Charlotte Bahá'í Youth Workshop, and the San Ignacio Bahá'í Youth Workshop, and has taught dance for the Harris YMCA, St-Arts Summer Intensive, Tuqwila Elementary School, Dover High School and the North Carolina Dance Theater.
She is also a certified aerobics and Zumba instructor.
Jamila was born and raised in High Point, NC and grew up in the arts. As a teenager Jamila enjoyed dancing to the beat of Hip Hop. However, she became interested in Salsa dancing during her college years, where she took lessons with Heidi and Procopio Serrano. With her new salsa friends, they exchanged dance steps, and hit the local salsa club in Greenville, NC.
Soon after moving to the Raleigh-Durham area in NC, Ms. Bridges earned a spot in Mambo Dinamico’s student team. Within just a couple of months, she graduated to the professional performance team with the company. It is her dedication, hard work ethic, and positive attitude that makes Jamila a great dancer and instructor.
Raised in the family tradition of international folk dance, Linda began formal dance training at age five. Erica Thimey, renowned choreographer and teacher of modern and sacred dance, Balanchine-trained ballet teacher Kathryn Mullowny, Jaqui Hepner of the National School of Ballet, and Jan Van Dyke, well-known modern dance innovator and head of the dance department of UNC in Greensboro are among those with whom she has studied. Linda has written, choreographed and produced several biblical dramas which highlighted dance and has taken street theater and dance productions to New York City, Montreal, Colombia (South America) and Nimes (France). Linda also has a wide social dance repertoire which includes swing, salsa, zydeco, two-step, line dance, cha-cha, and waltz. Linda sees dance as an opportunity to express the depths of soul and Spirit, to socialize, become more physically fit, and above all, to relax and PLAY! – an art easily lost in the midst of the stresses of our modern day world. She has a special gift for imparting the joy of dance to those who long to feel more free in expressing themselves while connecting with others.
Since the tender age of 6, Sakina knew that dance was something important to her. Without any formal training she would dance around the house and put on little performances for her family. After months of begging to take dance classes, her mother finally enrolled her in a local dance studio where she learned ballet, tap and jazz. When Sakina turned 8 she joined a liturgical dance company, Symphoneo, at her church. In Symphoneo she performed in many church events and also performed in the Moses Project. As her passion of dance grew she decided to attend Boston Arts Academy as a dance major. At BAA Sakina had the opportunity to take master classes from some of the best dancers and choreographers from Maurice Hynes to Bill T. Jones.
In 2002, Sakina received a full scholarship to attend The Boston Conservatory for their summer dance program. Sakina was also a member of NIA Dance Troupe and performed at many local events including the Democratic National Convention held in Boston. After graduating from Boston Arts Academy Sakina made the choice to commit to becoming a professional dancer and majored in dance at Dean College. At Dean College, Sakina managed to perform in every showcase, earn a spot in the Dean College Dance Company, all while on the Dean’s List. Because of her outstanding grades Sakina was invited into Phi Theta Kappa honor society. Since her graduation from Dean College in 2005, Sakina continues to perform and take classes in the hopes of performing and touring the world with the top dancers, choreographers and artists. For Sakina, dance is not a hobby, it’s her life.
Melanie has studied ballet, jazz, tap and other dance styles for many years. She has taught students age three to adult; her performing experiences include stints as a dancer/showgirl in Miami, Las Vegas, Puerto Rico, Cancun and at sea with the Carnival Cruise Lines!
Laylianah is a passionate dancer who has been devoted to the art of Belly Dance for over 11 and a half years. She has studied many styles of belly dance with world renowned instructors, and is excited to share her knowledge and passion with her students. As an instructor, Laylianah encourages her students and delights in the self-confidence that belly dance helps them to develop. Laylianah provides her students with drills and instructional videos to help them refine and retain the lessons learned in classes. Laylianah emphasizes the importance and safety of correct technique, while providing a fun and supportive atmosphere for students who are just discovering what amazing belly dancers they can be!
Alexis is a proud member of the Actor’s Equity Association. Since graduating from the University of Michigan’s Musical Theater Program in 2005, Alexis has been blessed to work with an array of talented directors including multi Tony award winner Richard Maltby, Jr., two-time Tony nominated director/choreographer John Carrafa, and three-time Emmy nominated David Platt of Law & Order, Law & Order SVU, and more. She has performed nationally at some of the country’s most established and acclaimed Equity theaters [Broadway’s Beacon Theater, the New York City Public Theater, the Alliance Theater (GA), Walnut Street Theater (PA), Goodspeed Opera House (CT), etc], and abroad in ensemble and principal roles. Alexis has also taken the stage in dance ensembles like Oklahoma!’s Dream Ballet (choreographed by Mark Esposito) and principal dance roles such as Cassie in A Chorus Line. This past October, before relocating to Raleigh, Alexis finished out a yearlong contract as one of Cirque du Soleil’s principal singers. Alexis is excited about joining the 2011 Musical Theater Intensive and helping cultivate a new generation of artists!
Cristina was born in Los Angeles, California but raised in Mexico. As a little girl she explored a wide range of activities like: gymnastics, martial arts, and dance. During her teenage years she decided to embrace her Colombian roots and started practicing Salsa and other Latin rhythms. It wasn’t until her college years that she was introduced to the wonderful world of Bellydance.
Cristina has studied with many local instructors and currently studies with the famous Hannan Sultan, an international belly dancer currently based in the area. She is a part of Hannan’s student/professional dance troupe “Zohour al Sultan”. Cristina has also had the opportunity of assisting to several Bellydance workshops taught by worldly known dancers like: Mohamed Shahin, Tamalyn Dallal, Bozenka, Tito, Camelia, Yousry Sharif, and more. She currently performs as a soloist at many local events, private parties, and venues around the triangle.
Kathryn began dancing at the age of 5. Since then, she has studied and been trained in multiple techniques: Ballet, jazz, modern, hip hop, tap, and contemporary dance. She graduated from the University of Alabama with a double major in Dance and Public Relations. In the Dance Department, Kathryn performed in several university-sponsored dance events: Dance Alabama, a student organized dance performance; the Alabama Repertory Dance Theatre, a pre-professional dance company; and The Realm, the first live 3D stereoscopic dance performance. Along with performing, Kathryn also choreographed multiple pieces for the Dance Alabama show and worked with choreographers Cris Judd, Dave Scott, and Eddie Garcia in The Realm. Kathryn also taught dance at a nearby studio, where she instructed children of all ages in hip hop, ballet, and jazz.
After graduating, Kathryn attended the selective River North Dance Chicago Summer Intensive Program and the Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago Summer Intensive Program in Chicago, IL. While at River North, she performed company repertoire and took classes with the Artistic Director, Frank Chaves, Co-Artistic Director, Sherry Zunker, and Assistant to the Director, Sara Bibik. Before moving to North Carolina, Kathryn was teaching and choreographing for the Academy of Fine Arts in Georgia.
