FACULTY
ALICIA CHITWOOD
BRANDON CHITWOOD
DIRECTOR
Alicia began her dance training at the age of four. She studied ballet, tap, jazz, modern and hip hop. She has trained with master teachers including Robert Barnett, David Howard, Thom Clower, Laura Alonso, and Twitch. Since 1990, Alicia trained at Lawrenceville School of Ballet and in 1997 she became a member of Southern Ballet Theatre, formerly Gwinnett Dance Ensemble. During her time with Southern Ballet Theatre, she danced in major productions such as Alice in Wonderland, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Wizard of Oz, Cinderella and Coppelia. Since 2000 she has been attending Southeastern Regional Ballet Assoication's Festivals including two Regional Dance America National Festivals and has had choreography choosen to be performed at the Festivals as well. Alicia has choreographed full length ballets such as Aurora + Maleficent: The Beginning, Frozen: A Tale of the Ice Queen, Cinderella, Aladdin, Pirates, and Rapunzel.
During Alicia's teaching career she has also trained many high school and college students in dance education and master educators. Some of her past students have gone on to dance with New York City Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, cruise ships, and Walt Disney World, as well as prestigious colleges like Pointe Park University, Brigham Young University, and Utah Valley University.
TAP
Chitwood has been choreographing many styles of dance, including tap, modern and hip-hop since 1999. He has received special recognition and exclusive awards for his cutting-edge choreography and music composition. Chitwood has designed extraordinary light schemes for hundreds of shows and has designed and constructed sets for numerous theatre, studio, and dance productions. He has performed, choreographed, and taught Master Classes throughout the United States. Recently, Chitwood has taken full control over his artistic vision by choreographing, composing, and designing the dance, music, and set for his pieces that have been performed at the National festivals presented by RDA.
KRISTIN MELTON
OFFICE MANAGER
UPDATING.
JASMINE KOBRES
TAP | JAZZ | BALLET
Jasmine Kobres began her training in dance at the age of three with Susan Chamber's School of Theatre Dance. From ages six to eighteen, Jasmine was a member of the school's pre-professional company where she studied ballet, pointe, rhythm tap, broadway tap, jazz, musical theatre, hip-hop, lyrical, contemporary, and modern. During her time as a company member, she trained in several states for various dance intensives and competitions, including Oklahoma, South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, and New York. During her time in New York City, she attended STEPS and Broadway Dance Center where she trained with award winning chorographers Sabra Johnson, Tracie Stanfield, Michelle Dorrance, Sheila Barker, Brice Mousset, and Ellenore Scott. Starting at age seventeen, Jasmine has been choreographing and instructing various forms of dance for the past 5 years.
COURTNEY ONDRE
JAZZ
Courtney has worked with various dance and theatre companies all over the Greater Atlanta Area. Courtney's works have been adjudicated for the National High School Dance Festival, performed on Public Television and chosen for performances at Walt Disney World. Courtney received much of her training from Lynn Fleetwood Dukes, along with Joe Tremaine, Robert Reed, Diane Walker, and Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre. Courtney is also a member of the National Dance Association
ANGELA GRAHAM
SPECIAL ED
One of my passions in life is to provide individuals with special needs the opportunity to feel free to express themselves though the performing arts! My passion was fulfilled 7 years ago when I was given the opportunity to establish the first special needs dance class at SBT! I have taught dancing for the last 20 years specializing in tap instruction. Along with my love for the performing arts; I continued to follow my passion in working with students and received a Bachelor Degree in Music Therapy, a Masters Degree in Autism and Emotional Behavior Disorders, and Early Childhood certification. This year will be my 16th year teaching at Kennedy Elementary in Barrow County. I have been married for 14 years to Michael Graham and have 4 amazing boys: Ashton, Jayden, Logan, and Mitchell. If not at school or the studio, I am on the soccer fields cheering on the boys and or at church directing and singing with the choir!
KEITH WILDER
HIP HOP
Keith Wilder, Atlanta based singer-songwriter, dancer/choreographer. Trained in dance styles including hip-hop, jazz, modern and ballet. From a young age, Keith has been no stranger to the stage; singing and dancing on live performances internationally, between America and England with 70's Grammy nominated band "Heatwave". He began teaching and choreographing hip-hop classes at dance studios shortly after graduating Collins Hill High School in 2013. Under the great talents of Atlanta based dance crew “Collizion Crew”, who appeared on MTV’s America’s Best Dance Crew season 8, Keith strengthened his hip-hop training. With the love he shares for dance and the experiences with teaching, Keith enjoys working with students of all ages.
ERIN BURCH
MODERN | JAZZ | BALLET
Erin is a native of Durham, North Carolina who embraces the unexpected thrall and rawness of movement. Erin has trained tenaciously in Jazz, Ballet, Hip Hop, Modern, and Contemporary, and she has danced with Gotta Dance Contemporary, Raiin Dance Theater, and MadHouse. She has performed in video and stage productions for musical artists Vivian Green, Prisca, Leah Culver, Redd Lettaz, and B Suave. She also danced in the original musical Angels in Training as dancer with choreographer Alysia. Sharing movement and instructing others is a driving force in Erin’s life. As a choreographer, she has set works for Ridge Dance Company, Southern Ballet Theatre, solos for competitions such as Youth American Grand Prix, and Universal Ballet. In 2017 Erin’s work was selected, noting her as a featured choreographer, for presentation at the National Southeastern Regional Ballet Association.
OLIVIA MOTT
BALLET
Olivia has been dancing for 17 years, and teaching for 5 years. During those 17 years, Olivia trained under Fiona Fairrie from the Royal Ballet, Momchil Mladenov from the National Ballet of Bulgaria, Orlando Molina from Orlando Ballet, Atlanta Ballet faculty, and Danita Emma founder of International Ballet Intensive. Olivia spent her summers at Houston Ballet, Atlanta Ballet, and International Ballet Intensive on a full artistic scholarship. Olivia is continuing her dance career, along with sharing her love of dance to students of all ages.
CARLY WOOD
JAZZ | BALLET | COMBO CLASSES
Carly Wood is a native of Gwinnett County. She graduated from PRHS where she was an active member in the Fine Arts community. Carly was a member of Southern Performing Arts Academy and Ridge Dance where she performed lead roles in shows such as Pirates, Cinderella, Peter Pan and Frankenstein. During school, Carly had the opportunity to continue her studies over the summer at workshops and intensives such as the American Ballet Theatre's Summer Program and Governors Honors Program. Carly attended Point Park University on a Dance and Academic scholarship where she majored in Commercial Jazz. During her time at Point Park Carly had the opportunity to study in London for a semester at Regent's University where her focus was on Theatre and Ancient Arts. After graduating, Carly moved to Nashville where she danced as a founding member of Transit Dance Company and worked as a teacher and choreographer at Dance in Bloom. Carly has worked as a guest performer, teacher and choreographer at Southern Performing Arts Academy. Carly has also had the honor to dance with Blue Moves Modern Dance company as the celebrate their 30th season.
YESENIA CRUZ
HIP HOP
Yesenia Cruz always had the thrill for dancing Hip Hop since she was the age of 4, whether that was for fun or to attract an audience. Her biggest contribution to this aspiration was Michael Jackson, whom she was heavily inspired by. She knew she wanted to continue the dream after her first talent show performance in 5th grade. However, she officially started her training at the age of 14 and danced all 4 years at Peachtree Ridge High School’s Dance Department, also known as “Ridge Dance Company.”
There she was exposed to other dance genres such as Ballet, Jazz, and Contemporary, which she also fell in love with and this opened her heart to new passions along with her first love of the Hip Hop genre. She also was a composition student in the company her senior year, where she helped collaborate pieces for the show. As a Ridge Dance Alumni, she goes back to PRHS to help choreograph pieces for the director to show appreciation and enjoys every minute of it. Yesenia is currently active in strengthening her skills, so she can spread more dance knowledge to others. She has been a member of the Madhouse Management Co. since 2016, this is where she trains in different styles of Hip Hop and more. Currently, she is studying at Georgia Gwinnett College to earn her Bachelors in Business Management. She hopes to become an inspiring figure her students can also look up to and looks forward to the season!
ALYSSA WATKINS
JAZZ | BALLET
BIO COMING