Broadway Arts Center

Instructors

Miss Cathy: Owner / Director / Instructor (Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Hip-Hop, Theater)

Cathy is a certified elementary school teacher with over 20 years experience teaching Dance and Theater. Her energy, patience, and creatively structured classes keep students coming back year after year! She began her early dance training in Massachusetts studying Ballet, Tap, and Jazz at The Milford School of Dance. As a member of the Sr. Company she performed in local and national competitions including “Dance Makers”, “Talent America”, and “Show Stoppers”.

Miss Cathy went on to earn a B.A. in Psychology, a B.S. in Education as well as her Elementary Teaching Certificate at Westfield State College. While working towards her degrees, she was an active member in the Musical Theater Guild as the choreographer and performed in many productions including: Cabaret, Grease, and The Sound of Music. After graduation, Miss Cathy began teaching at Backstage Dance Studio in Ashland MA,  and became the Assistant Director in 2000. She also continued to study dance at the prestigious Jeanette Neilís Dance Studio in Boston as well as The Dancerís Workshop in Bellingham, Ma. In 2001, she was privileged to work at the Brimmer and May Performing Arts Program for gifted and talented children in Chestnut Hill, MA.

Miss Cathy moved to Athens in May 2002 when she founded the first “Broadway Arts” Dance and Theater Company at the YWCO. She has been very involved in the community: working with the Athens Health Department promoting dance for fitness in Clarke County Public School, taught Creative Dance at the First Methodist Pre-school in Commerce and choreographed for the Jackson County High School Show Choir. Miss Cathy is grateful for the opportunity to bring her passion and love of performing arts to Jefferson, and strives to instill positive self-esteem, creativity and a lifelong appreciation of the Arts in all her students!!

Miss Kelly: Instructor (Ballet, Pointe, Tap, Hip-Hop – Company )

Miss Kelly was born and has lived in Georgia her entire life. She is happily married and a mom of 2 beautiful children; Carly & Casey. Miss Kelly graduated in 2000 from UGA with a degree in Health Promotion and Education. She taught elementary and middle school health before having her first child. Her early dance training began at Simply Dancing in Lilburn, where she competed as a soloist and won several gold medals in regional dance competitions including: Tremaine, Dance Olympus, and DEA. Miss Kelly had the privilege to perform in the 1996 Opening Ceremonies of the Olympics as well as various community events such as Atlanta Braves in connection with Disney, Atlanta Botanical Gardens, nursing homes, elementary schools, Jerry Lewis telethons, and UGA. She also had the privilege to attend the “The Rockette Experience” workshop and has taken master classes in New York City at Broadway Dance Center. With over 18 years experience in dance instruction, the past 6 at B.A.C., Miss Kelly knows how to effectively develop strong dancers while still making classes fun for all ages and abilities.

Miss Florence: Instructor (Ballet, Hip-Hop, Tumbling)

Miss Florence began dancing at age 3 at LaGrange Ballet in the Lafayette Society of Preforming Arts and received training from dancers from the Spanish Ballet, Quebec Ballet, Atlanta Ballet, and ABC She performed in various ballets such as the Nutcracker, Wizard of Oz, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream.  In middle school, Florence was hired as a teacher’s assistant at Techniques School of Dance where she continued her training in Ballet, Pointe, Lyrical, Jazz, Hip Hop and Tap. She also cheered for All-Star squads at and was qualified to teach beginner and intermediate tumbling classes.  In addition to teaching all types of ballet, beginners -advanced, Miss Florence  also began to coach competitive teams, mainly jazz and founded a very successful competitive team her junior year and personally competed in solo, duets, small, and large groups. Miss Florence was also a 4 year LaGrange High chorus member and was in charge of all choreography for the spring show. During the summers, Miss Florence took the opportunity to expand her training by attending various summer dance programs through the country including 3 summers at  Ballet Magnificat for classical ballet. She later auditioned for a dance program in L.A. that focused on Modern, Jazz and Hip-Hop and earned a chance to train at The S.O.C.A.P.A  with some of the countries top choreographers in Hollywood . She spent 3 summers in the program working with dancers such as “Fanny-Pac” (from Americas Best Dance Crew), Nick Long and Ami Mattison. Miss Florence is currently a student at the  University of Georgia and studying Marketing with a double minor in Advertising and Fashion Merchandising.

Miss Rachel: Instructor (Ballet, Tap, Drama)

Miss Rachel has a passion for dancing and a joy for children! She has been dancing and working at Broadway Arts Center since her senior year of high school, in 2005. Starting as Miss Cathy’s assistant and training under her tutelage for several years, Miss Rachel is now teaching her own classes and loving every minute of it! Her early dance training began at Broadway Arts Center, though she continues to train and perform with Discipleship Through Dance, a liturgical dance troupe in Commerce GA.

Along with her passion and talent for dance Miss Rachel brings an impressive resume in early childhood education. Her broad experiences range from a nanny in Alaska, to helping run the middle school girls ministry at her church. Miss Rachel was also fortunate to have the opportunity to nanny for  2 NFL football players! Miss Rachel has  completed 3 years of  ”Early Childhood Education” courses at Gainesville State College and has returned this year to study nursing!  Children have always been a passion of hers and she loves the opportunity to work and spend time with them through dance at Broadway Arts Center.

Miss Marilyn: Office Assistant/Teachers Aid/ Instructor (Tumbling, Pre-Pointe)

Miss Marilyn joined Broadway Arts Center in 2010. Her passion for dance began at age 12 when she started training at Julie’s School of Dance is Panama City Beach in Florida where she danced for 6 years and worked as an assistant teacher for 3 years. She has competed at Tremaine regional dance competitions placing first and second. Marilyn also had the privilege of attending master classes and conventions with many  professional dancers and choreographers that have worked on Broadway, television, movies and music videos including: Joe Tremaine, Doug Caldwell,  Desiree Robbins,  Benji Schwimmer ( season 2 winner of “So You Think You can Dance”) among others.  Recently Marilyn traveled to New York City to attend a Broadway workshop taught by several cast members of  the Broadway hit show “Wicked” . Marilyn has enjoyed being part of a performing company and competition team as well as performing at the East Jackson Comprehensive High School’s Fall Cabaret,  1st annual Dance Showcase and the musical “Grease”

Marilyn loves being a dance teacher because she enjoys seeing her students grow in every way. Watching them learn something new and seeing the excitement on their face when they do, is very rewarding to her. Miss Marilyn believes God blessed her with a passion and talent for dance and is very grateful to be able to pass this gift on to her students. Marilyn is attending Brenau University studying Dance Education.

Miss Vika: Instructor (Zumba)