Drew Jones, founder and director of Dance & Company, holds a Bachelors of Education from JMU, where she studied dance on the master’s level. She trained privately with Robin Haig, former soloist, Royal Ballet Company, (London) and has studied with the following: Andahazy School of Classical Ballet (St. Paul) with Marius Andahazy, Luba Gulyava and Gabriella Komleva (Ballet Russe de Monte’ Carlo), Finis Jung (Harkness Ballet), Ted Kevitt and Michelle Lucci (Milwaukee Ballet) and Robert Atwood (Alvin Ailey School) She attended summer intensives with Boulder Ballet, Florida Dance Festival, Somerset Ballet (Kansas City) and Copley Ballet (Boston).
Erin Alfree Williams holds an undergraduate degree in Dance from DeSales University and a master’s degree in Dance/Movement Therapy from Drexel University. While at DeSales University, she trained in ballet and modern technique under the direction of Vincent Brosseau, and performed with the university’s touring company and dance team. Over the course of four years, while at DeSales, Erin taught in the Conservatory of Dance, offering dance classes to children ages 4-12 years old. Erin has performed with the Brandywiners, Ltd. community theatre company in summer musical productions, danced for 3 years in the Philadelphia Mummer’s Parade, and served as assistant choreographer for numerous spring musical productions.
Faith Bitsko trained in ballet, pointe, musical stage, modern, hip-hop, lyrical, jazz, tap, improvisation and composition at Dance & Company from her earliest childhood years through her graduation from High School (2020). Faith also taught Hip-Hop and Discover Dance classes at Dance & Company. Faith is a former member of The Shenandoah Contemporary Dance Theatre, traveling and performing with the pre-professional modern dance company, and attending intensives with Shannon Hummel, Katie Dean, Marissa Barber, Dani Maloney, Ilana Puglia and more. Faith also performed in Presley Tennant Music Video (Liberate Artists) and Grand Central Station Flash Mob (Joffrey Ballet School). Faith participated in Artists Simply Human Dance Convention, Baltimore, MD (2019), Liberate Artists Traveling Convention, South Boston, VA (2018 & 2019), and Liberate Artists Focus, Los Angeles, CA (Summer 2018). She has studied privately with Dani Maloney (2016-2018) in hip-hop, contemporary, and tap instruction, as well as studying ballet privately with Mary Rubare, (2014-2016). Faith attended Joffrey Summer Dance Intensive, New York, NY (Summer 2017) where she attended master classes with TRIX, Casie Goshow, and Candace Brown. Her awards and honors include: Artists Simply Human Faculty Pick Scholarship (2019), Liberate Artists Phoenix Fire Scholarship (2018 & 2019), Liberate Focus Scholarship (2018), VA Governor’s School for Dance (2018), Joffrey Summer Dance Intensive Scholarship (2017).
Karmy Fellers trained at Dance & Company, Center for Dance Education (SC), Columbia Music Festival Association (SC) among other venues; for over 19 years. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication/Theatre from Bridgewater College, and completed accreditation requirements for the Virginia State teaching certification.
Merinda Hamblin Hutchison began Irish dance as an adult under the instruction of Jo-Ann Carle with the Carle school of Irish dance in 2010. She began competing shortly after and has achieved championship level while competing against dancers in their teens. She has won many local and regional feisanna and has competed at the regional Oireachtas. For the past six years, she has furthered her dance education by attending Camp Rince Ceol in NY, Camp Rince Ceol Elite camp, and the Irish Dance Festival in Carlingford, Ireland. She was instructed at these camps by some of the worlds best Irish dancers and principal dancers in both Riverdance and Lord of the Dance. She has also performed on stage with Scythian and Gaelic Storm, two very well known Irish bands. Merinda is currently a student of the District Academy of Irish dance in Washington, DC. District is under the direction of Joe Duffey, TCRG and Bernadette Deveraux Chichester, TCRG, both of whom are currently dancers in Riverdance and Lord of the Dance. She has a love for Irish dance that she hopes to share with and grow in Harrisonburg.
Jenna Heffner trained at Dance & Company for 14 years where she studied ballet, Pointe, Jazz, hip-hop, modern, and musical stage, and attended various master classes and intensives. She studied ballet under John Gill Seamen and Leo Clark, and danced along with Michele Wiles from American Ballet Theater in the Nutcracker. Before teaching at Dance and Company, Jenna worked as a preschool teacher’s assistant.
Paige Helfter is a sophomore majoring in Nursing at JMU. She has completed the Dance Education Training Course at the Dance Teachers Club of Boston. She danced with the Centerstage Dance Company throughout high school, where she competed and performed locally while training in ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary, and modern and is currently a member of the Dancing Dukes where she performs at various JMU events. Additionally, she was a voluntary associate dance teacher for children ages 3-11.
Melodie May is Dance & Company’s office manager and serves as Liason Director of The Shenandoah Contemporary Dance Company. Melodie holds a degree in Elementary Education. Melodie has danced for over 30 years: first at Dance & Company, where she was a member of the Shenandoah Contemporary Dance Theatre and later at Messiah College. While at Messiah, Melodie became Director and Head Choreographer for Acclamation Dance Ministry and taught advanced Modern and Tap classes.
Emily Parkinson graduated from James Madison University with degrees in Dance and English as well as earning a teaching license in dance for the Commonwealth of Virginia. She was the recipient of the Dance Faculty Award at JMU and served as Student Technical Director for the Dance Department for the 2012-13 academic years. Emily is Director of The Shenandoah Contemporary Dance Theatre.
Emily Schilpp is a junior Health Sciences and Biology double major at JMU, pursuing a minor in Pre-Medicine. She has studied for years in ballet, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, modern, and musical theater classes. She previously worked as an assistant dance teacher at the Virginia Dance Center and Showcase Dance Studio in Manassas, VA.
Anna St. Ours Morris grew up dancing at Dance & Company in Harrisonburg, Virginia, where she developed a passion for dance, especially modern and improvisational dance. Anna went on to work as choreographer and instructor for technique classes in ballet, jazz, musical stage, and modern for over 10 years. Anna received her Bachelor of Arts in Dance from James Madison University and her Master of Arts in Dance/Movement Therapy and Counseling from Drexel University. Currently, Anna serves on the Artists’ Council of the Harrisonburg Dance Cooperative, a non-profit dance company in Harrisonburg. When she is not dancing, Anna is usually exploring the great outdoors, walking her dog, or spending time with her family.
Jordan Tan has performed in The Richmond Ballet’s, The Nutcracker, from 2011-2022. As a member of the School of the Richmond Ballet Ensemble, Jordan performed in the Sleeping Beauty Suite as the solo fairy of the enchanted garden, and was cast for roles in Enchanted Toy Shop in Scottish Reel, La Bayadere, Can Can and Spanish Dance. She has trained in ballet with the School of the Richmond Ballet from 2008-2022, training for 36 weeks per year for 20 hours a week, studying Ballet/Pointework, Modern/Lyrical, Character, Musical Theatre, and Jazz. She studied under Tera Penick, Starr Foster, Igor Antonov, Malcolm Burn, Judy Jacob, Jasmine Grace and Dianna Seay. Jordan served as the children’s choir leader for Christ Church Episcopal (2021-2022), leading the youth group in singing, dancing and learning choreography. Jordan taught vacation bible school (2018-2022), incorporating dancing, singing, and acting in her daily lessons.
Glennae Tennett trained in multiple dance genres throughout her life, beginning at Miss Kay’s School of Dance in Stephens City Va. and then adding on classes at Rhythm Studio in Winchester, Va., under the instruction of Kerry Silva and Sharon Kite. Glennae served as an assistant instructor and a substitute teacher. Glennae’s advanced level training includes ballet, jazz, contemporary, modern, hip-hop, tap and lyrical dance. Additionally, for the past six years, Glennae has served as a volunteer at her church, teaching children ages 2-5 years.
Rebecca Thomas, the Educational Director of Dance & Company and the founder and Director of Tappin’ Company, trained at the Wilkins School of Dance (Virginia Beach), where she later became a teacher. Rebecca graduated from JMU in Interdisciplinary Liberal Studies with minors in Dance & Early Childhood Education. Rebecca teaches fourth grade at Peak View Elementary School.
Lauren Volk is a former ballet teacher of Academy of Russian Ballet, Manassas, Va. (2018-2022) where she taught various genres of dance to students 5-15 years old. Lauren trained at the Academy of Russian Ballet for 14 years (2004-2020) in Ballet and Pointe, Modern, Jazz, Contemporary Pilates, Repertoire and Choreography. Lauren is a former member of the Northern Virginia Ballet Company (2016-2020), the Academy of Russian Ballet Honor Society, and the National Society of High School Scholars. She has performed with principal dancers from the American Ballet Theatre and has been invited to perform at the Russian Embassy, the International Ballet Festival in Germany, and Arts Alive regional festival.
Maia Wagler grew up dancing in Harrisonburg at the Rec Center and then at Dance and Company. She was a member of the Shenandoah Contemporary Dance Theatre and also danced with the HHS dance program and Fine Arts program for all four years of high school. She became a member of the National Honors Society of Dance Arts in her junior year. She is about to begin her sophomore year at VCU, in their BFA Dance and Choreography program.