JENNY BROE (Hip-Hop, Contemporary Flow, Strip Aerobics, CHARLESTON)
Executive Director, Dancefx Charleston
Dancer, instructor and choreographer extraordinaire, Jenny Broe is Executive Director at Dancefx Charleston and a principal dancer of the Charleston Dance Project. Currently heading a new project called "Slow Jamz", Broe intends to put Hip-Hop on the map in Charleston. Hailing from Rhythm Dance Center in Marietta, GA, Broe studied with renowned choreographers and instructors such as Mia Michaels, Wade Robson, Dee and Dennis Casbery at the Edge and Performing Arts Center in LA, and Broadway Dance Center in NYC before joining Dancefx in Athens, GA in 2003. As a Dancefx Concert Dance Company Member, Broe had the honor of performing with the Dancefx Concert Dance Company at DanceATHENS Dance Festival in 2003-08, Jazz Dance World Congress in 2005, Piccolo Spoleto Festival in 2004-2007, International Dance Grand Prix Italia in Bologna, Italy during the summer of 2007, and The PULSE on Tour in Atlanta 2006, 2007 and 2009, in addition to working as the Project Coordinator for Dancefx, Inc. In 2008, Broe worked as a master contemporary instructor at Gotta Dance Atlanta and danced professionally at Opera in Midtown Atlanta before returning to Dancefx, Inc. to help launch Charleston’s newest pride and joy: Dancefx Charleston and the Charleston Dance Project.Email Jenny
Sara Cart began her dance career at a very young age under the instruction of the Ray Hollingsworth studio of dance in Martinsville, Va. She earned her BA in Dance at James Madison University. While at JMU, Sara was a member of the Virginia Repertory Dance Company, the Contemporary Dance Ensemble and co-directed the Associate Dance Ensembe, JMU’s freshman performing company. Sara trained and worked with numerous professionals in the dance community while abroad at the JMU London Contemporary Theatre and Dance Intensive in 2004 and the American Dance Festival in 2005. Sara was named adjunct professor of dance at Ferrum College in 2006 and spent her time dancing with Danahbella danceworks, a Virginia-based dance company. While living in New York in 2007, Sara was chosen for an internship with Monica Bill-Barnes and was encouraged to continue her dance education and training. Sara has been with the Charleston Dance Project since the very beginning in 2008.
NATALIE COX (Ballroom and Latin Dance, ATHENS)
Director of Ballroom Dance and Contact Dance Company, Dancefx ATHENS
Natalie Cox is the Director of Contact Dance Company at Dancefx, is Artistic Director of UGA's Ballroom Performance group (BPG), teaches The University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education, and performs and teaches at various other venues around Northeast Georgia. Most recent accolades include 2009 and 2010 awards from Project Safe's Dancing With Athens Stars where she partnered with 5 and 10 chef Hugh Acheson- check it out! Natalie received her A.B. from the University of Georgia in 2003 and her J.D. from the University of Georgia in 2006. While at UGA, she was a member of the UGA's BPG from 2002-2006 and served as president her last year. Notable annual performances include DanceAthens, the DanceFX Spring Concert at the Morton Theatre in Athens, Georgia, and the Piccolo Spoleto Festival in Charleston, South Carolina.
Continual training is very important to Natalie; she annually attends dance camps such as the Adult Ballroom Camp at Brigham Young University and the Independence Day Ball Camp in Washington, D.C. During her travels, she has had the great fortune of taking lessons from ballroom greats such as Ron Montez, Jean Marc Genereux & France Mousseau, Pierre Allaire & Mireille Veilleux, Karina Smirnoff, and Tomas Mielnicki & J.T. Thomas.
When not dancing, Natalie is employed with Strickland, Chesnutt & Lindsay, LLP, where she handles Commercial and Residential Real Estate Transactions and Probate matters. Email Natalie
Janelle de Ment began her training under Phyllis Papa at the Atlantic Contemporary Ballet Theater Academy. In 2005, she was admitted into the Joffrey Ballet Trainee program in New York and studied under Francesca Korkle. In 2006, Janelle accepted her first professional contract with Atlantic City Ballet. During her time there, she was given the opportunity to dance soloist roles in the Nutcracker, Dracula, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. In the past year, she has expanded her education by completing a two hundred hour yoga teaching certification. Janelle has enjoyed teaching for eight years. She is thrilled to have such an avenue available to her as a way of contributing to the community and most importantly making a positive impact on the lives of students. .
ERIKA DOUGLAS GREENE (Beginning Ballet, Pointe, ATHENS) Erika grew up dancing in at the Athens School of Ballet and performed with the Athens Ballet Theatre for over 20 years. She studied under Janet Robertson and Marianne Hale. She also participated in workshops with Ron Colton and Joan Buttrum. She not only danced with the Athens Ballet Theatre but served as Assistant Artistic Director and Stage Manager. Today, Erika is a full time special education teacher, and a mother of two little boys. She continues to stay involved in the dance community by teaching ballet and stage managing. Come join her adult ballet class- a class perfect for those who have stepped away from ballet and want to return and a great opportunity for those who want to give ballet a try.
Alexa Erbach joined DanceFX during an unexpected twist of fate and hasn't looked back since. Prior to DanceFX, Alexa danced with Vibrations Dance Company, a contemporary dance ensemble, in Columbia, SC. She's had the priviledge of dancing with Columbia City Jazz during their travels to China, where she performed 25 times in different cities throughout the country. Alexa's glad to have found a new dance family in Charleston and feels blessed to have so many wonderful people in her life now.
LAUREN GUDGER (PreK, Elem, FX2/3, ATHENS)
Director of Dance Education, Dancefx Athens
With 20 years of dance experience, Lauren Gudger brings fine arts and child expertise to her role as Director of Youth Dance Education. Much of her early training came from Steps Dance Center in Woodstock, GA and she began teaching classes there at the age of 15. As a member of the Dancefx Concert Dance Company since 2006, she has had the honor of performing at such events as the DanceATHENS Dance Concert, Piccolo Spoleto Festival in Charleston, and in front of world-renowned choreographers at The PULSE on Tour. She was also honored with the company in Italy at the 2007 International Grand Prix, receiving second overall for Contemporary and Choreography. She began the Youth Soundfx Company in 2008 and led them as they performed in Athens and Charleston concerts. While dancing and teaching youth and adult classes at Dancefx, Gudger studied at The University of Georgia and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood Education. She has helped to bring the Dancefx Youth Program to new heights.Email Lauren
ALLISON HAYN (Jazz and Contemporary, ATHENS)
Executive Director, Dancefx Athens
After four years working at world renouned Broadway Dance Center in New York City and The PULSE on Tour featuring SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE celebrity choreographers, Hayn takes over as Executive Director of Dancefx Athens in August of 2009.
Atlanta native Hayn has taught for Broadway Dance Center's (BDC) Children and Teen Program in New York City, serves as Producer of The PULSE On Tour, and Retail Director and Merchandiser for BDC in addition to appearing in and choreographing photo shoots for Capezio and Frontline Dancewear and working as a freelance instructor, dancer and choreographer throughout New York City. Working closely with Mia Michaels, Brian Friedman, Shane Sparks, Dave Scott, Wade Robson, Cris Judd, Tyce Diorio, Desmond Richardson, and Laurie Ann Gibson, Hayn brings a wealth of knowledge, experience, cutting-edge innovation and opportunity to the Athens dance community and Dancefx family.
Before moving to New York, Allison spent five years with Dancefx, as a dancer, instructor and choreographer in addition to serving as Assistant Director of Dancefx, Inc. Hayn was instrumental in the opening of Dancestyle Dancewear and establishing the Dancefx Studio Youth Program. As a Dancefx Concert Dance Company Member, she's performed at the Jazz Dance World Congress in 2002 and 2004, Jazz on Tap (2001-2004), DanceAthens Dance Festival (2000-2004) and Dancefx's FX Spring Concert (2001-2005). With over 20 years dance experience, Hayn has studied with Luigi in New York City and the Jump Rhythm Jazz Project in Chicago in addition to her work in New York City. Hayn is a 2004 graduate of the University of Georgia's Honors Program with a degree in Public Relations. Email Allison
DANIELLE HOSKER, Founder of Dancefx, Inc.
Maerx is originally from New York but now lives in Athens and attends the University of Georgia. She is working towards a double major in biology and ecology and is interning in Sonia Altizer’s lab where she studies host/parasite interactions in Monarch butterflies. Margeaux is trained in ballet, jazz, tap, modern, hip hop, and character dance. From 2007-2009, Maerz danced with Dancefx Concert Dance Company and now dances under Maryn Mills with Volta Dance Theater in Atlanta. She loves teaching and spreading her love of dance and performance with others.
Renee attended SUNY College at Fredonia to major in Speech-Language Pathology and minor in Dance. Renee performed in NYC Dance Now Festival with the modern dance company Via Dance Collaboration as well as in the Off-Off Broadway show "Nutcracker Rated-R." After moving to Charleston, Renee began dancing with ARC Experiments in Dance for a year. She performed at The Charleston County Library, Piccolo, and in Kulture Klash prior to ARC's disbanding. Hungry for more dance, Renee Googled "Dance Studios" and found DanceFX and has been hooked ever since! This is her second year with Dancefx and feels extremely blessed and honored to be sharing the stage with such amazing people and dancers. Renee has been an integral part of the Charleston Dance Project since 2009. Renee is currently working for NHC of Charleston living her other passion of Speech Therapy.
JESSICA NORMAN (Stomp, CHARLESTON)
Brand new to the Dancefx Charleston team, Jessica studied tap, ballet, jazz, musical theater and voice for 15 years at Center Stage Dance and Theater School in East Brunswick, NJ. She was member of their elite tap company, The Tap Cats, along with the competing jazz team. She now strives to bring quality tap education to Adults in Charleston. Joining her expertise of tap and rhythm with the urban beats of hip hop, rock and pop, Jessica embarks on a new Journey with the Dancefx STOMP class. She is here to give your feet a voice!
JANET ROBERTSON (Ballet, ATHENS) Janet Robertson has been teaching with Dancefx since its inception, and has been an adjunct faculty member at the University of Georiga since 1985, primarily basing her teaching methods and philosophy on the years she spent working with Stanley Zompakos, former member of NYCB. Her training was further enhanced, having been coached for performances by Anna Sokolow and Ernestine Stodelle.
Robertson shares her many talents with the Athens community as a guest teacher and choreographer and for the East Athens Educational Dance Center; as guest choreographer for the UGA Ballet Ensemble; in collaboration with Peggy Thrasher; and as an actress and set decorator with the Town & Gown Players. She recently finished a series of 20 videos for the Carl Vinson Institute of Government's research project on mediation and conflict resolution under Peggy Herrman and Jerry Gale. Robertson was given the Dance Athens 2004 Award for Excellence by the Athens dance community. Robertson holds an A.F.A. in Dance from Sullins College, where she trained under Valentina Belova, a B.A. in Art and an M.A.T., both from Lynchburg College in Virginia. She recently served on the dance panel of the Georgia Council for the Arts.
DONNA FRICK O'ROURKE (Tap, Jazz, Contemporary, ATHENS)
Donna began her dance training at the age of 3 under the direction of her mother, Carol Walker. She also studied under such recognized artists as Gary Harrison, Gus Giordano, Kenneth Greene and Tony Coppola, to name a few. She danced with Gary Harrison and Company and has performed throughout the state including Jazz On Tap and the opening ceremonies of the Olympic Georgia Games. For over 24 years, she has taught and judged at major dance conventions & competitions, and has taught at summer camps as well as other dance studios. She is the recipient of many awards for her outstanding choreography in jazz, lyrical, and tap. Many of her students have received the highest awards in both regional and national (solo and group) competitions, and they are currently National Dance Champions. Donna was the Choreographer for the 1996 Miss Georgia Pre-teen and Miss Georgia Teenager pageants. She choreographed, performed and modeled for the Danskin Fall 1995 Sales Convention and has modeled for UDMA with Curtain Call Costumes and Lathers Dancewear Catalog and website. Her TV commercials include Longhorn Steakhouse . She continues to perform and choreograph throughout metro Atlanta. Donna is a certified member of Dance Educators of America and Dance Masters of America, Chapter #33, where she has served on the DMA Junior Membership Committee.