Education

• Graduate of Duke University AB in Public Policy Studies and Dance Minor
• Graduate of University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Law
• Licensed Attorney State of North Carolina
• Specialized dance training in Rhythm Tap has studied across the United States with such masters as Gregory Hines, Savion Glover, Brenda Bufalino, Diane Walker, Henry LeTang and Van Porter.

Honors, Awards and Experience:

• Recipient of "2006 Outstanding Achievement Award" presented by the Bessemer City Area Chamber of Commerce
• First Runner-Up Miss North Carolina 2000; preliminary Talent and Swimsuit winner and Community Service Top Ten
• Second Runner-Up Miss North Carolina USA 2004; Swimsuit winner
• 2007 Convention Teacher for "Showstopper Dance Conventions" - tap teacher and guest lecturer on topic of "Legal Concerns for Dance Studio Owners"
• Guest teacher and choreographer for dance workshops and classes across the United States and in London, England. Students have won regional and national awards.
• Recipient of Julia Wray Memorial Dance Award, presented annually by Duke University's Dance Department
• Founder and Choreographer of Duke University's Tap Repertory Ensemble
• Overall Top Soloist at Showstoppers Dance Competition
• Gaston County's Junior Miss; Second Runner-Up to North Carolina's Junior Miss and winner of preliminary awards in Poise and Appearance, Creative and Performing Arts, Physical Fitness, Interview and Scholastics
• Junior Miss North Carolina (LMNC Pageant)
• Featured half-time dancer in the All-American Hula Bowl
• Dancer in the nationally televised American Dance Championships
• Over 20 years experience in tap, jazz, ballet, lyrical, modern and voice
• Over 15 years experience as a dance instructor and choreographer

Community Involvment:

• Certified Guardian ad Litem, a court appointed advocate for abused and neglected children in North Carolina
• Big Sister Volunteer
• Recognized by UNC School of Law for dedication to protecting the rights of abused and neglected children
• Center for Child and Family Health legal clinic volunteer

Stephani Franks
Contact Stephani

Education

• Graduate of James Madison University
• Accountant and Real Estate Broker

Honors, Awards and Experience:

• Charlotte Hornets Dancer/Cheerleader - Honeybees; 1993-1995, 1997-1999
• Winthrop University Dance & Cheerleading Team Coach; 1996-1997
• Charlotte Rage Cheerleader - Out"Rage"ous Cheerleaders; 1993
• Experienced Aerobics Instructor
• Director/Choreographer for Prince William County Cannons - Diamond Girls Dance Team in Woodbridge, VA
• Director of Cheerleading Program for J.E.B. Stuart High School in Falls Church, VA
• Washington Redskins Cheerleader - Redskinettes; 1990-1991
• Choreographer and Member of James Madison University Dance Team - Dukettes
• Over 25 years experience in jazz, ballet, tap, cheerleading, and drill team
• Over 10 years experience as a dance instructor and choreographer

Community Involvment:

• Chairman of Board of Junior Achievement for Gaston County

Jaime Conner Webb

Education

• Gaston College - Dallas, North Carolina

• Hunter Huss High School Graduate

• Extensive Dance Education

Honors, Awards and Experience:

• Independent Dance Instructor throughout Gaston, Lincoln and Rutherford Counties since 1993; choreography has won numerous local, regional and national awards

• Jaime's Cloggers - Owner and Choreographer, Lincolnton, NC; 1998-2000

• Junior Olympics, Official Choreographer for Opening Ceremony, Charlotte, NC, 1999

• Over 20 years experience in clogging, jazz, tap, and gymnastics

• Over 10 years experience as a dance instructor and choreographer

Keith Darby

Education/Experience:

1989 - Guest Artist, Hungarian National Ballet

1989 - Soloist, Szegedi Ballet

1991 & 1992 - Soloist, Miss Virginia Pageant

1991 - Corpe, Richmond Ballet

1993 - Corpe, North Carolina Dance Theater

2000-2002 - Character Roles, Choreographer, Outreach Teacher - Spartanburg Ballet

1997-2002 - Dancer & Character Roles - Gaston Dance Theater

1993-Present - Children's Theater Performer - Grumbling Gryphons Traveling Children's Theater

1996-Present - Director, Actor, Dancer, Storyteller & Choreographer - Peas and Carrots Productions

Amy Branch

Education:

• 2005 Magna Cum Laud graduate South Point High School

• Who’s Who Among American High School Students 2002-2005

• Accepted into CPCC’s Dental Hygiene Program 2006

• 2006-2007 CPCC Dean’s List

• 2006 National President’s List

• Fifteen years dance training, under instruction of Shannon Jenkins, Jaime Conner Webb, and Kelly McManus Barker

Honors, Awards, Experience:

• Competition team member and soloist for Shannon’s Cloggers and StarStruck Studio

• Featured opening ceremony dancer for Junior Olympics, 1999

• Chosen as a 2004 KAR Kid at regional Kids Artistic Review competition

• Numerous regional and national awards as a clogging soloist

• 2004 Miss South Point and Miss Congeniality Winner

• 2007 Miss Mecklenburg County Congeniality Winner

• Over 15 years dance training

• 4 years experience as a solo and team dance choreographer and instructor

Community Involvement:

• 2004-2005 represented hometown of Belmont as a Belmont Letter Girl

• Actively promoting community service platform of Healthy Smiles and the Importance of Oral Hygiene Education

Kate McDonald

Education:

• BFA in Modern Dance from Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, Texas

• Kate is an eclectic mover who seeks to share her joy of dance with her audience and students on a personal level.

Honors, Awards, Experience:

• Currently teaching in the dance department at East Gaston High School, Stanley, NC

• Kate is a member of Caroline Calouche & Co., a contemporary performance company (www.carolinecalouche.org)

• Kate has had the privilege of working with artists such as Christian von Howard (Von Howard Project), Leah Cox (Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company), Elizabeth Johnson (David Parker & the Bang Group), Andee Scott, Jin-Wen Yu ( Jin-Wen Yu Dance), Caryn Heilman (Liquid Body, former dancer with Paul Taylor Dance Company), Luis Lara Malvacias (Full Fat Dance), Douglas Becker (former dancer of the Frankfurt Ballet), Paula Clancey (Bill Evans Dance Company), Susan Douglas Roberts, Kerry Kreiman (Contemporary Dance Fort Worth), Elizabeth Gillaspy, Li-Chou Cheng, and the late Fernando Bujones. 

• At Texas Christian University Kate also had memorable opportunities which include performing in A Night at the Bass, and traveling to Nagaoka, Japan to perform and participate in a cultural exchange. 

Megan Moose

Nicole Lindsay Nichols
Contact Nicole

Education

• Cum Laude Graduate of University of North Carolina at Charlotte BA in English, Minor in Communications
• Graduate of Campbell University School of Law
• Licensed Attorney State of North Carolina

Honors, Awards and Experience:

• Interview winner on local, state and national levels
• Miss North Carolina Top 10 finalist, Top 10 Community Service, Congeniality winner, non-finalist talent and interview winner
• North Carolina Cover Miss Majestic Queen Overall talent winner and Overall Pro-Am Model
• Young and Teen Miss North Carolina (LMNC Pageant)
• Has judged all areas of competition on state and local levels
• Gaston County Junior Miss First Runner-Up, winner of Poise and Appearance, Physical Fitness and Scholastics awards
• Over 12 years of experience in tap, jazz, ballet, lyrical and gymnastics
• Over 5 years experience as a dance instructor and choreographer

Community Involvement:

• Spokesperson National Center for Missing Children
• Recognized by "For the Love of Kids" with an Award of appreciation for Outstanding Service
• Guest Speaker at the C.U.E. Festival in Wilmington, NC for Missing Children
• Guardian ad Litem in Gaston County for incompetent children and adults