Entertaining DeKalb County Since 1952...
Directors/Choreographers
Directors
Leslie Gourley, Associate Director: Leslie started her dance training at age six in Marietta and continued her dance studies in Mississippi and with the Joffrey School of Ballet in New York. At age 16 she came to study with Decatur School of Ballet. After graduating from Texas Christian University as a ballet major in 1986, Leslie returned to teach and dance with our school and company. As Associate Director, Leslie oversees the Apprentice Ensemble and the Junior Ensemble of Decatur City Dance.
Jessica Paget Reese, Associate Director: Jessica began her dance training at the Gainesville School of Ballet at age six. A professional performer with South Carolina Ballet Theatre, she also taught with the Columbia Ballet School before opening her own studio in Lexington, South Carolina. In addition to her classical ballet training, Jessica has performed in musical theater productions. With a BA degree in English and a M.Ed. in Elementary Education from Columbia College, Jessica taught seventh grade for seven years. As Associate Director, Jessica oversees the Apprentice Ensemble and the Junior Ensemble of Decatur City Dance.
Toya Willingham, Associate Director: Toya started her dance training at age three and came to Decatur School of Ballet at age 13. She has been a company dancer with Decatur City Dance since 1992. She is a graduate of the DeKalb Center for the Performing Arts. In the summer of 1995, she participated in the Governor's Honors in Dance program. Like many teachers at Decatur School of Ballet, Toya trained as a demonstrator, an assistant teacher, and a substitute teacher in younger children's classes at our school. She has a strong foundation in ballet and has also trained in modern dance, jazz and tap. As Associate Director, Toya oversees AboutFace, the Apprentice Ensemble, and the Junior Ensemble of Decatur City Dance.
Birda Ringstad, Associate Director: Birda began dancing at the age of eight at the Art Linkletter Dance Studio in Chicago, Illinois. She has studied with some of the great tap dancers of our time, including Brenda Bufalino, Pat Rico, Al Gilbert, Gregory Hines and the "master" Tommy Sutton. She has been teaching tap to dancers of all ages and levels since 1986. She directs the Rhythm Keepers and the Junior Rhythm Keepers of Decatur City Dance. Birda also directs the Rug Cutters, a teen swing performance group headquartered at Decatur School of Ballet.
Timothy Meyers, Associate Director: A native of Atlanta, Georgia, Tim started his dance career at Emory University, where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Music, and has been dancing professionally for almost 20 years. After touring internationally as a dance captain for “Up with People,” Tim moved to Los Angeles to continue his training at the EDGE Performing Arts Center, where he had the opportunity to work with some of the nation’s top choreographers. With intense training ballet, jazz, and hip-hop, he has performed internationally in numerous dance concerts and industrials, including work for Coca-Cola, GMC Truck, Home Depot, Reebok, Palmer Rox, Herbalife, and the NBA on TNT. He has performed as a guest artist with Fleetwood Dance, The Atlanta Opera, and Decatur City Dance. Choreography credits include “A Passion to Dance,” the HRC National Banquet, Joining Hearts, and the Miss Georgia Competition. Tim has worked with the Atlanta Hawks Dance Team and the Georgia Force Cheerleaders, and has served on the faculty for the Dancemasters of America national convention. Tim is the former Artistic Director of Gotta Dance & Company, and has also served as Studio Director for Dance 101, Inc. As Associate Director, Tim oversees AboutFace.
Resident Choreographers for the 2011-2012 Season
Leslie Gourley, Associate Director: Leslie started her dance training at age six in Marietta and continued her dance studies in Mississippi and with the Joffrey School of Ballet in New York. At age 16 she came to study with Decatur School of Ballet. After graduating from Texas Christian University as a ballet major in 1986, Leslie returned to teach and dance with our school and company. As Associate Director, Leslie oversees the Apprentice Ensemble and the Junior Ensemble of Decatur City Dance.
Jessica Paget Reese, Associate Director: Jessica began her dance training at the Gainesville School of Ballet at age six. A professional performer with South Carolina Ballet Theatre, she also taught with the Columbia Ballet School before opening her own studio in Lexington, South Carolina. In addition to her classical ballet training, Jessica has performed in musical theater productions. With a BA degree in English and a M.Ed. in Elementary Education from Columbia College, Jessica taught seventh grade for seven years. As Associate Director, Jessica oversees the Apprentice Ensemble and the Junior Ensemble of Decatur City Dance.
Toya Willingham, Associate Director: Toya started her dance training at age three and came to Decatur School of Ballet at age 13. She has been a company dancer with Decatur City Dance since 1992. She is a graduate of the DeKalb Center for the Performing Arts. In the summer of 1995, she participated in the Governor's Honors in Dance program. Like many teachers at Decatur School of Ballet, Toya trained as a demonstrator, an assistant teacher, and a substitute teacher in younger children's classes at our school. She has a strong foundation in ballet and has also trained in modern dance, jazz and tap. As Associate Director, Toya oversees AboutFace, the Apprentice Ensemble, and the Junior Ensemble of Decatur City Dance.
Heather Yates, Choreographer: Heather began her dance training at Decatur School of Ballet at age eight and continued her study with the Atlanta Ballet, the Royal Academy of Dance and the Cleveland Ballet, where she also danced in the company. She also danced professionally with the American Ballet Theatre in New York City from 1988 to 1994, working with such notable artists as Twyla Tharp, Natalia Makarova, Jiri Kylian and Mark Morris. Heather is also a professional chef.
Bevin Newton, Choreographer: has had years of training, performance, and teaching experience in ballet, modern and jazz. She has danced with Virginia Ballet Company, Center Dance Company, Duke Ballet Repertory Ensemble, Chapel Hill Ballet Company, and Decatur City Dance. She was selected to attend the Governor's School for the Performing Arts while in high school and won the Julia Wray Memorial Dance Award in college. Bevin's choreography has been featured on programs for Decatur City Dance, DanceStop Company, and Cartersville City Ballet. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Duke University with a BA in economics and minors in business and dance, and has an MBA from the Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Dee Wagner, Choreographer: has taught dance, mime and theatre for 30 years through Company Kaye, the Georgia Council for the Arts, and Georgia Dance Conservatory. She has been teaching Mommy and Me classes for 10 years. She has choreographed the musicals at the Paideia School for 28 years. As a performer, her work was seen at the New England Vaudeville Festival and the Governor's Awards for the Arts. Dee has taught summer musical theatre camps through the Marietta Community Schools and Decatur School of Ballet. Dee is also a practicing licensed professional counselor and registered dance therapist.
Resident Choreographers for the 2011-2012 Season
Leslie Gourley, Associate Director: Leslie started her dance training at age six in Marietta and continued her dance studies in Mississippi and with the Joffrey School of Ballet in New York. At age 16 she came to study with Decatur School of Ballet. After graduating from Texas Christian University as a ballet major in 1986, Leslie returned to teach and dance with our school and company. As Associate Director, Leslie oversees the Apprentice Ensemble and the Junior Ensemble of Decatur City Dance.
Jessica Paget Reese, Associate Director: Jessica began her dance training at the Gainesville School of Ballet at age six. A professional performer with South Carolina Ballet Theatre, she also taught with the Columbia Ballet School before opening her own studio in Lexington, South Carolina. In addition to her classical ballet training, Jessica has performed in musical theater productions. With a BA degree in English and a M.Ed. in Elementary Education from Columbia College, Jessica taught seventh grade for seven years. As Associate Director, Jessica oversees the Apprentice Ensemble and the Junior Ensemble of Decatur City Dance.
Toya Willingham, Associate Director: Toya started her dance training at age three and came to Decatur School of Ballet at age 13. She has been a company dancer with Decatur City Dance since 1992. She is a graduate of the DeKalb Center for the Performing Arts. In the summer of 1995, she participated in the Governor's Honors in Dance program. Like many teachers at Decatur School of Ballet, Toya trained as a demonstrator, an assistant teacher, and a substitute teacher in younger children's classes at our school. She has a strong foundation in ballet and has also trained in modern dance, jazz and tap. As Associate Director, Toya oversees AboutFace, the Apprentice Ensemble, and the Junior Ensemble of Decatur City Dance.
Heather Yates, Choreographer: Heather began her dance training at Decatur School of Ballet at age eight and continued her study with the Atlanta Ballet, the Royal Academy of Dance and the Cleveland Ballet, where she also danced in the company. She also danced professionally with the American Ballet Theatre in New York City from 1988 to 1994, working with such notable artists as Twyla Tharp, Natalia Makarova, Jiri Kylian and Mark Morris. Heather is also a professional chef.
Guest Choreographers for the 2011-2012 Season
Dee Wagner, Choreographer: has taught dance, mime and theatre for 30 years through Company Kaye, the Georgia Council for the Arts, and Georgia Dance Conservatory. She has been teaching Mommy and Me classes for 10 years. She has choreographed the musicals at the Paideia School for 28 years. As a performer, her work was seen at the New England Vaudeville Festival and the Governor's Awards for the Arts. Dee has taught summer musical theatre camps through the Marietta Community Schools and Decatur School of Ballet. Dee is also a practicing licensed professional counselor and registered dance therapist.
