JOHN POZZUOLI- Studio Owner/Instructor
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Graduate Member of Dance Educators of America; Dance Major at Florida State University. Over the past 30 years John has studied with dance masters such as Finis Jhung, David Howard, Michael Vernon, Chet Walker, Gregory Hines, Savion Glover, Frank Hatchett, Bill Hotaling and Gus Giordano to name a few. He is certified in Jazz, Tap, Ballet & Acrobatics with 20 years classroom experience. John has enjoyed teaching for and managing dance studios and National Tours such as Mrs. P’s Dance & Acrobatics Studio, Lucretia’s School of Dance, Off Broadstreet Center for the Dance Arts, Hoctor’s Dance Caravan, Professional Dance Teachers Association, New York on the Road, Gotham Arts Productions and Manhattan Dance Project as well as master classes all over the country. President, CEO, Stage Left Productions, Inc.
CHERYL POZZUOLI- Studio Director/Instructor
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Professional dancer / actress / vocalist– has been studying the arts for 27 years and has been in the classroom working with children for the past 16 years. She exemplifies patience and has a talent for teaching the young student. Her classes combine a delicate balance of fun, discipline, and proper training in order to educate, inspire and build confidence. She has studied and assisted dance under the direction of some of today’s biggest names in the dance industry and continues her education as a teacher by attending workshops and accredited training seminars around the country. Cheryl is devoted to providing a fun learning environment in which students can obtain a love for the performing arts.
“Enjoy the process of learning to dance. The process of our profession, and not its final achievement, is the heart and soul of dance”
STEPHANIE CANTER -Instructor
Stephanie Canter was born and raised in Coral Springs, Florida and is currently a student at the University of Georgia. She began dancing at the age of four and from then, her passion for the art grew exponentially. She has been classically trained in tap, jazz, ballet, modern, contemporary, and musical theater. She works at Dance Theatre of Parkland in Florida as a guest choreographer and teacher and instructs all ages and all styles. Stephanie has been a competitive dancer for ten years and has won numerous high scores and special judges awards. Attending several conventions and winning multiple scholarships, she continues to search for the best training available. She has studied from leading dancers in the industry and is excited to learn new ways to connect with others through dance. This past summer, Stephanie trained for three weeks in New York City with David Parsons and his professional modern company, Parsons Dance. Stephanie is also in her second year with the world renowned Project 7 Contemporary Dance Company.
JILLIAN HANES-Instructor
Jillian Hanes, a native of New York, is an accomplished performer, choreographer and teacher. The holder of two national and numerous regional dance and performing arts titles, Jillian has studied dance, vocal, and drama extensively. Her performance credits include Star Search, Fiesta Texas, Opryland USA, Opryland Hotel, The General Jackson Showboat, as well as numerous music videos, television pilots, commercials and industrials. A published journalist, Jillian has also written a column in Dancer Magazine. She has been associated with the Atlanta Workshop Players for many years and has appeared in many of their productions as well as choreographing shows such as “West Side Story”, “Grease”, “Once Upon A Mattress” and “Little Shop of Horrors”. She has been teaching in the Atlanta area for 16 years and her love of musical theatre has inspired her to implement it into both studio and school curriculums. Jillian is thrilled to be joining the Footnotes family for a 5th season and is looking forward to enhancing its love of the performing arts!
ADRIENNE HICKS -Instructor
Adrienne Hicks began her dance training with Mary Lou Houme at Troy School of Ballet in Troy, Alabama, supplementing this training with the following summer intensives: North Carolina School of the Arts, the Joffrey Trainee program, American Ballet Theatre, and RDA's Craft of Choreography at the Rock School. To continue a more serious training, Adrienne moved away from home at 14 to study with Dothan School of Dance, one of the South's most prestigious studios, where she earned many dance awards, including but not limited to, Teen Miss West Coast, DMA Top 5 Miss Dance of American Nationals, IDC National Senior Winner, Applause National Solo Winner and Miss Bounce National Senior Winner. In addition to dancing competitively, Adrienne was a member of Southeast Alabama Dance Company, a Southeast Regional Ballet Association honor company.
Upon high school graduation in 2006, Adrienne Hicks entered the Ailey/Fordham BFA program. Her freshman year, she was one of only two female dancers chosen to dance in guest choreographer Sean Curran's piece for the Fordham/Ailey Fall BFA performance showcase. Contacted during her sophomore year by Chancellor Jack Hawkins of Troy University in Alabama, Adrienne agreed to help charter the university's first dance program. Since transferring to Troy University on scholarship, Adrienne has been instrumental in bringing dance to the Troy University campus. Under her leadership, the Troy Dance Repertory Ensemble, which began with 6 of Alabama's best dancers, all of whom Adrienne herself was influential in recruiting, has grown to 23. In 2009, Adrienne joined Adrienne Canterna's Pretty Girls of Dance and, during the summer of this same year, worked as Canterna's understudy for Rasta Thomas's Bad Boys of Dance in their performance of Rock the Ballet, an experience which prepared her for much of how to develop TDRE into the company it is today.
An additional and noteworthy achievement of Adrienne's was working with Chancellor Hawkins, the Confucius Institute, and the College of Communication and Fine Arts to organize and help direct an hour-long performance which TDRE toured to universities in Beijing and Hebei, China in the sumer of 2010. During this tour, Troy Dance Repertory Ensemble performed in The People's Great Hall, the only dance troupe to have ever done so. Adrienne's direction and example has not only helped TDRE to become a respected company, but has given her a deep appreciation for the work that goes into building anything from the ground up, and she is most proud to have played such a crucial role in TDRE's beginning.
Graduating Summa Cum Laude on May 6, 2011, Adrienne has now moved to Atlanta, Georgia, where she is a member of Project 7 Contemporary Dance Company and has just been signed with Xcel Talent Agency. She is currently dancing in the Holiday Shrektacular at the Opryland in Nashville, until January 2012, when she will return to Atlanta.
MIKI HOIRIIS -Instructor
A native of Atlanta, Miki Hoiriis trained at the Academy of Ballet Arts under the tutelage of Marina Levasheva before joining the Ruth Mitchell Dance Theatre (RMDT) Company in 1998. While dancing with RMDT Company Miki trained with Ruth Mitchell, Anthony Parkes, Lisa Toups, and Kathryn MacBeth among others. She performed many supporting roles in the Company’s annual ballets. She is best known for her role as the Arabian Solo in The Nutcracker. After graduating from high school, Miki attended the Georgia Institute of Technology where she earned a BS in International Affairs and Modern Languages (French concentration) with high honors. While studying for her undergraduate degree Miki continued to work with the Ruth Mitchell Dance Theatre in their Young Audiences program, which brings dance performance and education into local schools. After graduation Miki spent time in France honing her language skills. Upon her return she began teaching ballet and contemporary Jazz at Dance 101 in 2006. Miki continues to train in classical dance on a freelance basis. In August 2007 she attended the summer program with the River North Dance Company in Chicago and took professional classes at the Lou Conte Dance School.
GEE GEE IBARRA-Instructor
Her motto is “START NOW – FINISH WOW!” Gee Gee Ibarra is the Founder/Director of Infinite Movement Talent Development. She has been a professional Choreographer/Dancer for 15 years, and has worked with artists such as Master P, Kurupt, Snoop Dogg, Amerie, Foxy Brown, Ying Yang Twins, Black Eyed Peas, and more. She’s done dozens of music videos as a featured dancer and choreographer, been on numerous tours, and traveled the country teaching and speaking at Master Workshops, Seminars, and Conferences. Her talent and expertise has been seen on numerous rising stars in the Atlanta area, who Gee Gee has coached, choreographed, and produced each of their stage shows (including arising artists such as 3rd Flo, Butta B-Rocka, Bliss, Candy, J’Marie, GIRRL, Fa Sho, London, Lil’ Dude, and Latin Teen sensation Tyna Q to name a few). In addition, she also educates and consults quality off the stage including etiquette, diet/nutrition, fitness, and professional lifestyle skills. Her passion and dedication to these artists today rooted from seeing a lack of knowledge, education, and proper resources to consistently inspire and motivate talent to believe in their craft. Since the inception of Infinite Movement in 2002, Gee Gee has devoted her career by giving back her time, energy, knowledge, and experience to do just that. “Being temporary should never be an option if you want the best in this industry. Sacrifice and hard work is the root of your success.” Is what Gee Gee instills in each of her artists.
Today, she continues to develop, train, and choreograph new talent that all want to claim their spot in this industry. She also focuses on giving back to our youth by offering JAM SESSIONS to promote fitness, healthy eating, and building confidence. There is no mistake that this was the gift that Gee Gee was blessed with, and as she states, “Until this day, I continue to get butterflies in my stomach when I step on stage, and I’m always learning something new and refreshing when I work with my artists. This is what keeps the fire burning, it can never go out!”
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 JASON KAGEN - Instructor
Bio to come
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 JEN MacQUEEN - Instructor
Bio to come
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BRIAN MASON-Instructor
A South Georgia native, Brian holds a Bachelor of Performing Arts degree in Dance Performance from Oklahoma City University, under the direction of world-renowned ballet dancer and instructor Jo Rowan. Prior to college, Brian trained in tap, jazz, ballet, lyrical, and hip hop under Dana Forgay in Cairo, GA, and was a headliner member of The F.I.R.M. Dance Company. While in college, Brian was a member of the American Spirit Dance Company, and he was also one of the few elite members to tour regionally and internationally in Tai Pei, Taiwan. Brian was also a dancer and singer at Busch Gardens Williamsburg and has been featured as a lead dancer in The Miss South Carolina Pageant. Brian was a charter member of the Satchdance Company in Tallahassee, FL, and he has also held the leading roles in such musicals as Anything Goes, The Wizard of Oz, Annie, Oklahoma!, The Music Man, Annie Get Your Gun, Alice In Wonderland, The Lion King, and many others. He has performed with the Black Bear Jamboree in Pigeon Forge, TN where he was a featured singer/dancer, and has also been a part of some industrial work for Mercedes Benz, and he can be seen on an OETA documentary of Oklahoma City University. Brian was also one of four featured dancers in the Atlanta Opera's premiere of Verdi's AIDA earlier this year. Most recently, Brian has broken into film and TV, as a featured dancer on The Vampire Diaries, a Georgia Lottery commercial, and Drop Dead Diva along side Paula Abdul. Brian has been teaching tap, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, ballet, and hip hop for 10 years now nationwide. He recently finished four contracts on Holland America Cruise Lines as the singer/dancer, two of which were world cruises. In 2008, Brian was featured as a demo vocal artist on many Chartbuster Karaoke albums, providing him with extensive experience in the recording studio. Brian currently teaches all styles of dance full time at numerous studios in metro Atlanta, working with many talented kids and helping them grow. Brian is a member of the Miss Atlanta Board under the Miss America Organization and a faculty member at Dance 101 in Atlanta. He is very excited to bring his love for dance to the Footnotes family and is looking forward to a great year!
MELODY SMITH -Instructor
Melody Smith started dancing and teaching with the Cartersville City Ballet. Soon after she began teaching ballet, tap and jazz at The Cobb Dance Academy, Smyrna Community Center and Dan and Company dance studios. She has been the company ballet and lyrical teacher at Daystar Dance Academy, and has choreographed several competition pieces for their company. In addition to Daystar, Melody has also taught and choreographed ballet and tap pieces for Dan and Company and Tinker-belles. She has also judged the Tri-State dance competition and performed several ballet roles such as Arabian in The Nutcracker and Coppelia in Coppelia. When Melody Is not teaching you may see her on TV in commercials for, Home Depot, Tempurpedic, HGTV, AJC, Time Warner Cable and Haverty’s. Melody loves dance and performance, and and strives to bring out that same passion in her student.
JAMIE TOWNSEND -Instructor
Jamie began studying dance at the age of 3. She studied ballet, tap, modern, lyrical, hip-hop, and gymnastics, along with her favorite style, jazz. Jamie has always loved the competition scene ever since she got a taste of it when she was a gymnast but then started focusing on her dance team at age 9. Her passion for dance became evident when she toured the country with Hoctor's Dance Caravan Kids in 2001. While traveling and performing with the Caravan Kids she studied with Barry Youngblood, Tony Vitale, Dustin Philips, Chris Smith, Trisha Minery, Jerry Rose, Sonya Livingston, Susie Vitale and Loree Russeau. After that experience, Jamie won scholarships to the Debbie Reynold’s School of Dance in LA and Steps on Broadway in NYC. Jamie went to Young Harris College to study science and transferred to the University of Georgia where she majored in Exercise and Sports Science with an emphasis in Athletic Training. Jamie then moved to New York City where she worked at a physical therapy clinic in Greenwich Village and served as the Athletic Trainer for a private high school in Manhattan. While in NYC Jamie took classes from sought out dance instructors and experienced the audition scene in the big apple. Jamie moved back to the south to enjoy the warmth and be closer to family and friends. She is very excited to be joining the family at Footnotes Dance & Acrobatics Studio.
CHERRISE WAKEHAM -Instructor
Founder, director and choreographer of Project 7 Contemporary Dance Company, Cherrise Wakeham has been dedicated to the art of movement since the age of seven and is now recognized nationally for her choreography as well as her success as an influential instructor. With a relentless vision for style and innovation, she has shared her passion for dance with hundreds of students and several companies, studios, and intensives in the southeastern U.S., including The Project, Circuit on Tour, Breathe the Intensive, Gotta Dance Atlanta, Dance 101, Roswell City Dance and others. Recently, Cherrise was interviewed by and featured in the October issue of Dance Informa Magazine, chosen as a finalist for the 2010 Capezio ACE Awards in New York City this past summer for her work, Be Your Love, and in 2009, recognized in Dance Spirit Magazine for her piece, Vogue, named the 2009 Editor's Choice, Video of the Year. Having graduated Summa Cum Laude with Honors from Georgia State University with a B.A. in Psychology, Cherrise aims to combine a concentration in child development with her passion for cultivating creativity, discipline, and self-worth within her students and a positive creative experience in her company.
CARRIE KINMONTH -Instructor
Carrie Kinmonth is thrilled to be a part of the FootNotes faculty after moving to Georgia from Chicago. While in Chicago, Carrie gained seven years of teaching experience at The School of Performing Arts and also spent a year teaching for the Children's Division of the Joffrey Ballet's Academy of Dance. In addition to teaching, Carrie pursued opportunities in professional dance and regional theatre. She was a member of Suite 132 Dance Company, specializing in jazz and tap, and her most recent theatre credit is Mitzi in Theatre at the Center's production of Crazy For You. Carrie received her BA from North Central College in Musical Theatre, with a minor in Dance.
