Nina is a veteran of not only Dance but of the entertainment industry as a whole. She received a scholarship from The Houston Ballet at the age of 17 and went on to have a very successful career as a professional Dancer. She has performed on stages across the country in roles in The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake and many more. She has worked with such notable companies and choreographers such Ben Stevenson of the Houston Ballet, Patsy Swayze of the Houston Jazz Ballet just to name a few.

Nina founded a dance and theater company in Arizona, The Arivaca Performing Artists, in partnership with the Tucson Pima Arts Council and National Endowment for the Arts. There she held the titles of Founder, Artistic Director and Choreographer for over 8 years. By utilizing her music, theatre and dance backgrounds the company was able to produce original dance pieces, plays and many full length musical productions. Her performing arts company was so widely received and successful that the arts commission built her a fully functional theater facility and her program was used by the Arizona Arts Commission as a model and pilot program.

Jacques Bells

Known as the “Jacques” of all trades, Mr. Bell has grown to encompass a multifaceted range of talents. His foundation in music was augmented at the University of Georgia’s Hugh Hodgson School of Music in Athens, Georgia where he received his Bachelor of Arts in Music Education.  It was while at the University of Georgia that Jacques began to develop his skills as a Dancer/Choreographer as he performed, choreographed and instructed with the Xtreme male dancers, Georgia Dymes, Pamoja Dance Company, Kappa Alpha Psi Step Team, Dance FX dance studios and founded the GDX Dance Company, which accepts 20-25 gifted dancers annually.  While quickly gaining recognition for his work with industry personalities such as Def Jam recording artist Ne-Yo, Mr. Bell began to receive numerous high profile opportunities in Music Videos, Television, and Stage Productions. He has similarly been afforded the opportunity to work with noted aggregations such as the Atlanta Falcons Cheerleaders and the Atlanta Hawks “A Town” Dancers.  Jacques was also selected head choreographer for three consecutive years of Metro Atlanta’s Precision Inc. Band Camp, one of the nation’s premier clinics for musicians, dancers, and auxiliary members and has been named Head Choreographer of Columbia Artist Management- Production “DrumLine Live”.  Jacques attributes his success as a dancer/choreographer to his strong foundation in the fundamentals of music and is driven by the belief that there is always more to learn.
 

Andrea Catchings

Andrea Catchings received an A.A. in Liberal Arts from Oxford College, a B.A. in Sociology from Emory University and her M.F.A in Dance Choreography and Performance from Temple University. She was the Company president of the Oxford Dance Company has danced with the Emory Dance Company, E-Motion Dance Team, Emory Dance on Tour, AHANA Dance Troup and Full Radius Dance Company. She is a gifted instructor in Modern, Hip Hop, Jazz and Creative Dance. She brings her amazing spirit, wealth of knowledge and experience in Modern Dance to all of our GSD Students!

Susanna Green

SUSANNA GREEN, an Atlanta native, discovered an enthusiasm for dancing and drawing at an early age. She began training in ballet and modern dance at Callenwolde Fine Arts Center at the age of nine. There, she studied the Royal Academy of Dance Syllabus under Kelly Oaks-Dent and classical modern technique under Amy Gately, both of whom instilled in her a lifelong love of dance.
After graduating from high school in 2002, Susanna continued her dance and art education at Temple University in the Bachelor of Fine Arts Dance program in Philadelphia. There, she cultivated a deeper appreciation for movement and worked with accomplished artists, choreographers, and guest instructors including Philip Grosser, Merian Soto, and Charles O. Anderson. Wanting to pursue her passion for visual arts as well, Susanna completed her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Painting and Drawing from the University of Georgia in 2007.
Since graduating, Susanna has continued to dance as a principal dancer in Amy Gately's contemporary dance company, Room to Move, and performs collaboratively with artists and dancers in the Atlanta area. She has taught various dance classes in Atlanta including creative movement classes for elderly adults, spring and summer camp programs for Fulton County Arts, intermediate and advanced ballet studio classes, and since 2009, she has instructed young dancers through the 'I Love Dance' program. Through her teaching and performance experiences, Susanna has found a love for movement education and creative learning.

Vera Musgrove

Vera is currently touring with the theatrical production called DRUMLine Live! She is the dance captain for the show which has travelled nationally and internationally. When Vera is not touring, she works as a dance instructor and performer in the Atlanta area. She was also a five-year veteran and captain for the A-Town Dancers of the NBA's Atlanta Hawks. As captain her duties included teaching and creating choreography for the A-Town dancers and coordinating the Junior A-Town Dancers. Prior to joining the A-Town Dancers, Vera was a member of the Washington Wizards (NBA) Dance Team. Additionally Vera coaches the Mahogany-N-Motion Dance Team at Morehouse College and the North Cobb Warrior Elite Dance Team at North Cobb High School.

A native of Temple Hills, Maryland, Vera took her studio dance training to dance teams while in high school. Vera graduated from Spelman college in Atlanta where she minored in dance and was a member of the Mahogany-N-Motion dance team for Morehouse College. She has over 20 years of dance training and performing experience. Vera has taught a range of master classes, performed for recording artists and special events including Purple Ribbon Atists, Bobby Valentino and the BET Hip Hop Awards. She currently resides in Decatur, GA.

Darnell Powell

Darnell Powell has literally "danced with the Stars!". He has been a choreographer for and performed as a touring dancer with Oukast, Ciara, Kid Money, Kilo Ali , Dj Tazz, Da-Organization, Jamtam/The Faculty and Virgo. He is the creator of the dance style ATL Crank and made it one of the southern regions hottest dance crave which can now be found in the latest Hip Hop videos. Darnell brings his over ten years experience in the entertainment industry to the Gwinnett School of Dance! His desire to choreograph unique and diverse movement and teach others training techniques that enhance their dance craft makes this a class NOT TO MISS!!! He teaches dancers the tools to not only do the moves, but shares his wisdom on how to nail that audition! Darnell says: With all the success that the hip hop industry has given me, I love to give back to the new and aspiring dancers to try to make their dreams come true. My philosophy is: When preparation meets opportunity, then you are successful. All a dancer needs is a chance; I am willing to prepare them.

Chan'tele Rountree

Dance under the direction of Donna Iriarte, Beth Engel, Eleanor Pernia, and Karen Cerkez, while also attending dance auditions, workshops, and conventions in and around her local area and in New York. Chan tele worked as an assistant dance teacher for 5-11 yr old tap, ballet, and jazz at Eleanor Pernia Studio of Dance for 5 years. While in high school, Chan tele danced on the cheerleading, poms, and step team. She performed with Colours performing arts troupe and served as an assistant dance director for their 9-11yr old dance camp programs. Chan tele was also a member of the Washington Redskins All-Star Dance Team and became a dance camp counselor once she graduated from high school. She has also danced under the choreography of Darrin Henson in the Capitol Movement Project show. Chan tele graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in drama/dance at Spelman College in May 2010. She has performed in many dance performances in the Atlanta University Center including: Spelman and Morehouse Dance Theatre, Footwork Hip-Hop Dance Team, Mahogany N Motion, Evolution of the Black Arts, Morehouse and Spelman s Coronation, and other various events. She is currently a member of the Atlanta Chiefs Cheerleaders. Chan tele enjoys working with children and sharing her passion for dance with them in their growing years.