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.

Laura attended the University of Georgia where she obtained a B.S. Ed in Dance in 1990.  While at UGA she studied ballet under Virgina Carver and Janet Robertson and began her modern studies with Yun Yu Wang where she learned the Graham technique.  In 1992, Laura earned an M.A. in Dance from American University in Washington, D.C.  In Washington Laura studied ballet under Mimi Legat and modern dance under Lesa McLaughlin and Beth Davis.  She also performed in original works by Victoria Marks and Douglas Dunn.  Upon completion of her studies at AU Laura returned to Atlanta where she performed with the professional company affiliated with Moving in the Spirit until the group disbanded in 2003. Laura has been teaching dance since her college days at UGA including creative movement for young children, ballet, tap and modern dance for adults.  She has taught at American University, Alice DePass School of Dance in Athens, the Dance Theater Expressions in Gunston, VA and various classes as a guest teacher.  Her philosophy for teaching incorporates patience and a love of the art of dancing.

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.

Ashley Card has trained with several companies, ranging from Carolina Dance and Dee Crump Ballet as well as dance companies in the D.C. area. She attended the College of Charleston’s School of the Arts where she under Robert Ivey, founder and artistic director of the Robert Ivey School of Ballet. She studied various choreographers of different dance disciplines ranging from ballet, hip-hop, jazz, and modern. While attending the college she performed with the College of Charleston Dance Ensemble. While training at the Robert Ivey School of Ballet, and she started her very own dance group entitled, “More Than Conquerors”. The dance group consisted of dance pieces choreographed by Ashley, along with the use of her very own curriculum to train her dance team members. She currently has her very own choreography business entitled, “Choreography by Ashley Card,” in which she choreographs for various local and well-known artists, organizations, and functions.

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.”

Born and raised in Silver Spring, Maryland, Chan’tele began dancing at the age of four. She started out in the disciplines of ballet and tap, then eventually branched out to study jazz, lyrical, pointe, modern, hip-hop, and African. For 14 years, she studied dance at Eleanor Pernia Studio of 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.

Tricia Bowers has a history in dance that includes training in Modern, Jazz, Ballet, Lyrical, Hip Hop, Tap, and African. Her goal is provide a dance experience where students leave class feeling better than they did when they walked through the door. Tricia teaches dance to provide a dance experience that nurtures a positive relationship with yourself and others that extends beyond the dance studio. Coming from a place of dance not dependent on the size, shape, age or personality. With 30 years of dance experience she takes all she has discovered through dance and passes it on to others. Her favorite thing about teaching is seeing “ah ha” moments in others, that moment when a student lands in their own skin and truly gets comfortable with who they are. That’s when the true freedom to dance comes. Please join Tricia in a dance class as she is excited to be a part of the family at The Gwinnett School of Dance and celebrate 30 years of being touched by her passion of growing with others through dance.