Vestavia Dance Instructors
Kelly Harper Avery began her dancing career at Vestavia Dance at the age of six as a student in the program. From there, she went on to further her instruction with Mira Popovich at Birmingham-Southern College. Kelly received a Bachelor of Arts degree from BSC with a major in Dance. She has studied in New York with the New York School of Classical Dance and has taken classes under David Howard, The Alvin Ailey School, The Joffery Ballet, The American Ballet Theatre, Steps on Broadway, and Broadway Dance Center.
Kelly came to Vestavia Dance as a teacher in 1996 and accepted the director's position in 2001. She teaches pre-ballet, ballet and pointe.
Kelly believes through quality instruction and tapping inner talent all children can become gifted dancers.
Angel Stevens began dancing twenty years ago at the Marilyn Sanders Performing Arts Studio during which time she traveled to numerous competitions and workshops throughout the U.S. She has taken classes under Wade Robinson, Marty Drew, and Joe Tramaine, reciving a dance Scholarship to his LA studio. She spent several summers under the instruction of Sonia Arova and Thor Sutowski at the Alabama School of Fine Arts, where she was a student for one year during high school. Other accomplishments include a performance in The Nutcracker, attendance at two Gus Giordano World Jazz Dance Congresses, and a performance at The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
Angel began teaching dance and gymnastics in 1996 at the Marilyn Sanders Performing Arts Studio and in Walker County School system. She has been with Vestavia Dance since 2001.
Angel believes her method of teaching is best reflected by the following quote: "100 years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house Ilived in, or the kind of car I drove. But the world might be different because I was important in the life of a child."
LeAnne Atkinson has been teaching clogging at the Marilyn Sanders Performing Arts Center since 1987 and joined the staff of Vestavia Dance in 2001. LeAnne and her daughter began dancing when her daughter was 8 years old. LeAnne performed with a group for several years before beginning to teach at the Marilyn Sanders Performing Arts Center. She trains many dancers for competitions in which they receive high honors. LeAnne believes that everyone has a special talent. She feels that clogging is her special talent and has enjoyed manyyears of teching children to dance.
Terri Yates is an AFAA certified group fitness instructor as well as a MAAD Dog Athletics certified Spinning instructor. Terri is passionate about encouraging both adults and children to get active and form healthy lifestyle habits. She teaches strength and conditioning helpful for our gymnasts and anyone else wanting to develop strength and flexibility. She not only focuses on an increase in overall physical strength and endurance but reaches further to build self awareness and confidence in our growing girls.
Stephanie Thompson began her training in Jacksonville, Florida under Mark Spivak. She then continued her training with Beth Marks where she studied ballet, jazz, and modern. She joined Jacksonville Ballet Theatre at the age of 15 where she studied under Dulce Anaya. She attended notable summer intensive programs including American Ballet Theatre (Irvine), Briansky Saratoga Ballet, and Charleston Ballet Theatre where she trained with the company. She was simultaneously a member of JBT and the Bolles School Repertory Theatre. While with Bolles she had the opportunity to study jazz, modern, hip-hop, and tap. She was featured in works by many guest artists including Matthew Rushing and Donlin Foreman. She moved to Birmingham, Alabama and joined Birmingham Ballet Repertory Company where she has performed roles including Princess Florine in Sleeping Beauty, Arabian coffee in The Nutcracker, and the lead in Alfonso Figueroa's "Hues". She has truly enjoyed teaching students of all ages in the Birmingham area since she joined BBRC. She continues to believe that quality of instruction is equally as important as finding the true joy dance can bring to one's life.
Kevin Yates has been in the cheerleading world for over 11 years, with experience at the college and all-star level. Kevin cheered at Wallace State Community College for three years. WSCC placed 6th, 5th, and 3rd at UCA College nationals. He also received an Associate Degree in Business Management. Kevin then moved to Morehead State University in Kentucky to be a part of the best college cheerleading program in the nation. Morehead has more UCA college national championships than any other college. Kevin has two UCA college national championships 2003 & 2004. He also received a Bachelor’s Degree in Arts with emphasis in Business Management. Kevin moved back to his home town to open what is now a top competitive cheerleading program called TEAM SHOWTIME. His Senior Coed team won 3 out of 5 national competitions last season. This season his all-star teams have doubled and his senior team won their first competition. Kevin is former member of ACE All-Stars of Alabama open level 6 team where he has two WCA national championships. He is just as comfortable coaching your child to get him/her ready for jv or high school tryouts, as he is preparing an all-star team for competition. Kevin has a passion for coaching cheerleading.
