Rachael Smith Allison
Owner and Artistic Director, Rachael Smith Allison, began her dance training at age three with the Montgomery Civic Ballet. Rachael attended Agnes Scott College where she auditioned and was accepted into the Studio Dance Theatre, ASC's Semi-Professional Dance Company. This Company performed acclaimed Martha Graham choreographic masterpieces such as, "The Life of the Bee" and "Valse Caprice". Rachael has studied under Master Teachers such as Pilobolus Company, Meli Kaye (Doris Humphrey Company Member), Semi and David Roche (Pearl Lang and Principle Male Dancer respectively of the Martha Graham Company). Rachael has served on Dance Masters of America Chapter 33 Board as Solo Chairman, and currently serves as the Director of Education. Rachael is also a Certified National Tap Examiner through DMA.
Rachael also serves in the capacity of Artistic Director of WMS Company, and her dancers have placed in Regional and National Dance Competitions. Past seasons include WMS Company scoring technically over-all for several pieces and winning the most recent 1st Place in the Petite Solo Division. West Main Studios offers a wide variety of genres that center around technique and the development of a strong, well rounded dancer. West Main Studios offers Master Classes periodically through the season, but is also extremely proud of the faculty - Megan Cleland, Gene Flemming, Brantley Wilson, Tyler Warren, to name a few - Each has studied extensively in their chosen field of dance by way of impressive schools, performance experience, and Master teachers. WMS welcomes their expertise and their passion for the arts and strives to provide the best dance education in the area. Stefanie Smith
Ms. Stefanie grew up in the North Alabama dance community. A gifted teacher, her abilities include our beginner to advanced acrobatic classes. Locally trained at Ann's School of Dance, Ms. Stefanie excels in all disciplines, but in particular loves acrobatics. As well, Ms. Stefanie holds a master's degree is cyber security from the University of Alabama in Huntsville. Over the years, she has taught exclusively with us and shared her talents as a teacher.
Mattie Allison
Returning to her roots in Madison, Alabama, Mattie brings a wealth of knowledge. Recently graduating from Auburn University in Secondary Education and a minor in Philanthropic Studies, Mattie returns to her family and passion. Having studied dance from the age of 3 to 18, Mattie offers her expertise not only in teaching skills but as well business management. Having competed for 13 years, she will also assist in our competitive dance program. We are very happy to have Mattie home!
Chloe Hardy
Chloe Hardy started her dance career at the young age of three and has been training her whole life. Ms. Chloe grew up training at Heidi Knight School of Dance in Huntsville, AL. Chloe has been a recipient to many high scoring awards, scholarships and choreography awards while traveling the country attending conventions. She is also part of “ImmaBeast”- a dance company based out of LA. She has trained with some of the best choreographers in the nation such as Will and Janelle Adams, Phil Wright, and more. Chloe is so excited to share her knowledge and love for dance with your children
Sara Zambrycki
Sara Cobb started dancing with West Main at the age of 9 and continued dancing and competing until she graduated high school. Thought her Sophomore through Senior years of college, she was apart of the Auburn University Tiger Paws dance team. Through Tiger Paws, she danced at home Football and Basketball games, along with other athletic team appearances. Ms. Sara started her teaching experience as an assistant at the age of 10 with West Main, and has continued to teach and choreograph from then on out. After graduating from Auburn University in May of 2020 with a degree in marketing, Sara returned home to north Alabama, accepting a position with West Main Studios and furthering her career at Lockheed Martin as employed as a Business Development Analyst.
Ms. Sara’s passion for dance is passed on to her many admiring students and life long friends at her home studio. . Emma Grantham
Emma grew up in Athens alabama and graduated from East Limestone High School in 2016. All the while, she pursued her love of Dance for 14 years with The Dance Company and as well teaching and assisting with classes. Emma went on to attend Troy university where she majored in exercise science with a minored in dance. She recently graduated from the University of Alabama in Birmingham with my masters of science in occupational therapy and has been working at Crestwood Medical center as an occupational therapist since March.
Being able to come back to dance through teaching has been a wonderful experience. Emma is looking forward to joining our Pre-school, Creative Movement, Stage Arts and Level I program. We are so excited to have her be a part of our family of dance her at West Main Studios and as Emma prepares to share her love of dance with her future students. WMS StaffCo-Owner, Manager and Financial Director
Beverly Smith
Beginning this journey in 1996- as a mother daughter team, our journey has included studios in the Madison & Cullman Areas. Madison, now being our sole focus - allows us to look forward to another 25 years of Dance Education. Graduating in 1978 from Auburn University with a degree in Secondary Education has allowed Beverly to continue in a teaching capacity by fostering many as Co-Director with her daughter Rachael. Fondly known as Miss Bev, she can be found at WMS just about any of the time and is the heart and soul of WMS. Ms Beverly handles everything you can think of, so if you have any questions, she's the one you need to contact! Email Ms. Bev with your questions: westmainstudio@gmail.com
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Scarlett Smith
For over the past 25 years, Mrs. Scarlett Smith has been a valuable part of the WMS dance program. As Director of our Award winning Competitive Dance program, Miss Scarlett continues with her devotion and talents. Her instruction includes choreography, workshops, and Master teaching classes, proving that her skills are immeasurable. Miss Scarlett's past choreographic pieces have won numerous technical and choreography awards, including 1st Place, Overall Solo and Titled petite pieces. Miss Scarlett's previous endeavors include leading roles with North Alabama Dance Center's Company, including" Panoply of the Arts, Noah's Ark, and many guest appearances throughout North Alabama.
Ms. Scarlett is also certified via test to teach, through Dance Educators of America. Thank you Ms. Scarlett for your devotion and creative expertise. Ballie Hart
West Main Studios is excited to welcome Ms. Ballie Hart to our teaching staff! Ballie's dance journey started at the University of Louisville Dance Academy, where she had the opportunity to dabble in many areas of dance and performing arts. Past accomplishments include performing in National High School Dance Festivals as well as intensives at The Joffrey Ballet. After graduating from high school, Ballie moved on to be a 4 time NDA All-American on Western Kentucky University's Dance Team where she danced for all four years of college on sidelines for Football and Basketball games as well as many team appearances and NDA and DTU College Nationals. Ballie started her teaching experience in college. Her resume' includes technical instruction in ballet. After graduating in May of 2018 with a degree in sports marketing, Ballie moved to Huntsville, Alabama to further her career in dance and share her passion with others.
Susan Potts
Originally from the Chicago area, Susan Potts has been teaching ballet for over thirty-five years.
She was trained as a competitive gymnast from the age of ten, at which time ballet training became a requirement and grew to be her passion. Shortly after graduating from Dominican University in River Forest Illinois, Susan married a career Army Officer and embarked upon a teaching career in ballet that would span four decades. Living and teaching throughout the United States, Hawaii and Germany provided for a comprehensive education in the diversity of teaching styles and ballet methods. Some of her favorite academies and companies at which she has taught include Newcomb School of Ballet in Texas, Ballet South in Savannah Georgia, Ballet Hawaii in Honolulu, and Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet in Carlisle Pennsylvania. As a firm believer in continuing education, Susan attended master workshop classes with Alvin Ailey Dance Company, summer studies at Nashville Ballet, and numerous Dance Workshops and Conventions. Susan also completed the Instructors' Summer Study at the famed National Ballet School of Canada; the International Dance Teachers’ Association Seminar from the Royal Academy of Dance; and the Bolshoi Ballet Academy of Moscow’s Teacher Training Program where she received her Instructor’s Certification. It is with great pleasure that we welcome Ms. Susan to our teaching staff. Jessie Potts
Born in Nuremberg Germany, Jessie received her training all over the country including Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, Ballet Hawaii, Nashville Ballet, and Ballet South in Savannah Georgia. She received coaching from teachers in Moscow Ballet, Bolshoi Ballet, and Stuttgart Ballet. Her teachers included Marcia Dale Weary, Pamela Taylor Tongg, Margaret Newcomb, Edward Villella, and Renee Gillenwater, along with many others who helped shape her love of dance and ballet. Her greatest hope is that everyone realizes the joy and harmony dance and movement provides. It is for every one of all ages and abilities, and it transcends all boundaries. Jessie is currently certified in Barre, Sleek Technique, Yoga Barre, Rebounding and Aerial Silks.
Ms. Jessie, we welcome you and your expertise to our teaching staff. Eugene Flemming
A graduate of North Carolina School of the Arts, the Elaine Aiken Actors Conservatory Inc. and the Actors Studio, Mr. Fleming’s professional career began at the age of 18 in the Broadway and touring companies of A Chorus Line. He then worked with legendary artists such as Harold Nicholas, of the acclaimed Nicholas Brothers, and Gregory Hines in Sophisticated Ladies. He later replaced three-time Tony Award winner, Hinton Battle, in The Tap Dance Kid to rave reviews. His next project was Song and Dance, with Melissa Manchester.
His Broadway career spans three decades and includes shows such as the Tony Award- winning productions of Black & Blue, with Ruth Brown and Savion Glover and Bob Fosse’s Fosse. He was a featured performer in High Rollers, Swinging on a Star, Street Corner Symphony, Smokey Joe's Cafe, Kiss Me, Kate, One Mo’ Time, The Look of Love, Never Gonna Dance, and The Wiz with Stephanie Mills. This summer he starred as Big Otis in Big Otis’ Jump Up Blues Revue at the Red Rooster in Harlem, owned by acclaimed international chef and winner of Top Chef Masters, Marcus Samuelson. He was most recently seen as Hoke in Driving Miss Daisy. He received a Joseph Jefferson Award for his performance in Ain't Misbehavin’ at the Marriott Lincolnshire in Chicago, IL and a Barrymore Award for his portrayal of James Thunder Early in Dreamgirls at the Prince Music Theatre in Philadelphia, PA. His production of Ain’t Misbehavin for Independent Musical Productions took home four Wings Awards, including “Best Musical of the Year” in Huntsville, AL. He has been featured in countless commercials and films, including Catch Me If You Can, Hope and Faith, and The Blues Brothers. An acclaimed teacher with Manhattan Theatre Group and Dance Masters of America, he has taught classes in dance and musical theatre around the globe. His mastery of tap, along with the styles of such greats as Bob Fosse and his unique teaching approach, make him an ideal clinician for studio classes, masterclasses, show choirs, and musical theatre settings alike. We at WMS, find ourselves most fortunate to have Mr. Gene call us his dance home. Makenzie Evans
MaKenzie Evans started dance at Kohl Academy of Performing Arts in Guntersville, AL. MaKenzie fell in love with teaching during high school when she was elected captain of her colorguard and winterguard. This will be her fourth year of teaching dance. She is currently at UAH pursuing a degree in Business Management and will graduate in the spring. Ms. Makenzie will be an assistant teacher for beginner to advanced level acro classes.
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