Drew Jones, founder and director of Dance & Company, holds a Bachelors of Education from JMU, where she studied dance on the master’s level. She trained privately with Robin Haig, former soloist, Royal Ballet Company, (London) and has studied with the following: Andahazy School of Classical Ballet (St. Paul) with Marius Andahazy, Luba Gulyava and Gabriella Komleva (Ballet Russe de Monte’ Carlo), Finis Jung (Harkness Ballet), Ted Kevitt and Michelle Lucci (Milwaukee Ballet) and Robert Atwood (Alvin Ailey School) She attended summer intensives with Boulder Ballet, Florida Dance Festival, Somerset Ballet (Kansas City) and Copley Ballet (Boston).
Addison Bridges is a former member of Jam Youth Project Performance Company (2016-2023). While a member of the company, Addison performed at RIFF Tap Festival (Dallas TX), DC Tap Festival, OC Tap Festival (Orange Co. CA.), and Spectapular in Washington DC. Concurrent to this, Addison was a member of Level Dance Project, a competitive performance company, for which she substituted in teaching Hip-Hop and Tap classes. Addison’s life-long dance training consisted of vigorous Ballet, Contemporary, Jazz and Tap Dance. Some of Addison’s awards include: AACPS ALL County Dancer (2021-2023), Maryland All State Dancer Honorable Mention, Maryland All State Select Choreographer, and AACPS Next Gen Showcase Select Choreographer, among others.
Karmy Fellers trained at Dance & Company, Center for Dance Education (SC), Columbia Music Festival Association (SC) among other venues; for over 19 years. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication/Theatre from Bridgewater College, and completed accreditation requirements for the Virginia State teaching certification.
Merinda Hamblin Hutchison began Irish dance as an adult under the instruction of Jo-Ann Carle with the Carle school of Irish dance in 2010. She began competing shortly after and has achieved championship level while competing against dancers in their teens. She has won many local and regional feisanna and has competed at the regional Oireachtas. For the past six years, she has furthered her dance education by attending Camp Rince Ceol in NY, Camp Rince Ceol Elite camp, and the Irish Dance Festival in Carlingford, Ireland. She was instructed at these camps by some of the worlds best Irish dancers and principal dancers in both Riverdance and Lord of the Dance. She has also performed on stage with Scythian and Gaelic Storm, two very well known Irish bands. Merinda is currently a student of the District Academy of Irish dance in Washington, DC. District is under the direction of Joe Duffey, TCRG and Bernadette Deveraux Chichester, TCRG, both of whom are currently dancers in Riverdance and Lord of the Dance. She has a love for Irish dance that she hopes to share with and grow in Harrisonburg.
Jenna Heffner trained at Dance & Company for 14 years where she studied ballet, Pointe, Jazz, hip-hop, modern, and musical stage, and attended various master classes and intensives. She studied ballet under John Gill Seamen and Leo Clark, and danced along with Michele Wiles from American Ballet Theater in the Nutcracker. Before teaching at Dance and Company, Jenna worked as a preschool teacher’s assistant.
Paige Helfter is a sophomore majoring in Nursing at JMU. She has completed the Dance Education Training Course at the Dance Teachers Club of Boston. She danced with the Centerstage Dance Company throughout high school, where she competed and performed locally while training in ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary, and modern and is currently a member of the Dancing Dukes where she performs at various JMU events. Additionally, she was a voluntary associate dance teacher for children ages 3-11.
Melodie May is Dance & Company’s office manager. Melodie holds a degree in Elementary Education and has danced for over 30 years: first at Dance & Company, where she was a member of the Shenandoah Contemporary Dance Theatre and later at Messiah College. While at Messiah, Melodie became Director and Head Choreographer for Acclamation Dance Ministry and taught advanced Modern and Tap classes.
Victoria Natale Miller has been immersed in the world of dance since the age of 3, training extensively at Dance and Company in various styles, with a focus in ballet and modern. She joined the Shenandoah Contemporary Dance Theater from 2015 to 2018, where she had the opportunity to perform and collaborate with other talented dancers, choreographers, and teachers in the world of contemporary dance. In 2021, Victoria completed advanced ballet training at Ballet Magnificat's School of the Arts, refining her technical skills and deepening her understanding of classical ballet. She continues her growth as a dancer today at Charlottesville Ballet, where she trains as an adult to stay connected to the artistry and discipline that inspired her from the beginning. Victoria began teaching at Dance & Company in 2016 and has continued to share her passion for dance with students there over the years. She is always excited to return to the studio that helped shape her own love for dance, thanks to the kindness and mentorship of many other teachers who continue to teach there today.
Anna St. Ours Morris grew up dancing at Dance & Company, where she developed a passion for dance, especially modern and improvisational dance. Anna received a Bachelor of Arts in Dance from James Madison University and a Master of Arts in Dance/Movement Therapy and Counseling from Drexel University. Anna has over 15 years of experience as a dance choreographer and instructor. Anna believes in the art of dance as the ideal avenue for story-telling and confident self-expression.
Emily Parkinson graduated from James Madison University with degrees in Dance and English as well as earning a teaching license in dance for the Commonwealth of Virginia. She was the recipient of the Dance Faculty Award at JMU and served as Student Technical Director for the Dance Department for the 2012-13 academic years. Emily is Director of The Shenandoah Contemporary Dance Theatre.
Abby Reinhardt trained extensively in dance at Fredericksburg Ballet Center, Fredericksburg Studio of the Arts, Avery Ballet Company and JMU Dance. She has trained in Musical Theater, Contemporary, Ballet, Jazz, Modern, Tap, Partnering and Acrobatics. Abby is a seasoned choreographer and lead role performer for a number of productions at Christian Youth Theater, Fredericksburg Christian High School, and Company 360, (Fredericksburg, VA). Abby has taught adaptive dance classes, private jazz and tap classes and spends her summers teaching dance and theater arts at her local summer theater camp. She has been selected to perform in numerous JMU Dance Program performances since 2022, to include Spring and Fall Dance Concerts and The New Dance Festival, featuring Eisenhower Dance Detroit.
Drew Smith grew up dancing at Dance & Company. Drew studied various dance disciplines at the advanced level to include: Ballet, Modern, Musical Stage, Jazz and Hip Hop. Drew is a former member of The Shenandoah Contemporary Dance Theatre, the satellite performance company of Dance & Company. She began training to teach dance by becoming an assistant teacher in 2021 and now offers classes as a primary teacher at Dance & Company. Beginning in 2021, Drew was a member of Teachers for Tomorrow, where she served as a STEM Helper and Teacher’s Assistant. Drew was The Code of Ethics Award winner at East Rockingham High School (2016-2017), where she was also involved in SCA, FCCLA Cheerleading, NJHS and the STEM Academy.
Meredith Stemen began dancing when she was three years old and has continued non-stop ever since. She has trained in multiple dance styles to include: Hip-hop, Modern, Jazz, Ballet and Musical Stage. From 2016 to 2023 she trained at Barton and Williams School of Dance (Stafford, VA). At Barton and Williams, Meredith was a member of Barton and Williams Performance Company and served as a volunteer student teacher and an Assistant Instructor and Choreographer. Outside of her dance activities, Meredith was Vice President of class for four years, a Youth Equity Ambassador, a volunteer Student Nurse’s Aide, and active in Young-Life. Meredith currently studies dance at James Madison University.
Jordan Tan has performed in The Richmond Ballet’s, The Nutcracker, from 2011-2022. As a member of the School of the Richmond Ballet Ensemble, Jordan performed in the Sleeping Beauty Suite as the solo fairy of the enchanted garden, and was cast for roles in Enchanted Toy Shop in Scottish Reel, La Bayadere, Can Can and Spanish Dance. She has trained in ballet with the School of the Richmond Ballet from 2008-2022, training for 36 weeks per year for 20 hours a week, studying Ballet/Pointework, Modern/Lyrical, Character, Musical Theatre, and Jazz. She studied under Tera Penick, Starr Foster, Igor Antonov, Malcolm Burn, Judy Jacob, Jasmine Grace and Dianna Seay. Jordan served as the children’s choir leader for Christ Church Episcopal (2021-2022), leading the youth group in singing, dancing and learning choreography. Jordan taught vacation bible school (2018-2022), incorporating dancing, singing, and acting in her daily lessons.
Rebecca Thomas, the Educational Director of Dance & Company and was the founder and Director of Tappin’ Company, trained at the Wilkins School of Dance (Virginia Beach), where she later became a teacher. Rebecca graduated from JMU in Interdisciplinary Liberal Studies with minors in Dance & Early Childhood Education. Rebecca teaches fourth grade at Peak View Elementary School.
Erin Alfree Williams holds an undergraduate degree in Dance from DeSales University and a master’s degree in Dance/Movement Therapy from Drexel University. While at DeSales University, she trained in ballet and modern technique under the direction of Vincent Brosseau, and performed with the university’s touring company and dance team. Over the course of four years, while at DeSales, Erin taught in the Conservatory of Dance, offering dance classes to children ages 4-12 years old. Erin has performed with the Brandywiners, Ltd. community theatre company in summer musical productions, danced for 3 years in the Philadelphia Mummer’s Parade, and served as assistant choreographer for numerous spring musical productions.
Ella Young acquired her initial dance training at Dance & Company, where she trained in Ballet, Modern, Jazz, Musical Stage, Tap and Hip Hop, all at the advanced level, Ella was an active member of The Shenandoah Contemporary Dance Theatre, and a participant in the Fine Arts Academy at HHS. Ella also trained in voice and participated in numerous musical productions. Ella attended The Virginia Summer Governor’s School for dance. She is currently a member of Mozaic Dance for which she serves as treasurer. She attends JMU, where she is majoring in psychology and minoring in dance. Ella begins her third year of teaching at Dance & Company.