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Cathy
Makison Cathy
Makison is the owner,
director of DayStar Dance Academy. Cathy has 30
years teaching experience. Cathy owned her own
successful dance studio in South Carolina for
7 years, she then moved to Florida and was on
the teaching faculty for Southern Ballet theatre.
From there she went on to teach at the Royal school
of dance for 4 years. Many of her teaching experiences
were in a studio setting as well as public school
settings. Cathy is also a certified member of
Florida Dance Masters, and a licensed early childhood
music educator through the nationally known MusikGarten
program. Cathy brings to the school a great love
for teaching children in a loving, caring, disciplined
environment. With these 3 key ingredients children
are certain to carry this positive learning experience
in all walks of their lives. |
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Melanie
Whitbeck
Melanie Whitbeck has studied dance for 15 years has taught dance for 7 years. She began competing at the early age of 6. Some her awards include Junior Miss Superstar, in 1998, in Atlanta, Georgia. In Orlando, Florida she was 1st runner up for Miss Petite of Florida and overall high score award among all the contestants. Melanie placed 1st in the International dance competition in 2000 where she danced a Lyrical solo "The Prayer".
Melanie began dancing at the age of 3 and has danced with several dance companies. Melanie began assisting her mother at the age of 9 years. While working with her mother she realized she had a natural ability to choreograph. She began working with Daystar Dance Company members. At a most recent competition 3 of her students came away with platinum awards for their solo lyrical numbers. Some of her other group numbers and duet and trios have also walked away with high golds and dance scholarships to go to other dance conventions.
Melanie is now working with the Junior and Sr. Dance Companies at Daystar Dance Academy. She is also teaching Ballet, Tap, Jazz, and Lyrical dance. Melanie's love for teaching and performing is a wonderful example to all children and their parents.
She is also a licensed cosmetologist. She is married to Josh Whitbeck and has a daughter Blakely Tanner Whitbeck.
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Allison Michalke Allison Michalke has been dancing since the age of 3. She attended Bravo Dance Center for 6 years before attending Pebblebrook High School; the Cobb County Center for the Excellence in Performing Arts as a dance major, vocal minor. While at Pebblebrook, Allison performed in many musicals including West Side Story as Graziella, Copacabana, Big: the Musical, Footloose, Children of Eden as the Dove, and Side Show, as well as many dance performances. Allison is currently enrolled at The University of Alabama as a dance major, public relations minor, and is set to graduate in May 2009. While at the University, Allison performed in the musical The Threepenny Opera, was assistant choreographer for the musical The Wild Party, and was the movement coordinator for the play Medea. Allison is currently the Vice President of the dance organization Dance Alabama! and is Treasurer for the dance honor's society Nu Delta Alpha. Allison teaches all dance styles ranging from Ballet/Pointe, to Hip Hop, to Jazz and Lyrical, to Modern and Tap. Allison loves and believes in the art of dance and cannot wait to see it expand and grow in our world today. |
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Rebecca Gagnon
Education:
Brigham Young University, Dance performance Major
Training:
Ballet 22 years; Brigham Young University, Atlanta Center for Dance Education, Academy of Ballet Arts, Ballet West Conservatory, Nutmeg Ballet, Capital City Ballet. Modern dance training 18 years at Atlanta Ballet centre for Dance education. Clogging 3 years with Mike Pierce Cloggers
Teaching Experience:
Academy Dance Company, Artistic Board member 2002-2008 Setting choreography and coaching 2 major production shows per Season. Charlotte"s Web,An Irish Tale, Pied Piper, Sleeping Beauty, Little Mermaid. Teaching company Technique Classes for the Apprentice thru Sr. Company levels ages 8-18.
British Academy of Performing Arts/Academy of Ballet Arts 2002-2008 Taught Ballet and pointe beginning - advanced. Evaluated student's for Pointe Readiness,Developed Pointe Technique of Advanced Students, Taught Variation classes.She also taught Jazz Beginning-Advanced She was The Jazz department Head, Setting Goals for Jazz Department, Providing support and Direction for Jazz Faculty.
Performance Experience-Atlanta Falcons Cheerleader 2004, Ballet West (2000), Brigham Young University Ballet (1999-2000) International Folk dance Ensemble (1999-2000), Atlanta cultural Arts Society (1999), Atlanta Ballet 1996-1999, Nutcracker (Bear Doll, Waltz of the Flowers, Candy Cane, Polichinelle, party Child) Fitness Super show with the Icon Health and Fitness (1997-1999)
Awards-
Scholarship-Atlanta Ballet center for Dance Education Atlanta School of Ballet (1994-1999)
Scholarship- Academy of Ballet Arts; academy Dance Company (1994-1999)
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Molly Gareau
Molly Gareau enrolled in Irish Dancing classes at the O'Neill-James School of Irish Dance in Washington DC at the age of 12. She advanced quickly and was soon competing at the Open Championship level throughout the Northeast, Midwest, and Southeast. She competed in the Eastern Regional Oireachtas and the Southern Regional Oireachtas qualifying for the World Irish Dancing Championships several times. Molly also competed several years at the Irish Dancing National Championships,and participated in multiple exhibition events around Washington D.C. During college, she studied Irish Dance with Mary McGing in Cincinnati, OH and continued to compete. After graduating dueto recurring dancing injuries, Molly decided it was time to hang up the competitive shoes and continue to share the joys of Irish Dance through teaching. She is happy to be able to work with the students at Daystar Dance Academy as they explore the wonders, rhythm, and culture that Irish Dance brings to life. |
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Brian N. Dixon
Brian Dixon attended Jacksonville State University majoring in Drama and minoring in English. He is a former graduate and faculty member of Sprayberry High School, where he was the head varsity Dance Team coach. He led the Dance Team to 3 National titles, 2nd place in the State for 2 years in a row.
Brian was awarded Best Hip Hop/Funk Choreography at the 2005 National Championships in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. At the 2004 Nationals, six members of his team were awarded All American, leading Brian to take them to Honolulu Hawaii to perform in the 2004 Pro Bowl. Brian has performed in the Amphitheatre in Indiana holding lead dancer roles in "Oklahoma" and "Young Abe Lincoln". Brian has also performed in Taste of the Town Dinner and Children's Theatre holding lead roles in Star Spangled Girl, Story Ville, and Sunshine Boys. Some other areas for which he has choreographed and performed are regional and national beauty pageants, Hip Hop, and PomPom dance competitions for Studio South in Dallas, Georgia.
Brian is now teaching at Daystar Dance Academy and the Kennesaw Rec. Center where he teaches, Ballet, Jazz, Hip Hop, Lyrical and Diva Dance and Cheer. |
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Gustavo "Gus" Seda Gus Seda started dancing at the age of 12 with his church dance group. While dancing with his church, his passion for dance began to blossom. He started studying dance and working very hard toward his passion. Some of the dance forms he studied in Peurto Rico were Ballet, Jazz, Hip Hop, Contemporary dance and Lyrical. While in high school he also choreographed his dance competition team members. He led his high school Dance Team for 3 years, winning several dance competitions.
Gus eventually progressed to such a level to be able to dance with the Ballet of Puerto Rico.
After moving back to the United States, Gus began dancing with The Georgia Ballet. He also has performed with Praise Him With Dance, and the KSU Dance Company.
Gus is now employed with Daystar Dance Academy in Kennesaw, Georgia, where he teaches Ballet, Lyrical, and Hip Hop. |
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