About our Faculty:

Lindsay Tilley began dancing locally at the age of nine. She performed and competed on local and nation levels, being crowned Jr. Miss Dance of the United States at thirteen. At fourteen, Lindsay left Durham to attend the North Carolina School of the Arts in Winston-Salem as a high school ballet major. While there, she performed in many roles from classical ballet to jazz. During her high school years, Lindsay attended dance programs with Pacific Northwest Ballet, Hungarian National Ballet, Joffrey Ballet and Pennsylvania Ballet, as well as professionally guest performing with the New Jersey Coastal Ballet. Upon graduation, Lindsay returned to the triangle to pursue professional dancing and teaching. She danced with the Duke University Dance Program, Chapel Hill Dance Theatre and the 15-501 Ballet while teaching in the Durham Chapel Hill area. Later Lindsay went on to join the Carolina Ballet as their first paid professional dancer. After enjoying three years with Carolina Ballet, Lindsay decided to start a family and return to teaching, becoming a member of Dance Masters of America in 1998. While owning and teaching at Encore Academy of Dance Lindsay also teaches at many workshops and community events around the state, as well as teaching master classes for other studios in North Carolina. Lindsay is the mother of three very wonderful boys; Omar, Ayman and Ethan.

Kathy Reeves performed with the Raleigh Civic Ballet Company before, at fifteen, she left to study at the North Carolina School of the Arts. While at NCSA Kathy received two merit scholarships. Upon Graduation, Kathy moved to Philadelphia to study at the School of the Pennsylvania Ballet on scholarship. There she performed with the Pennsylvania Ballet Company for two years. Kathy then went on to attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she earned a B.S. in Business Administration. She has been teaching dance for thirteen years and has taught in several local studios. Kathy loves teaching dance and now has her very own kindergarten class at Eno Valley, but her greatest joys in life are her two daughters, Jennifer and Lindsey.

Blair Baldwin began dancing at the age of 6 in Whiteville, NC as a recreational and competitive dancer. Blair moved to Raleigh, NC in high school all the while continuing to dance and compete. Blair continued her dance training and added music along with it as she went to the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. While at UNC-G Blair performed on the dance team and in many dance performances. We are very happy to add Blair to our Encore family this year.

David Bratcher was born and raised in Gary, Indiana. A professional gymnast for over a decade; he has trained in gymnastics, as well as modern, jazz and lyrical dance. David relocated to Durham years ago and joined the staff of Encore Academy of Dance in 2007. David has won past awards in cheerleading, gymnastic floor routines and dance. He truly loves teaching, and believes that any student who takes his class can truly grow as a person, dancer and gymnast.

Allison Daniels, a Durham native, has adapted a unique choreographic style that reflects her varied interests in the performing arts as a choreographer, performer and educator. Dancing since the age of three, Allison has attended the American Dance Festival, the Limon Institute and the Ailey School in New York City on talent based scholarships. During her training she worked with such luminaries as Max Luna, Ana Marie Forsythe, Fred Benjamin, Joan Peters, Bella Lewitzky, and Denise Jefferson. Allison was honored as she was chosen by Talley Beatty for his repertory, by Kelvin Rotardier, for a solo and honored again by becoming a member of Laura Dean Musicians and Dancers. In addition to being the artistic director of nosi DANCE theater, she currently teaches in the triangle, appears in commercials/tv and perfoms onstage regularly, as she creates a comtemporary dance syllabus. Allison’s goal is get dance the exposure it deserves, from people of any background, to show how it can impact their lives. We are excited to have Allsion join our Encore family this year.

Dale Sanders is a veteran of the stage. Dale currently teaches private voice and acting students across the Triangle. Most recently appearing in Ain’t Misbehavin’ in Raleigh and Hot Summer Nights at the Kennedy. Some of his other credits include The King and I with Lou Diamond Phillips, Mame with Loretta Switt, & Ragtime with Norm Lewis, Julia Murney, and Tony award winner Michael Ruppert. In 2005 Dale appeared in multiple episodes of Fox’s American Idol. He was featured in several “Hollywood” episodes, in the first issue of American Idol magazine, and on several commercials for the show. We are very happy to have Dale as part of our Encore family.

Kristin Taylor is a native of Durham, NC. She is a college graduate of the North Acrolina School of the Arts. In 1998 she attened Jacobs Pillow for the “Visions of Jazz” workshop, where she trained with guest artists Cholly Atkins, Vanoye Aikens, Danny Bericheski and Dianne Walker. For two years she worked at the South Carolina Govenors School for the Arts and Humanities as a dance assistant under the instruction of Robert Lindgern and Sandra Neels. In 2002 she received a scholarship at the Lou Conte Dance Studios where she trained with Hubbard Street II and guest artist Joanne Smith. During her three year residency in New York Ms. Taylor had the priviledge of working with choreographers Nathan Trice, Bridget Moore, Christal Brown, Germaul Barnes, Ayo Jackson and Sidra Bell. Also, she had the honor of apprenticing with Urban Bush Women. In January 2007 Ms. Taylor was invited to Venezuela to work with Yuxtadanza Compania de Danza directed by Jorge Esteva and Jonathan Castro. She was also requested to choereograph a new piece for Yuxtadanza. Kristin is currently in her third year with Tania Perez-Salas Compania de Danza based in Mexico City, Mexico. We are very happy Kristin has come back to rejoin our Encore family.

Nichole Traylor has been dancing and performing since the age of five. She is a New York native who has trained extensively in ballet, modern-contemporary, tap, jazz and breaths hip hop dance. She also attended performing-arts schools for dance in New York City and as well as the famous Broadway Dance Company (BDC) in December 2008. Also, she has performed and competed in numerous dance competitions in the country. While attending Tuskegee Universityin Alabama in 2006-2008 she was and still remains a proud member of the elite hip-hip Unexxxposed Dance Squad. Nichole currently resides in Raleigh, North Carolinawhere she is attending Saint Augustine’s College and majoring in Political Science/Pre-Law and graduating May of 2010. Nichole has created her own unique style of dance and Lyrical Hip Hop is her specialty. Her strong athletic technique fuses jazz-funk, alternative, musical theater, Latin, and pop. Nichole’s signature style captures her strength and love for her craft. Her expertise in all forms of dance have enabled her to guest teach and choreograph numerous workshops. Her passion, love and commitment for dance have brought her to higher levels and will continue to expand her career as a gifted and talented choreographer and dancer. Nichole’s mother recalls: “Even as early as 3 yrs old Nichole would stand and watch Soul Train on TV. Mesmerized by the movements and dance styles of the dancers and would mimic everything they did.” We are happy to welcome Nichole to our Encore family this year.

Guest Faculty

Karen Clark is a Durham native and recently graduated from Elon University with a Bachlor of Arts degree in Coporate Communications. Karen grew up dancing competitively and cheering all through school. Karen attended Encore Academy of Dance while attending college. While at Elon, Karen was a member and Co-Captain of the Varsity Dance Team where she gained much jazz, hip-hop and cheer-dance choreography experience. Karen is excited to have the opportunity to teach at Encore Academy of Dance.

Mallory McVey began dancing in Graham, NC studing ballet, tap, jazz, musical theatre and lyrical while competiting on the school’s  competition team and performing in their ballet company. Mallory then continued her dance education here at Encore Academy of Dance, and went on to continue her education at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts as a high school ballet major. After graduation she went on to Western Carolina University while performing professionally with the Asheville Ballet. Mallory is now a student at the University of North Carolina and teaching throughout the state of North Carolina.

 

 Encore Academy of Dance

1821 Hillandale Road

Durham, NC 27705