Teachers

Becky Jones

School of Dance

A Smyrna Dance Institution

3316 B South Cobb Drive, Smyrna, GA 30080 :: (770) 434-0085

Becky Jones School of Dance Faculty

Becky Jones, Owner and Artistic Director: Ms. Becky has been teaching dance classes for over thirty-eight years. She is an Atlanta native who has been dancing since the age of six. Becky trained under Jack Epply and performed recitals with orchestration in the old Roxy Theater where Peachtree Plaza now stands. Her studio has received many top awards at various regional competitions. Her company has performed at Disney World many times as well as on several cruise ships, and many local festivals. Although Becky excelled in several dance styles, tap is her forte.

Lorie Alexander, Performance Company Instructor: Lorie graduated from Stephen F. Austin State University (SFASU) where she earned a BS in Dance and in Kinesiology. She was the dance team coach for SFASU for two years and while under her direction, the team won two NDA Collegiate National Dance Team titles. Lorie has 25 years of teaching experience in tap, lyrical, jazz, hip-hop, musical theatre, contemporary, modern, and ballet. She Judged GHP (Governors Honors Program) in 2010&2011. She is currently teaching at Becky Jones School of Dance and Downtown Dance. Lorie's students have won numerous awards at top dance competitions. She has received Top Teacher Award in 2010 and 2011 at Star Systems™ talent competition. Some of her former dancers have continued their dance education at Oklahoma, Alabama, and Pennsylvania dance companies or have become dance instructors.

Sarah Boies Performance Company Instructor: For the past six years, Sarah has taught dance in the Atlanta area and has danced professionally with The Georgia Ballet in Marietta. Sarah is originally from Baton Rouge, LA where she graduated from Louisiana State University. She has choreographed for and performed in the Dance Canvas performance series.

She won the choreography award at the 2006 Bravo competition.

Laura Franco Performance Company Instructor: Laura grew up in Cobb County and has been dancing since she was three, spending 12 years with The Dancers Studio in Kennesaw, GA. She was a member of the Performance Company at The Dancers Studio, and in 2003 was awarded the Top Soloist award from Star Systems Regional Talent Competition. She has taught ballet, tap, and jazz for 4 years. Laura graduated from the University of Georgia in 2006 with a B.S. in Early Childhood Education. She is currently a third grade teacher at Mableton Elementary School.

Kristen Jones Performance Company Instructor: Kristen started dancing at the age of three. She has received training in many areas of dance including tap, ballet, jazz, pointe, lyrical, pompon, hip-hop, musical theatre, character and Irish dance. She danced in the BJSD Performance Company for 10 years earning top honors and overall awards. She has been teaching dance for 13 years and has been teaching the Performance Company classes for 9 years. Her dancers have won many top awards at top competitions. She is a 1st grade teacher in Cobb County and recently earned her Master’s degree.

Sheena Marnon Musinovic Performance Company Instructor: Sheena graduated with a B.A in dance performance from Winthrop University in Rock Hill, SC. While in college, Sheena had the privilege of interning and attending classes in NYC at Merce Cunningham Dance Studio. After college, Sheena moved to Knoxville, TN where she was the ballet mistress and an instructor for Angela Floyd School for the Dancer. Sheena also returned to Winthrop to teach as an artist-in-residence for the South Carolina State Arts Program. She is currently performing with Decatur’s contemporary Jazz Company, About Face, while also teaching at the Dekalb Magnet school and Downtown Dance. This is Ms. Sheena’s first year working with the company dancers.

Riys Lopez Riys, has been working on the dance style of break-dancing (or b-boying) for six years and teaching for four. In addition to break-dancing, Riys also teaches gymnastics and assists in hip-hp classes. He is originally from Spring Hill, FL.

Julie Segal Julie began dancing at the age of four. After moving to Atlanta, she began dancing with the Dolores Werner Dance Studio and was a member of the Dolores Werner Dance Company through her teens. While there, she competed at Dance Masters of America and Dance Educators of America. Julie continued to dance throughout college and beyond. She has been teaching at BJSD for eight years. She teaches ballet, jazz, tap and hip-hop.

Malinda Merkel Malinda began dancing at the age of 12. After three years in her local studio she was accepted to North Carolina School of Fine Arts in Winston-Salem, NC. In her sophomore year she transferred to Alabama School of Fine Arts. After graduating, she joined the State of Alabama Ballet Company. She performed in many classic ballets including Swan Lake, Giselle, Firebird and Nutcracker. She graduated from the University of Alabama with an Accounting degree. She taught dance throughout her professional career and college. This is her 2nd year at BJSD

Elizabeth Yeager Elizabeth has studied all forms of dance with a forte in ballet. She grew up dancing at BJSD and has been a teacher or student for the past 24 years. She was in the BJSD Performance Company until she graduated from high school. Elizabeth teaches tap, jazz, ballet, pointe, and lyrical. In the summers, Elizabeth is Co-Director of the Princess Camps. Elizabeth is currently a high school science teacher.

Sissy Simmons Sissy has been teaching for 19 years. She graduated from FSU. She dances with Life University and is currently signed with Bloc Talent Agency. She is the director of Da’Crunk Squad and Da’ Half-Pints.