Leadership Team
KYM BUSHMIRE
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR Director of Operations GDT Board of Directors Kym Bushmire, a Georgia Dance Theatre alumna, received her dance training from Georgia Academy of Dance & the Performing Arts, Kris Cangelosi Dance Project, Georgia State University and LaGrance School of Ballet. Ms. Bushmire has been a guest choreographer for Georgia Dance Theatre's productions of In the Spirit of Dance, Sinfonicron Light Opera Company's production of 42nd Street at the College of William and Mary and productions of McIntosh High School Drama Dept. She has been a guest performer with the Cangelosi Dance Project, the Movement Force of Georgia State University and the Centennial Olympic Games Opening Ceremonies of 1996. Ms. Bushmire has been an instructor in various disciplines for Georgia Academy of Dance & the Performing Arts for 10 seasons. Ms. Bushmire is Associate Director and Director of Operations of Georgia Academy of Dance & the Performing Arts. In addition, Ms. Bushmire is a member of the Board of Directors of Georgia Dance Theatre. 
DEELANA STYRON
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR Director of Early Childhood Program GAD Contemporary | Early Childhood Educator Ms. Styron has been involved in the performing arts for the past 30 years. Her professional credits include performing with the professional jazz company, Souls of the Feet, under the direction of Wade Smith. As a former children’s counselor and director of many early childhood dance programs, Ms. Styron has achieved a quality of instruction that has afforded her the opportunity of co developing and overseeing all aspects of Georgia Academy of Dance & the Performing Arts early childhood program, as well as implementing outreach programs in the community. Ms. Styron has developed the Early Childhood Program of Georgia Academy of Dance & the Performing Arts as one of the largest and most innovative programs in Georgia. Ms. Styron has assisted in creating age appropriate classes intertwined with introducing the technical aspects of dance – in a fun and positive atmosphere. In addition, Ms. Styron has co-created and directed all of the Early Childhood productions at Georgia Academy of Dance & the Performing Arts and with that has ensured a positive experience for the young dancer in each performance. Ms. Styron believes in presenting the joy of dance with structure and encouragement to each beginning level dancer from age 3-6 – to foster their joy of movement and to recognize their talents and gifts. Ms. Styron is the Early Childhood Program Director and Associate Director of Georgia Academy of Dance & the Performing Arts. |
NICHOLE MARTIN
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR Director of Marketing GAD Classical Ballet | Contemporary | Dance Team Educator GDT Board of Directors Nichole Martin has trained with Georgia Academy of Dance & the Performing Arts for the past 21 years and under scholarship with Georgia Dance Theatre for 18 seasons, including nine seasons under professional contract. She has received additional training from the Rock School of the Pennsylvania Ballet with an invitation to stay for school year program, the American Ballet Theatre, the Montgomery Ballet on full scholarship, the South Carolina Summer Dance Conservatory, & the Atlanta Ballet Centre for Dance Education on full scholarship. Mrs. Martin has performed principal roles such as Sugar Plum Fairy and Snow Queen in Georgia Dance Theatre’s The Nutcracker Ballet,Mercedes in Don Quixote,the principal role in American Ballet Theatre’s Master of the Puppets by Larry Pech, Delilah in Melony Tribble’s Samson and Delilah,the principal role in Les Sylphides,and in 2008, the lead role of Constance in Sherri Davis’ original ballet, The Three Musketeers. Mrs. Martin’s training led to many professional opportunities including founding & directing the Thunder Girls Dance Team of the Southern Crescent Lighting, coaching the Junior Varsity Chiefettes Dance Team of McIntosh High School, choreographing music videos, and performing in works showcased throughout the nation. Currently, she leads the Dance Team program at GAD & the Performing Arts & choreographs for the Starrs Mill Pantherettes and has won several competitive awards for “Best Choreography” against dance teams across the nation. Mrs. Martin holds a degree from Emory University with a double major in political science & psychology & a minor in marketing & advertising. Mrs. Martin is an Associate Director and Director of Marketing at Georgia Academy of Dance & the Performing Arts. In addition, she is a member of the Board of Directors of Georgia Dance Theatre. |
Artistic Staff
JESSICA SAUND
GAD Classical Ballet & Conservatory Educator Jessica Saund began her early dance studies with California Ballet, and continued her training on full scholarship at the Kirov Academy of Ballet in Washington, DC. In 1996, she joined the Washington School of Ballet under the direction of Mary Day. That same year, Ms. Saund took the Gold Medal in the junior division at the 2nd International Ballet Competition in South America. In 1999, she was invited to study with Le Jeune Ballet de France in Paris before joining the English National Ballet, where she remained for 5 years. In 2006, she entered American Ballet Theatre as a member of the corps de ballet for nine seasons. Ms. Saund has performed in every full-length ballet in the classical repertoire. She has performed leading roles in the works of George Balanchine, Mikhail Fokine, Anthony Tudor, Sir Kenneth MacMillan, Jerome Robbins, Sir Frederick Ashton, and John Cranko, and has worked with and/or created roles for many of the greatest living choreographers, including Twyla Tharp, John Neumeier, Mark Morris, Jiri Kylian, Lar Lubovitch, James Kudelka, Benjamin Millepied, Christopher Wheeldon and Alexei Ratmansky. In addition to performing as a guest artist with several U.S. ballet companies, Ms. Saund has modeled for Barney’s New York, Vogue, Glamour, YSL, Seiko, and Bloch Ballet in both print and television advertisements. 
BRUCE THORNTON GAD Classical Ballet & Conservatory Educator Bruce Thornton received his dance training in Seattle Washington at the Cornish Institute with Frank Boys, Gwen Barker, and Pat Hon. There he studied the RAD syllabus up to the Senior Grade receiving an “Honours” grade in each adjudication. Mr. Thornton then studied with Marcia Dale Weary, Pat Sorrell, Richard Cook, Melinda Howe, and Leslie Hench at the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. In 1991 Mr. Thornton joined the Miami City Ballet under the direction of world renowned dancer, Edward Villella as a member of the Corps de Ballet and was promoted to Soloist in 2001. There he toured the world performing in Canada, Scotland, Ecuador, Panama, Italy, and Venezuela. Thornton was a soloist with the Miami City Ballet and danced a range of roles with the company; including: the “Blue” gentleman from Jerome Robbins’ Dances at a Gathering, and the principal “walking” pas de deux from Emeralds, the Elegie principal from Serenade, the principal male in ConcertoBarocco and Elegie, the role of Death in La Valse, as well as the “turning” principal in La Valse, the Baron in La Sonnambula, the second Pas de Trois from Agon, the first and third themes from The Four Temperaments, all by George Balanchine. In 2006, Mr. Thornton retired from dance and joined the faculty at the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet. As Ballet Master, Mr. Thornton assisted in the staging of some incredible works such as George Balanchine’s Western Symphony, Stars and Stripes, Who Cares, Divertimento No. 15, Valse Fantasie, Serenade and The Nutcracker. Mr. Thornton holds a Bachelor of Arts degree for Dance from SUNY Empire State College and joins the GAD Artistic Staff as Ballet Educator and Rehearsal Assistant. 
JENNIFER RITORTO
GAD/GDT Guest Choreographer Jennifer Ritorto spent 5 seasons under contract as a professional company member of Georgia Dance Theatre. She received her early training at the Academy of Ballet Arts in Marietta, GA and then went on to the University of Georgia where she graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Mathematics and a Minor in Dance. At the University of Georgia, she danced with companies such as Dancefx, UGA’s Ballet Ensemble, and Core Concert Dance Company. She continued her dance education with such well-known companies as Broadway Theatre Project, Pointe Park Intensive, and Charleston Ballet Theatre. Ms. Ritorto went on to dance with other prestigious dance companies such as Houston Metropolitan Dance Company, Sideways Contemporary Dance Company, and Georgia Dance Theatre. Ms. Ritorto was chosen to dance the principal role of Anita in Georgia Academy of Dance and the Performing Arts’ and Director Sherri Davis’ world premiere production of West Side Story in June 2011. For the 2012-2013 Season, Ms. Ritorto danced the lead role of Esmeralda in Georgia Academy of Dance & the Performing Arts Director Sherri Davis’ original contemporary ballet of the Hunchback of Notre Dame to a sold out audience. Ms. Ritorto is currently a guest choreographer for Georgia Dance Theatre. 
KELLY DORNAN
GAD Classical Ballet Educator Kelly Dornan received her dance training under scholarship from the Washington School of Ballet led by Artistic Director Kee Juan Han and under scholarship with the Texas Ballet Theater led by master teacher and choreographer Ben Stevenson. In addition, Ms. Dornan was a scholarship recipient to the Milwaukee Ballet and trained under the direction of Artistic Director Michael Pink. For three seasons, Ms. Dornan has danced professionally with the Colorado Ballet Studio Company under the direction of American Ballet Theatre’s former Principal dancer Gil Boggs. During her time with the Colorado Ballet, Ms. Dornan had the opportunity to work with various prestigious choreographers and perform in multiple classical and contemporary repertoire. These prestigious works include performing in George Balanchine’s Serenade, Michael Pink’s Dracula, Anthony Tudor’s Pilar of Fire, Twyla Tharp’s Brief Fling,Christopher Wheeldon’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Colorado Ballet’s Nutcracker. Additional classical repertoire that Ms. Dornan had the honor of performing include Yuri Possokhov’s Firebird, Marisu Petipa and Leve Ivanov’s Swan Lake and Derek Deane’s Romeo and Juliet. Ms. Dornan has been a classical ballet dance educator for the Colorado Ballet and will be joining Georgia Academy of Dance & the Performing Arts as a dance educator. Additionally, Ms. Dornan will be making her debut season as a professional company member of Georgia Dance Theatre. 
ABBY CALDWELL
GAD Classical Ballet | Contemporary | Early Childhood Educator Abby Caldwell has trained with Georgia Academy of Dance & the Performing Arts for 15 years and was a scholarship company member of Georgia Dance Theatre for 5 seasons. Abby has received additional training from prestigious companies such as Richmond Ballet, Atlanta Ballet and Milwaukee Ballet – all under scholarship. She was accepted to and attended such prominent companies such as Miami City Ballet and American Ballet Theatre. Abby has danced professionally with Milwaukee Ballet II under the direction of Michael Pink and had the privilege of performing with Milwaukee Ballet in Michael Pink’s La Boheme, The Nutcracker, & Momentum, Swan Lake Pas de Trois and Momentum, Napoli. Additionally, Abby has performed in Atlanta Ballet’s The Nutcracker and Snow White and Miami City Ballet’s Noire in which she performed the Soloist role. In addition, she has performed with American Ballet Theatre’s Summer Intensive Program as Soloist in Le Corsaire. Abby received several Soloist roles as a Georgia Dance Theatre member. She danced as a French Immigrant in Director Sherri Davis’ original ballet of West Side Story. In addition, she performed the Cinderella pas in GAD’s production of The Sleeping Beauty and the Pas de Trois in Swan Lake. In Georgia Dance Theatre’s production of The Nutcracker Ballet,Abby danced the lead roles of Dew Drop Fairy of Waltz of the Flowers and as the Ribbon Candy. Abby is excited to be returning to Georgia Academy of Dance & the Performing Arts to continue her passion for dance and assist in educating the next generation of GAD dancers. Abby makes her debut season as a professional company member of Georgia Dance Theatre for the 2018-2019 Season. |
ALISON CASPERSEN
GAD Classical Ballet | Contemporary | Early Childhood Educator Alison Caspersen grew up in Edwards, Colorado and began her training at Vail Valley Academy of Dance under the direction of Anne Powell and Karen Samuelson. She received additional training from The Rock School for Dance Education of Pennsylvania, Milwaukee Ballet, Cincinnati Ballet, Washington Ballet, and Kaatsbaan. In addition, Ms. Caspersen was part of the Helen Pickett Choreographic Essentials Workshop in 2014. Ms. Caspersen received professional trainee status with Ballet Austin and performed with the company in The Nutcracker, choreographed by artistic director Stephen Mills. Ms. Caspersen continued her training with Atlanta Ballet as both a Conservatory dancer and contracted Fellowship artist. She has performed in Atlanta Ballet’s Nutcracker and Pinnochio and danced the featured role of the Evil Queen in Snow White. Ms. Caspersen taught Early Childhood, Ballet and Contemporary classes at the Atlanta Ballet Centre for Dance Education and as a ballet educator at Ballet Austin. Ms. Caspersen is in her 2nd season as a professional company member of Georgia Dance Theatre. In the 2016 season, Ms. Caspersen danced the lead role of Sugar Plum Fairy in Georgia Dance Theatre's production of the Nutcracker Ballet. In the 2017-2018 season, Ms. Caspersen held several lead roles in Georgia Dance Theatre's production of the Nutcracker Ballet as well as demi-soloist roles in the upcoming production of La Bayadere. Ms. Caspersen will be dancing the lead role of Swanilda in Georgia Academy of Dance & the Performing Arts' 2019 production of Coppelia. 
BRANDON NGUYEN-HILTON
GAD Classical Ballet Educator Brandon is a native of Fort Worth Texas and began his formal training with Margo Dean School of Ballet. At 15 he was chosen to study at the Houston Ballet Ben Stevenson Academy on full scholarship where he was also invited to dance with the second company. He received his first professional job with Orlando Ballet under direction of renowned Bruce Marks and later Robert Hill. While in Orlando he was also invited to dance with Cirque du Soleil as there lead male dancer in the show La Nouba. He also performed with Mariah Carey in her Christmas Disney Day Parade. In 2012 John McFall asked Brandon to join the Atlanta Ballet where he performed many diverse roles from choreographers such as Ohad Naharin, Christopher Wheeldon, Helen Picket, Anabelle Lopez Ochoa, David Bintley, Gustavo Ramirez, Sean Hilton and Robyn Mineko. He most recently performed in Seoul South Korea for the Pyong Chang Winter Music Festival, celebrating the olympics. Brandon is extremely happy to have performed both Swan Lake and Romeo and Juliet with Georgia Academy of Dance. Sharing his history and knowledge with his GAD students and watching them grow artistically and technically is an absolute joy. 
MADISON SCHRAMA
GAD Marketing Assistant | Classical Ballet | Contemporary | Early Childhood | Dance Team Educator Madison Schrama began dancing at the age of 6 at Georgia Academy of Dance & the Performing Arts and was a member of Georgia Dance Theatre for 8 seasons. As a member of Georgia Dance Theatre, Ms. Schrama has performed in multiple classical and contemporary ballets dancing soloist roles as Dew Drop in The Nutcracker Ballet and Peasant Pas Des Deux in Giselle.Additionally, she performed with Georgia Dance Theatre in Artistic Director Sherri Davis' original contemporary ballet of West Side Story and The Hunchback of Notre Dame. During her senior year of high school, Ms. Schrama was selected to participate in the work study/mentorship program of GAD & the Performing Arts in conjunction with the Fayette County Board of Education. In addition to GAD, she also received training at the American Ballet Theatre and Kaatsbaan Extreme Ballet Summer Intensive. Ms. Schrama holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from the University of Georgia with experience in production, dance training in technique and academia, and choreography projects. Additionally, she was a member of the UGA Ballet Ensemble Company for 2 years and led student choreography projects on dance majors at UGA. She has a certification in Dance Education for K-12 with additional educational courses in special education and early childhood development. After graduation, Madison taught various dance disciplines at North Atlanta High School and has been on staff with the Joffrey Ballet School of New York as an Arts Administration Intern. In addition, Madison held the positions of Rehearsal Assistant, Dance Educator and Stage Manager at the Joffrey Ballet School Summer Programs. In addition to being a Dance Educator for GAD & the Performing Arts, Madison will be assisting our Directors in Marketing & Arts Administration for the academy as well as a guest choreographer for Georgia Dance Theatre. 
GRACE KOURY
GAD Classical Ballet Educator Grace Koury, a native of Altoona, PA, joins us from Rochester, New York. Ms. Koury was a member of the Rochester City Ballet of New York. Ms. Koury attended Indiana University Jacobs School of Music on The Dean’s Scholarship. There she had the pleasure of performing many works by renowned choreographers ranging from Antony Tudor’s Dark Elegies, Paul Taylor’s Musical Offering, George Balanchine’s Rubies, Emeralds, Western Symphony, Four Temperaments and Divertimento No. 15. As a part of Jacobs School of Music, Grace also had the opportunity to perform as a featured dancer in the operas La Traviata and The Last Savage. Through the Charlotte Ballet at Chautauqua Institute, Ms. Koury had the opportunity to perform Western Symphony which was taught my world-renowned ballerina, Patricia McBride. In addition to Indiana University Ballet Theater, Grace has received dance training from Walnut Hill School for the Arts, Pacific Northwest Ballet, The School of American Ballet, Chautauqua School of Dance, and Allegheny Ballet Company. As a dance educator, Ms. Koury has conducted classes in classical ballet and contemporary as well as Early Childhood instruction. Ms. Koury is also a pre-professional level ballet dance educator and was a rehearsal assistant for the Allegheny Ballet Company. Ms. Koury holds a Bachelor of Science in Ballet Performance and an Outside Field in Arts Management from Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. 
CARSON SEELEY
GAD Contemporary Educator Carson is a professional dancer with over seven years of experience in television, film, and live performance. She has worked in the major production films such as Big Momma’s: Like Father, Like Son, Footloose, and Disney’s Let It Shine, danced on the television shows including Nashville, Glee, and Drop Dead Diva, and has performed live with Beyonce, Luke Bryan, and Kellie Pickler. Carson has also appeared in Step Up: HIghwater, Alvin & the Chipmunks: Road Chip, Million Dollar Arm, the 2011 Billboard Music Awards, the Country Music Awards Christmas Spectacular in 2011 and 2013, the 45th Annual Country Music Awards, the 47th Annual Country Music Awards, and more. In addition to her professional dance experience, Carson is a passionate Costume Designer with over 3 years of experience in collaborating with choreographers to make their vision come to life. Carson holds a Bachelor's Degree in Human Environmental Science with Concentration in Apparel Design and a Minor in General Business from the University of Alabama.Minor: General Business Carson is excited to join the Artistic Staff of Georgia Academy of Dance & the Performing Arts as a dance educator as well as a guest choreographer for Georgia Dance Theatre. |
KELLY O'SHAUGHNESSY
GAD Classical Ballet | Contemporary Educator Kelly O’Shaughnessy began dancing at the age of 4 at Georgia Academy of Dance & the Performing Arts and became a member of Georgia Dance Theatre in 2010. As a member of Georgia Dance Theatre, Ms. O’Shaughnessy has performed in multiple classical and contemporary ballets. She performed with Georgia Dance Theatre in Artistic Director Sherri Davis' original contemporary ballet of West Side Story and The Hunchback of Notre Dame. In addition she has performed classical repertoire of Sleeping Beauty, Giselle, Swan Lake and various roles in The Nutcracker Ballet. Outside of Georgia Dance Theatre, Ms. O’Shaughnessy has been accepted into nationally renowned programs including Boston Ballet, Miami City Ballet, Washington Ballet, and Atlanta Ballet. During the summer of 2014, she attended the Kirov Academy of Ballet of Washington, D.C., where she received Vaganova training from Elena Tenchikova, Stanislav Issaev, and Adrienne Dellas. Over the summer of 2015, she attended The Gelsey Kirkland Academy of Classical Ballet in New York City where she received individualized training from Gelsey Kirkland and Michael Chernov and was invited to their year-round training program. In addition to being a Dance Educator, Ms. O'Shaughnessy is in her 3rd season as a Professional Company Dancer of Georgia Dance Theatre. 
RAFAELLA MOCELIN
GAD Classical Ballet | Contemporary & Early Childhood Educator Rafaella Mocelin, originally from Brazil, began her dancing at the age of 4 at Ballet Vera Bublitz. At the age of 15, Ms. Mocelin received a scholarship to continue her training at the Joffrey Ballet School in New York under the direction of Era Jourayley. During her training at the Joffrey Ballet School, Ms. Mocelin performed various lead roles such as the Black Swan Grand Pas de Deux in Swan Lake, Snow Queen in The Nutcracker & Paquita Pas de Deux in Paquita. In addition to these lead roles, Ms. Mocelin also had to opportunity to perform in Conservatorie under the restaging of Kaina Elver and Walpurgisnatch under the restaging by Stacy Caddell. Ms. Mocelin has received additional training from Miami City Ballet under Merit Scholarship and the Joinville festival with artists such as Cristina Helena, Sergio Marshall and Toshie Kobayashi Joinville. Ms. Mocelin is a current member as Trainee with the professional company of Georgia Dance Theatre and a dance educator with Georgia Academy of Dance & the Performing Arts. |
JENNY VAN METER
GAD Classical Ballet | Contemporary | Early Childhood Educator Ms. Van Meter has trained at Georgia Academy of Dance & the Performing Arts for the past 21 years. She has been under scholarship for the past 15 seasons with Georgia Dance Theatre with six seasons as a professional company member. Ms. Reynolds has received additional training from American Ballet Theatre, Atlanta Ballet, Alvin Ailey American Dance Center, Burklyn Ballet Theatre and The Lines Ballet of California. Ms. Van Meter has received apprenticeship contracts with Alvin Ailey American Dance Center of New York and Alonzo King’s Lines Ballet of California. In addition, Ms. Van Meter has been a guest performer with Burklyn Ballet Theatre as the company toured Edinburg, Scotland and a member of the professional touring company of Angela Whitehill’s Paradise Ballet Theatre. Ms. Van Meter has danced various soloist and principal roles as a Georgia Dance Theatre company member. Among these roles include Snow Queen in Georgia Dance Theatre’s production of The Nutcracker Ballet. In 2010, Ms. Van Meter performed the lead role of Swanilda in Georgia Academy of Dance & the Performing Arts production of Coppelia. Ms. Van Meter's extensive training in various genres has afforded her the opportunity to be a dance educator of all dance disciplines at Georgia Academy of Dance & the Performing Arts. 
REBECCA PATSALOS
GAD Classical Ballet | Contemporary & Early Childhood Educator Rebecca Patsalos received her training from the Hudson Vallet Conservatory of Fine Arts, American Ballet Theatre, Carolina Ballet, The Rock School of the Pennsylvania Ballet, and Pushing Progress Contemporary Dance Program of New York. Ms. Patsalos has a broad education of dance and movement with additional emphasis in Pilates, Pedagogy, Laban Movement Analysis, Improvisation and Classical Ballet Forms. She has taught Ballet and Contemporary dance for the Newburgh City School District of New York, Dekalb School of the Arts and Dancefx of Atlanta & Athens, GA. As a performer, Ms. Patsalos has danced and choreographed in various genres including working with Silks, Lyra, Trapeze and Sling elements. In addition, Ms. Patsalos has studied abroad in various forms of dance in Costa Rica, Monteverde and San Jose. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from the University of Georgia graduating Magna Cum Laude. Ms. Patsalos holds a Teaching Dance Certificate (edTPA certified) in areas of various dance forms including Dance for Children, Dance Pedagogy, Educational Psychology, Special Education and Sociocultural Education. In addition to being a Dance Educator for GAD & the Performing Arts, Rebecca will be choreographing for Georgia Dance Theatre. |
Resident Physical Therapist
DR. MEGHAN MORALES
GAD Resident Physical Therapist | GAD Pilates Tech Educator
Dr. Meghan Elizabeth Morales earned her Doctor of Physical Therapy from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. With a desire to blend her two passions of dance and physical therapy, Meghan completed an internship/ clinical rotation at Agile Physical Therapy in 2014. With her eye for proper dance technique complemented by her extensive knowledge of biomechanics and anatomy, Meghan is an asset to dance students and professionals rehabilitating from injury, preventing future injury, and promoting the longevity of their careers.
Meghan focuses on movement analysis, body mechanics, and a hands-on-approach. She has helped patients rehabilitate from stroke, brain and spinal cord injury, trauma, amputation, and other neurological impairments. She has helped patients of all levels with a diversity of neuromuscular and orthopedic conditions. She utilizes Pilates in her physical therapy practice and specializes in using it with all orthopedic injuries, including her specialty of dance medicine. She is currently employed full time at First Step Physical Therapy in Fayetteville.
Ms. Morales trained at Georgia Academy of Dance & the Performing Arts for 15 years. She was under scholarship for 8 seasons with Georgia Dance Theatre. She received additional training from the Atlanta Ballet, the Milwaukee Ballet, Kaatsbaan Extreme Ballet, The Rock School of the Pennsylvania Ballet, the American Ballet Theatre, and the South Carolina Summer Dance Conservatory. In 2007, Ms. Morales was chosen for the Atlanta Ballet Professional Ballet Intensive where she was featured in Graduation Ball , a pas de deux staged by Jose Vieira, and Vivaldi Violin Concertochoreographed by Roger VanFleteren.
Ms. Morales has danced various soloist and principal roles as a Georgia Dance Theatre company member. She danced the principal role as Wendy in Georgia Academy of Dance & the Performing Arts original production of Peter Pan. Additional roles included a pas de deux with Jonah Hooper of the Atlanta Ballet in Georgia Academy of Dance’s production of Romeo and Juliette, Dew Drop Fairy and Arabian in Georgia Dance Theatre’s The Nutcracker,and she was featured in the Bluebird variation from The Sleeping Beauty in Georgia Dance Theatre’s In the Spirit of the Dance.She also performed Corps de Ballet roles in The Nutcracker, Romeo and Juliet, a Midsummer’s Night’s Dream,and Le Corsairewhile a Senior Company Member of Georgia Dance Theatre.
She continued her dance training on scholarship at Birmingham Southern College where she holds dual degrees—Bachelor of Science in Biology /Psychology and a Bachelor of Arts in Dance. While part of the Birmingham Southern College Dance Department Meghan appeared as a Guest Artist in the Montgomery Ballet’s production of Le Corsaire.Additionally, she choreographed and performed in a piece selected for the Alabama Dance Festival.
Dr. Meghan has recently decided to pursue Pilates instructor certification through Balance Body leading to a PMA® Certified Pilates Teacher certification. As a dancer and physical therapist, Dr. Meghan has special knowledge of the specific issues of dancers and performers and how to adapt to their needs within the Pilates environment. She has developed an approach that addresses preventative, restorative, and maintenance based Pilates.
GAD Resident Physical Therapist | GAD Pilates Tech Educator
Dr. Meghan Elizabeth Morales earned her Doctor of Physical Therapy from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. With a desire to blend her two passions of dance and physical therapy, Meghan completed an internship/ clinical rotation at Agile Physical Therapy in 2014. With her eye for proper dance technique complemented by her extensive knowledge of biomechanics and anatomy, Meghan is an asset to dance students and professionals rehabilitating from injury, preventing future injury, and promoting the longevity of their careers.
Meghan focuses on movement analysis, body mechanics, and a hands-on-approach. She has helped patients rehabilitate from stroke, brain and spinal cord injury, trauma, amputation, and other neurological impairments. She has helped patients of all levels with a diversity of neuromuscular and orthopedic conditions. She utilizes Pilates in her physical therapy practice and specializes in using it with all orthopedic injuries, including her specialty of dance medicine. She is currently employed full time at First Step Physical Therapy in Fayetteville.
Ms. Morales trained at Georgia Academy of Dance & the Performing Arts for 15 years. She was under scholarship for 8 seasons with Georgia Dance Theatre. She received additional training from the Atlanta Ballet, the Milwaukee Ballet, Kaatsbaan Extreme Ballet, The Rock School of the Pennsylvania Ballet, the American Ballet Theatre, and the South Carolina Summer Dance Conservatory. In 2007, Ms. Morales was chosen for the Atlanta Ballet Professional Ballet Intensive where she was featured in Graduation Ball , a pas de deux staged by Jose Vieira, and Vivaldi Violin Concertochoreographed by Roger VanFleteren.
Ms. Morales has danced various soloist and principal roles as a Georgia Dance Theatre company member. She danced the principal role as Wendy in Georgia Academy of Dance & the Performing Arts original production of Peter Pan. Additional roles included a pas de deux with Jonah Hooper of the Atlanta Ballet in Georgia Academy of Dance’s production of Romeo and Juliette, Dew Drop Fairy and Arabian in Georgia Dance Theatre’s The Nutcracker,and she was featured in the Bluebird variation from The Sleeping Beauty in Georgia Dance Theatre’s In the Spirit of the Dance.She also performed Corps de Ballet roles in The Nutcracker, Romeo and Juliet, a Midsummer’s Night’s Dream,and Le Corsairewhile a Senior Company Member of Georgia Dance Theatre.
She continued her dance training on scholarship at Birmingham Southern College where she holds dual degrees—Bachelor of Science in Biology /Psychology and a Bachelor of Arts in Dance. While part of the Birmingham Southern College Dance Department Meghan appeared as a Guest Artist in the Montgomery Ballet’s production of Le Corsaire.Additionally, she choreographed and performed in a piece selected for the Alabama Dance Festival.
Dr. Meghan has recently decided to pursue Pilates instructor certification through Balance Body leading to a PMA® Certified Pilates Teacher certification. As a dancer and physical therapist, Dr. Meghan has special knowledge of the specific issues of dancers and performers and how to adapt to their needs within the Pilates environment. She has developed an approach that addresses preventative, restorative, and maintenance based Pilates.