FACULTY
ALYSSA WATKINS
JAZZ | BALLET
BIO COMING
COURTNEY ONDRE
JAZZ
Courtney has worked with various dance and theatre companies all over the Greater Atlanta Area. Courtney's works have been adjudicated for the National High School Dance Festival, performed on Public Television and chosen for performances at Walt Disney World. Courtney received much of her training from Lynn Fleetwood Dukes, along with Joe Tremaine, Robert Reed, Diane Walker, and Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre. Courtney is also a member of the National Dance Association
ANGELA GRAHAM
SPECIAL ED
One of my passions in life is to provide individuals with special needs the opportunity to feel free to express themselves though the performing arts! My passion was fulfilled 7 years ago when I was given the opportunity to establish the first special needs dance class at SBT! I have taught dancing for the last 20 years specializing in tap instruction. Along with my love for the performing arts; I continued to follow my passion in working with students and received a Bachelor Degree in Music Therapy, a Masters Degree in Autism and Emotional Behavior Disorders, and Early Childhood certification. This year will be my 16th year teaching at Kennedy Elementary in Barrow County. I have been married for 14 years to Michael Graham and have 4 amazing boys: Ashton, Jayden, Logan, and Mitchell. If not at school or the studio, I am on the soccer fields cheering on the boys and or at church directing and singing with the choir!
OLIVIA MOTT
BALLET
Olivia has been dancing for 17 years, and teaching for 5 years. During those 17 years, Olivia trained under Fiona Fairrie from the Royal Ballet, Momchil Mladenov from the National Ballet of Bulgaria, Orlando Molina from Orlando Ballet, Atlanta Ballet faculty, and Danita Emma founder of International Ballet Intensive. Olivia spent her summers at Houston Ballet, Atlanta Ballet, and International Ballet Intensive on a full artistic scholarship. Olivia is continuing her dance career, along with sharing her love of dance to students of all ages.
ERIN BURCH
MODERN | JAZZ | BALLET
Erin is a native of Durham, North Carolina who embraces the unexpected thrall and rawness of movement. Erin has trained tenaciously in Jazz, Ballet, Hip Hop, Modern, and Contemporary, and she has danced with Gotta Dance Contemporary, Raiin Dance Theater, and MadHouse. She has performed in video and stage productions for musical artists Vivian Green, Prisca, Leah Culver, Redd Lettaz, and B Suave. She also danced in the original musical Angels in Training as dancer with choreographer Alysia. Sharing movement and instructing others is a driving force in Erin’s life. As a choreographer, she has set works for Ridge Dance Company, Southern Ballet Theatre, solos for competitions such as Youth American Grand Prix, and Universal Ballet. In 2017 Erin’s work was selected, noting her as a featured choreographer, for presentation at the National Southeastern Regional Ballet Association.
ALICIA CHITWOOD
BRANDON CHITWOOD
DIRECTOR
Alicia began her dance training at the age of four. She studied ballet, tap, jazz, modern and hip hop. She has trained with master teachers including Robert Barnett, David Howard, Thom Clower, Laura Alonso, and Twitch. Since 1990, Alicia trained at Lawrenceville School of Ballet and in 1997 she became a member of Southern Ballet Theatre, formerly Gwinnett Dance Ensemble. During her time with Southern Ballet Theatre, she danced in major productions such as Alice in Wonderland, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Wizard of Oz, Cinderella and Coppelia. Since 2000 she has been attending Southeastern Regional Ballet Assoication's Festivals including two Regional Dance America National Festivals and has had choreography choosen to be performed at the Festivals as well. Alicia has choreographed full length ballets such as Aurora + Maleficent: The Beginning, Frozen: A Tale of the Ice Queen, Cinderella, Aladdin, Pirates, and Rapunzel.
During Alicia's teaching career she has also trained many high school and college students in dance education and master educators. Some of her past students have gone on to dance with New York City Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, cruise ships, and Walt Disney World, as well as prestigious colleges like Pointe Park University, Brigham Young University, and Utah Valley University.
TAP
Chitwood has been choreographing many styles of dance, including tap, modern and hip-hop since 1999. He has received special recognition and exclusive awards for his cutting-edge choreography and music composition. Chitwood has designed extraordinary light schemes for hundreds of shows and has designed and constructed sets for numerous theatre, studio, and dance productions. He has performed, choreographed, and taught Master Classes throughout the United States. Recently, Chitwood has taken full control over his artistic vision by choreographing, composing, and designing the dance, music, and set for his pieces that have been performed at the National festivals presented by RDA.
KRISTIN MELTON
OFFICE MANAGER
Ms. Kristin has been with SPAA since 2017 as our Office Manager and with SBT since 2017 as our Secretary on the Board. She has a background in Ballet and Jazz studying at Duluth School of Ballet in Georgia. In her spare time she assists local high schools in their theater and dance productions with set decoration, acquiring costumes, and creating custom props. She enjoys being part of the community and helping young artists grow!
