DANCE INSTRUCTORS
We pride ourselves in our talented, educated, and understanding teachers.
CLOE ROLAND
Irish Dance
Cloe Roland studied Irish Dance for nearly eight years under a leading competition studio in Germany. In those years she Obtained 7 Grade certificates and began teaching when she was thirteen. Since then, Cloe has gone on to start her own Irish company and perform locally in Europe and North Carolina. Cloe is continuing to pursue her passion and teach for many years to come and touch the lives of her students by building their confidence and encouraging them to pursue the art of dance.
SARAH MCWILLIAMS
Dance Director
Sarah McWilliams is a Pennsylvania native, now North Carolina resident, who grew up dancing competitively and then continued her studies at Temple University in Philadelphia. While earning her BFA in Dance Performance/Choreography, Sarah worked with faculty members Jillian Harris, Laura Katz Rizzo, and Kavin Grant. She also danced for Guest Artists Larry Keigwin and Kyle Abraham. Upon graduating Sarah traveled to Israel to study with Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company. Her performance career continued in PA and NYC with Project Moshen Dance Company, ContempraDance Theater, Putty Dance Project, and kaycruddenco. Most recently, Sarah worked at KICKS Academy of Dance, taught for the Dance Me A Story program, and became a certified Bar Method instructor. She is so excited to bring her passion for dance and teaching to NC!
JOSIE LANKFORD
GABRIELLA TAYLOR
Ballet/Jazz/Acro/Hip-Hop/Combo Classes
GABRIELLA TAYLOR
GABRIELLA TAYLOR
GABRIELLA TAYLOR
Combo Classes/Tiny Tots
Born and raised in North Carolina, Josie Lankford has been studying all styles of dance for over 14 years at various studios over NC. Starting with a simple combo class at the age of 3, Josie has now been doing advanced dance classes and pointe dance. Having studied ballet, tap, and contemporary in New York City over the summer, Josie is thrilled to be teaching. While studying and improving her dance education at the Encore Center, she has performed in many dance productions such as Lion King as Zazu, Alice in Wonderland as the Mad Hatter, and most recently, Willy Wonka as The Candy Man. Josie will be graduating high school this May with her Associates in Arts and will be attending Sandhills Community College this fall for Business Administration. Josie is excited to bring her passion of dance here at the Encore Center!
JESSICA SHAW
Ballet/Combo Classes/Homeschool Arts
Ms. Shaw grew up in a competition studio and was also a founding member of Allegro Regional Dance Theater, a pre-professional ballet company for ages 10-18. She taught for Judy Peterson Dance Studio in Wausau, WI, The Turning Point Dance Academy in Stevens Point, WI as well as the Community Ballet Program in Wausau, WI.
Shaw graduated from the University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point with a BA in dance. After college she moved to Dayton, OH and worked with the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company's (DCDC) 2nd company. She also began dancing with the Mam-Luft and Co Dance company (contemporary) in Cincinnati, OH. After a full season with both, Shaw then joined Rhythm in Shoes (tap and clogging) and stayed with them until the company disbanded and the directors retired.
By that time she was married and started her journey as an Army wife. They ended up stationed in Hohenfels, Germany where Shaw started and ran the dance program for the SKIES program for 2 years. Upon returning to the States, she began teaching for the Maxine Patterson School of Dance in Savannah, GA. She called MPSOD home for over 4 years.
CAMILLE JONES
Ballet/Tap/Jazz/Combo Classes
Camille grew up in Southern California. She wanted to be a dancer since toddlerhood. She trained in ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, contemporary and musical theater dance. She trained with Orange County Song and Dance Company, including their performance and tour company, which traveled the United States. Camille has a BA in Dance from Brigham Young University-Idaho (BYUI) with an emphasis in Choreography and Performance. She joined their performance teams and tour company, Dance Alliance, which traveled both nationally and internationally. BYUI is where Camille developed a passion for modern dance and injury prevention. Camille loves the power and ease modern dance provides, and how the technique is transferable to many other dance styles she continues to love.
Camille has been a dance instructor for Orange County Song and Dance Company, a stage performer and parade dancer at Knott’s Berry Farm, instructed modern dance at Brigham Young University-Idaho, and been a private choreographer. She is excited to share her love of dance here in NC
ANDREA CORNPROBST
Hip-Hop
Gabriella Taylor was raised in North Carolina and trained in ballet throughout her time here. She found an interest in dance at the young age of five, when she first began ballet classes. As years passed, Gabriella's passion for dance developed and her interest in teaching grew. Eventually, pursuing her B.A. in Dance and Minor in business at Eastern University, located in PA, where she gained many different teaching experiences. Though her love for movement first started with ballet, Gabriella also has experience in cheerleading, as well as, years of training in jazz, contemporary, modern, and lyrical dance. Throughout her time at Eastern, Gabriella took part in many of the University's dance concerts, also performing with the Eastern University dance ministry and leading it for her last two years there. Gabriella loved having the chance to explore worship through dance and to also experience dance in a way that focuses on the mind, body, and spirit. She also appreciates the ability that dance gives people to tell stories, express feelings, and send messages to others. Gabriella is not only passionate about teaching dance, but using it to benefit others. This art form can be a rewarding outlet for people and she looks forward to seeing this truth more through encouraging, relating, and communicating with others through dance by teaching.
ARIANNA MARSCHALL
Ballet/Tap/Jazz/Lyrical/Contemporary
Arianna is a Minneapolis, MN native and grew up dancing competitively at a suburban studio where she trained in ballet, jazz, tap, lyrical, and contemporary for 15 years. In college Arianna was a Fall Dance Team member at the College of Saint Benedict - where she also earned a double B.A. in Economics and Business and minored in Entrepreneurship. While in college Arianna began teaching at a local dance studio which sparked her passion for teaching and sharing the passion of dance with others. During her tenure at Ms. Melinda's Dance Studio in central MN, she had experience teaching a wide range of classes and ages: from tiny tots combo classes, recreational classes, to competitive jazz solos and duets for seniors that placed in the top 10 at regional dance competitions. Following college graduation, Arianna led a high school competitive dance team program at Richfield High School for 7 years consisting of both a Varsity and JV team in the styles of Jazz and High Kick under the Minnesota State High School League. During her time as the head coach she helped the Varsity Jazz team advance to the Minnesota State competition to compete with the top 12 teams in the state of Minnesota two years in a row. Arianna also worked as a head instructor at a local Just for Kix dance program in the suburbs of Minneapolis by attending summer training camps and working with recreational dancers in jazz technique. Arianna is excited to begin teaching in North Carolina and cannot wait to meet the dancers and families of Encore Performing Arts!
MCKELLYN BARBER
