Staff
With a faculty of 6 our academy provides a staff of teachers who bring to the classroom their passion for dance and commitment to excellent.
Artistic Directors
Ayanna Shelton
Ayanna was introduced to her “first love” dance over 20 years ago. She trained in
Jackson, TN at Pat Brown School of Dancing acquiring the knowledge of ballet, pointe, jazz, tap and acrobatics. During her
tenure with Ballet Arts, Inc., she performed in many classical productions such as The Nutcracker, Alice in Wonderland, Cinderella,
Coppelia and Swan Lake. Over the years she has had the privilege to receive instruction from world renowned teachers and choreographers
such as Gus Giordano, Marcus Alfrod, Joe Tremaine, Sylvia Rico, Sheila Barker, and Laurie Johnson, just to name a few.
Kathalene M Taylor
Kathalene fell in love with the Art of Dance at the early age of seven . She has
been dancing for over 25 years. At the age of 16 she won a Scholarship to dance in Hollywood at Tremaine’s Dance Center.
Kathalene danced 3 seasons with the NBA Los Angeles Clippers dance team. She began her teaching and choreographing career
over 15 years ago. She has taught classes all across the United States and parts of Europe. She has choreographed for many
NBA and NFL dance teams such as the Los Angeles Laker Girls and the San Diego Charger Girls. Kathalene has taught dance camps
for United Spirit Association in California for the last 12 years. She was formerly the Director/Choreographer for a NFL-Europe
team in Dusseldorf, Germany. And she is currently in her 5th season as the Director/Choreographer for the NBA dance team
of the Memphis Grizzlies.
Teachers
Noeila Warnette-Jones
Noelia comes to MSDA from New York were she trained at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center, Marymount Manhattan College and Amos Musical Theatre Academy. She has performed in many musicals such as Fame, Damn Yankees and the Off Broadway productions of The River Flows and Bobo’s. She was also the stand-in for Jada Prinkett-Smith in the movie “Bamboozled” and a dancer in the motion picture “Malcolm X.” Noelia is a former dancer for the “XFL Memphis Maniacs” and is currently a member of the 2005-2006 Memphis Grizzlies dance team. She was also a Professor at the University of Memphis in the Dance department.
Taurus Soloman
Taurus comes to MSDA as one of Memphis’s most sought after Hip Hop teachers. He is known for his energetic Street Jazz and Hip hop classes. He as taught at many local studio as well studios all across the Mid South including Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama and other parts of Tennessee. He has choreographed opening acts for Fred Hammond, John P Kee and Ice Cube. Taurus’s choreography has won National Awards. He was a former dancer for the Nubian Theatre Company and former three year member of the Memphis Grizzlies dance team.
Vera Williams
Vera is 4 year member of the Memphis Grizzlies dance team. She received
her training at the Carlton Johnson Academy of Ballet. She has appeared in several musicals including the Wiz. Vera has taught
Ballet technique classes at several studios and for many different dance teams in the Memphis area.
Lisa Monger
Lisa comes to MSDA with much experience in teaching preschoolers. She attended the University of Oklahoma were she was a dance major. She taught at several dance studios in the Oklahoma City area. Lisa has been a guest artist for many years teaching at several Memphis City Schools. She is currently a licensed Massage Therapist. And the proud mother of Jaimie-Nicole and John Christopher.
