Stephanie Simpkins
INSTRUCTOR
Stephanie Simpkins has over 25 years of dance training and 14 years of teaching experience. Stephanie started her dance training at age 5, at the Venettes Cultural Workshop, under the direction of Vanessa Baird in Long Island, NY. In 2004 Stephanie and her family moved from Long Island, NY to the small town of Cartersville, Georgia. Shortly after moving, Stephanie found Spirit of Dance Company. As a young adult Stephanie trained under various instructors including the Director Tanecia Weems and instructor Dee Baskerville. In 2006 Stephanie was hired as an assistant teacher working with the mini group. She quickly found success in her ability to create fun classrooms and teach little ones discipline and technique at a young age. Throughout her first few years of teaching, she established a student following and has since continued to train a few of her first mini-students all the way to high school graduation. Between the age of 18 and 25 Stephanie expanded her dance training to other studios within the Atlanta Area. Throughout her adult years she primarily trained at Gotta Dance Atlanta under the direction of Cici Kelley. At Gotta Dance Atlanta, Stephanie trained with a wide number of other instructors such as Allyne Gartrell, Peter Poulos, and Daryl Foster. Through the years Stephanie worked on the Gotta Dance Atlanta team as a work-study intern perfecting her craft in Ballet, Jazz, Modern, Contemporary, Hip Hop, and Lyrical. Stephanie eventually became a staff member at Gotta Dance Atlanta teaching pre-teen Jazz. In 2014 Stephanie ventured into the world of competition dance. Stephanie continued teaching with a specialized focus in her all-time favorite genre, Jazz. Stephanie has found an amazing love for watching a young dancer become confident, build self-esteem, blossom, and grow within dance. Stephanie believes her dancers have no limits. Stephanie looks forward to continuing being a Coach for the "Brown Girl Twirl" and "SPARKS" Performance Groups. She also teaches Monday recreational classes.
Dominique Leonard
INSTRUCTOR
Dominique Leonard found her passion for dance at the age of 2. She continued her dance education after moving from New York to Georgia at the age of 4. She began training under the instruction of Erica Keating at Carla’s Dance Factory (CDF) at the age of 10 in Fayetteville, GA. As a member of CDF’s junior and teen company, Dominique competed in dance competitions annually in tap, jazz, and lyrical styles. Dominique served as the Choreography Captain for the McIntosh High School Chiefettes Dance Team in high school. As the Choreography Captain, she choreographed the winning UDA Jazz Home Routine for her teammates. The Chiefettes competed under the Universal Dance Association (UDA) at the state, regional, and national levels, and Dominique has won numerous state titles with the group in Pom and Jazz. Dominique was named the first-place teen soloist out of over 10 competitors at the 2019 Georgia State Championship and choreographed the winning solo. Prior to leaving her hometown for college, she began her career as a studio instructor. She enjoys getting to know her students personally and loves building relationships with fellow dancers. Dominique graduated in Spring 2023 with a Bachelor's Degree in Secondary Education and a minor in Dance. She married the love of her life in the Summer of 2023. Dominique looks forward to continuing being a Coach for the "Brown Girl Twirl" and "SPARKS" Performance Groups. She also teaches Monday recreational classes.
Michaela Thomas
INSTRUCTOR
Michaela Thomas began dancing at the young age of 3, training under the esteemed instruction of A.D. West Dance Company in Douglasville, Georgia. Over the years, Michaela expanded her craft in a wide array of dance styles, including ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, hip hop, modern, clogging, contemporary, and jazz funk. Competing with ADW from 2009 to 2021, she achieved numerous national championships, solidifying her reputation as a dedicated and accomplished performer. Michaela's journey into teaching began in 7th grade, when she became an assistant instructor for ballet and tap classes for children aged 2–4, as well as ballet and jazz for ages 6–8. Since then, teaching dance to children has become a passion of hers, and she finds joy in being someone younger dancers can look up to. In 2016, Michaela's talent and passion led her to audition for and secure an invitation to the prestigious Summer of Hip Hop dance intensive at the Joffrey Ballet in New York City for two weeks. In high school, Michaela was the captain of the “Elite Pantherettes” dance team at Chapel Hill High School during the 2019–2020 school year. As captain, she choreographed all the team’s performances, showcasing her creative vision and leadership abilities. Michaela's collegiate dance career flourished as a member of the Golden Owls Dance Team at Kennesaw State University, where she performed for three years and served as Co-Captain in her final year. The Golden Owls specialized in majorette-style dance, performing at home football games and participating in jazz and ballet routines. Beyond performances, the team emphasized volunteerism, community service, and hosting dance clinics for aspiring dancers. Michaela continued her dance journey with KSU’s club dance team, Talon Tribe, as an active member of both the performance and competition teams. Michaela has been part of Dynamite Dance Factory for five years, where she serves as the Tuesday recreational instructor and works closely with the Sparks in ballet technique. Her diverse experiences and unwavering commitment to dance exemplify her dedication to the art form and her ability to inspire others through movement and creativity. Michaela is now stepping fully into her career as a dance educator, invested in fostering student success while also continuing to learn and grow in her own artistry.
Ashley Watson
INSTRUCTOR
Ashley Watson is a passionate dance instructor with 11 years of experience. A Cleveland State University alumna with a dance minor, she believes in creating a fun and nurturing environment where children can learn through play and develop a love for movement. Her classes emphasize building confidence and fostering growth in all areas – physically, socially, emotionally, and cognitively. Ashley specializes in ballet, jazz, and hip hop for ages 2 & up and loves to lay the foundation for young dancers to be able to love the art of dance that they can carry with them throughout their dance journey. She is passionate about helping children discover the joy of movement and believes that dance is a powerful tool for self-expression and personal growth. Ashley is a Saturday recreational instructor at the studio and works closely with all of the competitive teams. Not just in movement and choreography, but also their mental well-being. You will often catch Mrs. Ashley on the side of the stage doing check-ins with the girls and making sure they hit the stage with smiles.
Amber Jones
OFFICE MANAGER
Amber Jones has been a supporter of DDF from the very beginning. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Kennesaw State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Nonprofit and Leadership. She is a woman of God who does public speaking, performing poetry, & and creating content for ministries and businesses nationally. She mastered the art of communication and sales for a variety of businesses over the span of a decade. She and her incredible 8-year-old son now live in north Georgia in their brand-new home. She enjoys lying on the beach, singing, writing poetry, and spending time with her son.