| ABOUT OUR STAFF |
About Us
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Debbie Huffman brings over 25 years of teaching experience to the academy.
She started dancing when she was 9 years old with the Ann Freeman Dance
Academy in Hickory, NC. Her love for dance has never stopped. All during
elementary and high school dance took priority over any other activities.
During those days she was one of the Carolina Dance Masters Proteges and
they performed all across the state. To this day Debbie and Ann Freeman who
was recently named the President of Dance Masters of America have
remained close and work together often on Dance Master and other
professional projects. In 1977 Debbie worked for Carowinds in the live shows
department. In 1978 Debbie went to Chicago to study dance with The famed
jazz teacher 's Gus Giordano Dance Center. Debbie has taken teacher training
classes at Kent State University and is now a graduate in Dance from the
Teachers Training School of Buffalo University in New York. She has been a
certified teacher with Dance Masters of America since 1979 and now
participates in testing and certifying other teachers. Debbie has served as a
judge at many pageants and competitions. Many of her students have gone
on to dance in college and or worked professionally. She is now teaching the
children of her former students. Debbie has always taken an interest in
seeing the children not only learn to dance , but to take responsibility, and
grow with commitment and dedication to life's challenges. She is married to
Cade Huffman who serves as the general business manger of the studios and
works in the travel business also. Debbie has a daughter Tiera, and two sons.
Nicholas , in Baltimore, MD and Micah who is a college student.
She started dancing when she was 9 years old with the Ann Freeman Dance
Academy in Hickory, NC. Her love for dance has never stopped. All during
elementary and high school dance took priority over any other activities.
During those days she was one of the Carolina Dance Masters Proteges and
they performed all across the state. To this day Debbie and Ann Freeman who
was recently named the President of Dance Masters of America have
remained close and work together often on Dance Master and other
professional projects. In 1977 Debbie worked for Carowinds in the live shows
department. In 1978 Debbie went to Chicago to study dance with The famed
jazz teacher 's Gus Giordano Dance Center. Debbie has taken teacher training
classes at Kent State University and is now a graduate in Dance from the
Teachers Training School of Buffalo University in New York. She has been a
certified teacher with Dance Masters of America since 1979 and now
participates in testing and certifying other teachers. Debbie has served as a
judge at many pageants and competitions. Many of her students have gone
on to dance in college and or worked professionally. She is now teaching the
children of her former students. Debbie has always taken an interest in
seeing the children not only learn to dance , but to take responsibility, and
grow with commitment and dedication to life's challenges. She is married to
Cade Huffman who serves as the general business manger of the studios and
works in the travel business also. Debbie has a daughter Tiera, and two sons.
Nicholas , in Baltimore, MD and Micah who is a college student.
Melody Poarch started taking classes from Ms Debbie when she was about
seven years old and hasn't stopped dancing yet. Her dedication to dance has
been an inspiration to us all. While taking dance Melody won the Miss Dance
of the Carolina's title. After high school she attended Western Piedmont
Communtity College then went on to become one of the Charlotte Hornets
dance team "The Honeybees". She then worked along with her future
husband Greg in the live shows department of Carowinds in Charlotte. She
then toured world wide working for Royal Caribbean cruises performing in the
stage shows and productions of the live shows entertainment group. Melody
has been teaching for us full time for 7 years and doing special classes prior
to working with us full time. Melody recently passed her exams to become a
certified teacher and member of Dance Masters of America. She and her
husband Greg who is an entertainer in his own right live in Morganton. They
have two dancing girls and one handful of a little boy named Jackson. Melody
is all about pre-schoolers.
seven years old and hasn't stopped dancing yet. Her dedication to dance has
been an inspiration to us all. While taking dance Melody won the Miss Dance
of the Carolina's title. After high school she attended Western Piedmont
Communtity College then went on to become one of the Charlotte Hornets
dance team "The Honeybees". She then worked along with her future
husband Greg in the live shows department of Carowinds in Charlotte. She
then toured world wide working for Royal Caribbean cruises performing in the
stage shows and productions of the live shows entertainment group. Melody
has been teaching for us full time for 7 years and doing special classes prior
to working with us full time. Melody recently passed her exams to become a
certified teacher and member of Dance Masters of America. She and her
husband Greg who is an entertainer in his own right live in Morganton. They
have two dancing girls and one handful of a little boy named Jackson. Melody
is all about pre-schoolers.
Erin Ratliff has taken dance since she was five from Ms.Debbie and has proven
her dedication to dance many times. She often chose dance over other things
so attractive to todays youth. Erin has danced the lead in our annual receital
and has been a class assistant with Ms Debbie for many years. She graduated
from East Burke High School and now attends Lenoir Rhyne University full time.
She had been a Junior Member Of Dance Masters and has attended state and
national conventions to expand her knowledge. Erin is a certified teacher and a
member of Dance Masters of America. She works mostly with the pre-school ,
beginner children, hip-hop and substitute teaches for other classes.
her dedication to dance many times. She often chose dance over other things
so attractive to todays youth. Erin has danced the lead in our annual receital
and has been a class assistant with Ms Debbie for many years. She graduated
from East Burke High School and now attends Lenoir Rhyne University full time.
She had been a Junior Member Of Dance Masters and has attended state and
national conventions to expand her knowledge. Erin is a certified teacher and a
member of Dance Masters of America. She works mostly with the pre-school ,
beginner children, hip-hop and substitute teaches for other classes.
