Faculty

 Jeanne Alala, Director - A native of St. Louis, Missouri,Jeanne began her training in ballet, tap, jazz and tumbling with Barbara Tebeau at age 2! By age 12 she was chosen to perform with the New York City Ballet Children’s Corps at SPAC and at age 16 was chosen “Miss Dance of St. Louis”. At 18, she began her professional career with a National Tour of My One & Only followed by National Tours of Anything Goes and Sugar. Once finished touring the U.S. she joined the World Tour of 42nd Street and finally landed back in NYC performing annually at Radio City Music Hall with the Anti-Gravity Company. Jeanne has performed in numerous productions throughout her career: Here’s Love, Once Upon a Mattress, Hans Christian Anderson, Gigi, A Chorus Line, Wonderland on Ice, The Nutcracker Ballet, Snow White, Peter and The Wolf, Hansel and Gretel, The Magic Flute, Amron, Circus Polka and more. Since moving to Greensboro NC, Jeanne has choreographed The King & I, Les Miserable and Grease for The Greensboro Day School, coached The Greensboro Day School JV Cheerleading Squad and taught many children to dance and tumble at Artistic Motion, Nan’s Dance School and High Point Gymnastics Academy. In April of 2008 Jeanne completed her National Cecchetti Ballet Teachers Examinations, Grades I and II, receiving the highest honors awarded. She is a member of the Cecchetti Council of America presenting students for their National Ballet Examinations. Jeanne graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree and was a member of the National Honor Society, Gamma Theta Upsilon, Kappa Phi Chapter. She is proud to be a 2nd generation studio owner/director and believes that if you dream it you can become it!

Jennifer L. Antonosanti, a native of Miami, Florida, began her childhood dance training in ballet, Pointe, tap, jazz and lyrical/contemporary at the Dancer’s Pointe Studio in Miami. Her professional experiences include: performing at Walt Disney World, Orlando Florida as a Lead, Dance Swing and Dance Captain for over a decade. Additionally, Jennifer performed as a featured Actor/Dancer at Universal Studios in Orlando, FL and was a featured Dancer and Soloist for Tokyo Disney Seas in Tokyo, Japan. Since 2008, Jennifer has been involved with The American Dance Festival, Durham, NC as School Services Coordinator and has also been a substitute school teacher in Orlando, FL working through Kelly Educational Services. Jennifer has choreographed for the Latin Music Show at Walt Disney World, Pleasure Island. Jennifer’s teaching experience includes creative movement classes for age 3 and up through advanced ballet, Pointe, jazz, tap and lyrical/contemporary. Jennifer graduated from the University of Central Florida, Orlando with a Bachelor of Arts: Interdisciplinary Studies with a Minor in Hospitality Management. Additionally, Jennifer graduated from the New World School of Arts/Miami Dade Community College, Miami, with an Associate of Arts Degree in Dance and General Studies. Jennifer was also named to the Dean’s list with Distinction several semesters. Jennifer is Bilingual-Spanish, CPR Certified and holds her Professional Affiliation with AFAA in Aerobic and Fitness Association of America.

Carlie Fink, a native of Laurinburg, North Carolina, began her childhood dance training in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Pointe, Hip Hop, Lyrical, Modern and Clogging at the Karen Gibson School of Dance in Laurinburg. Carlie has outstanding dance education including: Summer intensive studies at the North Carolina School of Arts in Winston-Salem; Laurinburg School of Dance Arts under Director, Tayna Drakeford; Shake The Floor in New York City; Crystal McInnis School of Dance in Bennettsville, SC; and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Dance, with a concentration in Performance and Choreography, from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Carlie’s accomplished performance repertoire includes the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Spartan G Dance Team member; Membership on both senior and junior level dance competition teams; and Principal and soloist roles in The Nutcracker Ballet by Encore Productions. Carlie has worked as an assistant dance teacher for children ages 3-12 years in creative movement, ballet, hip-hop, and tap. Additionally, Carlie works as the assistant coach and choreographer for the UNCG Spartan G Dance Team, currently teaches pre-school thru advanced classes at The Dance Center of Greensboro and is on faculty with The Academy of Dance Arts, Inc. DCG welcomes Carlie’s amazing dance abilities, extraordinary technique, and outstanding role model and leadership qualities into its program.

Mimi Lauritsen, a native of Burlington, NC, is a certified Pilates and Fitness Trainer. She has several years experience and course study in the fields of physical fitness and Pilates education. Her teaching accreditations include Power Pilates Mat Certification, Pilates Certification Center for both Cadillac and Reformer Apparatus, and Personal Trainer Certification from Interactive Fitness Trainers of America. Mimi has been studying ballet with Jeanne Alala for 3 years, has accomplished Cecchetti Ballet Grades I-IV, and is currently working on Grade V. Additionally, she has collaborated with Mrs. Alala and initiated an original Dance/Pilates/Fitness program. This program is based on a combination of her personal training/Pilates background along with her ballet education. The program is specifically designed to help dancers achieve peak performance through the foundation of core strength, along with a balance of cardio vascular endurance and flexibility training, which the art of dance requires. Mimi currently lives and works in Greensboro as a private Personal Trainer and Pilates Mat/Apparatus instructor. She is enrolled at Greensboro College and is working towards a degree in the Liberal Studies program, with a primary concentration in Exercise and Sport Science with a secondary concentration in Psychology.

Denise DeForest Pastoor lives her passion to teach mind, body, spirit wellness and embrace the Joy of Movement through Nia. With 30 years experience in behavioral health as a psychiatric clinical nurse specialist and wellness educator, she understands the incredible healing power of our mind, body, spirit connection. Through her wellness consulting business, Holistic Muse, she has channeled her energy into integrative holistic health, focusing on teaching people to develop powerful skills in self-healing, intuitive wisdom, and personal growth. Denise has years of experience as a presenter and workshop facilitator at national conferences, community programs, and business organizations and has published articles on wellness topics. As a Board-certified Healing Touch practitioner and certified Nia instructor, Denise empowers people to deepen their knowledge and experience the power of energy work and movement in health and healing. She believes that Nia is a perfect path to creating optimal health through movement… finding the joy of moving your body’s way, dancing your spirit, releasing tension, reducing pain, and promoting healing. Denise received her Master’s in Education in Counseling from Georgia State University and her BSN in Nursing from University of Virginia. Living in Greensboro with her husband and 2 sons in college, she spends her free time in nature …collecting rocks, dancing, hiking, and camping. “I was totally hooked on Nia from my very first class… I felt very passionate about sharing it with others. It is an exhilarating, powerful, and joyful way to listen to your body’s wisdom, express your inner soul, and quiet your busy mind. It is much more than fusion fitness, it is a lifestyle that allows us to grow, heal, and nurture ourselves!”