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Taylor Benion

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Taylor Benion

Taylor Benion  (Office & Program Coordinator)

Taylor Benion’s began dancing at Ballethnic Academy of Dance, where she grew up performing in productions such as Urban Nutcracker and The Leopard Tale while participating in the Ballethnic Youth Ensemble (BYE). Her time at Ballethnic fostered a profound love for dance and the arts, shaping her passion and dedication to the craft.
Taylor pursued her studies at the University of South Carolina, earning a degree in Dance Education with K-12 certification and Exercise Science. After college, she embarked on a professional dance career, performing with companies including Ballethnic Dance Company, Dayton Contemporary Dance Company 2, and Washington Reflections Dance Company.
Following her performing career, Taylor earned her 200-hour yoga certification and transitioned into the education sector. She has worked in school systems as a teaching and advocating for dance education.
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Laila Howard

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Laila Howard

Laila Howard (Production Rehearsal Director/ Artistic Liaison)
 
Ms. Howard is the Production Rehearsal Director and Artistic Liason of Ballethnic Dance Company. She also serves as the Ballethnic Youth Ensemble manager and instructor of Ballet, Jazz, and Pointe at Ballethnic Academy of Dance. As a former company member and progeny of Ballethnic, her current work with the company is fueled by her long history and allegiance with the directors and the organization. 
 
Ms. Howard is a Magna Kum Laude graduate of Spelman College where she received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance. Throughout college, she trained with notable industry professionals including, Gary Abbot (Deeply Rooted), Christopher Huggins (Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater), and Jasmine Guy. Upon graduating, Laila joined Ballethnic Dance Company and TLang Dance Company. Ms. Howard danced full-time with Ballethnic for nearly 7 years, and had the honor of not only performing principal roles, but also training the students. Her work with the pre-professional trainees blossomed into mentorship and inspired her to author, The Fairy Tale Within, a practical self-empowerment guide to overcome mental barriers and negative thought patterns.   
In addition to dance, Laila teaches yoga, meditation, and guided breathwork locally and online for private clientele, corporations, and special events. As a mover and a healer, she is fueled to serve others, offering healing and self-empowerment through dance, yoga, and creative movement classes.
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Chantal Bartley

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Chantal Bartley

Chantal Bartley (Staff Associate) first came to Ballethnic in 2007 when she enrolled her daughter for Ballet VI. As a trained elementary educator with no dance background, she immediately saw the well thought out teaching process at Ballethnic. Ballethnic has been home ever since. Although she came to Ballethnic because of her daughter, she has consistently stayed and donated her time because she believes and has seen evidence of Ballethnic’s commitment to the whole child and the greater community. 

“I had the pleasure to be the academy administrator from 2014-2018. I left to return to full time teaching, continuing to volunteer for productions and other events. My wish was to be able to return in a more active capacity once I ended my teaching career. My wish has come true.” …..Chantal Bartley

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Willie Anderson

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Willie Anderson

Willie Anderson  (Staff Associate/Instructor) Mr. Anderson is a highly accomplished and multi-talented ballet teacher and choreographer with an impressive 20 years of professional performance experience. His dedication to the art form is evident in the versatility and passion he brings to every aspect of his work.

Mr. Anderson’s ballet training began at the D.M. Therrell High School, where he honed his technical skills. He later furthered his ballet education at the renowned Ballethnic Academy of Dance, where he refined and redefined his technique to an exceptional level.

After his extensive training, Mr. Anderson joined the esteemed Ballethnic Dance Company, where he gained invaluable professional experience performing classical ballet. He excelled in numerous principal roles, showcasing his artistry and technical prowess. Mr. Anderson’s talents were further recognized when he was invited to dance with the renowned Cleveland San Jose Ballet and Ballet San Jose, where he continued to captivate audiences with his mesmerizing performances.

Following his illustrious performance career, Mr. Anderson transitioned into the role of educator, sharing his wealth of knowledge and experience with aspiring dancers. He ventured abroad, accepting a position as a ballet instructor at Guangxi University in Nanning, China. Mr. Anderson’s expertise and leadership skills were further recognized when he was appointed as the Ballet Master for the prestigious Chongqing Ballet Company in Chongqing, China, where he honed the skills of the company’s dancers for seven successful years.

Driven by his passion for nurturing the next generation of ballet artists, Mr. Anderson eventually returned to his roots at the Ballethnic Dance Company. At Ballethnic, he is dedicated to imparting all that he has learned throughout his illustrious career, inspiring and guiding the talented dancers within the Ballethnic community.

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