Faculty | academydancecenter

Academy Faculty

Brantley Arrington

Director - Owner

Brantley has recently moved back to Columbus after spending over 10 years in Chicago and Texas dancing professionally. While training at the Academy of Fine Arts under the direction of Patty Taylor, he completed his first degree in Early Childhood Education and Teacher Certification from Columbus State University. To further his dance education, Brantley was awarded the Nordan Fine Arts Scholarship from Texas Christian University in Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX. At TCU, he was a member of the Chi Tau Epsilon Dance Honor Society and earned his second degree graduating Magna Cum Laude in Ballet. While in Texas, Brantley danced with the Ballet Concerto Dance Company and trained under the late Fernando Bujones, of the American Ballet Theatre and Orlando Ballet.
             To continue his dance career, Brantley moved to Chicago and was a scholarship recipient for Lou Conte-Hubbard Street Dance School. For 5 seasons, Brantley performed professionally throughout Chicago and toured both nationally and internationally to Japan. He is a former company member of Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre, Inaside Chicago Dance, and Joel Hall’s Dial Dance Company. Brantley’s diverse stylistic performances in Chicago include various works with Chicago Crash, Dance Chicago, Lyric Opera Works, Alliance Dance, and soloist with Ballet Arts-Scholastica.
              While performing in Chicago, Brantley completed his Master of Arts degree in Teaching with an emphasis in Education and Dance from North Park University, graduating with honors. He is a current member of the Chicago National Association of Dance Masters and Dance Masters of America where he is certified, through rigorous testing, to instruct classes of all levels in Ballet, Jazz, Modern, and Tap.
               For over 15 years, Brantley has been on the faculty of numerous dance studios where he instructs classes, intensives, master classes, and choreography workshops. His classes include Ballet, Jazz, Pointe, Lyrical, Contemporary, Modern, and Partnering. Brantley’s span of choreography includes Ballet & Contemporary dance companies, musical theatre productions, and competitions nationwide. Since 2006, he was the resident choreographer for the Lane Theater in Chicago and has received countless Platinum, Overall, and Top Choreography honors and awards. Along with dance instruction, Brantley has served as Jazz Director, Competition Team Coordinator, and Dance Curriculum Advisor for several dance studios.
              In addition to his dance career, Brantley is a certified Group Fitness Instructor. He leads a variety of classes including Yoga, Pilates, Aerobics, and Conditioning.

Leah Stewart

Assistant Director

Leah Flynn is a graduate from Georgia College & State University in Milledgeville, GA with a Bachelor's of Science in Psychology. She is currently attending Troy University for her Master's degree in School Counseling. Leah trained for 17 years at the Academy of Fine Arts Dance Center in Columbus, GA where she was a member of the Apprentice Dance Company and competition team. She was a 4-year member of the Hardaway High School Dance Team, graduating in 2009. While dancing with Hardaway, she traveled to Miami, FL and performed in the Orange Bowl Halftime Entertainment show in 2007. Leah was captain of the Hardaway Dance Team her senior year and a state champion team member in 2008.
At GCSU, Leah was a member and head choreographer for the award winning dance team, The Sassy Cats. On the team she trained with numerous Hip Hop and Jazz choreographers including Stephen Jones, star dancer in the Step Up movie series. During her senior year as captain, she led the team to their Peachbelt trophy win with her stylized Hip Hop/Jazz routine mix.
Leah is a former dance instructor with the Universal Dance Association (UDA), where she traveled the southeast instructing Hip Hop, Jazz, Lyrical, Pom, and Kick dance to students of all levels.
Currently, Leah is now the head coach and choreographer of the Hardaway High School Dancin' Hawks as well as the Columbus High School Dancin' Blue Devils, where both teams hold top award winning records under her direction. She is the Hip Hop and Dance Team program director at the Academy. She is also a coach and choreographer for the "Celebrity" competition team. Her teen/senior large group hip hop routine was selected in the top 5 out of 300+ routines at International Dance Challenge 2014 as well as her Energizers large group hip hop routine received the Judge's Choice Award out of the Petite division at Celebration dance competition in 2014

Ann Flynn

Office Manager - Instructor

Ann has been the Academy Office Manager for 18 years. She is the Mini-Motions Coordinator and also a Specialist in instruction for our young dancers with 24 years of dance and teaching experience. She is a graduate of Troy University and previously taught in the public school systems in Florida and Columbus. She is married to Joe Flynn and they have six daughters.

Laura Broaddus

Instructor

Laura began her dance career when she was 3 years old at the Academy of Fine Arts. During her early dance years, she was a member of the Academy’s ‘Jazzy Juniors’ performance team and competed in numerous dance competitions and performances.
When she was 13 years old she moved to Ohio where she continued her dance training and cheered for her high school competitive cheerleading team. Laura coached pee-wee cheerleading for 4 years and during her junior and senior year of high school, Laura’s team won the Top Award in the state of Ohio for her award winning competition routines.
After graduation, Laura returned to Columbus and resumed dancing with the Academy. She most recently danced with our Academy’s competition team and competed in Celebrity Dance Competition’s Nationals at Sea where her Contemporary Trio won Top Overall First Place at Nationals! Laura has performed in numerous Academy productions and is thrilled to share her love of dance with the students at the Academy.

Leslie Ginn

Instructor

Leslie is a graduate of Valdosta State University in Valdosta, Georgia with a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts in Interior Design. She trained locally with the Academy of Fine Arts Dance Center in Columbus, GA in addition to instructing throughout the southeast collectively for 20 years. She was a member of the PTADC and competition team for many years. Leslie graduated from Hardaway High School in 2009 while being in the International Baccalaureate Program. While at Hardaway, she traveled to Miami, FL and performed in the Orange Bowl Halftime Entertainment show in 2007. She was also a member of the 2008 State Championship winning dance team for both jazz and hip hop divisions. After graduation, Leslie auditioned and became an instructor for Universal Dance Association. As a UDA Instructor, she taught many genres of dance including jazz, hip hop, kick, pom and lyrical as well as judging competitions across the southeast.

During her time at Valdosta, she worked as a dance coach and choreographer for Winnersville Elite Cheer and Dance in both their recreational and competition departments. While at Valdosta State, she was a 4 year member of the Red Hots dance team and was captain her senior year. The Red Hots dance team is a 4 time NDA National Championship winning team and Leslie was a member for 2 of those 4 national titles in the Open and Hip Hop divisions.

Leslie is also a coach and award winning choreographer for the “Celebrity” competition team here at the Academy. She is happily married to Andy Ginn and enjoying life with their two dogs, Gurley and Molly.

Michele Rogers

Instructor

Michele is originally from Columbus and has over 20 years of dance instructor experience ranging from Ballet, Jazz, Musical Theatre, Contemporary/Lyrical and Hip Hop. She is a former member and soloist with the Springer Ballet Company under the direction of Sonja Manzi. Michele danced competitively for over 15 years and has choreographed numerous overall award winning routines for many companies. Currently, she is one of the resident choreographers for the Springer Opera House where she just completed choreography for Sweeny Todd.

Michele Rogers

Instructor

Michele is originally from Columbus and has over 20 years of dance instructor experience ranging from Ballet, Jazz, Musical Theatre, Contemporary/Lyrical and Hip Hop. She is a former member and soloist with the Springer Ballet Company under the direction of Sonja Manzi. Michele danced competitively for over 15 years and has choreographed numerous overall award winning routines for many companies. Currently, she is one of the resident choreographers for the Springer Opera House where she just completed choreography for Sweeny Todd.

Laura Stokes

Instructor

Laura is from Columbus, Georgia. She danced for 22 years with over 14 years of dance instructor experience. As a former member of the Patty Taylor Contemporary Dance Company, she has performed and studied in Australia, New Zealand, Mexico and New York. She has received numerous awards for her choreography at state, regional and national levels. Laura is also the PreSchool Dance Instructor at St. Luke School.

Laura graduated from Columbus State University with a degree in Early Childhood Education and taught in the Muscogee County School District for 4 years before starting her family. She is married to her husband Ryne and they have two children, Luke and Nora.

Laura Stokes

Instructor

Laura is from Columbus, Georgia. She danced for 22 years with over 14 years of dance instructor experience. As a former member of the Patty Taylor Contemporary Dance Company, she has performed and studied in Australia, New Zealand, Mexico and New York. She has received numerous awards for her choreography at state, regional and national levels. Laura is also the PreSchool Dance Instructor at St. Luke School.

Laura graduated from Columbus State University with a degree in Early Childhood Education and taught in the Muscogee County School District for 4 years before starting her family. She is married to her husband Ryne and they have two children, Luke and Nora.

Ellie Espiritu

Instructor

Ellie is a senior at St. Anne Pacelli Catholic School where she is a member of the National Honor Society, Spanish Honory Society, and Art Honor Society. She is a student ambassador at her school as well as a graduate of the Chamber of Commerce Youth Leadership of Columbus. Ellie has been an Academy dancer since she was 2 1/2 years old and has held character roles in Academy Productions. She is a 'Celebrity' Competition Team member and has progressed through the Academy's Teacher Assistant program. Ellie plans on studying Early Childhood Education after graduation.

Patty Taylor

Founder - Past Director

Patty, a graduate of Northwestern University, Evanston, IL., was the Owner and Director of the Academy for 45 years. Her certified training influenced students over many years to seek professional performing dance careers all over the United States, as well as become dance teachers and studio owners. As Artistic Director for the Patty Taylor Contemporary Dance Company for 26 years, the company toured internationally in Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Greece and with the Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines.