• Graduate, Idear Steele Traylor School of Dance, Richmond, Virginia

• Opened Traylor Dance Academy in 1954.

• Studied in New York City with the National Academy of Ballet, June Taylor School of Dance, Ernest Carlos, Phil Black, Jack Stanley, Matt Mattox, Don Farnworth, Ewalani, George Chaffee and the American Ballet Society.

• Over 2500 hours of dance seminar training with national & international dance organizations.

• A former member of the executive board of the Miss Petersburg Pageant and a founding member of the Miss Tri-Cities Pageants.

• Certified to teach by Dance Educators of America

• Member, DEA and Professional Dance Teachers Association

• Director of TDA Childrens Theatre and TDA Modeling Program

• Graduate with honors from the Greenwood Girl Modeling & Charm School

• Dancer/Singer with King’s Dominion

• Shenandoah Conservatory

• Old Dominion University

• Dancer / Singer with Kings Dominion

• Point Park College

• Faculty, VSU 1988

• National Seminar, TumbleBear Gym Program

• Extensive training in New York City with Charles Kelly, Ronn Forella, Phil Black, Luigi, Frank
  Hatchett, Steps and The American Dance Machine.

• Coach/Choreographer TDA Regional and National Dance Champions and the TDA All Stars Dance Teams

• National "Best Choreography" Award

Natasha Ackerman Hester ~ Artistic & Teaching Director

Mary Ellen Hurt ~ Associate Teacher

• Mary Ellen began dancing at Traylor Dance Academy when she was 2 yrs old.

• Student assistant for 3 years, Assistant Instructor for 3 years, primary teacher at satellite studio
  for 4 years and an associate teacher for 13 years.

• Award winning regional & national champion of Dance Educators of America, Dance Caravan,
  Dance Troupe, Inc. and Dance Makers, Inc.

• Trained in all types of dance and gymnastics.

• Liz Marks Casting, Movie “Asunder” extra in 5 scenes and stand in for lead actress.

• Performed in more than 25 musical theatre productions in the Tri-Cities area and Richmond,
  including Lee Playhouse, Theatre IV and Dogwood Dell

• Kennedy documentary, Nippon Television, (Kathleen Kennedy)

• American Musical & Dramatic Arts Academy in NYC.

• Dance training from TDA locally; Steps on Broadway and Broadway Dance Center, NYC.

• Vocal training from Shirley Townsend and Paul Bartsch locally and Heather Pertruzelli, NYC

• Former Jr. and Sr. Miss I Love Dance

• National photogenic winner, Starquest

• Richmond Raiders Pro Football Cheer and Dance Team