Our Teaching Staff


  • Int/Advanced Hip Hop

    Maki is a professional Japanese dancer. Since relocating to Atlanta in 2021, she has performed as a dancer for Feid at the opening ceremony of Copa America 2024 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium and has appeared in various prominent media around Atlanta including Atlanta Hawks shows, radio appearances, TV shows, and newspapers.

    While serving as a lecturer at Emory University, she is also actively working to invigorate the Japanese community through dance.



  • Director of Ignite Musical Theater Co.

    Payton McCarty began dancing at the age of 3, training extensively at the Atlanta Jazz Theatre with a focus on tap, jazz, ballet, and musical theatre. While attending the University of Georgia, she continued her dance training with the UGA Tap Dawgs, UGA Dance Department, and Dancefx, Inc. She graduated in 2010 with a degree in Child and Family Development. Throughout her career, she has performed, directed, and taught at various churches, schools, and community organizations both overseas and in the Athens and Atlanta areas.

    Notably, Payton served as the Managing Director for Dancefx Atlanta for 8 years, directed the Xtensity Performance Company and Soundfx Musical Theatre Company, and also choreographed numerous school musical productions. She is passionate about using dance as a form of storytelling and loves helping people find joy in self-expression through dance.

    Beyond the dance studio, Payton is an assistant director of a live production team that trains and equips individuals in lighting design, live audio, and live video broadcast. She also works to merge her dance and live production experience to tell the stories of those affected by injustice.



  • Youth Tap/Jazz

    Emily grew up dancing at various studios in the Alpharetta/Metro Atlanta Area, such as World Of Dance, Allstar Dance with Allison Polaski, and Footnotes Dance and Acrobatics, as well as training in Theater with Christian Youth Theater (CYT) and various school programs. She participated in the Vibe Performance company in Roswell, GA. Emily is a proud advocate for dancers with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) and Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS). After years learning hypermobility management from professionals at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Emily shares a passion for integrating the priority of health into dance. As an adult, Emily returned to dance as an Xtensity Performance Company and Aesthetic Ballet Ensemble member, performing in Wonka: The Last Golden Ticket and The Nutcracker with Dancefx Atlanta.


  • Director of Sparks Musical Theater Co.

    Born and raised in Dunwoody, GA, Hope fell in love with dancing at age three. She continued to dance with the Expression in Motion Dance Company where she began teaching at age sixteen. Hope began her musical theater journey in high school, performing and assisting with choreography. Through over five years of working with youth musical theater camps, most recently, the 2024 DanceFX Atlanta’s Triple Threat musical theater camp, she found a way to share her love of theater with the next generation. She danced with DanceFX Atlanta’s Xtensity, TheatriX, and Elevate companies this past year, and is excited to continue dancing with Metro Atlanta Dance this fall. Hope is a student at Georgia State University, where she is getting her degree in Speech Communications with a minor in Journalism.


  • Director of Boomboxers Dance Crew

    Tyler Kidd is a multifaceted artist who not only likes teaching dance, but also makes music, does theatre, and creates social media content. He has been trained in a handful of dance styles and is also a vocal coach. As a teaching artist, he has been able to work as a local choreographer for several years. His plan is to soon be able to travel around the country and eventually the world performing in shows!


  • Yoga with Joka

    Joka is a dedicated yoga practitioner who is currently working towards her 500-hour Yoga Teacher Training (YTT) certification. Starting her day with journaling and a dedicated asana practice, she embodies a commitment to personal growth and self-discovery through yoga. With experience practicing yoga in both Europe and the United States, she brings a diverse perspective to her practice and teaching. She particularly enjoys gentle yoga practices that focus on mindfulness and breathwork, creating a nurturing and holistic experience for her students. Through her dedication to her own practice and her passion for sharing the benefits of yoga with others, Joka inspires those around her to cultivate a deeper connection to themselves and the world around them.


  • Director of Elevate Heels Company

    Tricia is an Atlanta native who’s passion for dance grew at Pope High School while dancing with the marching band. While attending Georgia State University, she performed with the Pantherette Dance Team and Georgia State Color Guard. Tricia began dancing professionally as a WNBA Atlanta Dream Cheerleader, an event performer, and as a member of the Gwinnett Dance Project. Tricia is a member of Creatives Company (a professional hip hop team); she directs the Dance and Flag Line at Woodward Academy, and she directs Elevate Heels Company.


  • Co-Director of Reverie Ballet Co.

    Moriah Mattson grew up in Marietta, GA and trained at Georgia Metropolitan Dance Theatre/Georgia Dance Conservatory through early high school. And, she spent summers at various ballet intensives such as American Ballet Theatre, Joffery Ballet, and Atlanta Ballet. She then began dancing at Kennesaw State University and Atlanta Ballet. After graduation, Moriah decided to pursue engineering as her career, but continued dancing at Georgia Tech in the DanceTech company where she was the secretary and then was later part of the Johns Hopkins Ballet Company. Post-graduation, Moriah began taking classes at DanceFX and where she was a company member and teacher. She is excited to start this new year at Metro Atlanta Dance where you will find her teaching ballet and pointe as well as still dancing!


  • Instructor

    Melissa Hoover began her dance training in tap at the age of 13. Since then, she has expanded her technical training to other styles including jazz, contemporary, lyrical, ballet, and hip-hop. Though high school, she was a part of several performance dance companies in Arizona. Since moving to Atlanta, Melissa continued her passion for dance and performance as an adult, taking classes and performing with DanceFX Atlanta Studio in the Aesthetic Ballet, Xtensity, and Tap companies. She has also performed with FlexCo Dance company in the styles of hip-hop and contemporary and was featured in the 2019 Super Bowl Halftime Show in Atlanta. Melissa takes every opportunity to continue to learn and take class, and loves to share her passion for dance with adults and teens whether they have been dancing for years or it is their first day.


  • Instructor

    Julia began her dance journey in 2012 with Dancefx Atlanta’s first performance company. She studied regularly under the familiar faces of Kia Street and Payton McCarty and later progressed to teach her own youth and adult classes. From 2018-2023, she attended the University of Georgia and performed with Dancefx Athens’ Concert Company in several shows including: DanceAthens, Adventures of Pocahontas, Cinderella: A Modern Fairytale, Mary Poppins, Hercules, Dancing with the Athens Stars, and Xpanse in NYC. During this time, she guest-choreographed for Georgia Dance Team (2020-2022) and Sigma Kappa’s Greek Grind performance (2021). Since 2019, Julia has also translated her passion of dance into film by co-directing numerous projects involving Dancefx companies such as “Fine Line”, “Moon//White Ferrari”, “On the Attack”, and “Oh Ms Believer”. After moving back to Atlanta in 2023, Julia has danced with and guest-choreographed for Xtensity Dance Company, performed at the Emory Performing Arts Center with Divine Dance Studio, and trained with Atlanta Contemporary Dance Company and XCEL Studios. She is thrilled to join the MAD faculty for the 2024-2025 season and looks forward to its new chapter!


  • Instructor

    Ms. Athena Cosby, the owner of D2D Awards Entertainment and Talent Management. She has also served as a performer, choreographer, director, playwright, screenwriter, vocalist, and actress. She has more than 20 years of experience in Dance and created a dance awards show that recognizes and showcases dancers who are making an impact in their communities through dance. She has done this regionally in the USA, as well as Internationally, bringing communities together through the art of dance. The D2D Awards Show is what started her journey and streamlined her dream into focusing on new platforms. Some of her choreography work has been featured Red Cross, Nike and MAC Cosmetic commercials.

Staff + Board

Emily

Marketing Manager

Graphic Design

Hope

Social Media Manager

Marketing Assistant

Margaret

First Vice President

Sophie

Front Desk Associate

Moriah

Treasurer

Kelle

Secretary

Damalia

Board Member

Parent Liason

Elizabeth

Board Member

Jordan

Board Member


  • Director of Youth Programs

    At the age of 9, Jennifer Cooper finally got to realize her dream of a dancing career when Perkins Elementary Performing Arts School was created in her hometown of St. Petersburg, FL. From there, she continued on to performing arts schools for both middle and high school as well as a local studio that offered her a scholarship. She spent every moment possible dancing and training. It was during this time at the studio, that she found a passion for teaching.

    Jennifer attended University of South Florida and received a BA in Dance Studies with Education. She started teaching in 2006, working at various locations including studios, a magnet school, day cares and special needs classes.  When she moved to the Altanta area, she taught with Creative Movement and Dance for 11 years. She takes every opportunity to learn more as she attends workshops and conferences, such as Dance Masters of America. Jennifer loves teaching students of all ages and levels. She currently dances and performs with DanceFX Atlanta Aesthetic and Xtensity companies as well as takes several classes each week.



  • Studio Director

    Kia J. Street began dancing at the age of three at Norma’s Academy of Dance and continued her training at Dance with Donna Webb. She decided to pursue a dance career while attending Fine Arts Magnet at Mount Zion High School, now named Martha Ellen Stilwell School of the Arts in Jonesboro, GA. Kia graduated from Valdosta State University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance in May 2015. While attending VSU she performed at the annual dance concerts, American College Dance Association, and during halftime with the marching band as a Blazette. She has choreographed for high school dance lines, the Emerging Artist Showcase at VSU, Modco Dance Company, and for Dancefx adult company members. Professionally, she has performed with Sideways Contemporary Dance Company, and Modco Dance Company. Currently, she performs in festivals around Atlanta and is in her third season with Fuerta Dance Company.

Kia

Studio Director

Adult Program Director

Janet

Executive Director

President

James

Board Member

Administrative Assistant

Jennifer

Second Vice President

Teacher Liason

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