Director of NADC - Mrs. Smartt has taught in the Huntsville area for the past 26 years.  She is a Magna Cum Laude graduate from the University of Alabama in Huntsville.  She has been a member of Dance Masters of America since 1983 and is currently on the Board of Directors, serving as chairman of the Performing Arts.  Mrs. Smartt has served as Programming Chairman for Panoply of the Arts.  She often shares her choreographic skills with area groups including Huntsville Community Chorus, Huntsville Chamber Orchestra, and most recently with Westminster Christian Academy.  Her many Choreographic Credits include 1999 Winner of Panoply of the Arts Choreography Competition (Schindler’s List), 2004 Ballet winner of Panoply of the Arts Choreography Competition (The River’s Lullaby) the 2004 Best Overall Winner of the Panoply of the Arts Choreography Competition (Dot’s Drive In), the 2005 Jazz winner of the Panoply of the Arts Choreography Competition (Chicago) and 4 Wings Award Nominations for Best Choreography.  Her Students and her pieces consistently win DMA’s Performing Arts Competition.  Mrs. Smartt’s greatest joy is to know that NADC students are learning correct technique, an appreciation for the Arts, are highly skilled and could study with the best any where in the world!  Her greatest compliment is to see former students at the recital each year coming back to find that NADC high standards, skill and creativity are going strong.

Barbara@NorthAlabamaDanceCenter.com


     Associate Director- Melony League is currently the Associate Director of North Alabama Dance Center. She is a life long Huntsville resident, and a Magna Cum Laude graduate of the University of Alabama in Huntsville. Melony has been studying and working in the dance community for the last 20 years. She has won the Panoply Choreography Competition an impressive 10 times. She has been a member of Dance Masters of America since 1998, and is currently serving as Miss Dance co-Chair. Through Dance Masters, Melony has been honored to receive numerous Best Choreography Awards, Grand Champion Awards, and twice be selected as DMA's Protégé Choreographer. Her choreography has also been adjudicated and at a National level, the most current of which placed her student in the top ten at the DMA National Miss Dance Competition. In the summer of 2001, Melony was selected to participate in the very prestigious Craft of Choreography Workshop hosted by Regional Dance America. Samples of her work were reviewed and RDA extended an invitation as one of 12 choreographers from over 600 applicants. Melony has served as guest choreographer and instructor for many dance and theatre groups both locally and nationally, most recently teaching Master classes at Dance Theatre Fairbanks and North Star Ballet in Alaska.
 
 
     Mary Katherine Smartt joined the NADC staff in 2003. She is a Radio City Rockette and has performed in New York since 2007.  This Christmas she will be performing in Nashville.  As a Rockette, Mary Katherine has danced on NBC’s TODAY show, ABC’s Rachel Ray, Food Network, Ace of Cakes, and NBC’s Radio City Christmas Spectacular.  In 2007 she was a Finalist in Dance Master of America’s Miss Dance Competition in New York City.  Locally she has performed as “Dorothy” in the Wizard of Oz, “Annie” in 42nd Street, and “Patty” in Grease.  Mary Katherine recently earned her teaching certification through DMA.  She is currently earning her Bachelor degree in communications at University of Alabama in Huntsville.

 

     In 2001, Mrs. Bernhard joined the NADC staff and brought with her vast performance and teaching experience.  She is an honor graduate of the University of Alabama in Birmingham.  After graduating from the Alabama School of Fine Arts, under the tutelage of Dame Sonia Arova, Thor Sutowski and Therese Laeger, Jennifer studied with Steven Grebel at UAB.  She has performed with Alabama Ballet, Lexington Ballet, Ballet South and Ballet Tennessee in "The Nutcracker", "Swan Lake", "Giselle", "La Bayadose", "Joan of Are" and "Fearful Symmetries" to name a few.  In London, Jennifer was chosen by Lynn Seymour to perform Juliet's variation from "Romeo and Juliet", a part that had been created for Ms. Seymour by Sir Frederick Ashton years earlier.  In 1992, Jennifer taught intermediate through advanced level ballet for The School of the Lexington Ballet.  From 1993-2000, Jennifer served as the Assistant Director of the Performing Company of Exclusively Ballet.  In addition to her work with NADC top levels, she has been the private ballet coach to Huntsville's top figure skaters and is currently on staff at the Point Mallard Ice Complex.  Jennifer's choreography has twice been featured in Panoply's Choreography Competition Finals (1997 and 1999).

   Mrs. Bonifay joined the NADC faculty in June of 2000.  Renee has extensive teaching experience in all levels and disciplines of dance.  She graduated with a Theatre major from Northwestern University with an emphasis in Dance.  Upon graduation, Mrs. Bonifay was on staff at the Howard Center for Dance in Centerville, Ohio.  She has many choreographic credits in Illinois and Oklahoma, where she worked with civic, theatre, and choral groups.  Mrs. Bonifay has choreographed many 1st place pieces in both regional and national Dance Masters of America Group and Line Competitions.   In 2005, Renee served as choreographer for the Madison Community Chorus' "The Wizard of Oz" and in 2006 she choreographed the ballet. "Small House of Uncle Thomas" for the Madison Community Chorus Production "The King and I".  She received Honorable Mention in the 2006 Panoply of the Arts Choreography Competition for "Boogie Man".

     Melissa has been a part of the NADC faculty since 1999.  She began her dance training at the age of 3 in Louisiana; when her family moved back to Huntsville she continued her training at North Alabama Dance Center.  She has trained extensively for 17 years in classical ballet, modern, jazz and tap under the instruction of Barbara Ellen Smartt and Wendy Graham.  In 1997, Melissa was chosen to dance the solo piece in Mountain Wedding, which won the Panoply Choreography Competition.   Melissa was a company member of Pointe Station for 5 years.  In "NOAH", Melissa danced many of the featured roles including the Rainbow Pas de Deux and the Peacock solo. Melissa will earn her degree in Elementary Education at Athens State this year.


     Sharon Curtis has been a part of the NADC family for over twenty-five years.  She began her dance training with Barbara Ellen Smartt and Wendy Graham at the age of three during the studio’s second year of operation.  Throughout her many years of dancing and performing, Sharon was awarded several opportunities and worked with numerous, reputable choreographers.  Although trained at length in the disciplines of ballet, tap, and jazz, Sharon’s true passion is for modern dance, as discovered while attending Duke University’s American Dance Festival in the summer of 2000.  Sharon has been teaching locally since the age of fifteen, and has been on staff at NADC since 2001.


     Katilyn Gokee joined the NADC staff for the 2010-2011 year.   Kaitlyn holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and a Minor in Dance and Culture from the University of Alabama.  While attending the  University she auditioned and was chosen to be on the University of Alabama’s official dance team “The Crimson Cabaret “ from Aug. ’06-May ’09 and  did choreography for the team in ’07, 08, and ‘09.  In ’06 the Universal Dance Association selected Kaitlyn as 1 of 15 instructors out of 250 in the southeast division of regional dance all-stars.  She was a traveling instructor for week-long dance camps for children 4th – 12th grade.  During her 4 years at college Kaitlyn served as a full-time instructor/choreographer at several of the high schools in the Tuscaloosa area and also taught ballet, jazz, and hip hop for an area dance studio. 


Office Manager / Recital Coordinator - Mrs. Gokee, known to NADC students as “Miss Kaye”, joined the NADC staff in 2000.  Kaye has 15 years experience in office management.  For 5 years, she taught computer skills at Monrovia Elementary School.  She has been involved in all aspects of dance for the past 26 years.  She twice served on the Executive Board of Pointe Station and as Costume Mistress for the ballet production of “NOAH”.  Mrs. Gokee’s goal is to manage the office in the most efficient manner possible through constant consideration of the teachers, dancers and parents needs. 

Kaye@NorthAlabamaDanceCenter.com

     For 25 years, Mike Rickles has entertained Huntsville audiences.  At the early age of twelve, he was a regular on television, playing his guitar and singing his way into our hearts.  His musical interests continued as a performer at Nashville's Opryland USA.  A UAH graduate with degrees in Administrative Science and music. Mike is an Industrial Chemical Salesman for Hill Manufacturing.  He is also Music Minister at the College Park Church of God where he and his wife and children attend. He enjoys choreographing large-scale musical productions. Among his choreography credits are "Children of Eden" and "Moondreams." Barbara Ellen and Mike first worked together in 1987 and are always glad to be on the same stage again! NADC audiences have enjoyed Mike as our Master of Ceremonies since 1999.