Faculty

dANA SMITH CRAIN
FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR

Dana Crain first opened Woodstock School of Ballet in 1985. Her early training included many years with Stanley Zompakos, a former member of New York City Ballet. In summer studies as a youth, she had instruction from Alexandra Danilova, Melissa Hayden, Robert Joffrey, Patricia Neary, Karel Shook, Patricia Wilde, Billy Wilson, Duncan Noble and Yurek Lazowski. In 1976 Ms. Crain earned a B.F.A degree in Dance from the University of South Florida and was awarded a City Spirit grant from the Tampa Arts Council for her choreographic contribution to Tampa’s Bicentennial celebration. A member of the Carl Ratcliff Dance Theater of Atlanta for six years, Ms. Crain toured extensively throughout the southeast. She also performed with Ruth Mitchell Dance Company and Susan Eldridge and Dancers. She has had master workshops with many modern dance companies including those directed by Murray Louis, Lar Lubovich, Alwin Nickolai, Jose Limon, Martha Graham, Twyla Tharp, Merce Cunningham and Erick Hawkins. Since 1986 Ms. Crain has been an adjudicator for the Georgia Governor’s Honors Program in Dance. In addition to teaching and directing at WSB, Ms. Crain has instructed dance at Shorter College, Berry College, Northside School for the Performing Arts (North Atlanta HS), Dalton School of Ballet, The Creative Arts Guild, Chattanooga Center for the Dance and Interlochen Arts Academy. From 1978-1986 Ms. Crain directed the dance programs for the Gilmer Arts Council and the Blue Ridge Mountains Arts Association. Also a past member of the Board of Directors for the Cherokee Arts Center, Ms. Crain has been recognized in all 3 communities for her outstanding contribution to the arts. She and her husband, Robert, have lived in Cherokee County since 1984 and have two wonderful daughters who grew up dancing at WSB.

Lizzie Baker
INSTRUCTOR

Lizzie Baker graduated in May 2014 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Dance with an emphasis in Modern Choreography from Shenandoah Conservatory. She is a native of Dalton, Georgia. In her youth, Lizzie had the privilege to study under a few notable names in the greater Atlanta area; including Monica Coulter, Michael Hollier, Lonnie E. Davis Jr., Elizabeth Fisher, Jessie Fincher, Kara Marcum and Nicole Mickey. After graduating from Dalton High School in 2010, Lizzie took a semester off from school to study with Atlanta Ballet under the instruction of Carol Szkutek. During that time, she also traveled between Georgia and North Carolina to choreograph for show choirs at Dalton High School in Dalton, GA and Durham School of the Arts in Durham, NC.  In January 2011, Lizzie chose to further her dance education by attending Shenandoah Conservatory; an institution that is rapidly gaining international recognition and respect. While there, Lizzie had the chance to study under the likes of Linda Miller, Erica Helm, Maurice Fraga, Ting-Yu Chen, Alan Arnett, Elijah Alhadji Gibson and Tiffanie Carson. During her time at Shenandoah University, she had the opportunity to work with a number of guest artists, including Jon Lehrer (Lehrer Dance), Erica Gionfriddo and Curtis Uhlemann (Arcos Dance) and Mike Esperanza (BAREdance Company). Her professional engagements of note include dancing with Flying Lions Dance Company (Washington, D.C) , Ekilibre Dance Company (San Diego, CA) and  Lobrace Dance Works (New York, NY). Lizzie and husband, Gordon, live in the Atlanta area and are the proud parents of two precious pooches!

Jane Kerley
Instructor

Jane Kerley, an Alabama native, began her dance training at the age of 6 at Briarwood Ballet. At age 14, Jane was accepted into Ballet Exaltation, Briarwood Ballet's pre-professional touring company. She toured nationally and internationally, including performances in the cities of Holguin and Santa Clara, Cuba. After graduating high school, Jane was invited to dance with Ballet Magnificat in Jackson, Mississippi where she performed through their professional training program for 2 years, as well as helped counsel groups of young dancers at their annual Summer Dance Intensive. Jane was offered a company artist position with Magnum Opus in Madison, Wisconsin, for its premier season. She had the opportunity to perform both soloist and corps roles for 2 years in the Madison area, as well as throughout the Midwest. While in Wisconsin, she also taught and choreographed regularly for a local studio, and was able to share her love of dance with her students. Jane is very active in her church, Resurrection Anglican Church, where husband Tyler serves as Rector. She is excited to teach the art of dance to students throughout the local community!

Melissa Bryant
Instructor

Melissa Bryant has been teaching and choregraphing in the metro Atlanta area since 1996.  Ms. Bryant began her teaching career under the guidance of Dana Crain at the Woodstock School of Ballet.  She served as Assistant Associate Director for the Kennesaw Dance Troupe and Cobb Dance Academy.  While there she helped stage and choregraph numerous productions including the The Wizard of Oz, The Nutcracker, The Little Mermaid and countless other productions.  Ms. Bryant also served as Rehearsal Assistant for the Fayette Ballet. A native of Woodstock, GA, Ms. Bryant received her early training from the Ruth Mitchell Dance Studio under the guidance of Ms. Ruth before joining WSB and the Cherokee Ballet Theatre.  A graduate of Kennesaw State University, Ms. Bryant danced professionally with the Georgia Ballet under the direction of Iris Hensley and artistic directors Gina Hyatt-Mazon and Janusz Mazon.  While at the Georgia Ballet, Ms. Bryant had the honor to dance in numerous ballets original works including George Balanchine’s Seranade, Septime Webre’s Where the Wild Things Are, Marius Petipa’s Pas De Quatre, Going Bach, Giselle and countless others.  Ms. Bryant also had the pleasure of dancing in numerous ballets for the Atlanta Festival Ballet under the direction of Nicolas Pacana and Gregory Aaron.  As a high school sophomore Ms. Bryant was honored to be selected as one of 16 dancers to attend the Georgia Governor’s Honors Program in Dance.  Ms. Bryant is excited to return “home” to teach and choregraph for WSB and the Cherokee Ballet Theatre.  She currently resides in Woodstock with her husband Kevin and two wonderful and talented children, Lauren and David.

Chelsea Grier
Instructor

Chelsea Grier began her studies at age three at the Woodstock School of Ballet. Under the direction of Dana Crain, she has studied Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Modern, Tap and Hip Hop. Chelsea joined the WSB Faculty while still in high school as a gifted Tap instructor and now directs the Tap program.  Upon graduation from Sprayberry High School in 2015 she attended Kennesaw State University. As a member of Cherokee Ballet Theatre, Chelsea had many lead roles in Nutcracker, and her favorites were Clara, Arabian and Rat Queen! Chelsea teaches Tap, Hip Hop, and children’s Ballet and brings a fun and energetic style to her classes and choreography!

Julia Nailor
Instructor, TCRG

Julia Nailor began Irish dancing as a youth at the Woodstock School of Ballet and trained as a competitive dancer for 14 years. In 2019, she retired at the Open Championship level under the instruction of Amanda Carpenter Gilleland, TCRG and Peter Gardner, TCRG at the Carpenter Academy of Irish Dance in Buford, GA. As a soloist, she placed in the top 10 at the Southern Region Oireachtas and competed at the North American Irish Dancing Championships in Orlando, FL and Vancouver, BC. As a Dance Drama team member, she won the 1st place title at the Southern Region Oireachtas, and her team went on to place 2nd overall at the 2018 World Championships in Glasgow, Scotland. As a Ladies 8-Hand Céilí dancer, she won 2nd place at the Southern Region Oireachtas with her team. She also had the honor of performing live with Gaelic Storm in Athens, GA and Asheville, NC. In March of 2022, Julia successfully achieved her teacher’s certification (TCRG) under An Coimisiún Le Rincí Gaelacha. She has also earned a Bachelor's degree in English from Kennesaw State University and a Master's degree in Social Work from the University of Georgia and works professionally as a therapist. Combining her passions for Irish dancing and mental health, Julia created an online educational resource for the dance community called Irish Dance for the Soul, which was featured in the Christmas 2021 issue of Irish Dancing Magazine. Through her work as a teacher as well as her ongoing community outreach efforts, she aims to help the next generation of dancers grow and strengthen their relationship with the sport.

josie wolfe
instructor

Josie Wolfe grew up studying Classical Ballet and continued her love of movement by studying Modern Dance and Choreography at the University of North Carolina, Greensboro. She also studied at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts, earning a degree in Dance Education. In addition, Josie earned a Master’s degree in Elementary Education. After the birth of her third child, Josie discovered Pilates, and was amazed by the repertoire of movement and the results on her body. After years of training, she went on to receive the highest quality of Pilates training through Pilates Core Integration under the tutelage of Kelly Letalian. Josie is trained at the most advanced level for mat work and all Pilates equipment. Josie’s background allows her to have a deep understanding of movement and dance, and what it takes to strengthen, stretch, align, and balance the body. Josie and husband, Grant, live in Woodstock and have three beautiful and active children!

emily cruse
instructor

Emily Cruse began dancing at age three at the Academy of Dance Arts in Canton, Georgia, before joining the Woodstock School of Ballet as a company dancer at age ten. She has studied ballet, pointe, jazz, contemporary, and modern dance. Similarly, at age ten, she began Irish dancing at the Woodstock School of Ballet before joining the Carpenter Academy of Irish Dance at sixteen and beginning her competitive career. Emily currently dances at the championship level and has had the opportunity to attend competitions across the United States including the Southern Region Oireachtas and North American Irish Dance Championships, where she placed among the top dancers in the traditional set competition. Additionally, she currently attends Kennesaw State University and is working to earn a bachelor’s degree in political science. Emily is thrilled to be an assistant for CAID Woodstock’s beginner Irish dance classes and is passionate about sharing her love for Irish dance with the next generation of dancers.  

michele girard
instructor

Michele Girard is a veteran dance educator and choreographer with roots in classical ballet, trained through the New Jersey School of Ballet’s pre-professional program. She performed professionally in Equity productions like Showboat, Hello, Dolly!, and Jerry’s Girls, as well as in shows at Walt Disney World and international venues in Japan. Michele spent nearly a decade as owner and director of The Dancer’s Studio, where she taught ballet, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, and tap to students of all ages and choreographed full-scale productions, including an annual Nutcracker. She has also taught and choreographed at leading studios and academies across several states. A passionate coach and mentor, Michele has led competitive dance teams at Sherwood and Etowah High Schools, guiding them to success through technique training, choreography, and performance coaching. Her teaching is rooted in the Vaganova method and blends technical rigor with creative expression. She is thrilled to bring her experience and passion to the Woodstock School of Ballet and looks forward to working with its talented dancers.

Amanda Neeley brings over 40 years of experience to the dance world as both a performer and educator. She began her training in Powder Springs, Georgia, and continued her studies with Ballet Rotaru and Atlanta Ballet. She furthered her training during summers in New York City at David Howard Studios, Steps on Broadway, and Broadway Dance Center. She performed professionally with the Georgia Ballet under the direction of Iris Hensley, dancing in productions such as Giselle, The Sleeping Beauty, Carmen, and I Never Saw Another Butterfly. 

For more than 30 years, Amanda has shared her passion, technique, and dedication with dancers throughout the Atlanta area. For the past 25 years, she has been an integral member of the faculty at Impact Dance of Atlanta. Known lovingly by her students as “Ms. Mandy,” she takes pride in mentoring dancers—many of whom have gone on to successful professional careers in dance and the performing arts.

In addition to teaching, Amanda is also a respected dance photographer, capturing striking images for dancers and studios across metro Atlanta and the Southeast.