Wanda plemmons, director
Wanda Plemmons serves as Director and Owner of the Academy of Dance Arts, Inc. where she studied Ballet at an early age. Wanda's training continued at the University of N.C. School of the Arts where she serves currently on the Board of Associates. She helped found the Alumni Association and served as President of the Alumni at U.N.C.S.A for several years. Wanda also sat on the Chancellor's Search Committee and the Governor's Choice for Teaching Excellence Committee. Wanda was designated "Outstanding Teacher in the Arts" by UNC School of Arts in 2009 and participated in the graduation ceremonies. She performed with the Winston-Salem Civic Ballet Co., Governor's School and University of N.C. School of the Arts productions. Wanda has been a guest teacher for Wake Forest University and the N.C. Governor's School , served as dance consultant for C.M.S. and choreographed numerous pieces for local concerns including R.J.R's The Vantage, the City of Winston-Salem, Hanes Mall and Disney's 'Kid Jam". Wanda serves on the President's Advisory Council for Small Business Leaders of the U.S.
Follow this link to see a short film about North Carolina School of the Arts alumnus and ADA owner, Wanda Plemmons, This film was produced by the school as a part of their This School, This City project.
Madisyn thomas, director
Madisyn Thomas is originally from Winston-Salem and danced at the Academy of Dance Arts throughout middle and high school. Madisyn continued her dance education at the University of South Carolina where she graduated with a BA in Dance Performance and Choreography. During her time at USC, she had the opportunity to perform in ballets such as Walpurgisnacht and The Firebird. Madisyn has taught ballet, pointe, jazz, lyrical and tap classes at the Academy of Dance Arts. She loves being a part of the ADA family and looks forward to sharing her love of dance with students for many years to come.
Debbie Sayles
Debbie Sayles has been teaching for almost 40 years, all including the Academy of Dance Arts. She received her B.F.A. in dance from the University of N.C. at Greensboro. She received training at East Carolina and performed with the dance companies at both universities. Debbie joined the faculty at the Academy of Dance Arts, Inc. in 1983 and has trained and inspired thousands of dancers in her years of teaching as well as being instrumental in developing the Tap program. She also has taught Tap at Wake Forest University as an adjunct professor since the fall of 2010. She has completed tap pieces both in 2012 and 2015 to present in the Wake Forest University Fall Faculty and Guest Artist Dance Concert. Debbie's versatility in teaching has included the pre-ballet program as well as Jazz. Debbie is Mother to two daughters who are both graduates from the Academy, Megan and Katie.
Laura Barber
Laura Barber grew up dancing in Kentucky where she attended Governor's School of the Arts at age 17. She graduated with a BFA in Dance Performance from Radford University. Laura was a dancer with d a n a h b e l l a DanceWorks from 2008-2017, traveling up and down the east coast performing and teaching in residency. She has performed for various choreographers since moving to W-S in 2012. Laura began teaching at ADA in 2013 and has since had 2 children, who you might see running around the studio from time to time.
David Hawk
David Hawk, a hip hop dancer, has been dancing since the fourth grade. This included being the leader of various dance groups and dance ministries throughout middle and high school. He then traveled with the recording artist Eddie James where he was the leader of the hip hop dance group Excalibur. David is the founder of the Hip Hop Out the Box dance workshop. He has been teaching hip hop dance to students around the triad from ages 6 to adult since 2006. From old school, new school, popping, locking, animation, krump or the latest viral dance craze David is a constant learner of the Hip Hop dance scene. You can also find David teaching ballroom dancing within the local school systems as a Dancing Classrooms teaching artist. You can follow him on Instagram @thedavidhawk
Claire Ketner
Claire Ketner began dancing at the Academy of Dance Arts at the age of 9 and continued through high school. She graduated from Salem College with degrees in Dance and English. At Salem, Claire choreographed for multiple dance concerts and performed and presented works at the American College Dance Association conferences. Post college she worked in the administrative arm of dance education in Brooklyn, NY, where she developed as both an administrator and teacher. She’s happy to be back “home” at ADA and looks forward to sharing the legacy of the teachers and mentors who have shaped her.
Kaci Hedgecock
Administrative: Crystal Thomas
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