CDA Instructors and Staff

Megan Tankersley, Studio Manager, Company Director & Dance Instructor
Megan Tankersley began dancing at a young age at The Woodstock School of Ballet. She auditioned and joined the company Cherokee Ballet Theatre during her high school years. While in the company, she trained in ballet, pointe, modern, tap, and jazz. As a member of the company she also performed "The Nutcracker" for several years. Along with dance, she performed and choreographed many school and community plays while in high school. Megan graduated Cum Laude from Brenau University with a Liberal Studies degree with a concentration in theatre and dance. As a dance major at Brenau, she had the opportunity to study under Vincas Greene, Jolie Long, Carol Smiarowski, Alyssa Maddox, Matthew Rose from the Mark Morris Dance Group, and Gladys Balin-Stern from Alwin Nikolais. While in college, Megan was a member of the Brenau Dance Ensemble and performed in numerous Senior Thesis Dance Concerts and musicals with the Gainesville Theatre Alliance. Now, she is currently choreographing for CDA, local high schools, and community theatres where she gets the opportunity to educate and inspire her students through the arts of dance and theatre. Megan lives in Alpharetta with her husband Neil and their Boston terrier "Baxter."

E-mail: cdamanager@yahoo.com

Terry Fort-Bartlett, Accounts Receivable and Office Manager
Terry is no stranger to CDA, she was a dance parent for the past 5 years. Recently, her dancer daughter - Haley Fort - has graduated and is now attending the University of Georgia. Terry handles all office management for CDA and parent relations. She is also head of Security and Lobby Director during CDA's performances.

E-mail: terry@cda@yahoo.com

Tammy Ridings, Backstage Mom Coordinator & Acro-Cheer Program Director
A long time CDA Mom, Tammy handles all our coordinating and preparations for our backstage mom volunteers. All volunteers should go to Tammy with any questions or concerns about backstage procedures. Tammy provides all volunteers with a Backstage Mom Packet, will have a meeting one week prior to the shows, give out recital info at the shows upon arrival and handle all issues that may arise backstage. We are excited to have Tammy join our team for these once in a lifetime performances. The volunteers backstage are imperative to smooth running performances.

Julie Martin, Teacher Training & Quality Control Manager, Dance Instructor
Julie Martin started dancing at 3 years old. Originally from Hillsboro, Missouri, she was taught by Ann Gustafson until she was called to serve as a missionary to Africa in 2003. At the age of 11, Julie earned a place in the High Stepz Danze Company competition line where she spent many years competing both regionally and nationally. As a member of High Stepz Danze Company, she also performed in many community events including county fairs, parades, talent shows and various functions at schools, senior centers, and business parties. After teaching as an assistant throughout high school, Julie taught tap, ballet, jazz and tumbling/acrobatics at Jefferson College where she enjoyed helping others develop a love of dance. Julie is full-time with CDA as head of Teacher Training, our Quality Control Manager over all the teachers to ensure we are providing top quality instructor for our dancers, as well as one of our full-time dance instructors.