Dance Studio Faculty Bios
Dancers Unite takes special care in hand selecting amazing dance instructors. We truly believe that every child that takes a dance lesson at our dance studio is special, and so it is important to us that they are only taught by the best. You do not have to take our word for it; read for yourself here what amazing dance teachers we have!
Julie Emery (Owner/Instructor)
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Julie Emery went to Charlotte Catholic High School where she was salutatorian and a National Merit Scholar. Her academic and dance achievements in high school helped her become a McNair Scholar, giving her a full-tuition scholarship to the University of South Carolina. She is now a nationally recognized, award winning instructor and choreographer. |
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As an undergraduate, she was a member of the Pi Mu Epsilon, a National Honorary Mathematics Society, for which she served as treasurer. Among her awards in college were the College of Arts and Sciences Rising Senior Award and the Pi Mu Epsilon Award. Julie was also inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa Society. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of South Carolina with a bachelor of science in mathematics and a minor in dance.
Julie then continued her education at the University of South Carolina and obtained a master of science in mathematics. While obtaining her master's degree, Julie taught undergraduate mathematics at USC which helped her further realize her love of teaching all ages. Julie then went on to teach middle and high school students at Cardinal Newman School in Columbia, SC as well as college students at Midlands Technical College. Also during college she tutored elementary students through Carolina for Kids.
Throughout all of this, Julie never lost her love for dance. She started dance at a young age. Julie danced competitively for thirteen years, where she obtained numerous first place medals and overall scores. She has taken numerous classes up and down the East Coast, such as Broadway Dance Center in New York City and the Boston Ballet School, as well as competed up and down the East Coast. Her success has led to invitations to dance in the Pro Bowl and Citrus Bowl, and she has danced in Disney World (both Magic Kingdom and MGM). She danced on the Charlotte Catholic High School dance team for four years, during which the team placed first runner up in a national dance team competition. In college she performed with the USC Dance Company.
In addition to winning awards for her own dancing and academics, Julie is now winning awards for her dance teaching. The competition classes Julie teaches have won numerous top scores and first overalls, and she was one of the coaches of the current 2013 National Senior Jazz Champions & National Youth Jazz Champions. She herself was recently recognized by Dance Teacher Magazine for winning the Dance Teacher Instructional Video of the Month contest, where the editors of the magazine chose a video of her teaching tap. A feature was done about Julie for the October 2011 publication of the well respected national dance magazine that Julie herself has been reading for years! In addition to being recognized as an outstanding instructor, Julie’s choreography has also been recognized, with her choreography and routine concepts winning special judge’s awards.
Julie is always looking to expand on her teaching skills, and she is a current member of USA Gymnastics. Julie has always known that teaching dance is what she wanted to do with her life, so she is very glad to be teaching at Dancers Unite!
Elizabeth Emery (Owner/Instructor)
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Elizabeth Emery began dance at the age of 3, and started teaching dance at the age of 13. Her artistic vision has been rewarded with choreography and concept awards and she was one of the coaches of the 2013 Senior Jazz National Championship Team & Youth Jazz National Championship Team. In addition to teaching at Dancers Unite, Elizabeth has taught dance at Charlotte Latin School and the Mecklenburg Area Catholic Schools (St. Gabriel, St. Matthew, St. Mark, St. Anne and St. Patrick Elementary Schools). |
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Before teaching dance, Elizabeth was an accomplished dancer. She danced competitively since age seven and her routines won numerous overall awards. She also performed at numerous venues, a personal favorite of hers being Disney World, a favorite vacation spot of her family. When she was in high school, she was a member of the Charlotte Catholic Dance Team for four years. She was the only freshman on a team that placed first runner up in a national competition.
She graduated Charlotte Catholic with honors, and her dance and academic achievements helped her receive the Thomas Cooper Scholarship to the University of South Carolina. She then graduated cum laude from the nationally ranked Darla Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina with a bachelor of science in business administration. She double majored in business economics and marketing, and minored in sociology where she took such courses as Childhood Sociology.
Elizabeth’s combined loves of business, dance and working with children has made owning a studio a natural dream of hers. She recently gave her expertise to 4dancers, a popular online dance blog, and she has also been interviewed by Sonja Gantt on WCNC local news. Elizabeth continues her dance education today, and has taken numerous classes up and down the east coast, most recently at Broadway Dance Center in New York City, the Boston Ballet School, the Dance Complex, and the Jeannette Neill Dance Studio in Boston. Elizabeth strives to provide children with self-esteem, but at the same time provide them with a good dance background, at the heart of the philosophy of Dancers Unite!
Mignon Balas (Instructor)
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Mignon Balas was a competitive gymnast for 10 years in Fayetteville, NC, first with the YMCA and later with Omega School of Gymnastics. She competed at the state level and also enjoyed being a member of the Tumbling Team performing at local schools and special events. |
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When an injury ended team gymnastics she turned to cheerleading and found joy teaching gymnastics and weight training. Mignon continued her fitness instruction in both Raleigh and Charlotte.
According to Mignon, the strength and body awareness required in gymnastics is the foundation for all future sports and promotes self-confidence. She is excited to be working with kids again to develop their personal goals of movement through tumbling. A graduate of Peace College and North Carolina State University, Mignon lives in Charlotte with her husband and two children.
Troy Ellis (Instructor)
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Troy Ellis is an enthusiastic instructor who loves to teach and share his love of hip hop. In addition to teaching, he is also an accomplished dancer. He is part of the Epic By Nature Breakdancing Crew. He is also a graduate of Hopewell High School, and is currently getting his degree in graphic design from King’s College. |
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Laura Whitby (Instructor)
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In addition to teaching at Dancers Unite, Laura Whitby is a second company member of North Carolina Dance Theatre. She also danced professionally at Colorado Ballet and Houston Ballet. She has studied under such dance professionals as Susan Jaffe, Violette Verdy and Maria Youskevitch. She has previously taught at Houston Ballet’s Ben Stevenson Academy and Indiana University Precollege Ballet Program. |
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Her ballet training began at the Princeton Ballet School. She participated in many prestigious ballet summer programs, including American Ballet Theatre in New York, Houston Ballet's Ben Stevenson Academy, Kaatsbaan Ballet, Princeton Ballet School and Washington School of Ballet, to which she received a full scholarship. Dancers Unite is very excited to have a staff member with such experience and expertise!