| Denise Ott Land -Owner/ Director
Denise Ott Land is the current President and Co-Founder of Dance Teachers Association of Virginia, Inc. She is a graduate of Teacher’s Training School at Kent State University, member of Dance Masters of America, Dance Educators of America and is a National certified examiner for Dance Masters of America. She has a lifelong association with Evelyn Ott School of Dance through her aunt Evelyn Ott, who founded the studio in 1940. Under Denise’s direction, the performing company Charisma was founded and has received numerous Regional and National competition awards. Denise can be found traveling throughout the country as an adjudicator with several National Dance Competitions. Her students include the former National Title Holders: Miss Onstage America, Miss Starquest, Miss Headliners, Mr. Headliners, Young Sr. Miss Dance Educators of America, Young Sr. Mr. Dance Educators of America and Mr. Dance Educators of America. Several of her students can also be seen dancing at theme parks, Broadway, Las Vegas, on cruise ships and as company members of Philadanco.
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| Sherri Lynn Skinner- Asst Director
Sherri has been a faculty member since 1985 and began her dancing career at Evelyn Ott in 1972. She is a member of Dance Masters of America. She received her teaching degree at Dance Masters of America Teacher’s Training School at Kent State University in 1988. She was the proud recipient of several scholarships from Dance Masters of America allowing her to continue her education in dance. Sherri has been serving on the board of directors for Dance Teachers Association of Virginia, Inc. as Vice President/Treasurer/Secretary and is currently serving as the Chapter’s Delegate on a National level. She is a certified National Examiner for Dance Masters of America in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Modern and Acro/Gymnastics.
Sherri is one of the original members of the Charisma Performing Company.
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| Vida Edmonds
Vida Edmonds has been a faculty member of Evelyn Ott School of Dance since 2000. She has been dancing since age 13, and joined Norfolk State University dance group her freshman year of college. She started as a student of Evelyn Ott School of Dance in 1990 and later became a certified teacher and a member of Dance Masters of America. She is also a National Certified Examiner for Dance Masters of America in Ballet, Tap and Jazz. Vida was formerly a member of the Adult Chrisma Performing Group. She loves listening to music and teaching dance to all ages.
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| BELLAMY EURE
Bellamy is from Suffolk, Virginia and studied with Charisma Performing Company at Evelyn Ott School of Dance for eight years. She continued her education at James Madison University and was a scholarship student with Alvin Ailey and Roni Koresa Dance Company. Belle was a 2003 honors graduate from the University of Arts in Philadelphia. She received the Blumenthal Prize for service to the school and was named outstanding performer in all styles of dance.
She has instructed at the Rock School which is affiliated with the Pennsylvania University of Art Ballet and is a current member of Philadanco. Bellamy is currently a member of Dance Masters of America.
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| Jayme Holcombe Maurer
Jayme began her dance career at the age of three at Evelyn Ott School of Dance. She continued dance throughout high school and was a member of Charisma performing company for several years. Also while in high school, she was selected to cheer at the college Probowl in Hawaii.
Jayme began teaching dance after graduating in 2000, and has continued to teach locally for the past five years. She has won two choreography awards at regional competitions. She is also continuing her dance education by taking classes at Old Dominion University and participating in workshop classes.
Jayme is a member of Dance Masters of America.
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| Angelique Jones
Angelique's dance experience spans 25 years of commitment to the arts. Her professional training includes study in the fields of ballet, jazz, modern, and tap. She has performed with the Festival Ballet in Romeo and Juliet, and The Nutcracker, as well as various repertoires with Gotta Dance Company and Leface Productions.
In the Atlanta area, she worked with Alex Pelham of Colors, Jimmy Locust of Locust Production, and Roberson Entertainment. She choreographed and produced numerous fashion shows and was selected to choreograph for Charelle. During the 1996 Olympics, she represented IBM and performed for athletes and guests from around the world.
She was formerly the ballet mistress with the Roswell City Ballet, guest instructor with the Atlanta Ballet, instructor for the Virginia Governor's School for the Arts, and choreographer for Keyhole Productions.
Her dedication to her students is evident in their love of dance.
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| Kristen N. Rowland
Kristen N. Rowland is a native to Norfolk Virginia and has grown up at Evelyn Ott School of Dance. She was a long time member of the Charisma performing company. In 2000, she began her teaching career at the studio, teaching various forms of dance to various age groups. She still contributes in Choreography with the Charisma performing company, and teaches at the Churchland location. Most recently, she assisted with Choreography for the Ocean View Dancing with the stars, a ballroom competition for local “celebrities”. In 2003, she started her performing career at Paramount’s Kings Dominion in the original production of Tuned In and the Nick Toon Celebration Parade. Shortly thereafter, she began performing on Holland America Cruise Lines with Stiletto Entertainment, where she performed in a variety of shows and traveled the Globe until February 2009. Kristen has been seen in guest appearances with several noted Magicians globally, the Granby Theatre in Norfolk, VA, Virginia Ballet Theatre, Second Wind Dance Company, and was a graduate of Governor’s School for the Arts in 2003. She can also be seen teaching at the Evelyn Ott Dance parties, teaching adults to out dance anyone on the dance floor at their next social gathering!
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| Jessica Sisson |
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| Jessica Short
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| Hanna Simmers is originally from Charlotte, North Carolina, where she began her dance training at the age of two. She then moved to Lynchburg, Virginia at the age of 11, where she trained at Forest Dance Academy under Michelle Thomas. Hanna began teaching at Forest Dance Academy at the age of 16.
Hanna is a member of Dance Teachers Association of Virginia and Dance Masters of America, where she is certified by examination to teach ballet, tap, and jazz. Hanna is experienced in teaching tap, jazz, mini jazz, lyrical, contemporary, musical theatre, acrobatics, mini acrobatics, hip hop, and mini hip hop.
Hanna is both an accomplished dancer and choreographer. She has been awarded many convention scholarships, as well as numerous regional and national high score awards. Hanna has held many several titles including Teen Miss Dance Explosion, Teen Miss Dance of North Carolina, and Miss Dance of Virginia. Hanna went on to place in the top ten at the solo title competition for Dance Masters of America for the title of Teen and Miss. As a dancer Hanna also received the Dance Spirit Magazine award at Dynamite National Talent Competition. Hanna was also a part of the hit FOX television show “So You Think You Can Dance”, where she was put through to Las Vegas, and made into the top 75. Hanna also was awarded the Jefferson Cup award, which acknowledges outstanding athlete of the year for cheerleading. Hanna was also awarded the All-American award from National Cheerleader’s Association, and the All-Star award from Universal Cheerleader’s Association. Hanna’s choreography has been recognized on the regional and national level as well; winning numerous high score awards, performance awards, as well as choreography awards.
Hanna’s training includes: Dance Specialties, Forest Dance Academy, Broadway Dance Center, Luigi Jazz Centre, The EDGE Performing Arts Center in L.A., and The Millennium Dance Complex in L.A. Hanna has studied under as well as been recognized as such greats as Mia Michaels, Tyce Diorio, Shane Sparks, Dave Scott, Frank Hatchett, Luigi, Jason Samuels, Savion Glover, and Laurie Ann Gibson just to name a few. She continues to further her education as a dancer and a teacher by taking convention and master classes from New York to Las Angeles.
Hanna hopes that her passion and love of dance will inspire the students she teaches.
“Make sure you give everything you do 100 percent, so you can wake up in the morning with NO regrets” -Michelle Thomas
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| JANELLE SPRUILL
Janelle N. Spruill began her early dance training at Evelyn Ott School of Dance where she was a member of the Charisma Performing Company for seven years. She also attended and trained at the Governor's School for the Arts where she has had the opportunity to work with artists such as Todd Rosenlieb, Lisa Thomas and many more. Also, she has danced and performed at the American Dance Festival in Durham, NC and the Ailey School in New York, NY. She has received numerous scholarships and awards for her involvement in dance. In 2003, she began attending Marymount Manhattan College on a dance and academic scholarship. There she was a part of the MMC Dance Company for two years and performed works by Geoffrey Doig-Marx, Twyla Tharp, Denise Vale, Doug Varone and many others. In 2007, she completed her B.F.A. in dance with a focus in modern dance and a minor in media studies.
Janelle is a member of Dance Masters of America.
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| Faith Blanford- Receptionist
Mrs. Blanford is a devout Christian and tries her best to live her life in a way that is pleasing to the Lord. She is a song leader and soloist at her church.
Mrs. Blanfrod was born in Wilmington, Delaware and is the oldest of 7 children. Her family lives in Indiana and Kentucky.
She has been with Evelyn Ott School of Dance since 1988 when she first moved here. Faith started working for Denise in 1991 when she owned Dancewear Designs and then started working for the dance studio in addition to the store. That means she has worked for Denise for 17 years and have been affiliated with the studio for 20 years!!
Rhiannon, her daughter, danced with Charisma for 10 years and loved every minute of it. She is now a dance teacher and works with the competition company and travels with them. She has been teaching for 7 years and is very successful at it thanks to Evelyn Ott School of Dance.
Faith loves her job and always has. The people she works with have become a family to her as well as friends.
"I LOVE THEM ALL!!"
The most exciting things about her job are watching the children learn and grow into beautiful dancers. Their parents become a big part of her and she joys being able to visit with them while their children are learning something that will benefit them for a lifetime.
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| Debbie Joyce - Receptionist
Debbie has been a member of the EOSOD faculty since 2004. She began dancing at age 4 under the instruction of Ms. Evelyn Ott, at the Norfolk Studio. Debbie continued her training with the Norfolk Academy of Ballet and performed with the Norfolk Civic Ballet Co. She also took classes as an adult in El Paso, Texas. Staying true to her love for dance she enrolled both of her daughters Jayme and Shelby in dance classes at EOSOD. Both girls were long standing members of the Charisma Performing Co. Jayme is currently teaching for EOSOD as well as the Director of the Junior/Intermediate Charisma Performing Company while Shelby attends The University of the Arts in Philadelphia majoring in dance and continues choreography and teaching when in the area.
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