Academy of Ballet Faculty

Cathleen began teaching in 1979 in the Tri-Cities area of Virginia-Tennessee. She moved to New York in 1982 and taught at the American Academy of Ballet for six years. In 1988 she returned to Georgia to teach with the Gwinnett School of Ballet, under the direction of Lynn Snipes. Cathleen taught for the schools for seven years, during which time she staged many performances of Nutcracker with the Gwinnett Ballet Theatre. She has also performed, studied and been involved with SERBA (South Eastern Regional Ballet Festivals) for over eleven years.

Cathleen’s great love of ballet and her interest in passing her knowledge onto students prompted her to open the Academy of Ballet in 1994. Three years later, she developed the Academy Performing Ensemble, offering advanced students an even higher level of dance training.

Co-Director of Academy Jazz Ensemble / Ballet Mistress of Academy Performing Ensemble. Kim received her early training at the Joni Messler Studio of Dance in Gainesville, Florida. She later studied at the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School with David Holladay and the Joffrey Ballet School with Francesca Corkel and Dorothy Lister. After graduating from Santa Fe Community College, Kimberly joined the Georgia Ballet in Marietta, Georgia where she has been featured in Balanchine’s Allegro Brilliante, Serenade, and Iris Henley’s Nutcracker performing lead roles such as Spanish, Dewdrop and many more.

She has been with the Academy of Ballet for many years where she has choreographed several works including: Why, I Am What I Am, Die Another Day, and pieces choosen for performances at the Festival of Trees and the first annual Balletfest where Inspirations was selected to be performed by the Senior Company Ballet Ensemble.

We were proud to have her perform the lead in our Academy 2003 performance of Sleeping Beauty as Princess Aurora. She continues to excel at teaching, choreography, performing and directing.

Becki began her dance training at Dan & Co. Studios at the age of three and has been a member of the Atlanta Jazz Theatre for 13 years.  She has studied with nationally known choreographers Kenneth Green and Robbie Mackey, and in New York with Frank Barker.  She recently returned as an instructor after a superb run in Las Vegas performing in various shows and conventions along the famous Las Vegas strip.  Becki has worked with the Academy for 9 years.

Caroline Fass
B.F.A. Dance, Wright State University
Pre-Ballet/Creative Movement instructor
Caroline began her dance training at Ballet New England in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.  She continued her studies at the Dayton Ballet in Dayton, Ohio.  She is a graduate of Wright State University with B.F.A. in Dance.  Her training includes Ballet, Jazz and Tap.  She has performed in Guys & Dolls, 42nd Street, West Side Story and many more.  She is an inspiring teacher with great patience and dedication to her students.  We are proud to have her on staff at the Academy of Ballet.

Sarah will be starting her second season with The Georgia Ballet this fall.  She graduated in May 2005 from Louisiana State University with Batchelor of Arts in public relations, after attending the Pennsylvania State University for two and a half years.  Sarah is a native of Baton Rouge, Louisianna where she received her early dance training with Baton Rouge Ballet Theatre and directors Molly Buchmann and Sharon Mathews.  She also spent a year studying with the Central Pennsylvania  Youth Ballet and director Marcia Dale Weary. 

Sarah’s repertoire includes the title role in Cinderella, Myrtha in Giselle, numerous roles in Balanchine’s Nutcracker, the Four Little Swans, and Susan Perlis’s newest contemporary work, Four Preludes.  Sarah teaches dance in the Atlanta area and won the 2006 choreography award at the Bravo! competition.

Mary Lou Holcomb-Pre-Ballet
Graduate of North Georgia College and State University with a degree in Business Administration and Marketing.  While at North Georgia, Mary Lou was a member and Secretary to Kappa Delta Sorority and a campus Introduction Leader.  She has been at the Academy since 1997. In 2006-2007 she collaborated with Miss Cathy and they installed the new 12 week session Pre-Ballet/Creative Movement syllabus for the young children. It is a great success. She has a great love for dance and an understanding for young children. 
She is the mother of two ballerinas who have succeeded to higher levels at the Academy.
As a volunteer she has fabulously done the set design for our Children’s Nutcracker. She has exceeded herself as a costume designer for many of our productions through the years. 
She is a leader in our community as a fundraiser for Relay for Life and JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation).  She has coached little league soccer and cheerleading with the Norcross leagues.
We are proud to have her on staff as a great teacher while utilizing her many talents.

Allison Gardner – Drama
B.F.A./Drama is a SAG member.  She has taught for the Acting Program at the Alliance Theater for several years.  She has performed professionally on stage, in commercials, and in films.  One of her favorite projects was touring England with a drama group.
Allison was a success at our 2007 Summer Camps.  We are happy to have her joining our wonderful staff