Our Faculty

We place a heavy emphasis on faculty at the Academy of Dance Arts. The quality of instruction should be of utmost importance, even at a private studio. With our current compliment of instructors we tap into the knowledge and experience of years of professional training and expertise. The results speak for themselves, with alumni dancing professionally all over the country including with the New York Ballet, recent dance television shows, and even acting in current broadcast television.

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.

Debbie Sayles

Debbie Sayles 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 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 20 years of teaching as well as being instrumental in developing the Tap program. She also teaches Tap at Wake Forest university as an adjunct professor. Debbie's versatility in teaching has included the pre-ballet program as well as Jazz. Debbie is Mother to two daughters who also attend the Academy, Megan and Katie.

Karla Finger Coghill

Karla received her M.A. in Dance from American University where she was honored with the Evelyn Swarthout Hayes award for her outstanding contribution to the arts. At American University, she was awarded a graduate fellowship to teach both modern and jazz dance. Karla's athletic and intelligent choreography has been presented at the North Carolina Dance Festival (Greensboro), the American College Dance Festival as well as throughout the Washington, DC area. Her humorous, satirical, and sometimes serious explorations of modern life can be seen in her Sidelong Dance Company productions, a company she founded when she moved to this area. Visit her web site at http://sidelongdance.org. Karla is also an adjunct professor in dance at UNCG.

Luci Jennings

Luci Jennings received her training at N.C. Governor's School, U.N.C. School of the Arts and University of N.C. at Greensboro. Luci owned and operated a successful dance studio in Mt. Airy for twelve years. She served on the Board of Directors for the Surry Arts Council and choreographed musical productions at the Andy Griffith Playhouse. She also teaches with nationally recognized Dancing Classrooms. Luci has been on the faculty for many dance conventions in N.C., S.C. Virginia and Louisiana. She has taught at the Lynchburg Fine Arts Center and choreographed musicals for the associated area schools and colleges.

Jami-Ross Berry Wilkerson

Jami-Ross, a former Academy of Dance, Inc. student, attended the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, where she was a scholarship student concentrating in ballet. She received her B.S.A. degree in dance and drama from East Carolina University. Jami studied in New York at the Actor's Studio with Greg Zittel. Jami-Ross was the lead dancer on MTV's Boogie at Midnight with Skip Castro. She performed in the Off-Broadway play, Boom Boom Room. Jami-Ross has been seen in dozens of regional shows including Chicago, Jerry's Girls, Pippin', and Cabaret. She teaches jazz, tap and Pilates. Jami-Ross also teaches flexibility and strength training at Salem College and also teaches with nationally recognized Dancing Classrooms. In addition to this busy schedule, Jami-Ross teaches Hip Hop workshops and is a judge for National Competitions.

Kim Parrish

Kim, a former Academy of Dance, Inc. student, graduated from ECU with a BFA in dance. After graduation, Kim taught continuing education classes at ECU and also performed in many Dance Theatre productions. She became an instructor at Academy of Dance Arts in Greenville and performed and choreographed in the local production of the Nutcracker. Kim also taught in Athens, Ga. before moving back to Winston-Salem with her family. She now teaches dance at Summit School in their after school program and in the summer in conjunction with the Winston Salem Symphony's Music, Mind and Reading program.

Lindsey Bramham Howie

Lindsey holds a BFA in Dance Performance from East Carolina University with a concentration in Jazz. She has performed in the Chicago area under the direction of Nick Pupillo. Lindsey was also a member of the Joel Hall Dancer II Company under the direction of Joel Hall. Before joining the Academy, Lindsey taught and choreographed at the Hanover Showbiz Kids, Dance Unlimited, and Nina's School of Dance.

Jennifer Stockton Hough

Jennifer Stockton Hough began her dance career studying here at, The Academy of Dance Arts, and University of North Carolina School of the Arts, both located in Winston-Salem, NC. She also had training at the Chicago City Ballet School, School of American Ballet, in New York, and Hungarian Ballet School, in Budapest, Hungary. Jennifer studied under the instruction of many world renowned dancers such as, Allegra Kent, Alexandra Danilova, Melissa Hayden, Dame Margot Fonteyn, Maria Tallchief, Fanchon Cordell, Frank Smith, Gyula Pandi, Gina Vidal, and Duncan Noble to name a few.

She performed in many ballets, classical to contemporary. One well known classical ballet is, Les Sylphides, staged by Fanchon Cordell. Over a period of years, she performed many different roles in, The Nutcracker, shown in Winston-Salem, Charlotte, Raleigh, Denver, Asheboro, Lexington, and High Point. Also performed were George Balanchine’s, La Sonnambula, and The Four Temperaments, both staged by Melissa Hayden. Jennifer performed professionally with the Colorado Ballet Company, in Denver, before returning home to North Carolina. Jennifer then began to instruct and perform with The Taylor Dance Company in the mid ‘90’s. During that time, Jennifer danced as the, Sugar Plum Fairy, in The Nutcracker, and was a fairy in the classical performance of Cinderella. These shows were performed in several local cities in North Carolina.

Jennifer has many years of experience in the performing arts and corporate America. She has a great talent and passion for dance which she puts to use in her teaching and choreography for the lovely dances students at the Academy of Dance Arts.

Debra Berger

Debra began her professional career at the age of nine when she performed with the New York City Ballet Company. Debra was a student at The School of American Ballet and performed with the company in The Nutcracker, A Midsummer Night's Dream and Harlequinade. She studied modern at the Alvin Ailey School and jazz with Luigi, Charles Kelly and Nat Horne. Growing up in New York City she had the opportunity to study acting at HB Studios and voice with some of the greatest teachers in musical theater.

Her performing credits also include: A Chorus Line, West Side Story, I Ought to Be In Pictures and Educating Rita. As a director, choreographer and teacher, Debra has traveled extensively. She moved recently to the Winston-Salem area and is thrilled to be part of the performing arts in our community. She also teaches ZUMBA and is a Teaching Artist for Dancing Classrooms.

Melissa Pihos

Anna Marie Carr

Tina Yarborough

Christine Spizzo