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Meet Our Instructors

Jeanne Palpant

Jeanne Palpant Jeanne began her dance studies at the age of 9 in Atlanta, Georgia and continued extensive studies throughout the southeast in ballet, tap, jazz, modern, contemporary and musical theater. She has performed professionally with several companies and studios including: The Tap Company, History of Tap, Georgia Governor's Inauguration Ball and represented the United States in the USA/USSR friendship tour in 1990 to perform in Leningrad, Minsk and Moscow, Russia. She has choreographed numerous musicals for community theater and church productions including: The Producers, Singin' in the Rain, Mary Poppins, Sister Act, Joseph, Seven Brides, and A Christmas Carol the musical among others. She loves to travel to NYC to study at studio directors workshops and attend Broadway Shows. Jeanne recently choreographed several numbers with Dancing with the Stars Henry County to fundraise for Prevent Child Abuse and showcase the leaders in Henry County. Jeanne has been the director of Upstage Dance Center in Henry County Georgia for 34 years and loves the opportunity to instruct and encourage the next generation of dancers and performers.

Toni Doctor

Toni Doctor Toni Doctor Jenkins, an Atlanta native began her professional career with the Atlanta Ballet. During her tenure with the company, she performed many soloist and principal roles in ballets such as The Nutcracker, Carmen, The Sleeping Beauty, Dracula and Hamlet. She also graduated summa cum laude from Georgia State University with a degree in sociology. In 2007, she left the company to join the cast of one of Broadway's most successful touring productions: The Lion King. Upon her return to Atlanta, she was also fortunate to be a founding dancer of Lauri Stalling's visionary contemporary platform gloATL. Shortly thereafter, she also discovered a passion for teaching. She is also a wife and a proud mother of two beautiful sons. She especially enjoys teaching ballet and contemporary to teenagers and has been an instructor at Upstage for fourteen years. She feels very privileged to be educating the next generation of aspiring dancers.

Rachel Welliver

Rachel Welliver Rachel Welliver grew up in McDonough Georgia where she began her dance studies at a very young age. Along with a strong technical background in ballet, tap and jazz, Rachel also brings experience in tumbling from completive cheerleading years. Rachel holds several titles in the pageant industry including being named Miss Georgia Teen of 2004. Rachel holds a B.S. degree in Organizational Communication with a minor in Management from Kennesaw State University. Rachel's patient and creative personality brings joy to her young dance students. Rachel lives in McDonough Georgia with her husband Jesse, an Associate Pastor, and beautiful daughter, Norah.

Chloe Mincey

Chloe Mincey Chloe Mincey is a Georgia native who has danced since the age of 5. She is a former member of the Upstage Dance Center Elite Company, where she studied under Jeanne Palpant, Toni Doctor and Angie Sammons. Combining her love for travel and dance, she aims to take a dance class everywhere she goes. Most remarkably, she took a dance class in China (the arts are not bound to language!). She regularly continues her dance education seeking to grow in more styles and perform as often as she can. Chloe has performed for Tray Dahl & The Jugtime Ragband, TV show Hap and Leonard, Dance 101's IRBD series, and Jazz on Tap. At Upstage Dance Center, she teaches Ballet, Tap, Jazz, and Contemporary to beginners through advanced company levels. Her favorite of those being tap.

Ronda Price

Ronda Price Ronda Price, a native of Augusta, Georgia, was first introduced to dance at the age of 5 and her love for it has continued since that time. Her formal training includes ballet, modern, jazz, African, ballroom and tap techniques. While Ronda loves the performance aspect of dance, her true passion lies in teaching. She began teaching dance in high school, and upon graduation she attended the University of Georgia where she became the first African-American to earn a degree in dance. Throughout her teaching career, she has had the opportunity to work in various public schools, private studios, universities, community centers, state programming and curriculum, civic organizations and churches throughout Georgia. While teaching, Ronda discovered that helping dancers and their families navigate through everyday life decisions was another passion of hers, and she currently works as a professional school counselor. When she is not in the studio or in her office, she enjoys relaxing, traveling and spending time with her family.

Leslie Shivers

Leslie Shivers Leslie Shivers, a native of McDonough, GA, spent nine years touring and dancing professionally with Ballet Magnificat!, a professional Christian touring ballet company based in Jackson, MS. She traveled all over the world - spreading the Gospel through dance in the States, Europe, Canada, Israel, and Africa - performing in huge concert halls, state opera houses, school auditoriums, and even outside in open city squares. In addition to performing, Leslie taught ballet, pointe, and set choreography each year at Ballet Magnificat's Summer Dance Intensive in Jackson, as well as in ballet schools all over the States. Leslie considers it a deep privilege to have served the Lord in this way. After retiring from full-time touring, Leslie moved back to GA and is now an instructor at Perimeter Ballet, Westminster Ballet, Greater Atlanta Christian School, Artios Academy, Atlanta Ballet and Upstage Dance Center in McDonough GA as well as guesting in performances in the Atlanta area. She has a passion to see younger dancers develop excellence in their technique to reach their fullest potential in their artistry.
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