Instructor, Coach, Director of Peace, Faculty

David’s professional performances include: San Francisco Ballet (Dir. Helgi Tomasson) Soloist and Guest Artist; Stars of American Ballet (Dir. Mikhail Baryshnikov) Soloist; Metropolitan Opera Ballet (Dir. Joseph Fritz) Soloist; Martha Clark, Principle; New Jersey Ballet (Dir. Carolyn Clark) Principle; Ohio Ballet (Dir. Stephan Laurent) Principle/Choreographer; Paris Opera Ballet (Dir. Rudolf Nureyev) Guest Artist.

Collective dancer, Instructor, Choreographer, Faculty

Grace began her dance training in Birmingham, AL at Briarwood Ballet. She trained there for twelve years and danced with the student company, Ballet Exaltation, for three years.

Over the years, she spent her summers training at Briarwood Ballet, Huntsville Ballet, and the University of Utah. She went on to receive her Bachelor of Art in Dance from Belhaven

University in May 2022. While there, she received specific training in modern dance but also continued in her classical ballet education. Grace moved to Chattanooga, TN last year with an internship, now in her second year teaching and choreographing for Ballet Esprit. She is delighted to continuing sharing her modern and ballet knowledge with our student body.

Collective dancer, Instructor, Choreographer, Faculty.

Jessica Kelley otherwise known as Jelley is a San Diego, CA transplant and has been a dancing before she could walk. She attended arts middle school, high school and got her associates of dance at San Diego School of Creative Performing Arts as well as Iyllwild Arts Academy.

Jessica has attended several workshops, intensives and competitions all around the United States, helping shape her into the performer and choreographer she is today. She was a proud member of San Diego’s contemporary company, PGKDance! for 6 years, among performing with several other companies and projects throughout San Diego. Currently she is performing with Chattanooga’s Ballet Esprit collective, Crystalline Entertainment, Playful Evolving Monsters, Follow Ladybug and the Vignette Vixens. She recently started her own company called EmitArts, the home of The Giant Jelly, her claim to fame jellyfish. Her performance company showcases a variety of stilt characters, dance routines, fairies and clowns for special events! Her goal is to spread light and love to her community through movement and exploration! Dancing and collaborating with Ballet Esprit Collective is an honor and dream come true. Jessica is very excited to share the magic of creation with her fellow performers and students in this upcoming season.

Creative Collaborator, Community, Costumes.

Collective dancer, Instructor, Choreographer and Physical Therapist.

Nina Newkirk-Pulliam, PT, DPT, recently graduated with her doctorate of physical therapy from Georgia State University.

During her schooling, Nina had the pleasure of working with Atlanta Dance Medicine where she learned techniques to treat dancers of Atlanta Ballet and other local performing artists. Prior to getting her DPT, Nina received her BA in dance performance from Point Park Conservatory of the Performing Arts in 2013.

She has danced professionally with Proia Dance Project, was a founding member of Kit Modus in Atlanta. Nina has taught movers of all levels both in dance and Pilates.

Armed with years of personal and professional study in dance, Nina is excited to provide current dance students with tools and tips to remain healthy and strong.

Creative Collaborator, Collective dancer, Choreographer.

Melissa began her dance training at the age of 11 at ACM Theatre de Danse and Centre de Jazz Rick Odums in Paris, France, then went on to receive her BFA in modern dance from Belhaven University where she was trained in Vaganova Technique, as well as Limon, Graham, and Horton. She received additional training from The Jose Limon Dance Foundation as part of the professional studies program and as an apprentice at The Isadora Duncan Dance Foundation in New York City. She has since taught and performed for various companies in New York, St. Louis, and Tennessee. In her choreography she pulls from modern dance tradition and contemporary movement and seeks to create from a place of honesty, humanity, and humility. She currently lives in St. Louis studying to get her masters in dance through Hollins University.

Collective dancer, Instructor, Choreographer, Faculty

Andrea Tankersley Began dancing at an early age in Monterrey Mexico, where she attended La Escuela Superior de Música y Danza de Monterrey and studied different styles of dance with a main passion for ballet. After moving to the U.S she continued to pursue ballet in Texas and later danced professionally with Dance Theatre of Tennessee, Gwinnett Ballet Theatre, Ballet Esprit and has guested with Sterling Baca, Niccolo Orsolani, Travis Stancil and Casey Haywood. She has danced and studied under many professionals such as Christopher Mohnani, Elaine Thomas, Tanju Tuzer,and Koulubeck Ishenalieve. She has performed Principal and Soloist roles in the Nutcracker, Giselle, The Ugly Duckling, Coppelia, Swan Lake and original works as well as Corps de Ballet in Carmen, Who Cares, Les Sylphides, Swan Lake act 2, Paquita, and Cinderella to name a few. Between Tennessee and Georgia, she has worked with several ballroom studios, being able to perform and compete professionally in American Rhythm, American Smooth and Theatre Arts. She has also worked with Global Education Center allowing her to make dance accessible to the Latino community. Aside from teaching dance, Andrea is a certified PBT (Progressive Ballet Technique) and a certified Health and Life Coach with hopes to educate, support, and empower her students through their journey

Collective dancer, Instructor, Faculty

Olivia has shaped young minds with dance for three years. Though it wasn't always her dream to teach but she has fallen in love with the idea of being a better teacher each day. Born and raised in Chattanooga Tennessee, Olivia has been dancing varied styles and techniques for over 20 years. Dance for Olivia isn't just a hobby, though have had such a love and passion for it all her life.

After falling in love with many famous ballets at age 3, she started dance lessons. From then on she was in Chattanooga Ballet's The Nutcracker Ballet, every holiday season from 2005-2019, to hopping around different local dance teams in elementary and middle school, before ending up at Chattanooga Ballet for the rest of her high school years.

Olivia graduated from Chattanooga High Center for Creative Arts, with a major in dance. She also has an associates degree in the arts. She is now continuing her career at the wonderful Ballet Esprit School of Modern Ballet, teaching and dancing. She’s grateful everyday for my healthy body that can move and continue to grow, especially at a studio where there's amazing technique & lovely atmosphere.