After completing 15 years of dance training, Mrs Barbie accomplished a life-long dream of opening a dance studio at the age of 22. 23 years later, BEDP is still growing, thriving and producing amazing performers and well- rounded, confident young adults. Mrs. Barbie was a member of the High Kickin’ Heels while completing her degree at UNC-Chapel Hill. She has been named Gaston County’s Young Woman of the Year and America’s Miss Dance Teacher. Under her direction, BEDP has been named the National Studio of the Year twice! She has students currently performing on college dance teams, NFL Cheerleading teams, on cruise ships and on national Broadway tours.

Mrs. Jessie has studied dance for over 20 years. She is a 2005 East Gaston graduate where she was a 4 year member of the East Gaston Dance Team. She regularly choreographs for local hip-hop artists, and has danced back-up for several. From 2006-2008 she was enrolled in East Carolina's Dance and Theater program. She has danced and performed with and under Disney professionals and has studied under numerous professional choreographers. Miss Jessie specializes in contemporary jazz and lyrical choreography and technique. She also works with our tiny and mini tumblerz. Mrs. Jessie has two beautiful daughters.

Marissa trained in all forms of dance 17 years at Barbie’s Encore Dance Productions in Mount Holly, NC. Over the years, she has also had the privilege of working with the Joffrey Ballet, Abby Lee Dance Company, North Carolina School of the Arts, and the American Ballet Theatre. In addition to dance, Marissa also received theatre and vocal training at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy as a Dance Theatre Major in New York City. In 2019, Marissa was recognized in the Top 20 Best Actress Category in the states of North Carolina and South Carolina at the prestigious Blumey Awards for High School Theatre for her performance as Sally Brown in “You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown.” She served the great state of North Carolina in 2017 as Miss North Carolina’s Outstanding Teen and was named the Distinguished Young Woman of Gaston County for 2019. She has used those opportunities as a platform to raise awareness for organ donation through the Destiny Lives On Foundation. She founded the “Sharing Talent, Giving Life” benefit talent show in 2016 to raise funds for the foundation and has raised over $16,000 in 7 years. During her competitive dance career, she achieved several National Championships, along with winning the title of America’s Miss Dance 2020. She is currently enjoying her 2nd season as a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader. Miss Marissa enjoys choreographing for our solos and teen/senior groups when she is home.

Tina is a native of South Carolina and began her training at The School of Ballet in Rock Hill under the direction of Anne Blackwell. She continued her training on scholarship at the North Carolina School of the Arts, as well as attending numerous summer programs such as Interlochen Arts Academy, The Washington Ballet and The Richmond Ballet. Tina has worked professionally with Columbia City Ballet, under the direction of William Starrett, and with North Carolina Dance Theatre, under the direction of Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux and Patricia McBride. While pursuing her B.A. in dance performance at Winthrop University from 2006-2008, Tina was honored in making the President’s List all four semesters. Tina still performs with the York County Ballet, affiliated with The School of Ballet in Rock Hill, SC, and teaches at the school when needed. She has extensive performance experience, performing such roles at the Sugar Plum Fairy and Grand Pas de Deux from The Nutcracker, the Fairy Godmother from Cinderella, Swahnilda from Coppélia, and Aurora from excerpts of The Sleeping Beauty. Tina has been acting artistic director of Gaston Dance Theatre since September 2007. In that time, she has directed several productions of The Nutcracker, and Peter and the Wolf, as well as staging other classical ballets. In February 2010, adjudicating faculty from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts selected Tina’s first contemporary ballet choreographic work to be performed at the annual NC Festival of Dance held in Winston-Salem, NC. Currently, Tina continues to dedicate herself as ballet instructor and director of Gaston Dance Theatre’s School of Dance. We are thrilled to have Tina Huggins as our Ballet Mistress at Barbie’s Encore Dance Productions again this year!

Mrs. Billie Jean has been on our staff for 9 years. She teaches our hip hop classes, as well as Junior Ovation and instructor for the adult fitness class. In the 2011-2012 season her Mini Hip Hop team was the Overall National Grand Champion for the second year in a row! She has over 30 years dance experience and has performed leads in "Sleeping Beauty" and "The Nutcracker". Mrs. Billie has one son.

Mrs. Shana is a native of Charlotte. She is a graduate of Mars Hill College where she earned a degree in Social Work and a minor in Psychology. She is an alumni of the 20 time national team, the Bailey Mountain Cloggers. In 2004 she began BEDP's very own clogging program and directed it until she began college in 2009. Shana has traveled all over the United States to compete and recently went to England to perform in the Billingham International Folk Festival with several other teams from other countries. She now heads up all our clogging classes and teaches several of our recreational classes in tap, ballet, and jazz. Mrs. Shana has two sons.