Meet Our Dance Teachers

LEON VON BROWN
Mr. Brown was a principle dancer in Dianne McIntyre's "Sounds in Motion" modern dance company in New York City (NYC) where he also founded his own dance company- "Cosmic Energy."  This triple-threat musical theatre performer's stage credits include starring roles in The Wiz, Lullaby of Swing, Oklahoma, and ackson.  He was featured dancing in the HBO movie Miss Evers Boys with Alfre Woodard and Laurence Fishburne, and Leon has danced and/or choreographed for ABC and NBC-TV, The National Black Arts Festival, the Atlanta Ballet and The Opening Ceremonies of the 1996 Olympic Games.  An International Master teacher specializing in Jazz dance, he has taught in Europe and studied in NYC with Luigi, Frank Hatchett, Chuck Davis and Fred Benjamin to name a few. Leon holds a B.A. degree, is a certified fitness instructor, and has received "Instructor of the Year" award for his "Cardio-Funk" dance aerobic classes.  He is the co-founder of the "Horton Technique Summer Dance Intensive" held in Daytona Beach, Florida. This award-winning choreographer is on the faculty of Agnes Scott College, Atlanta Ballet, Studio Dionne and performs and choreographs for CityDance Ensemble. Several performances by Mr. Brown can be found at the Lincoln Center Library Dance Archives in NYC.

LéVON CAMPBELL
A Native of Chicago, Mr. Campbell began his dance training with The Dance Theatre of Harlem. He has performed with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre second company, George Faison’s Universal Dance Experience and The Katherine Dunham Dance Company among many others.

For the past decade Mr. Campbell has shared his impressive artistic gifts with many schools and dance companies including the renowned Dallas Black Dance Theatre. His highly evolved knowledge of anatomy and body dynamics is the foundation of his satellite career as a licensed massage therapist. Mr. Campbell, a favored teacher on the Studio Dionne, School of Dance and Music staff also serves as Company Manager for Atlanta Dance Connection.

PAMELA DIONNE
Ms. Dionne began dancing as a five year old with Frankie Levy in her hometown of Augusta, Georgia.  At age 13, she received a Ford Foundation Scholarship and was invited to study with the Joffrey Ballet School in New York City.  Ms. Dionne continued her training in Chicago with Richard Ellis and Christine DuBoulay, former soloists with the Royal Ballet of England. While in high school Ms. Dionne performed with the Chicago Ballet and upon graduation she accepted a position with the San Francisco Ballet.  With these companies she shared the stage with such dance luminaries as Natalia Makarova, Carmen Delavellad, Rudolf Nureyev and Mikhail Baryshnikov.  She continued her performing career as a soloist with the Theatre Der Stadt Bonn, West Germany and with Chamber Dance Theater, an ensemble that conducted performing and teaching residencies in colleges and universities in addition to its regular performance schedule.

For more than 25 years Ms. Dionne has embraced teaching ballet as her primary focus.  For over four years, Ms. Dionne taught for the New Orleans Recreation Department (NORD) in a city-funded Ballet Program.  This program was open to all children of New Orleans.  While teaching for NORD, Ms. Dionne taught a full curriculum for children aged 5-17 years.  It was during this experience that Ms. Dionne honed her teaching approach which has a strong emphasis on applying the skills of concentration, focus and physical control gained through the pursuit of dance study to other aspects of a student's life.  She is also committed to the development and nurture of each student's evolving confidence and self expression.   

Ms. Dionne is the director of CityDance and CityDance Ensemble which is fortunate to have some of the city's most inspired and accomplished artists.  Through CityDance performances, outreach education and scholarships she strives to share this wealth of artistic talent with those who might not otherwise have the opportunity.

ESTEFANIA
Estefania began her dance training at an early age in ballet and jazz. While traveling in Spain she became interested in Flamenco and soon afterwards began her training at the Nueva Academia Del Flamenco in Paris. When she moved to the United States, she went on to become a member with Perla Flamenca Company and participated in “Arts in Education Programs.” She now performs regularly at various tablaos. She has studied with many wonderful teachers in France, Spain and the United States, including La China, Mercedes Ruiz, Manolo Punto, Antonio Del Pipa, Andres Marin, Antonio Hidalgo, Barbara Breton and Rocio Molina among others. Estefania teaches a traditional style of flamenco that has been influenced by some of her former teachers and sees dance as a means of broadening one's horizons.

CRYSTAL FAISON
Crystal L. Faison refers to herself as a "community dance practitioner". With over 15 years of formal training in ballet, jazz & modern, Crystal received her BA in Dance from George Washington University. She continued to study and perform dance theatre works while enrolled in Laban Centre in London, UK and recently earned a MA in Community Counseling from Argosy University. As a multifaceted dance artist and mental health counselor Crystal infuses her choreography and her technique and fitness classes with elements of total health and wellness for the mover who enjoys a balanced experience.

BONNIE HARRIS
Bonnie began dancing at the age of three with her mother, Suzy Harris, as her dance instructor at the Jasper School of Ballet. This love for dance continued with Joan Kall Stewart at the Sawnee School of Ballet. At Sawnee, she was trained in classical ballet, jazz, modern, tap, and hip-hop, performing as a Company member with the Sawnee Ballet Theatre in leading roles in productions of The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Alice and Wonderland, and Les Slyphides. She also performed with the Dekalb School of the Arts as the Sugar Plum Fairy in their production of The Nutcracker. Miss Harris is currently a student at Georgia State University pursuing a B.B.A in Marketing. She continues dancing under the direction of Pamela Dionne. Her most recent performance with Studio Dionne has been the Grand Pas de Deux from Don Quioxte. “Miss Bonnie” delights in teaching and sharing her love of dance with her young students at Studio Dionne.

LAURA PEAVYHOUSE
Ms. Peavyhouse feels fortunate to have found true fulfillment by combining her two passions, dancing and education.  She discovered her passion for dance as a five-year old with her first dance teacher Lodia Heath, and continued her training with Delores Werner, Bo Wagner and Pamela Dionne.  Ms. Miller has taught Ballet for over five years and brings an encouraging, calm and clear approach to her students, never tiring of the thrill of introducing someone to the exquisite, rich, physical, lovely world of the Ballet. 

As a member of CityDance Ensemble she has been featured as the Snow Queen from the 'Nutcracker', Fanny Cerrito from 'Pas de Quatre' and the Burlesque Dancer from 'Slaughter on Tenth Avenue.'  Ms. Peavyhouse holds a Masters Degree in Education.

BRUNO BERNARDINO
Capoeira is a way of life for Bruno Bernardino. A native of Sao Paulo, Brazil, Bruno immigrated to Atlanta as an eleven year old. Here he has continued developing his passion with Ginga Mundo Capoeira. Now an Instructor Bruno delights in sharing his knowledge. It is his great joy to teach and assist his students in gaining the physical strength, musicality, art and personal integrity that are the gifts of the Capoeira “game.”

LLOYD WHITMORE
Lloyd Whitmore, a native of Philadelphia Penna., began his dance career at age 20. Since then he has spent 30 years in dance as a teacher and choreographer. Trained in the Lester Horton and Martha Graham techniques, Mr. Whitmore has performed all over the world with companies such as Philadanco, The New Orleans Opera, and the DC Contemporary Dance Theater. From 1991 – 1993, Mr. Whitmore served as Artistic Director of his own modern dance company, the New World Dance Company of Washington, DC. Mr. Whitmore was the first male recipient of a scholarship to the Craft of Choreography Conference from the North East Regional Ballet Association in 1983. He was also a scholarship student at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, PA. He has received fellowships from the DC Commission on the Arts, the Pennsylvania Council for the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Arts. He has served on the faculties of City College of NY, The Washington Ballet, American University, Howard University and the Duke Ellington School of the Arts.