Our Story
The Dance Centre offers a comprehensive dance program for the pre-school child through professional adult and is just celebrated its 40th anniversary. Classes include beginning, intermediate and advanced levels in classical ballet, pointe, jazz, tap, hip-hop, modern, contemporary, lyrical, ballroom and musical theatre. We also have a specialized pre-school program for boys and girls ages 3-5 years old. Special classes and workshops such as Ballroom Dance, Baby Ballet and Hip-Hop Fusion are also available. Our aim is to give students an education and appreciation for the art of dance, turning out dancers who are well-rounded in all dance disciplines. Classes are creative and innovative, emphasizing correct body placement, terminology, strength of movement and performance skills. Each student is considered on an individual basis with placement decided at the director's discretion.
Our Team
Mary Beth Cauthen
Director, All Levels Ballet, Tap, Jazz, PreDance, Baby Ballet
Mary Beth, a cum laude graduate of Berry College, formed The Dance Centre in 1983. Her dance background includes study in New York at the Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre, the Broadway Dance Center and the School for Ballet and Theatre Dance. In Atlanta she has studied with the Atlanta Contemporary Dance Company, the City Center Dance Theatre, Terpsichore and with Ruth Mitchell Dance Studio. She has also trained with Rockette Sandi Friedman and Jason Kalish, a former Tap Dog. Mary Beth trained under Susan Robinson and served as an instructor at The Art of Dance in Rome from 1978-1983 and studied with the notable ballet teacher Stanley Zompakos at Shorter College. Mary Beth Has served on the audition committee for the Georgia Governor's Honors Program in dance as well as Dance Coordinator for the Rome Area Council for the Arts.
She holds many choreographic credits including The Nutcracker for Darlington Players and Twelve Dancing Princesses, The Littlest Angel and The Best Christmas Pageant Ever for the Creative Playhouse Children's Theatre. She also created The Night Before Christmas and Winter Wonderland at the Rome City Auditorium.
Mary Beth served many years as an executive officer on the Board of Directors for the Rome Area Council for the Arts and was rehearsal co-coordinator for the Rome Symphony Debutante Ball for 10 years. She is part of the production team for the Sexual Assault Center's annual Celebrity Dance Challenge, having served as judge, choreographer, stage manager and rehearsal coordinator. Mary Beth has two grown children, Anna Claire and Hampton, a son-in-law, Sam and grands, Will and Amelia
JoAnna Parker
All levels Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Contemporary, Musical Theater,
JoAnna Parker has been dancing since the age of 2. She started ballet and tap at The Dance Centre and has been here ever since. JoAnna has studied all dance disciplines and studied ballet under Pavel Rotaru and Kay Whiffen at the Rotaru International Children's Ballet. She has choreographed and performed in numerous musicals such as Cats, Annie Get Your Gun (in which she played the lead role), Fiddler on the Roof, Lil Abner and all the Broadway Spectaculars for Rome Little Theater. She also performed in Pepperell High School's show choir. JoAnna was a member of Allegro Dance Company, under the direction of Georgie Riegel, for 10 years and now teaches all levels of tap, ballet, jazz, contemporary and musical theatre. JoAnna has been teaching at The Dance Centre since 2004. Currently, she is a teacher at Elm Street Elementary and works with Grand Illusion show choir at Rome Middle. JoAnna is the proud mother of son, Kaydon and daughter, Mollie Eloise. JoAnna holds a Masters in Elementary Education and teaches 5th grade literacy. She is assistant director of Grand Illusion.
Hannah Camacho
All Levels Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Lyrical, Musical Theatre
Hannah began her dance career as a student at The Dance Centre and worked her way up to becoming an instructor. Her training in modern as a member of Allegro Dance Company was a grounding point for her. Hannah teaches throughout the Rome area, including working with Rome Little Theatre with musicals such as, Beauty and the Beast, Wizard of Oz, Newsies and more. Hannah focuses on Contemporary and Lyrical styles, but has a love for Musical Theatre. She is mom to dancers Oliver and Tillian. Hannah's favorite dance quote is "Great dancers are not great because of their technique, they are great because of their passion." -Martha Graham
Leslie Pearson
Advanced Level Ballet, Contemporary, Modern
After 30 years of teaching dance, Leslie Pearson continues to welcome students into her classroom with excitement and anticipation for the talent and creativity that each brings. A graduate of UGA with a B.S. in education and a minor in Pre-Dance therapy, she began her teaching journey at the age of 18. While at UGA, she was a dancing member of the CORE Concert Dance Company, NON-STOP dance Company, and performed and choreographed for schools, concerts, and theater productions. She owned and operated her dance studio in Athens, Ga before coming to Rome in 2000 to be closer to family. She has taught every age group, every dance style, and at every studio in the Rome area for a number of years. Her love and devotion to the art of dance is something she is eager to share with each student in hopes that they too, one day, will love and appreciate it as much as she does.
Leslie resides in Rome with her husband and is currently enjoying an “empty nest” as all three of her children are exploring life as adults. She works as a REALTOR for Hardy Realty and when not teaching or working, you will most likely find her at the gym or playing with her adorable rescues, Lily and Lincoln.
Dicie Waters
Ballet, Tap, PreDance, Team Support Staff
Dicie began her dance career at the age of 3 years old and has not stopped dancing since. Dicie has had training from many local studios in the area including The Joanne Collier Studio of Dance, Baird Ballet, and The Dance Centre. She has a heart for contemporary dance, but has recently fallen in love with teaching the “babies” of the studio, the future of The Dance Centre. She is currently a teacher at Rome Middle School.
Carly Duryea
Ballet, Tap, Jazz, PreDance
Carly Duryea started dancing at The Dance Centre at the age of 5 and is still going strong 21 years later. She started apprenticing with Ms. Mary Beth while in middle school and began teaching at The Dance Centre’s satellite studio in her hometown of Centre, AL in 2017. Carly has taught ballet, tap, and jazz to students ranging from 3 to 12 years old. She also serves as a member of The Dance Center’s support staff, helping with recitals and registration events as needed.
Turner Wilder
Acro Tumbling Instruction
Turner Wilder grew up in Marietta and spent many of his childhood years training in competitive gymnastics at Cobb County Gymnastics Center; he moved to Summerville with his family in 2000. While in high school, Turner took part in productions with the Rome Little Theatre, and first started dancing at The Dance Centre in Rome from 2008 to 2010. He graduated from Armuchee High School in 2010. He went on to attend Kennesaw State University where he majored in dance, as well as participated in KSU’s gymnastics club team.
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In 2014, Turnerbegan teaching Acro-Tumbling classes at Bravo Dance Center in Acworth, under the tutelage of his mentors Cyndi Garguilo (“Ms G”) and Heather Haley: a sister duo with over 3 decades of experience teaching Acro-Tumbling to dancers. Since then, Turner has taught Acro classes at several dance studios across northwest Georgia. Turner is looking forward to returning to The Dance Centre and bringing Acro-Tumbling instruction to its dancers!
Alexis Arthur
Dance Instructor
Alexis loves any chance she gets to move her body and challenge herself in all areas. Whether that is running, jiu jitsu, dance, or strength training, she never steps down from a challenge. Dance has been a part of her life since she was 15, and competed around the states for 4 years. Alexis strongly believes in the importance of discipline, especially in the sport of dance. Her great desire is to share the love and strength that dance gives her to those who she teaches. Our choices today change the outcome of tomorrow.
Lee Morris
Dance Instructor
Lee Taylor Morris is dance teacher and choreographer from Rome, Georgia. She began her dance training at the Julia Taylor Studio of Dance and continued her education at The Georgia Conservatory of Dance. She is a graduate of Agnes Scott College, with a degree in Dance and a minor in Theatre. Lee holds her teaching certificate in Performing Arts K-12 and taught in the DeKalb County School System for seven years. During her time in DeKalb County, Lee choreographed several school wide musicals and performances such as Fiddler on the Roof and The Nutcracker. Lee is excited to be a member of the Dance Centre team!
Ms. Kay
Office Manager, Costumier
A native of Rome, Ms. Kay attended Floyd and Dalton Colleges, and received certificates in Human Resources, Accounting, as well in several other administrative continuing education courses. Ms. Kay held staff positions at the Rome/Floyd County YMCA and local medical and manufacturing facilities. As a dance mom and office administrator, Ms. Kay has been a part of The Dance Centre family for 35+ years. She joined the team in 2006 as office manager and has loved every minute! She is a beloved and favorite staff member to all our dancers.
In past years, Ms. Kay was known for volunteering and becoming a “Roman Award” winning costumier for many Rome Little Theatre productions. Ms. Kay is an accomplished seamstress, an avid gardener, and an accomplished Southern cuisine chef. Her spare time is spent enjoying being Nana to her grandchildren, Kaydon and Mollie.
