The Dancers’ Corner took root in Philadelphia, PA over 50 years ago and was originally called The Le Roux School of Dance. For 25 of those years our present director, Bonnie Gordon was Artistic Director for Le Roux. Upon retiring and moving to Atlanta she established The Dancers’ Corner at the Ashford Dunwoody YMCA in 1991. In 1994 The Dancers’ Corner left the Y and opened a studio at 2472 Jett Ferry Road.

We employ highly skilled faculty which teaches Creative Movement/ Pre-Ballet, Ballet, Pointe, Tap, Jazz, Hip Hop, Drama and Gymnastics on Beginner and Intermediate Levels.

Our 2001-02 Fall-Spring Program runs from September 4 through June 8 culminating with two dance recitals which will be held at the Roswell Cultural Arts Center on June 10 (ages 3-6) and June 11 (ages 7 through adult).

The Dancers’ Corner is also home of the D.C. Players, a Young People’s theater group that holds weekly acting classes and puts on two performances a year, one in December and one in May at the Dunwoody Stage Door Players Theater. The DC Players are directed and coached by Kristin Hathaway, Education and Marketing Director for Horizon Theatre.

We have two Performing Companies. Our Junior Company is open to students with at least 3 years previous instruction. Our Senior Company students must have at least 5 years previous instruction. New students are accepted by audition only. Our Companies love to perform. These students perform at various community functions and entertain, along with our Little Troupers (ages 3-6) at hospitals and assisted living facilities throughout the area. Last year our Performing Companies raised over $2000 for Childkind with their Performance of "The Fantastic Toy Shop" held at Dunwoody High School.

Our Mentoring Program is open to students ages 12 through 18. Students train as teacher’s assistants with the goal of becoming student teachers. These students also teach in our Summer Theater Arts Camps.

During the summer months The Dancers’ Corner has a full program of Summer Dance as well as Theater Arts Camps for children ages 3-6 years. These Camps adhere to a weekly theme (Cinderella, Aladdin etc.) and movement, music, arts and crafts, puppetry are just part of the curriculum! Every Friday there is a performance for parents and siblings.

Bonnie, a native Philadelphian began her dancing career at the age of 2. She attended the Le Roux School of Dance, directed by her mother, Phyllis Le Roux. Bonnie studied tap and ballet and performed on television throughout her early childhood on the Paul Whiteman Show, The Children’s Hour and The Chief Halftown show. From ages 7 through 12 she studied Classical Ballet with Patricia Taschner, Center City Ballet Company and during her teens added 4 years of study in jazz and modern dance with Walter Keenan’s Dance Company in Philadelphia.

Bonnie taught and choreographed her first ballet class at age 12 and over years of study, became quite adept at teaching other disciplines such as tap, jazz, modern dance, acrobatic dance and ball room.

Bonnie later expanded her interest in choreography and dance by working with several theater groups in the Philadelphia area. Over a period of 5 years she choreographed, danced, acted, staged managed and composed music as a part of her involvement.

She became Co. Director of Le Roux in 1971 and sole director in 1982 when she began writing a Syllabus for Pre School Students. In 1984, she moved to Atlanta and retired from the dance scene.

In 1991 she came out of retirement to organize the first YMCA affiliated Dance Program for the Ashford Dunwoody YMCA. In 1994 she left the YMCA and opened The Dancers’ Corner. It was here at the Dancers’ Corner that Bonnie was able to begin working with her Pre School Syllabus in earnest. Implementing a new approach to dance through visualization in an organized but relaxed and friendly environment. She added Drama to the curriculum and emphasized the importance of Community Service Performances in which all students regardless of age or ability were welcome to share their "joy of life" with others.

Bonnie has spent the past 7 years teaching, choreographing and making many new friends. After 7 years of searching, she has finally found "just the right staff" with "just the right chemistry" which will allow her time to pursue other interests as well as teach.

Kim has lived in the Atlanta area her whole life. Studying at the Atlanta School of Gymnastics, coached by Tom Cook, she has over 10 years experience as a competitive gymnast. At the end of her competing years, during which she specialized in floor routine and vault, she was a Level 9/10.

Kim was the Captain of her High School Varsity Gymnastics team and has taught in many gyms in the Atlanta area. She taught in Milledgeville, GA for three years, in Athens, GA for two years and is currently teaching at Varsity Gymnastics in Decatur, GA. She was an instructor at Camp Matoaka Summer Camp in Maine in 1995 and the Director of Gymnastics at Brookwood Summer Camp in New York in 1998.

Kim is currently attending Georgia State where she is earning her degree in Early Childhood Education.

Kim is very energetic and dynamic teacher with an enormous sense of the "joy of life". She is a "hands on teacher" and has a wonderful way of bringing out the best in her students...and her fellow staff members.

At the age of sixteen, Kristin began her acting, teaching and directing career. She performed with the Children’s Play Shop for two seasons. She taught at the Potomac School in DC and directed the Wizard of Oz. Kristin also taught at Camp Matoaka Summer Camp for four years and directed "Peter Pan" and "Cinderella" for the campers there.

Kristin is originally from Washington DC where she studied drama and theater for four years, graduating Magna Cum Laude with a major in Theater from James Madison University in 1998. She studied at the Shakespeare Globe Theater in London during college as part of a study abroad program.

After college, Kristin worked for the President’s Committee of Arts and Humanities for one year. Kristin is currently the Education and Marketing Director at Horizon Theatre in Atlanta and writes a monthly article about theater in town, for "Atlanta In Town".

Kristin is a highly motivated and inspirational teacher. Dedicated to promoting self-esteem and confidence, she makes the world of make believe come to life and brings out the very best in her students.

A lifetime resident of the Dunwoody area, Dawn began dancing at the age of four learning the techniques of ballet, tap and jazz.

She danced on the St. Pius X Dance Company/Drill Team and was Co-captain and Captain for her junior and senior years. Dawn choreographed the basketball half time shows for the Team. She also attended Georgia Southern University, danced with their Dance Company, was Captain of the Company her Senior year and graduated in 1997 with a major in Early Childhood Education.

Dawn currently teaches at Our Lady of the Assumption School for Pre-K students and choreographs the dance section of their school plays.

Dawn joined the staff of The Dancers’ Corner in 1997 and has since taught pointe, ballet, pre-ballet, tap and jazz for ages two through adult. In addition to her teaching duties Dawn headed our Summer Theater Arts Camp in 1999. A talented artist, Dawn has also designed and built sets for many of our performances.

Dawn’s imagination and her experience with young children make her an invaluable part of The Dancers’ Corner Pre School Program.

Raised in Jacksonville, FL, Natalie began dancing at the age of three, studying ballet, tap, jazz, modern, and pointe.

She has performed in many competitions and ballets including "Sleeping Beauty" with Mervyn’s School of Dance in Jacksonville, where she was an assistant teacher.

Natalie moved to the Atlanta area in the year 2000. A student with the Atlanta Ballet she performed in last year’s "Nutcracker". In addition, she choreographed and performed in the DC Players 2000 Holiday Production of "The Fantastic Toy Shop".

Natalie attends St. Pius X Academy is also a member of the St. Pius X Dance Team.

Natalie was a key supervisor during the 2001 Summer Camp session here at the Dancers’ Corner where she is teaching Pre Ballet and Tap. Natalie’s enthusiasm and sweet nature endear her to her students. A talented Ballerina, she is a role model and inspiration to our older girls.

Michelle Lewis began dancing at the age of 5 in Pensacola, Florida. She studied ballet, tap, jazz and modern under the direction of Michael and Susan Quinn Williams formerly of Gus Giordano Jazz. After high school, Michelle received a dance and academic scholarship to Huntingdon College in Montgomery, Alabama. While attending college, she danced lead roles in Beauty and the Beast, excerpts from Les Miserables and an original ballet called Yellow Woman. She graduated in 1999 with a Bachelor of Arts in Dance. From there, Michelle moved to the Atlanta area and began her teaching career working in various studios and school programs. She has choreographed for area high school dance teams and her choreography has won top awards at dance competitions all over the South. She has been teaching children for 10 years and enjoys working with children and adults of all ages.