Elevate Performing Arts Center is More Than Just Great Dancing™! We believe each student has God given worth and abilities, and the performing arts not only bring out each child's unique qualities, but also teaches them important life lessons! We know that not every student will go on to perform professionally, but our hope is that the lessons they learned through the performing arts will last them a lifetime.
Our goal is to provide a family friendly environment, with positive teachers in professional studios, all while instilling values and traits that will help develop our students into leaders. Our focus is to raise up the next generation to be strong leaders through classes, performance and volunteer opportunities, and our LEAD Performance Company.
Staff and Instructors
Elevate is proud to provide a professional instruction in a family environment. With a mixture of tradition and innovation, our faculty brings the best out of students each and every day.
Danielle Aikens-Holland
Founder & Artistic Director
Ms. Danielle has been dancing for 40 years, playing piano for 38 years, and voice for 25 years. During that time she founded Elevate Performing Arts which has allowed her to share her passion for music and dance and have a positive impact on hundreds of students over the last 20 years. She is proud that Elevate is the charter member of More Than Just Great Dancing affiliated studios for the state of Georgia.
Justin Holland
School Director
Mr. Justin is the School Director of Elevate and has been leading the team from the start. Former Stage Manager for Savoyards Light Opera in Atlanta (now the Atlanta Lyric Theater), he has been involved in productions of the Pirates of Penzance, Fiddler on the Roof, Kismet and more. He is passionate about inspiring kids to be the best that they can be and teaching them to give back to community.
JESSE BIONDI
Guitar, Strings
Jesse Biondi is a multifaceted musician and educator with a rich career spanning 25 years. His journey in music began at an early age, leading him to become a classically trained cellist and an accomplished guitarist. Jesse has not only played in numerous touring bands, but also showcased his talent as a concert cellist, performing across the country and captivating audiences with his skill and passion for music.
Beyond his performance career, Jesse has dedicated six years to nurturing the next generation of musicians as a middle school orchestra and chorus teacher. His commitment to music education and his ability to inspire young minds in the art of music is amplified by his unique perspective as someone who has not just studied music, but lived it. With the ability to play 13 instruments and counting, Jesse is excited to bring his expertise and experience to Elevate PAC!
EMMA BROWNING
Elementary Hip Hop, Junior Hip Hop
Emma started dancing at Elevate in 2013. She has trained in Hip Hop, Jazz, Pom, Contemporary, Ballet, and Pointe. She was part of the Taking Shape Leadership Program at Elevate, as well as the LEAD Performance Company from 2014-2016. As part of the Taking Shape program, she assisted in classes, and began teaching on her own in 2020. Emma joined the studio on two trips to Walt Disney World to perform in parades down Main Street USA, as well as a trip to New York City to perform at the New Amsterdam Theater and in Times Square. In addition to dancing, Emma is a student at the University of Georgia studying Fisheries and Aquatic biology. While at UGA she was a member of the UGA Red Hotz competitive dance team, and she is currently a member of the UGA Counterpointe Dance Company. She is extremely excited to be back at Elevate this year!
Alaina Cardiges
Contemporary Ballet, Jazznastics
Alaina has been dancing for 17 years. She began her dance training at North Georgia Dance and Music Factory, and started taking classes at Elevate Performing Arts Center in the 5th grade . She has trained in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Pointe, Hip Hop, Acro, and Contemporary, and was also a member of our Competitive Dance Company, where she received numerous awards, and also received a scholarship from the Pulse. Alaina has taught various styles and ages at the studio and is excited to be teaching again this season. Along with having a marketing degree from the University of North Georgia, she loves having the opportunity to perform professionally around the Atlanta area. Alaina enjoys being able to help her students grow as dancers and have fun while they learn.
kalisha hale
Ballet Beginnings, Budding Ballerinas, Hippity Hop, Tutus & Bowties
Kalisha has been dancing at Elevate Performing Arts Center for 16 years. Dance has always been a passion for her, and she has trained in different styles such as Ballet, Pointe, Hip Hop, Jazz, Contemporary, Acro, and Tap. From 2012-2016, and 2022, Kalisha was a member of our Competition Dance Company, and participated in various dance competitions around the area. She has also performed at Walt Disney World! She is excited to share her passion for dance, and looks forward to creating a fun environment, while also using her skills to teach younger students.
isabella holland
Ballet Beginnings, Intermediate Ballet, Junior Contemporary, Teen Tap, Tutus and Bowties
Isabella has been dancing at Elevate Performing Arts Center for 16 years. She has trained in Ballet, Pointe, Hip Hop, Jazz, Contemporary, Acro, and Tap. She has also been a part of our Taking Shape Leadership Program, and has served as a class assistant for the past 5 years. Isabella was a member of our Competition Dance Company from 2012-16, and 2022. In addition to attending at JUMP and Pulse conventions, she has also had the opportunity to perform at Walt Disney World twice, as well as performing in Times Square and at the New Amsterdam Theatre in NYC! She is excited to join the staff at Elevate this year, and looks forward to helping her students grow as dancers, while having fun!
bria Kellar
Darby’s Dancers
Bria is a pediatric occupational therapist by day, Darbys Dancers teacher by night. She is a local to Northeast GA where she began her dance training at age 4, growing in ballet, tap, jazz, and modern dance and performing in Atlanta with her pre-professional modern dance company, Good Moves. She attended Kennesaw State University where she decided to pursue a Bachelor’s in Psychology and a minor in dance, though was active in the KSU dance company and Nu Delta Alpha. Bria pursued her Master’s of Science in OT at Brenau and currently practices in an outpatient clinic locally. Bria was an avid volunteer for a special needs dance program in undergrad and knew that once her education was complete, she wanted to head off her own program. Bria began small with local dance camps before finding her place with the EPAC community and Darby’s Dancers. She loves being able to combine both her passion for working with children with disabilities and her lifelong love of dance in a way that is fun and beneficial for all involved!
shania mcamis
Junior Ballet, Junior Jazz
Omaha, Nebraska native Shania McAmis began her training at Omaha Theater Ballet School. She graduated from Brenau University with an MS in Health Science and a BA in Dance with a concentration in Pre-Physical Therapy. Her early focus on classical ballet led her to attend various summer programs including Ballet Nebraska (American Midwest Ballet), Idyllwild Arts Academy, The Rock School for Dance Education, and Gainesville Ballet Company. Along with her extensive ballet training, Shania has had additional formal training in contemporary, modern dance (Graham, Cunningham), jazz (Giordano, Fosse), improvisation, and character dance. She has performed featured roles including Hen/Snow Princess in Wizard of Oz, Mirror Alice in Alice in Wonderland, and various roles in The Nutcracker. Shania is thrilled to be joining Elevate this season as a ballet and pointe instructor!
kayla muirhead
Acro, Senior Ballet, Senior Contemporary, Senior Jazz
Kayla Muirhead hails from Atlanta, GA where she obtained her Bachelors of Arts in Dance from Brenau University. In her youth, she competed as a level nine gymnast prior to shifting her focus to dance. She began training forty hours per week at Metropolitan Ballet Theatre’s pre-professional Conservatory program under the tutelage and directorship of Maniya Barredo. Kayla has received scholarships from and taken part in intensives at the Bolshoi Ballet, Orlando Ballet, Nashville Ballet, American Academy of Ballet, Tulsa Ballet, and the National Choreography Intensive as a choreographer. Her training continued at Brenau which involved Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Ballroom, West African, Modern, Improvisation, and Contemporary. Her academic studies include World Dance Perspectives, Dance History, Composition, Choreography, and Production. Kayla has been given the opportunity to engage in classes and perform works choreographed by Anthony Burrell, Chloe Arnold, Nicholas Palmquist, Tiffany Carson, Jessica Saund, and Robert Barnett. Her love and appreciation for dance fuels her desire to share the knowledge that has been given to her.
kylie groom stacy
Elementary Jazz, Elementary Tap, Junior Tap
Kylie Groom Stacy hails from Winfield, KS where she spent lots of time singing to the cows on her family’s farm. She decided to pursue a career in musical theater and went to Oklahoma City University where she earned a BFA in Acting and a BA in Music. She then went on to receive a Masters in Music with an emphasis in Musical Theater from the University of Central Oklahoma. Since then, she has had the privilege to perform in various roles such as Eponine in Les Mis, Cinderella in Into The Woods, Martha in The Secret Garden, and Esther in Meet Me In St. Louis. Kylie has worked professionally at TheatreSquared, Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma, Trike Theatre, and Silver Dollar City. When she’s not performing, Kylie enjoys passing on her passion for the arts by teaching dance and vocal lessons. She believes that through honest and communicative storytelling, the world can become a more hopeful, loving, inclusive, and unified place.