Creative Leaders. Community Builders.

Rebekah's love for dance began at the age of two, and from then on her passion led her to train with many dancers and choreographers around the world. Her involvement in world renown companies, including American Ballet Theatre, National Ballet of Canada, Joffrey Ballet, Atlanta Ballet, Columbia City Ballet, and Youth America Grand Prix, have stretched her abilities as both a performer & choreographer. During her time as an instructor, Rebekah has taught locally, in Charleston, SC & abroad in Germany and Japan. Notably, she holds a Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Georgia Southern University. In 2018, She opened Cotton Rose School of dance, and in 2021, she became the principal Director of Dance at the Averitt Center for the Arts. Since, she has directed performances such as, The Nutcracker, Alice in Wonderland, Beauty & the Beast, Peter Pan, Pinocchio, and Grace: A Performance of Praise. Rebekah strives to nurture her students' love for dance. She has experience to share, and her aim is to provide a solid foundation and a positive atmosphere. Above all, Rebekah is a dedicated mother of two children.

Tara is a former professional dancer for the NBA Dallas Mavericks and NFL Cincinnati Bengals. She received training from MCC Dance, Broadway Dance Center in NY, and Edge Performing Arts Center in LA. She was the former director/owner of A Step Ahead Dance Studio for 21 years before relocating to Georgia.

Anastasia received a BA in General Studies (Theater/History) from Georgia Southern University and an Associates Degree in Theater/Music and Dance from Lincoln College. Brown provides dance instruction and choreography in the areas of Musical Theater, Jazz, and Ballet/Tap. Since the age of three, she has worked in many aspects of theater from acting and directing to choreography and costuming. “My goal is to create well-rounded, talented dancers, while encouraging and inspiring them to push themselves to become extraordinary performers”. Brown believes in building long lasting relationships with the community and is active in many local events.

With over 15 years of dedicated training and performance experience, Anna Nessmith brings both versatility and passion to the world of dance. She has studied a diverse range of styles, including ballet, pointe, contemporary, lyrical, tap, jazz, hip hop, and musical theater. For the past six years, Anna has danced competitively, earning accolades for standout performances, including her award winning senior solos, “Roxie” and “Dracula.” Anna has trained under esteemed instructors Jurijs Safonovs and Mathyn Miller, as well as Helen Redding, Taylor Felker, and Madelyn Wolfe. She has further enriched her craft through onstage performances with Bobby Wesner, artistic director of the Neos Dance Theatre, and by enrolling in master classes with Broadway veteran Ben Cameron, folk dance expert Rossy Meza, and hip hop standout Maceo Harrison of the Savannah Bananas. Known for her expressive style and dedication to her craft, Anna is passionate about helping students find their voice through movement. She is thrilled to share her love of dance with the Cotton Rose community and looks forward to inspiring the next generation of performers.

Katie has 15+ years of dance experience including formal training in ballet/pointe, lyrical, contemporary, jazz, tap, modern, and hip hop. She trained for 8 years at A Step Ahead Performing Arts Studio in Loganville, GA. She competed at numerous dance competitions as a member of ASA's performing company for 4 years. In her undergraduate years at Brigham Young University, Katie continued her dance education through the Foundations of Dance, Contemporary Modern, and Tap courses. She was also a member of BYU's color guard. In addition to serving as a substitute instructor at ASA, Katie has taught dance to several high school and independent color guards in the metro Atlanta area. Notably, she holds a Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Georgia Southern University. Katie is passionate about helping young dancers grow in skill and confidence, and she’s thrilled to share her love for dance with the next generation!

Amanda brings over 20 years of experience to Cotton Rose. Originally from Upstate New York, she began dancing at the age of 3 at American Dance Academy. She is trained in Tap, Ballet, Jazz, Hip Hop and Lyrical. Amanda aims to provide young children with a solid foundation not only in dance but confidence and self expression they can use in all aspects of life.