Meet Our Staff
Our teachers are qualified and experienced in dance education. Their goal is to provide a safe, fun and encouraging Christian environment for your child.
Sheryl Clay - Owner/Director
At the age of five, Sheryl began studying dance in Atlanta with J. Frank Leitzsey. There were no dance schools in Douglasville back in the ‘60s, and she thanks God that her parents made that trip to Atlanta every week so that she could dance. After Mr. Leitzsey’s school closed, Sheryl began dancing at Douglasville School of Dance. She began assisting and teaching at DSD and then had her dream of owning a dance school come true. In 1984, Sheryl and her husband purchased DSD. They have been the owners for over 50 years. She continues to be blessed each year by DSD dance families and the DSD staff. A life-long resident of Douglasville, Sheryl and her husband are the proud parents of three adult sons, three daughters-in-law and five very precious grandchildren.
Nicole Crook - Co-Director/Office Manager
Nicole is an alumna of Douglasville School of Dance where she began her dance training at the age of five. Nicole began assisting at DSD during high school and has been teaching for over 20 years. She continues her dance training during summer programs at The Atlanta Ballet. Nicole works with all ages in the areas of ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary and pointe. She also manages the office and assists Ms. Sheryl with directing DSD. A graduate of the State University of West Georgia, Nicole also holds a Master's Degree in business administration. Nicole lives in Douglasville with her husband and son, and loves being a part of the DSD family!
Kristen Holloway - Preschool Director/Instructor
Kristen has been a member of the Douglasville School of Dance family for many years. At the age of five, she began her dance training at DSD. After high school she began teaching dance and has taught students of all ages. Currently, she enjoys teaching younger elementary and preschool age dancers. Kristen has participated in classes at various Atlanta dance schools and has attended many dance conventions over the years. She lives in Winston with her husband Matt and are proud parents of three adult children, one daughter-in-law and one grandchild.
Gaby Figueroa-West - Instructor
Gaby began dancing at the age of three, training in ballet, tap, jazz, and contemporary. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of West Georgia. After graduating, Gaby worked with Walt Disney World Entertainment while also beginning her career in the mental health field. She teaches contemporary, jazz, ballet, and performing groups at DSD and loves encouraging her students to grow in both their technique and confidence. Gaby lives in Villa Rica with her husband, their two sons, and their adorable pug.
Hilary Paige Willis - Instructor
Reagan Hughes - Instructor/Lobby Receptionist
Reagan has 10 years of training from Douglasville School of Dance, where she began with studying hip-hop classes. She quickly fell in love with dance and added tap, jazz, contemporary, and ballet to her skills, as well as participating in the DSD Kickline. Reagan began assisting dance classes at the age of 16 and is very much excited to continue her time at DSD by sharing her love of dance with students!
Cheznie McBrayer - Instructor/Lobby Receptionist
Cheznie is a Douglasville native, and began taking dance classes at DSD at the age of three, continuing through high school. She began assisting at the studio in high school and throughly enjoys it! Cheznie finds great joy in working with students to develop a strong dance technique in a Christian environment. She also enjoys watching the student's personalities shine bright onstage. She has a passion for working with children and always looks for a way to connect with them to help them build confidence in each style of dance. Cheznie was in college for healthcare and quickly realized her love for teaching and caring for students. She is currently in school to become an elementary school teacher, just like her Aunt Judy, who made a huge impact on her life.
Noelle Eckstein - Instructor
Noelle started receiving dance instruction at the age of two, continuing through high school, where she graduated from Douglasville School of Dance. She has been trained in a variety of dance styles including tap, ballet, jazz, contemporary, hip-hop, and she was a member of the DSD performing groups and Kickline. Noelle is currently pursuing a Bachelor's in Geography and a Minor in French from the University of West Georgia. She is also in flight training, where she one day plans to fly commercially. Noelle assists preschool and middle school classes and is thankful to share her love of dance to all ages.
Emily Moss - Instructor
Emily is an alumna of Douglasville School of Dance where she began her dance training at age three. She has been trained in tap, ballet, jazz, and she performed in DSD's Kickline and Elite Performers. Her love of dance translated into a love for all types of performing arts and she began to pursue theatre and choreography opportunities at the age of 16. Emily attended Birmingham-Southern College where she continued to pursue dance and theatre at the collegiate level. She graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Collaborative Education and is a teacher in the Douglas County School System. Emily lives in Villa Rica with her husband Tyler, their son, and their dog, Milo.
Whitney Graver - Digital Media Coordinator
Whitney grew up at Douglasville School of Dance, beginning classes at just three years old. Over the next 15 years, she trained in tap, ballet, jazz, and pointe and was a proud member of DSD’s Kickline. She later returned to teach jazz and ballet to elementary and middle school dancers and loved working with our performing groups. Whitney graduated from Kennesaw State University with a B.S. in Human Services, concentrating in Nonprofit Administration. Now married to her husband, Matthew, Whitney brings her creativity and heart for DSD into her current role, helping the studio shine through marketing and social media. She is grateful for the opportunity to pour back into the studio that gave her so much throughout her childhood and dance journey.
