Josette's Academy of Dance

"More than just great dancing!"
Home
About Us
Instructors/Staff
Classes
Schedule
Summer Schedule
Registration/Tuition
Make a Payment
Hours
Special Events
Competition Teams
Performing Company
Spring Recital
Photo gallery
Videos
Dancewear Boutique
Calendar
Employment
Contact Us
Site Map
Instructors at Josette's Academy of Dance
Josette's Academy of Dance is the quality performing arts studio it is today because of the experience, skill and dedication of its staff. At Josette's Academy of Dance we pride ourselves in offering instructors with professional teaching and choreography experience.



Josette Bozeman Yarn
Director and Owner

 

Josette Bozeman Yarn has been at the forefront of dance instruction in Albany, Georgia for a generation of students. Josette grew up in Albany, Georgia where she has been dancing since 1985 & teaching since 1998, and received her early training and teaching experience from Murphy Dance Studio. Ms. Yarn continued her training in New York, Boston, Atlanta ,and Miami.  She has studied with such notables as: Tony Corso, Gregg Russell, Joe Tremaine, Mia Michaels, Anthony LoCasio, Michael Vernon Cathy Roe, Bob Rizzo, Judy Rice, Frank Hatchett, Shelia Barker, Sean Curren, Peter Rose, Brian Friedman, to name a few.

        Josette has taught ballet, tap, jazz, pointe, hip hop, contemporary, and lyrical to children ages 3 and up. Her contemporary/ lyrical style and choreography is truly unique in this area. She also is avid about introducing the world of acting & singing to students of all levels. Josette has performed in ballets including “The Nutcracker”, & “Westside Story”, along with many others. She has choreographed for dance competitions and many of her students have been title award winners and her groups have won multiple high score awards. Josette is an accredited judge for the Miss Georgia Pageant, and has choreographed many dances for contestants. She continues her education by attending seminars & conventions through out the year. Josette is an acclaimed choreographer and instructor that has mastered her craft in shaping young lives through her incredibly creative dance direction.   

 

  

Amanda Goodson Rooks-On Broadway!


Singing, dancing, acting…all three of these words describe what Amanda has loved to do since a very early age.  They have each become a very strong passion in her life.  Amanda has had extensive training over the past 20 years in all three areas.  She grew up in the small town of Leesburg, Georgia and began receiving her dance training and experience from Pritchett-Pippin Dance Studio in Albany.  After graduating high school, Amanda continued to gain experience in ballet, tap, and jazz by serving as a teaching assistant.  She then moved to Valdosta to finish college and continued to teach ballet, tap, and jazz to children ages three and up.  Even after graduating college and starting her career in education in Tifton, Amanda continued to pursue her passion by teaching ballet techniques at night to gymnasts at DreamIt Gymnastics.   After several years, she then taught a Triple Threat Broadway style class at the Carolyn Ellis School of Dance.  Amanda currently serves as the dance line sponsor for Lee County High School. 

During her high school and college years, Amanda stayed very active on the stage by performing in numerous productions with LCHS and Theatre Albany.  A few of her favorites include Bye Bye Birdie, Robber Bridegroom, Sweet Charity, and especially playing the supporting role of Carrie Pipperidge in Carousel.  Throughout all those years, Amanda gained a numerous amount of the knowledge and skills necessary to “light up the stage”.  When she wasn’t performing in a production at the theatre or dance studio, Amanda was very active in competing in the Miss America pageant system.  For over ten years, Amanda competed in many pageants earning a large amount of scholarship money and winning several awards in talent and interview.  Persistence is definitely the key because Amanda ended up winning the titles of Miss Plantation Trace 2002, Miss Valdosta 2003, and Miss Southwest GA 2004 which allowed her the opportunity to compete for the title of Miss Georgia. 

Amanda teaches 4th grade in Lee County; however, her true passion is performing on stage as a “triple threat” by singing, dancing, and acting.  She looks forward to sharing this same joy and passion with all of her dance students. 

 

 

Cindy Calek Pickren


Cindy Calek Pickren began dancing at the age of four in her hometown of Albany, GA. Her early training began at the Y.M.C.A. where it was recommended that she transfer to Murphy Dance Studio. There she had the privilege of studying, through her youth, under Ballet Master Terrell Paulk of the Atlanta Ballet Company and Bernard Foister of Atlanta, GA. When she was 10 she began training under Michael Garrison of the North Atlanta Dance Academy and throughout her teenage years also studied under Leslie Hodges of Pelham, GA and Charles and Natalia Hagan of Tallahassee, FL. As a member of the Albany Ballet Theatre, Cindy has performed in numerous productions including Snow White, The Nutcracker and Cinderella. Cindy has taught ballet, pointe, jazz and tap for the past seven years to students ages 3 and up. She has had the opportunity to travel to many dance workshops and conventions and further her knowledge of dance instruction. She is also an accredited Miss Georgia Pageant judge and has choreographed dances for many title winning pageant contestants. Cindy’s passion for dance constantly compels her to further her training and to share the joy this amazing art form has brought to her life with others.

 
 

 

Kelly Walton


Kelly Walton's love for singing and music started at the age of two. She became part of a prestigious children's choir in Virgina prior to her family moving to Albany at the age of ten. The world of theatre was introduced via Theatre Albany's Summer Youth Workshops, children's theatre ( Puss in Boots, The Velveteen Rabbit, Th Frog Prince) and musicals ( Damn Yankees, The Music Man, Hello,Dolly! Bye Bye Birdie). Kelly's repertoire and experience continued to grow through high school at Deerfield Windsor with literary competitions, show chior, national anthem performances and musicals ( Annie, The King & I, Once Upon a Mattress & Grease). Kelly went on to study theatre and musical theatre at the University of Mississippi where she received a BFA degree. After graduation, Kelly fulfilled a life long dream and moved to New York City and lived for the next five years. During this time she worked for a successful PR company while auditioning and interning with theatre companies. Kelly is thrilled to share her experience and passion for the theatre and music with Josette's Academy of Dance.