MS. JOAN KALL STEWART
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A native New Yorker, Ms. Stewart received her formative training at the Westbury Studio of Fine Arts with Martha Manners, Lillian Waldecker and Jon Curtis. She furthered her studies at the School of American Ballet, American Ballet Theatre and the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo under the guidance of Anatole Vilzak and Ludmilla Shollar.

A performer of great versatility, Ms. Stewart’s professional resume includes the Broadway companies of Camelot, Hello Dolly, and national companies of Fiorello, The Sound of Music, Hello Dolly, and How to Succeed in Business With Really Trying. Her summer stock credits include the Paper Mill Playhouse production of Half a Sixpence, The Music Fair’s circuit productions of Half A Sixpence and Gypsy. She performed in roles for Atlanta’s Theatre Of The Stars: Liat in South Pacific, Gloria Upson in Mame, Sue Ellen Bradbury in How Now Dow Jones, Liesl in The Sound of Music, and Ermengarde in Hello Dolly. Ms. Stewart has appeared on the Patty Duke Show, The Woody Allen TV Special and numerous national commercials including Downey Fabric Softener and Great Shakes. She has appeared in Industrial shows for Coca Cola, Canada Dry Ginger Ale and The Ford Show, as well as The Come On In Revue at the Carib Hilton Hotel in San Juan, Puerto Rico and Winter Park, Florida.

Ms. Stewart has taught ballet in Atlanta since 1967 and directed the Sandy Springs School of Ballet for fourteen years. She has been a principal dancer with Georgia Ballet, DeKalb Concert, The Chattahoochee Dance Theatre, Sandy Springs Civic Ballet, The Huntington Baroque Ballet and the New York City Festival Ballet.

Ms. Stewart’s choreographic works have been performed by the Georgia Ballet, Ruth Mitchell Dance Company, Phoenix Opera Company, Mercer University, DeKalb Concert Ballet, Chattahoochee Dance Theatre, The Sandy Springs Dunwoody Civic Ballet, The Sawnee Ballet Theatre and St. Petersburg Florida’s Chamber Ballet Company.

Since 1990, Ms. Stewart has been the owner and director of the Sawnee School of Ballet, Inc. and artistic director of the Sawnee Ballet Theatre, Inc. in Cumming, Georgia.

MS. ELLEN GRAND
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Ms. Grand began her formal dance training in Chattanooga, Tennessee with Nancy Lane Wright and was a member of the Dance Theatre Workshop. She attended Vanderbilt University in Nashville where she received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering and performed with the Vanderbilt Dance Group for four seasons.

After moving to Atlanta, she obtained her Masters Degree in Civil Engineering from Georgia Tech. She continued her dance training at the Dancers Studio Backstage and Sawnee School of Ballet.

Ms. Grand has performed with Sawnee Ballet Theatre as the Queen in Sleeping Beauty, the American Mother in La Boutique Fantasque and Mme. Silverhaus in The Nutcracker.

MS. SUZY HARRIS
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Ms. Harris received her early ballet training with the Decatur School of Ballet. She furthered her training with Anne Burton Avery, and at the Terpsichore Dance Studio with Patsy Bromley and Gary Harrison.

She received her Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Georgia in Dance Education with studies in ballet, modern, tap, and jazz.

Ms. Harris' performing credits include four seasons with the Decatur/Dekalb Civic Ballet Company; Roswell Dance Theater; the University of Georgia Concert Dance Company and Young Choreographers; and the Athens Ballet Theatre.

She has performed with the Sawnee Ballet Theatre as the Russian Mother in La Boutique Fantasque and as Mme. Silverhaus in their annual production of The Nutcracker.

MS. SHARA MARTIN KEITH
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Ms. Keith received her formative ballet training from Joan Kall Stewart and Dana Mott at The Sandy Springs School of Ballet and was a principal dancer with the Sandy Springs/Dunwoody Civic Ballet Company and the Chattahoochee Dance Theatre. For two consecutive seasons, she was selected by the Dekalb County Fine Arts Council to participate in the Dekalb County Young Artist in Dance Program.

A graduate of Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, Texas, with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Ballet, she was a principal dancer with Texas Christian University Dance Ensemble and studied under Fernando Schaffenburg and Lisa Fusillo. She was invited to perform in a choreographic showcase with members of the Fort Worth, Texas, Ballet Company.

Ms. Keith was a principal dancer with the Georgia Ballet for three seasons and performed with the Phoenix Opera Company in productions of Hansel and Gretel and Mozart's Magic Flute. She was a Guest Artist for The Gilmer Arts Council and the Governor's Honors Program in Valdosta, Georgia.

Ms. Keith is an assistant to the Artistic Director of Sawnee Ballet Theatre. She has appeared with Sawnee Ballet Theatre in numerous principal roles in their Spring Concert and Nutcracker productions. She received her Associate Degree in Nursing from Kennesaw State College, Kennesaw, Georgia.

MS. VERONICA KNIGHT
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Ms. Knight was accepted into the performing arts program at Kaimuki High School of Oahu, Hawaii. She studied at Hawaii State Ballet and performed with their Junior Company. After moving to New York, she continued her studies at Broadway Dance Center and performed with several local groups.

Ms. Knight attended Miami Dade College, where she received an Associates Degree in Dance. She then attended Florida International University where she received her Bachelor of Arts in Dance with an emphasis in choreography and performance. While in Miami, Ms. Knight taught a variety of dance in the Dade county school system (Hispanic, African, Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Modern and HipHop) and choreographed for their Dance Company. She also taught Jazz and Tap at the McMillan Community School in Miami.

She performed with the Neuvo Dia Dance Ensemble, and with the Florida Grand Opera. Ms. Knight also danced in a Latin-American Commercial.

MS. JOANNE LEE
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A native of Australia, Joanne Lee, A.I.S.T.D. trained in the Cecchetti Method, and at the Victoria Commonwealth Society of Dancing. She studied with Lily Piper, Coorie Lodders, Madame Zenie Borovansky, Martin Rubenstin and Audrey DeVoss. She performed with the Shiveram Indian Dance Company and the Borovansky Ballet, now known as the Australian Ballet. Ms. Lee had her own ballet schools in Ankara, Turkey; Goldsboro, North Carolina; Beaufort, South Carolina and was Artistic Director of the Beaufort Ballet Guild.

In 1968, Ms. Lee joined the faculty of the Atlanta School of Ballet, where she directed the Apprentice Company, Youth Ensemble and Professional Open Classes. She also supervised and staged the children’s roles in George Balanchine’s Nutcracker.

Ms. Lee has numerous choreographic credits, including such works as La Boutique Fantastique, Interludes, Angles in 3/4, and Peter and the Wolf. She was the Assistant to Dr. Marylin Darling of the Dance Department at Agnes Scott College. Recently she participated on a committee reviewing dance companies for Fulton County Schools.

Ms. Lee has taught master classes in Melbourne, Australia, Clearwater FL, Nashville TN, Rochester NY, and Akron OH. She has been an instructor with Sawnee School of Ballet for the past five seasons.

MS. NATALIA SHEVCHENKO
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Ms. Shevchenko is a graduate of the Kiev Academy in the Ukraine and was trained in the Vagonova style. She was the recipient of Laureate awards at both the National Competition of Art in Kiev, Ukraine, and Kishinev, Moldova.

As a principal dancer, Ms. Shevchenko has an extensive repertoire including such roles as ‘Odette’ in Swan Lake; ‘Aurora’ in Sleeping Beauty; ‘Swanhilda’ in Coppelia; and ‘Juliet’ in Romeo and Juliet.

She has performed at the Mussorgsky State Theater of Opera and Ballet; Kirov Academy Theatre of Opera and Ballet; the Bolshoi Theater in Russia; the Muldova Academy Theater of Opera and Ballet in Muldova; and National Academy Theatre of Opera and Ballet in the Ukraine.

Ms. Shevchenko's teaching experience includes the Classical Ballet Academy of Kishinev, Muldova; the Muldova Academy Theatre of Opera and Ballet; Kiev Academy of Ballet; and the Atlanta Ballet. She has been an instructor with Sawnee School of Ballet for the past six seasons.

MS. LAURIE SOWADA
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Ms. Sowada received her formative training at Bobbie Alcott’s School of Dance in Miami, Florida. She continued her dance education at the Avery School of Dance in Miami, where she taught classes in pre-ballet, tap, tumbling and slimnastics.

She attended St. Petersburg Junior College and was a preschool teacher in Seminole, Florida where she created a play/learning environment for 3-4 year olds.

Ms. Sowada has attended a Summer Intensive with the Salt Lake City Ballet Company in Aspen, Colorado. She has performed at University of Miami and Vizcaya Gardens. Most recently she has appeared with the Sawnee Ballet Theatre in their production of the Nutcracker.

MS. Katie Allred
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Ms. Allred received her formal training at the Suwanee School of Ballet under the instruction of Joan Kall Stewart, Natalie Schevchenko and Shara Keith. To augment her training, Ms. Allred attended Summer Intensive classes with Andrei Ustinov and Elena Martinson from Russia's famed Kirov Ballet; Festival Dance Camp; Modern Dance classes with Barry Fisher; Broadway Dance Centre; and the Joffrey School of Ballet in New York.

Irish Step dance training and competition were also an integral component of Ms. Allred's dance education at the Drake School of Irish Dancing and the Cregan O'Brien School of Irish Dance.

Her performing experience includes six years as a member of the Sawnee Ballet Theatre appearing in their productions of Nutcracker and Spring Concert where she danced principle roles such as Dew Drop in Waltz of the Flowers and Marzipan. Ms. Allred danced in Brenau's Student Choreography Showcase for choreographers Gabrielle Angle and Judie Ruprecht. Two of her own choreographic works have been presented at Brenau's Student Choreography Showcase.

Ms. Allred has taught ballet for the past four years in the North Georgia area. Currently she is attending Brenau University where she is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Dance Studies. We are pleased to have Ms. Allred join our faculty this season.

MS. Susan Thomas McGraw
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Ms. McGraw hold a Bachelor of Arts degree in Dance Pedagogy and Performance from Brenau University. Her professional career includes positions with the Gainesville Ballet, Ruth Mitchell Dance Theatre of Atlanta, Cathy Sharp Tanz Ensemble of Basel, Switzerland and a variety of guest artist and special performances.

Ms. McGraw has performed many lead roles in classical ballets such as Swan Lake, Giselle, Pas De Quatre, The Nutcracker, and Cinderella. She also performed in The Sleeping Beauty, where the renowned choreographer Tom Pazik (Atlanta Ballet) set the part of Aurora on her. Forsyth County audiences may remember her as Ms. Silverhaus in Sawnee Ballet Theatre's 2006 and 2007 performances of Nutcracker.

In addition to Ballet, Ms McGraw is experienced in Modern and Jazz dance forms with many choreographic credits. She has trained dancers in private studios, high schools and Universities in Georgia, Massachusetts and Switzerland. For the past eight years, Ms. McGraw has been teaching for Sawnee School of Ballet's Summer Program and we are delighted to have her join our faculty for the 2008/2009 season.

MS. Allyson Raymond
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Ms. Raymond is a native Atlantan. She began her dance training at The Decatur School of Ballet, and continued her training as a young teen at the Altanta School of Ballet. There she was accepted into the pre-professional program and was able to train with many fine instructors, under the direction of Robert Barnett, Merilee Smith and Joanne Lee, and performed in numerous productions with The Atlanta Ballet.

Ms. Raymond then went on to Brenau College and received degrees in Dance Pedagogy and Arts Management. There she danced with The Gainesville Ballet as a Soloist, performing roles in Nutcracker, Pacquita and Pas de Quatre, among others. After college, Ms. Raymond performed with International Ballet Rotaru for several seasons. Under the direction of Pavel Rotaru she danced in Swan Lake, Carmen, Pacquita and Don Quiote, just to name a few. Ms. Raymond then went on to a teaching career.

She was asked to return to The Atlanta Ballet in 1993, where she has trained numerous dancers who have gone on to careers in Ballet. She has also taught at many ballet schools in Metro Atlanta and has served as Guest Teacher and Choreographer all over Georgia. Ms. Raymond and her family have recently moved to Cumming and we are pleased to have her join us for the 2008/2009 season.

MS. Anna Everhart
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Ms. Everhart has been enjoying music since childhood with her family, and began singing in choirs in elementary school. Ms. Everhart WISHES she would have had the opportunity to participate in Kindermusik, but loves being able to share it with you and your artist! She graduated from Butler University of Indianapolis, IN with a major in Religious Studies and a minor in Music, with a concentration in music education. She has studied classical and jazz pedagogy, and thoroughly enjoyed singing with Butler's Jordan Jazz ensemble, as well as their classical choir. Ms. Everhart enjoys and values exploring all genres, and loves that Kindermusik encorporates all genres and music from around the world in each unit.

Ms. Everhart is a mother and knows the wonderful impact Kindermusic has had on Noah, as well as her and her husband, Jeremy. It has made her a better, more creative mother!

Ms. Everhart has over 6 years of teaching experience, and has lead praise and worship for the 4 year olds at her church. In her adult career, she has had the privilege of singing at the White House, the Governor's Mansion in Madison, Wisconsin, and throughout the Caribbean. She has worked with artists such as the Manhattan Transfer, New York Voices, John Mellencamp, Rockapella and Bobby McFerrin. No matter how exciting these singing engagements were, nothing brings her more joy than seeing a toddler give their first movement idea, a newborn gazing at her mother's eyes during infant massage, or a 6 year old finally master their first song on the glockenspiel. Laying the foundation for a lifetime of learning, music, and love is what makes Kindermusik Ms. Everhart's passion!