WELCOME!

MEET THE TEAM FOR AODA fayetteville
for fall/spring 2024-2025…

(Hover over staff pictures to read their bio)

Ebony Norris

- Studio Owner & Dance Teacher, AODA Fayetteville

- Ebony teaches Modern, Contemporary, Jazz, Ballet, Hip-Hop, Adult Lyrical/Contemporary, Pre-Company, Alpha Company, Ballet/Tap Combo Classes, and VCA Ballet/Jazz Combo Class

Ebony was raised in Fayetteville, NC. She began dancing with liturgical dance and upon entering college, she decided to pursue dance more intensely. She graduated from Fayetteville State University with a major in Business Management and a minor in Dance. In her years throughout college, she gathered training through various workshops, classes, etc, a few of which included traveling to New York and training at the Faison Firehouse Theatre, as well as experience through Lula Washington Dance Workshop and Ailey II Dance Workshop (among many others). For three years, Ebony was a part of a dance company that heavily trained in the modern dance style. She has also had experience as a dancer in The Wiz at Cape Fear Regional Theatre. She was co-founder of The 2-6 Intensives, which was mixed-genre dance workshops with the purpose of bringing dancers together in the community and surrounding areas, as well as exposure to various dance styles. She's had 4 years of experience teaching dance in the school system for grades K-8. Ebony has also had the position of Studio Manager, Recital Director, and Artistic Team member, prior to her ownership here at AODA.

As owner, Ebony brings both artistic and administrative passions together. Through her business major and dance minor, she is able to access the artistry it takes for teaching and creating, as well as the business mindset it takes to run the administrative part of a dance studio. Ebony has the passion of seeing dance touch the hearts of others, knowing that dance is a gift from God. She is an active member of the dance ministry at her church and believes dance should be used for God's glory. She has taught for many years in various styles and ages ranging from children to adult; she loves the Arts and enjoys impacting others through dance!

Samantha has been dancing with AODA since 2016, when she took her first dance class and fell in love. She poured herself into the art, and she now has training in ballet, pointe, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, and musical theatre. Samantha is also a former AODA company member and was recently seen as The White Witch in AODA’s 2021 production of “Through The Wardrobe” and as Flynn Ryder in AODA’s 2022 production of “Rapunzel.”
Samantha has been an assistant teacher with AODA since 2020, but her experience teaching and leading children goes back much further. She grew up in a family with eight siblings and always aims to have patience and lead by example. She has also served as a teacher in her church’s children’s ministry since 2016.
Samantha is not only passionate about dance, but also about gaining knowledge. She sees the opportunity to teach dance as a chance to invite students to share in those passions, and she’s excited to see how God may use her in this position!
*Samantha teaches Ballet 1B, Ballet Technique, Intermediate Jazz 7-10, and Intermediate Ballet 7-10*

Samantha Barnett

Dance Teacher & Administrative Assistant

Collette started dance at the age of 5 and has studied ballet the longest. She has trained with multiple dance instructors from Hope Mills and Charlotte, worked with Cape Fear Regional Theatre, and has studied with AODA since 2015. She was most recently seen in the role of Maleficent in “Aurora’s Enchanted Curse” (AODA, 2024), and has danced characters in the past such as Tiger Lily in “Neverland” (AODA, 2018) and Cinderella in “The Glass Slipper” (AODA, 2019). In addition to dance, Collette has a passion for medicine and missions. She has been on numerous mission trips to include working with crusades and orphanages in India (2011, 2017), the Caribbean Christian Center for the Deaf in Jamaica (2015), and FEMA disaster relief to rebuild houses affected by Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico (2017). In 2018, Collette received her EMT Certification, and in 2024 she gained her Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing degree.

Collette is excited to be teaching ballet! She loves classical ballet because of its purity and grace. “I love that you can be at any level, from a principal dancer in a company or a little girl at barre, and still practice the same movements. I hope I can instill in my students that grace and precision are both of equal importance.”

When she’s not teaching or taking a ballet class, Collette also loves to play the piano and draw. One of her favorite things to do is watch rehearsals from the Royal Ballet.

Collette teaches Contemporary, Ballet, Pointe Technique, and Omega Company

Collette LeFavor

Dance Teacher & Artistic Team Member

Rivkah began here journey of dance at age 3 while living in Connecticut and continued her passion for dance into her adult years. Her journey at AODA began 6 years ago after attending their Free Day of Dance event. Rivkah’s dance training includes Ballet, Lyrical, Modern, Contemporary and Tap. She also has experience in Jazz, Pointe and African dance. Rivkah is excited to share her passion for dance by teaching her second year at AODA.

Beyond the studio, Rivkah is an active member of Family Fellowship Worship Center (FFWC), where she leads the dance ministry. She is also involved in the Children’s Church ministry, where she delights working with the “littles.” Committed to serving, Rivkah is a Clinical Social Worker with 12 years of practicing clinical care. When she is not dancing or helping others, Rivkah enjoys working out, reading, traveling, crafting and crocheting.

Rivkah teaches Contemporary 1B, Modern 1, Lyrical 11+, Ballet 7-10 and Tap 7-10

Rivkah Freeman Dasent

Dance Teacher

Ashlyn was born in Fayetteville, NC and currently resides in Raeford, NC. She has been dancing at Alpha & Omega Dance Academy for over 10 years and has developed a passion and love for dance. Ashlyn has been an AODA Assistant Teacher for Children’s combo classes since 2019, then became an AODA Dance Teacher starting in 2022. She has trained in the styles of Ballet, Pointe, Contemporary, Jazz, Lyrical, Modern, Tap, and a little bit of Hip-Hop, but her favorite style of dance is Jazz. Ashlyn has performed in the role of The Stepmother in AODA’s “Cinderella” 2019 recital, and she has performed in the role of Princess Jasmine in AODA’s “The Lamp of Wonder” 2023 recital.

Outside of dance, Ashlyn likes to play the piano. She has been playing the piano for over 10 years. She also enjoys helping with children’s church and playing the piano with the worship band at Refuge Church. She has three dogs of her own, and she is tremendously fond of them. Ashlyn is elated to teach others the art of dance. She hopes to instill in them the same passion and love that she has for dance.

Ashlyn teaches Ballet 1A, Jazz 1A, Contemporary 1A, Ballet 7-10 and Ballet/Tap Combo Class

Ashlyn Clark

Dance Teacher

Olivia was born in Arkansas but has been living in North Carolina since 2008. She began dancing at AODA in 2013 where she has been trained in Hip-Hop, Contemporary, Lyrical, Musical Theatre, Jazz, Modern, Ballet, and Pointe Technique. Of all the styles, Jazz and Contemporary are two of her favorites and she hopes to eventually pursue dance professionally.

Olivia was a member of Alpha Company for four years. She has been on AODA staff since 2019 as an Assistant Teacher and then graduating to a Dance Teacher. She was most recently seen as the character Max in AODA’s 2022 production of “Rapunzel”, and behind the scenes as the understudy for Aladdin in the 2023 production of “Aladdin”. In 2022, she was also accepted as a semifinalist for ThePointeShop’s Model Search—although she was not able to attend the event—and in 2024, was accepted to the Carolina Ballet summer intensive. Olivia served at Manna Church in the children’s ministry for 5 years, which further ignited the spark she had for working with children. She is currently studying for a degree in psychology at Liberty University Online and is set to graduate with her Associate's degree, in early 2025.

Olivia really enjoys teaching and watching the children grow in both dance and character, with every class. She is blessed and excited to be able to step into this new year!

Olivia teaches Ballet 7-10, Contemporary 7-10, Intermediate Contemporary 7-10, and Jazz 1B.

Olivia Seklejian

Dance Teacher

Lileigh has grown up with the AODA family, having started dancing with Alpha & Omega Dance Academy at the age of two. She has trained in classical ballet, jazz, contemporary, lyrical, and modern, with jazz and contemporary being her favorite styles. Lileigh has been a member of AODA Company for several years, which includes performing at local community events, ministry and outreach opportunities, local nursing homes, and more. Lileigh has also been in the cast of recent AODA productions (Genie, Lamp Of Wonder 2023; Fairy Merryweather, Aurora’s Enchanted Curse 2024), participated in The Nutcracker with Dance Theatre of Fayetteville, and recently attended Carolina Ballet Summer Intensive.

When she is not busy dancing, Lileigh can be found playing the piano or serving on the student leadership team at Village Baptist Church, where she and her family are active members. She also serves at VBC’s Vacation Bible School for K-5th graders every year.

Lileigh loves being a part of AODA because it has helped her learn not only dance, but also how to express herself and find other ways to serve God. She can’t wait to help students grow, just as she grew when she was their age!

Lileigh teaches Ballet/Jazz and Ballet/Tap Combo Classes

Lileigh Baucom

Dance Teacher

Anthony Velazquez is from Fayetteville, NC is an independent artist, dancer, and choreographer. He comes from a background of Hip Hop and Freestyle dance that has allowed him to grow in his artistry within music. Not only has he gained extensive knowledge in Hip Hop but he has also studied dance professionally through Fayetteville State University, ranging in all styles from Modern, and Contemporary to Ballet. This along with many other opportunities has given him the experience needed to teach and produce a well-rounded class with a steady structure built on the foundation of Hip Hop.

Anthony teaches Hip-Hop 11+

Anthony Velazquez

Dance Teacher

Grace attended AODA for a few years as a child, and rekindled her love for dance as a preteen. She has performed in two dance recitals, as well as performing in a play at Fayetteville Technical Community College.

She is known among family and friends as a generous and compassionate person. Some of her favorite pastimes and interests are fashion, music, and creative writing.

Grace Jumper

Receptionist

Amanda Katzenberger

Receptionist

Bio coming soon…

Georgia Beth Freeman

Receptionist

Bio coming soon…

Elena Machado Best

Receptionist

Janeissa is originally from Puerto Rico and moved to North Carolina in 2012, due to military relocation. She is fluent in both English and Spanish, has her associates in Christian Leadership, and is working toward her Bachelor’s in Christian Counseling at Manna University. Janeissa has focused her efforts on event coordination. She has planned fundraisers for Noonday Kitchen, worked with AODA’s annual events, and also enjoys planning baby showers! Janeissa loves event planning because it gives her an opportunity to serve others in a practical way by making their event dreams come to life. She is excited that with AODA, she can put her passion for planning to work while also enjoying being around the dance world, as a dancer herself. When Janeissa is not planning awesome events, she enjoys dancing, reading and painting.

Janiessa Deitz

Event Coordinator

Anya, whose background is in Jewish Dance, has taught and assisted our children’s classes. Upon the arrival of her first child in August 2009, she transitioned into heading up our Receptionist Team, answering phone calls and voicemails. As the years passed she transitioned into the position of our Supply Manager. She is happy to serve in many ways, from the smallest to the largest task. Anya's bright smile and bubbly personality lets you easily see Jesus working through her as she serves!

Anya Crowther

Supply Manager

assistants for 2024-2025:

Victoria D.
Treasure D.
Petra W.
Grace B.
Adrianna K.
Aubrey L.

Fayetteville Team