OUR STAFF
Steeple Arts continues to offer the most professional, qualified teachers in Alabama. Most of our Steeple Arts teachers took class and trained at Steeple Arts. Our students experience quality instruction in a safe, supportive, fun environment which not only prepares them for more technical aspects of the art, but also instills discipline for success in life. Along with their dance training, young girls are taught grace, poise and social amenities. Most importantly, they are taught to “hold their pretty heads high, have self confidence and be proud of themselves.”
Deanny Coates Hardy
Deanny Coates Hardy began her formal dance education under her mother, Lola Mae Coates, at age 2. Growing up at Steeple Arts has given Miss Deanny an insight and exposure to the art of dance and choreography that few can match.
Miss Deanny has studied and taught all styles of dance and movement, not only under her Mother, Lola Mae Coates, but in New York as well; studying with such dance legends as Al Gilbert, Jaques D’ambois, Madame Alexandra Danilova and the Radio City Music Hall Rockettes. She also continues her dance education by attending dance conventions annually, studying under master teachers such as Joe Tremaine, Frank Hatchett, Luigi, Darrell Retter, and Janice Barringer to mention a few.
During high school, Deanny was an assistant teacher at Steeple Arts. She was also a member of the Mountain Brook High School “Dorians” dance team until graduation in 1986, receiving the “110% Award” for most outstanding Senior Dorian. In college she performed on the Ole Miss “Rebelette” dance team, with the University of Mississippi“Pride of the South” Marching Band. Deanny also choreographed numerous campus events for her sorority, Pi Beta Phi. After graduating from the University of Mississippi in 1990, she joined the teaching staff of her mother’s school.
Her credits include not just teaching dance, but also choreography for several pageant contestants, musical theatre productions and dance team competitions. In 1995, Deanny was named as the Assistant Director of Steeple Arts, and upon her motherʼs retirement in 2002 became the Director of Steeple Arts Academy of Dance, where she carries on the 3rd generation of excellence. Now, in addition to teaching, she devotes her full time to the position of Director of Steeple Arts Academy of Dance, and the training of its students, in whom she tries to instill, not only the love of dance, but a development of grace, self confidence, and poise, inherent to the art of dance. Miss Deanny is the Producer, Director and Lead Choreographer for Steeple Arts’ bi-annual concerts.
Annette Troxell Collins
Annette Collins began her dance training at Steeple Arts at the age of seven and continued until her graduation from Mountain Brook High School. She graduated from Rhodes College in 1977. While at Rhodes, Annette performed with and choreographed for the Liturgical Dance Company. She received her masters degree in Special Education from UAB in 1982. Currently, Annette is on faculty at N.E. Miles Jewish Day School, where she teaches science and coordinates the Student Support program. In 1977, Annette began teaching at Steeple Arts and has continued her training at Alabama Ballet, Children’s Dance Foundation and the Pointe Dance Center, as well as participating in numerous dance conventions and conferences throughout the United States. She has studied under a number of master teachers which have included Tara Fasshuer, Roger van Fleteren, Janice Barringer, Jacques Dʼamboise, Frank Hatchett and Mark Morris. Annette learned about stagecraft and choreography from Lola Mae Coates. She is highly involved with the design and choreography for the Steeple Arts Concerts. Miss Annette is the instructor for the Adult Ballet Classes and Adult Jazz Classes. She has “retired” from teaching younger students, but consults and guest teaches for the Senior Advanced Ballet, Pointe and Advanced Jazz classes at Steeple Arts.
Bee Grover Lewis
Bee Lewis began Ballet at age 2. She started her training under Frances Sheetz before joining Steeple Arts Academy in 1979. Bee enjoys all types of dance, but as a student, her favorite class was Pointe. Upon graduation from John Carroll High School, Bee attended Samford University earning her Bachelors degree in Marketing. While at Samford, she helped choreograph her sororitiesʼ annual Step Sing show, winning the “Sweepstakes Trophy” for two of those years. Shortly after graduation, she began teaching a variety of classes; gymnastics, coordination and rhythm, aerobics and swimming. She has also been an adjunct teacher at Samford University for Social Dance. In 1987 Miss Bee began teaching at Steeple Arts, where she has taught all age groups. Miss Bee currently teaches the Pre-Ballet, Petite Ballet and the Combination Classes for younger students. She also teaches Junior Advanced Ballet, Pre-Pointe, and Pointe Classes.
Mary Haley Byrne Griffin
Mary Haley Byrne began dancing at Steeple Arts at the age of 3 and continued dancing there for 15 years. She enjoyed many types of dance, however Ballet and Pointe were always her favorite. During high school Mary Haley was an assistant teacher at Steeple Arts for classes of all ages. After graduating from Mountain Brook High School, she attended Auburn University where she majored in Early Childhood Education. While at Auburn she participated in her sorority’s annual Greek Sing dance every year. In May 2012 Mary Haley graduated from Auburn and returned to Birmingham to teach second grade at Prince of Peace Catholic School. Mary Haley was also eager to return to Steeple Arts. She teaches younger students in Ballet/Jazz classes as well as teaching the Advanced Ballet and Pointe classes. She is currently on leave raising her children, but is still a valuable member of our faculty as a substitute teacher and comes to help out with recitals and other special events.
Mary Ellen McElroy Wall
Mary Ellen Wall started her dancing career at Steeple Arts in 2000. She studied Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Hip-Hop, and High Stepper Jazz. The skills she learned at Steeple Arts prepared her for the dance team world! Mary Ellen was a Spartanette at Mountain Brook Junior High and went on to be a Dorian at Mountain Brook High School where she was Captain her senior year. After graduating from Mountain Brook in 2008, she attended the University of Alabama where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing. Mary Ellen moved back to Birmingham in December of 2012 and started working in Neonatal Intensive Care at Children’s of Alabama as a registered nurse. Mary Ellen married her husband Kevin in August of 2013. Mary Ellen assists and teaches Combination Classes for the younger students, as well as teaching Advanced Hip Hop and High Stepper Jazz-Dance Team Prep Classes. She is currently on leave raising her children, but is still a valuable member of our faculty as a substitute teacher and comes to help out with recitals and other special events.
Kelly Ireland
Kelly Ireland began dancing at Steeple Arts at the age of 2 and continued dancing there for 16 years. After graduating from Mountain Brook High School in 2007, she attended UAB. She is thrilled to be with the Steeple Arts family. She still enjoys taking classes at Steeple Arts attending the Adult Ballet, Jazz and Zumba Classes. Kelly currently assists with the Pre Ballet and combination classes with the younger students.
Monica Wesson
Monica Wesson began dancing at Steeple Arts at age 3, under the the Academy founder Lola Mae Jones, and then under Lola Coates. In 1969 Mrs Jones selected Monica to be a student teacher, a position she held until her graduation from John Carroll High School, where she was voted “Most Talented” in 1974. Miss Monica continued to study and teach dance while attending Montevallo, where she performed to acclaim in several theatrical productions, both at Montevallo and with Town and Gown Theater. In 1978 Monica moved to Huntsville, AL where she remained active in theater and dance, studying with the Huntsville Ballet and teaching Pre-school Ballet. She also assisted at Steeple Arts recitals as stage crew. In 2000, Miss Monica rejoined Steeple Arts as an assistant teacher to Bee Lewis. She is now retired, but is still a valuable member of our faculty as a substitute teacher, fill in receptionist, and she comes to help out with recitals and other special events.
Kathy Couch Nolan
Kathy Nolan joined Steeple Arts in 2001 as the Academy’s receptionist and secretary. Kathy has over 25 years of experience working with children as a pre school teacher. At Steeple Arts, her days are filled with phone calls, managing the office and greeting students and parents. In addition to office duties, she also ties shoelaces, fixes elastic, and just hands out much needed hugs. And still these are only a part of what Kathy brings to the Steeple Arts Family. Creatively, Miss Kathy is our head seamstress and costume mistress. During her time at Steeple Arts, Miss Kathy has also become an assistant with the Pre-ballet classes and is an assistant instructor in the Steeple Arts 6th Grade Ballroom Program.
Mitzi Ireland
Mitzi Ireland has been a part of our Steeple Arts Family since she took Ballroom from Mrs Coates “many moons ago”. She continued her relationship with the studio when her daughters, Tricia and Kelly, were students at Steeple Arts.In addition, Mitzi also served as the Office Receptionist at Steeple Arts Academy for several years. As a “Trooper”, she helps out backstage with our Dance Concerts and other special studio events during the year. Miss Mitzi has also become an assistant with the Pre-Ballet Classes.
Loyce Hibbs
Loyce Hibbs joined Steeple Arts as class pianist in 2006. Loyce began piano lessons when she was eight years old. At age 16 she began playing for various groups in her church. Since that time she has continued to play both piano and organ for her church and has volunteered as a pianist at a nursing home. In 2005 she moved to Alabama. Miss Loyce provides accompaniment for Steeple Arts Pre-Ballet, Petite Ballet, and Combination classes for younger students.
Sanford Hardy
Sanford Hardy is the husband of Steeple Arts Academy of Dance’ Director, Deanny Coates Hardy. Originally from Mississippi, Sanford is a graduate of the University of Mississippi and a former USAF officer. He is the Facilities Manager of the Steeple Arts Complex. Sanford is also the designer and builder for the the Steeple Arts Concert sets. He is an Assistant Instructor with the Sixth Grade Ballroom Classes. He says, “I like to see the kids, both boys and girls, learning something that will stand them in good stead later in their lives, whether they realize it right now or not. It’s also fun to see them gaining confidence over the course of the class and learn to interact with each other in a more formal setting.”
Lucy French Spann
Lucy Spann begin dancing at Steeple Arts at age 5 and remained as a student at Steeple Arts for 13 years. She has always enjoyed dancing, especially Ballet. While in High School, she assisted a few classes and found a new calling. After graduating from Mountain Brook High School, Lucy attended Presbyterian College in Clinton, SC where she majored in Early Childhood Education. While there, she and three other students founded the “Thornwell Dancers”, a program to bring dance to children living at the nearby Thornwell Home for children in crisis. Lucy taught ballet and jazz to these children, many of whom had never experienced any type of formal dance. After graduating from college, Lucy returned to Birmingham where she taught Preschool at Highlands School during the mornings and assisted at Steeple Arts one day a week. After taking a leave of absence to raise her children, we are delighted to have Lucy back at Steeple Arts as an assistant teacher in the Pre-Ballet and Petite Ballet Classes. She also helps out as a substitute teacher in the Combination Classes for younger students. In addition, she helps out with recitals and other special events. Lucy has four children, who have all been students at Steeple Arts.
Tricia Brice
Tricia Brice began her dance training at Steeple Arts at age 2. After graduating John Carroll Catholic High school in 2007, she received a BS in Exercise Science from Samford University in 2011 and an MAE in Physical Education from UAB in 2015. Throughout college, Tricia was an assistant for ballet, tap, hip hop, and jazz classes. After college, she was given the opportunity to teach her own hip hop classes for the studio. Aside from Steeple Arts, Tricia works for Advent Episcopal Day School as a Physical Education Teacher, and is the program director at Camp Winnataska during the summer. She loves staying active, especially through outdoor pursuits such as rock climbing and backpacking. She has always enjoyed working with children and has greatly appreciated Steeple Arts for affording her that opportunity. Tricia currently teaches the Junior Advanced Hip Hop and Jazz classes at Steeple Arts.
Nadya Bogdan
Nadya Bogdan began playing piano at the age of 5. This was her biggest dream as she was so passionate about this instrument and music. After 9 years of study and graduating from the School of Fine Arts in Engels at the age of 15, she continued her musical education at the Saratov’s Musical College for 4 years and graduated with Bachelor Degree of Music in Piano Performance, Accompanist, and Piano Pedagogy. Then Nadya went to complete her study at Saratov’s State Conservatory, and after 5 years of successful study graduated with Master’s Degree of Artist in Chamber Music Ensemble, Accompanist, and Piano Pedagogy.
Nadya has 30 + years of professional experience in performing in various musical styles from classical to contemporary music, enjoying working as accompanist for many musical instruments, vocalists, choirs, instrumental ensembles and orchestras, working in many churches, playing for services and special events, loves teaching all ages students, participating with her students at different festivals, competitions, auditions, and concert events , including holidays and performances at retirement homes, teaching programs at summer camps.
Currently Nadya is working as piano accompanist at St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church in Hoover, and teaches piano, piano ensemble, and piano theory at Conservatory of the Arts at Vestavia Hills Methodist Church.
Nadya is excited to join Steeple Arts this year, and provide a piano accompaniment for the younger students classes.
ALIE B. GORRIE
Alie B. Gorrie is excited to share to share her love of tap with students at Steeple Arts. She took her first dance class at Steeple Arts at age 2, and she hasn’t stopped dancing since! Currently, she teaches the TeenTap Class at Steeple Arts. She’s performed on national tours, in NYC, and she is currently touring her one-women show across the Southeast. Recently you may have seen her tapping away as Princess Fiona in Shrek the musical with Red Mountain Theatre or as Helen in the world-premiere of TOUCH with Opera Birmingham. Alie B. teaches tap at multiple studios around Birmingham. Additionally, she teaches musical theatre audition prep classes, and she is a professor of theatre at Samford University. She holds a BFA in Musical Theatre from Belmont University and a MA in Arts in Medicine from the University of Florida.
DUVERGNE DUFFEE
Duvergne Duffee first began ballroom dance lessons at Steeple Arts in the 7th grade along with his other classmates from the four Mountain Brook Elementary Schools as was the tradition. Under the direction of Lola Mae Coates, he learned the basic steps of the Foxtrot, Waltz and Swing. Many years later as he was dancing one of those dances at a wedding reception he was spotted by Mrs. Coates who asked him to help teach ballroom in the fall to the (now) 6th graders. He has continued to assist her daughter Deanny Coates Hardy (Miss Deanny) continue the tradition of introducing ballroom dancing to a new generation.
Molly Morris
Molly Morris began taking ballet at Steeple Arts at the age of four and continued dancing there for the next thirteen years. She was a founding member and captain of the Bruinettes dance team at MBJH as well as having the honor to serve as Dorian captain during her senior year at MBHS. After attending Auburn University and completing her paralegal certification through Samford University she worked at various law firms in both Birmingham and Cullman as well as assisting her husband on his food truck, “Old Town Pizza.” But her days of legal briefs and pizza dough have long since been replaced by the activities of her two children: baseball, basketball, and football for her eight year old son and Steeple Arts ballet classes for her five year old daughter. Molly is beyond thrilled to have the opportunity to assist in teaching the Pre-Ballet and Petite Ballet classes this year at Steeple Arts and can’t wait to share her love of dance with both her daughter and this community’s next generation of little ballerinas!