JAMIE ROUMAYAH
Dance Educator, Choreographer, Company Artistic Director and Studio Owner
Jamie Roumayah is a dance educator, choreographer, and business owner from the metro Detroit area, MI. She relocated to the Charlotte region of North Carolina in 2016 but spent the previous 14 years in educating dancers and teachers in Charleston, WV. She began her career in dance education in 1988 and received her ballet, tap, and jazz certifications in 1992 through Dance Masters of America. Jamie is currently a member of Carolina Dance Masters as well as a member of National Dance Educators Organization and a past member of Dance Masters of the Blue Grass, Dance Masters of Michigan, and Dance West Virginia. She was a studio owner in Michigan from 1997 to 2003 before she moved to Charleston, West Virginia. Jamie is a teacher of ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, pointe, musical theater, contemporary and various specialty classes. She teaches tots through advanced level classes and is versatile enough to teach recreational and pre-professional dancers. She thoroughly enjoys the full educational experience of starting young dancers as beginners and watching them blossom through their years of training into seasoned dancers. She has been involved in many collaborative projects choreographically. Jamie takes a special interest in using her art in raising money for various women and children charities, having raised over $35,000 for Make-A-Wish Foundation, $10,000 for Children's Home Society of WV, and most recently raising over $9,000 for Lincoln County charities since December 2019. Her 2024-2025 project is directing, choreographing and producing a stage performance of "Annie."
MARY KATHERINE DISHER
Resident Dance Educator and Choreographer, Assistant Director to DECYC, and Team Director
Mary Katherine has been a resident dance educator at DEDA since November 2021. She has dedicated her life to the art form of dance in countless ways, and seeks to add more opportunities to enrich the lives of others through dance. She originally found joy in the practice and performance of ballet under the tutelage of Joyce Triche, a Dance Masters of America certified teacher. She then came to love jazz, modern, and contemporary dance as each style was introduced to her. She pursued a degree in Dance Studies at Salem College where she grew to appreciate the importance of dance education through the lens of a variety of cultures and experiences. While pursuing her dual degrees in Dance Studies and Business Administration, she was given opportunities to learn from and work with numerous prestigious artists; Helen Simoneau, Renay Aumiller, 10 Hairy Legs, and Zvi Dance to name a few. Since graduating cum laude, she has been enriching the lives of students and looks forward to the opportunity to perform and create with Charlotte Dance Company in Charlotte, NC. In her personal time, Mary Katherine loves to share her homemade baked goods with friends and family, pet any dog she sees, snuggle her cats, and try desperately to keep her houseplants alive.
RAINE
ANDERSON
Resident Dance Educator and Choreographer, Assistant Team Director and Photographer
Raine Anderson is a certified dance teacher and a photographer. She was born in Detroit, raised in Charleston, and has lived in the Lake Norman area of North Carolina since 2016. Raine has been trained in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Modern and Pointe dancing. She is a former company member of JADCO Contemporary Dance Company in Charleston, WV. She was the recipient of a scholarship to the Motor City Tap Festival 2017 & 2018. Raine currently teaches dance for Danse Élan Dance Academy. She has assisted and interned as a dance instructor under the direction of Jamie Roumayah for years and is excited to be a staff member employing her own ideas and talents. Raine has completed her certifications in Tap, Jazz and Modern dance and is now a member of Carolina Dance Masters. Being a multi-talented young woman, Raine is also a photographer featuring photography in nature, industry, architecture, and dance and has a special interest in construction and design for Disaster Relief work.
JULIA
ALEWINE
Resident Dance Educator and Choreographer
Julia Alewine is originally from Rock Hill, South Carolina where she started her dance career at Champions Gymnastics at the age of two. Starting in acrobatics and gymnastics, Julia started training at both Champions Gymnastics as well as Palmetto Dance Productions where she studied jazz, lyrical, tap, hip hop and ballet. Julia was also a member of the Rock Hill High School Marching Band color guard as well as The District winter color guard where she was a soloist and finalist in the 2017 WGI World Championships. Julia began teaching acrobatics and tumbling at Palmetto Dance Productions at the age of 17 and soon became the competition company coach teaching students of all ages. Julia is in her fourth season at DEDA and has passed her acrobatic and jazz certifications through Carolina Dance Masters and is schedule to be inducted as a certified member of CDM in November of 2024. Although she loves performing, teaching and helping students grow in their talents is what makes Julia love dance.
RITA
MOSLEY
Guest Faculty & Choreographer
Rita has been dancing for over 30 years nationally and teaching for over 25. Her training includes Ballet, Pointe, Lyrical, Jazz, Modern, Tap, Latin Ballroom, Hip Hop, Break Dancing, Modeling, Singing, Acting, and Partnering. She is certified with the Cecchetti Council of America (Michigan Chapter) and Dance Masters of America, Michigan Chapter. Her performance credits include: Aretha Franklin, Neil Diamond, Magic Johnson, Gigi Hunter, Eminem, McDonald’s Corporation commercials, Actress/Producer Vivica A. Fox, Actor Morris Chestnut, RML Entertainment, Prodijee Dance Crew, Cover-Girl Cosmetics, “Tez”Manian Dance Crew, Trick Trick (national recording artist/choreographer), Tone Tone, recording artists Numberz, Blackstreet, Dave Hollister, Stars of Tomorrow, Energy Dance Competition, Headliners National Competition and Joe Tremaine. Most recently, Ms. Mosley was named the “Liaison of Dance-Michigan” for the critically-acclaimed reality television show “America’s Got Talent”. She is also one of the official adjudicators of the highly acclaimed Lifetime Television Network reality show “Dance Moms” and can be seen on several episodes.
SHARLIE
DUNCAN
Guest Faculty & Choreographer
Sharlie Duncan is originally from London, England where she trained at the prestigious Elmhurst Ballet School from age 11 before continuing her studies in Musical theater at Millennium Dance where she graduated in 2006. Sharlie is a professional dancer and has toured extensively in Europe, Asia and the United States. Sharlie has performed in a diverse collection of shows, including the international tour of Fame, The Royal Opera's La Traviata and Cinderella in both London and Japan. Sharlie also performed and toured with the company Spirit Of The Dance for 5 years, performing many of their shows worldwide. Other credits include The Carolina Opry, Martha Connerton’s Kinetic Works and most recently performing with Sarah Council Dance projects here in NC. Sharlie now resides in NC, where she continues to perform, teach and choreograph.
CELESTE
BORMAN
Guest Faculty
A native of Denver, Celeste trained at Charlotte Ballet Academy, and subsequently spent four years in their Pre-Professional program—two years as a Senior Trainee. After graduation Celeste joined Nashville Ballet II, where she quickly became part of the Community Engagement program and performed with the main company in a number of productions. Celeste is happy to be joining Nashville Ballet’s main company as an Apprentice in the upcoming season. She has performed works by George Balanchine, Paul Vasterling, Nick Mullikin, Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux, Peter Chu, Colby Damon, and Mark Diamond.
