Johnson's Dance Studio

INTRODUCING OUR FACULTY

Joy Johnson - Owner, Instructor & Director; brings over 35 years of dance experience to the school. She began teaching during her college years and continued with her own studio in Indianapolis, IN. She danced professionally throughout her high school and college years  while dancing with the Indiana University Dance theatre and competing as a member of the I.U. Gymnastic Team. She was an I.U cheerleader for 3 years, captain 1972-1973. Herd college dance experience was completed with a B.S. degree in Modern Dance. She has owned and operated Johnson's Dance Studio for the last 34 years, is a co-founder and a director of The Owensboro Dance Theatre, Inc., has taught Jazz for the Governor's School for the Arts and is presently a board member of the American Jazz Dance World Congress in Chicago.
Karen Carothers - Ballet- Pointe; began studying ballet in 1973 and danced with the Lexington Ballet Company form 1976 throught 1981 where she appeared in such ballets as The Nutcracker, Swan Lake  and Coppellia. She began her teaching experience in Lexington and has continued with Johnons's Dance Studio. She is Co-founder and former director of the Owensboro Dance Theatre and was appointed to the Kentucky Humanities Council Board of Directors in 1996.
Debbie Burden - Ballet, tap, Jazz; began teaching at the age of 14. She received her training in  the Detroit, Michigan area and operated her own dance studio for 16 years. She is currently involved in the Dance/Movement Educational Outreach for the surrounding area, and  is a rehearsal assistant for Owensboro Dance Theatre productions.
Kim (Ramirez) Johnson - Hip Hop, Modern, Jazz, Tap, Ballet,  Received a B.S. in Modern Dance for IU in 1988. Has taught for over 27 years and danced professionally for over 5 years. Began her professional career with River North (Jazz) Dance Company  in Chicago and later joined Cleo Parker Robinson Ensemble, Internationally acclaimed African American Dance company in Denver, Colorado. Spent 2 years overseeing River North Dance Company Children's program and four years teaching Hip Hop, Creative Movement, Jazz and Tap at Dancetek in Denver. Has taught at Johnson's Dance studio since the age of 15.
Allison McCoy - Ballet, Jazz, Contemporary, Tap, Hip Hop; is a former member of the Owensboro Dance Theatre and has been teaching in Chicago and Louisville the past ten years. Allison attended the Governor's School for the Arts and after graduation she attended University of Arizona as a dance major while performing with the U.A. Dance Ensemble. In Chicago she danced on a full year scholarship with Giordano Dance Center and continued dancing professionally as a free lance performer. Allison is thrilled to be retuning as Assistant Artistic Director for the Owensboro Dance Theatre.
Ashley Ayer - Tap, Jazz, Lyrical and Adult Dance - Former Owensboro Dance Theatre Alumina, Ashley received her B.A. of Fine Arts, Dance with an emphasis in Jazz from the University of Arizona. Her training included ODT, Gus Giordano Dance Center, Chicago, Lexington Ballet, and has performed with professional companies such as River North, Chicago, Giordano Jazz Dance, Chicago and the first National tour of Forty Second Street in July 2002. Ashley is an 11 year veteran of the NYC Rockettes and in 200 was a featured dancer in the movie "Unconditional Love". This is Ashley's third year with Johnson's Dance Studio.
Samantha Coomes - Modern, Ballet, Mommy & Me; received B.A. from Murray State University where she studied modern, ballet & jazz. She performed with the MSU Dance Company and was choreographer for the spring concert in 2006. While at MSU, Samantha attended the American College Dance Festival in 2007-2008 studying modern, hip hop, jazz and Brazilian dance. Upon completion of her degree, Samantha continued at MSU teaching ballet, performing and choreographing. She was invited to be a guest performer and choreographer for the MSU Dance Company in 2010. This is Samantha's second year with as a member of the Johnson's Studio family.
Shauna Dever - former ODT member, has her MFA degree in Dance/Choreography from Florida State University and Laban Movement Analysis Certification from IMS University of Utah. Shauna has danced with DANCE (Birmingham), Dance Repertory Theatre (Tallahassee), on scholarship with Ririe-Woodbuty Dance Company (salt Lake City) and summer scholarship at the Giordano Dance Center (Chicago). She has performed in works by Martha Graham, Alwin Nickolais, and Dan Wagoner. Sauna's choreography has been invited to be shown at the Alvin Ailey Studio (NYC) Big Range Dance Festival (Austin Texas), Dumbo Dance Festival (Brooklyn) and Louisville Ballet School Summer Program. Shauna is happy to make full circle  back to the Johnson Studio!