Our Instructors

Foundations of Dance

Emily Fogo is an instructor and choreographer from Hendersonville, NC. She has trained in ballet, pointe, lyrical, contemporary, modern, jazz, musical theater, tap, and hip-hop. Emily began dancing at four years old and competed with Releve Performing Arts Center’s (RPAC) competitive company from 2013-2020, winning numerous awards with her teammates, and has attended multiple dance conventions such as Radix, Nuvo, and 24/7 to enrich her dance education. After graduating high school, Emily started her teaching career at RPAC in 2022. Since then, she has gained vast experience teaching many styles of dance, and is proficient in working with all ages and levels. On her days off, she works at The Sock Basket of Asheville as the manager and professional pointe shoe fitter. Emily has a strong passion for dance, and is dedicated to aiding and supporting dancers through their training. She is very excited to continue her professional journey with Asheville Junior Theater!                                                                                                         

Contemporary

Rachel Sanford began her training at the Ozsoy School of Ballet in Duncanville, TX, under Ballet Master Ceyhun Ozsoy. Rachel attended many summer intensives including the American Ballet Theatre Collegiate Program, the International Ballet Competition Intensive, the Joffrey Ballet, and Houston METdance Professional Intensive. In 2016, Rachel graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Dance and a Business Foundations Certificate from the McCombs School of Business. She has performed in professional pieces by artists including Sidra Bell, Merce Cunningham, Mark Morris, and Joe Celej. In 2019, Rachel moved to North Carolina and joined the Wilmington Ballet Company where she performed in works such as Giselle, Vampires, Alice in Wonderland, the Nutcracker and The Little Mermaid. She has choreographed multiple works for the Dance program at UT Austin, the McCallum Fine Arts Academy in Austin, TX, the Wilmington Ballet Company, the Wilmington Dance Festival, and the Cucalorus Film Festival. In 2023, Rachel moved to Asheville, NC and has performed and choreographed for the Asheville Ballet’s Fall into Dance performances. She joined Legacy Dance Center’s faculty in the Fall of 2024 where she teaches ballet, contemporary and conditioning.                                                                                                

Aerial Silks

Tree is a seasoned aerialist, expressive movement artist, and yoga therapist who has taught aerial arts for over a decade. With a foundation in gymnastics, dance, and acrobatics, she brings a playful, empowering, and therapeutic approach to every class. Tree taught gymnastics throughout her 20s and yoga in her 30s, and holds a degree in Biology and Biochemistry (“The Study of Life”) from Missouri Southern State University. Since 2014, she has taught and performed circus arts including silks, lyra, trapeze, hammock, aerial yoga, contortion, and acrobatics. Tree loves working with kids because they are the future of Aerial Arts. They bring a uniqueness, creativity, courage, and a sense of wonder that adults sometimes lack.  

Based in Asheville, NC, Tree also performs across the Americas and co-leads Soma Tree Cirque, a performance and event company she runs with her daughter. Whether flying high on silks or directing transformational showcases, Tree is passionate about inspiring others to embody their strength and creativity through movement. She believes, “Practice anything — that is the key to transformation.”

Ballroom 

Missy Lindsey, a native of Asheville, NC, has been dancing since the age of three. She trained in Ballet, Tap, and Jazz at the Fletcher School of Dance for 18 years and continues professional coaching to stay current with today’s styles. For over 35 years, Missy has competed professionally in ballroom and country western dance and taught Ballroom, Country, Swing, Salsa, and other styles in Asheville, Hendersonville, and Greenville (SC). She has served as a guest instructor for Celebrity Cruise Lines on the Galaxy of the Sea and spent eight years teaching and performing at the All-Star Dance Camp in Philadelphia, Mississippi. Missy has worked with students of all ages—from preschoolers in creative dance to competitive adult dancers—and was the 2019 Peach State Country Dance Festival Pro-Pro Female Open II Overall Dance Champion. She takes pride in producing hundreds of social dancers and many competitive champions, adding a personal touch to every lesson to make learning fun, comfortable, and confidence-building. Traveling to multiple locations across North and South Carolina allows Missy to share her belief that “dance has something for everyone.”

Musical Theater/Jazz and Tap 

Anna Wasserman began dance at age four and theater at six, training extensively in Ballet, Contemporary, Tap, Jazz, Lyrical, Hip-Hop, Modern, Musical Theater, Acro, Piano, and Voice. She has studied with acclaimed artists including Peter Sabasino, Scott Alan, Lara Tinari, and Tyler McKenzie, and in 2019 joined a senior group in Rome, Italy for international dance study. Her stage credits with the Muse Theater Company include Spring Awakening, Chicago, Rent, Into the Woods, and The Wizard of Oz. Specializing in Ballet, Jazz, Musical Theater, and Contemporary, Anna choreographs for competitive teams nationwide, earning choreography awards and national titles. Her teaching blends classical technique with a focus on developing well-rounded artists. A UNC Asheville alum, Anna taught for five years in South Florida’s pre-professional performing arts scene before returning to Western North Carolina to continue her work as an educator and choreographer.

Homeschool Groove Lab 

Amanda Newcomb is an Asheville native and graduate of Appalachian State University, where she received her bachelor’s degree in Dance Studies and Non-Profit Management. As an undergraduate student, she was involved in the Appalachian Dance Ensemble, the App State Classical Pilates Program, and was an Excellence in Dance Scholarship recipient. Her studies included choreography, performance, pedagogy, and administration. Having also completed formal training in ballet, tap, jazz, modern, and contemporary, Amanda now dances professionally with the Asheville Ballet. In 2024, Amanda became a certified Pilates instructor through Pilates Sports Center’s comprehensive training program. Today, she enjoys teaching Pilates and Dance throughout the Asheville area and connecting with people of all ages through movement.