ADU Staff
Alette Chase
Director
email
Alette Chase is a native of North Carolina. She began dancing at the age of three. She has trained extensively in the areas of Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Lyrical, and Modern. While in North Carolina, Alette was a principal Dancer in the High Country Ballet performing leading roles in various Ballet Productions including “Cinderella” in Cinderella, the “Mermaid” in The Prince and the Mermaid, the “Fairy of Grace” in The Sleeping Beauty, and “Swanhilda’s Friend” in Copella.
Alette spent a summer in Los Angeles, California training on scholarship with the renowned jazz dancer, Joe Tremaine, as well as extensive training at the Rodnunsky Arts Center. Other artists and choreographers Alette has worked with include Margaritte Derricks, Doug Caldwell, Gus Giordano, Frank Hatchett, Luigi, and many more of the countries most sought after instructors.
Alette’s formal training began at the North Carolina School of the Arts where she trained with the world famous ballerina Melissa Hayden and Ballet Master Duncan Noble as well as Modern Dance extraordinaire, Diane Markham. She continued her education at the University of North Carolina- Greensboro where she was a dance major. Alette is not only a well trained dancer, she has vast performance experience having performed in many stage shows. She was a featured performer at the Charlotte Hornets Half-time show in Charlotte, NC as well as a featured performer at the Don Czar Resort in St. Petersburg, Florida. Alette has also performed in the High Point Theatre Production of A Chorus Line playing the role of “Connie”. She has been on staff and a guest instructor at various dance studios across North Carolina and Tennessee before becoming Co-Owner and Co-Director of Artistic Dance Unlimited.
Most recently, Alette became a member of the prestigious dance organization, Dance Educators of America having passed membership examinations in Ballet, Music Theory, and Anatomy with honors. Alette has taught National award winning dancers and her choreography has been honored with awards for her Lyrical and Jazz routines. She continues her dance education and keeps up with the ever-evolving dance styles and choreography by attending workshops and conventions. Alette is passionate about dancing and sharing her talents and knowledge with her students. She loves teaching and seeing her students develop into strong, lovely dancers. Alette has had many awards and accolades with her dancing but she feels her greatest achievement and joy is being a wife to husband Derrick and mother to her two sons, Dalton and Baylor.
Ursula Margolis
Director
email
Growing up in Toronto, Canada, Ursula began her dance training at the Joanne Chapman School of dance. Through her studies in ballet, jazz, tap, and lyrical dance, she obtained membership with the Royal Academy of Dance in ballet and the British Association of Teachers of Dance in jazz and tap. In 1988, Ursula gained membership with Dance Masters of America chapter #8 and currently holds membership with Tennessee chapter #41. Ursula continued her dance training at the University of Waterloo, in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, where she completed her Bachelor of Arts degree in Dance with honors. The focus of her dance education was modern and ballet with a teaching concentration. Ursula continues her dance training each year by attending workshops and conventions taught by leading choreographers and teachers in the dance industry. Staying current on the ever evolving world of dance is a very important aspect of Ursula’s success as a dance teacher.
Ursula has danced with the University Waterloo Dance Company as well as Mountain Movers Dance Company under the direction of Judith Woodruff. Ursula has taught dance in the public school systems as well as private dance studios in Canada and the U.S. since 1988. Her work at Liggon Middle Magnet School in Raleigh, NC, proved to be a truly rewarding experience and one she will never forget. Going into her 20th year of teaching and her 8th year as co-director of Artistic Dance Unlimited, Ursula’s students have competed and performed in the U.S and Canada winning numerous overall and outstanding awards. Ursula continues to share her love of dance with all her current and past students. Ursula’s philosophy about dance is that it provides a solid foundation for life. Children learn not only steps and choreography but confidence, grace, agility, determination and hard work. Her passion, commitment, and dedication continue to be the driving force for taking her students to the next level.
Ursula resides in Louisville, TN, with her husband David and their two sons, Adam and Spencer.
Megan Blevins
Instructor
Megan Blevins began her dance training at the age of three years old with the Irma Witt O'Fallon School for the Dancer. During her younger years of dancing, Megan was a member of the Knoxville Jazz Company and Angel's Kick Line for five years. She also had the privledge of performing with Knoxville Tennessee's The City Ballet's annual performance of The Nutcracker. Megan's dance and Baton training afforded her the oppurtunity to travel and perform across the Southeast while twice performing at Disney World.
At the age of twelve, Megan began training at Artistic Dance Unlimited. She immediately became a member of the ADU Dance Company, having the honor of being a soloist as well as performing in duets, trios, and group routines. Megan performed and competed with the company across the Southeast, obtaining many regional and national honors.
While attending MHS, Megan wa a four year member of the Maryville High School Dance Team. She also served as Captain for two years. Megan holds membership in the United Cheerleading Association. The U.D.A. honored Megan by offering a staff position in their organization as well has naming her a UDA All Star.
Megan has tranined extensively in Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Hip Hop, Comtemporary, and Lyrical. Some of the Master teachers Megan has trained with include Dee Caspary, Dan Karaty, Mandy Moore, Jackie Steight, Cory Finn, and Ray Leeper. She continues her dance training in the advanced classes at ADU as well as attending workshops, master classes, and conventions. Her high energy classes are a favorite among the students and her creativity is a valuable asset to A.D.U.
Megan is currently attending Pellissippi State Technical Community College majoring in Sports Management
Megan Burnett
Instructor
Meg Burnett is a native of Crossville, Tennessee. There she received extensive training in Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Tap, and Modern dance from the Cumberland County Playhouse Dance and Performance Program. Apart from teaching dance, Meg holds her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from Carson-Newman College. She currently practices as a Registered Nurse in Labor and Delivery and Women’s Health.
While training at CCP, Meg had the opportunity to study under many amazing talents including: former dancers of the Kirov Ballet, Ballet Masters Eldar and Lilia Valiev, Kiersten Mays, Jennifer Austin, former Fosse dancer Janice Coburn, Sylvia Watters, and Jeremy Benton of 42nd Street on Broadway. Throughout her training she performed in numerous shows, with her favorite being the holiday classic, The Nutcracker.
Meg is experienced in teaching Ballet, Jazz, and Tap dance styles. She believes dance is a beautiful form of art that serves as a mean of discipline, self-expression, and creativity unique to each individual. Meg thoroughly enjoys sharing her love for dance through teaching and hopes to instill such a passion within her students.
Tori Bacon
Instructor
Biography Coming Soon
Dana Gizzi
Instructor
Biography Coming Soon
Emily Hopkins
Instructor
Biography Coming Soon
Erin Metelka
Instructor
Biography Coming Soon
Sarah Hobbs
Instructor
Biography Coming Soon
Kelsey Lawrence
Office Manager