Faculty
Ms. Stephanie Young
Owner, Teacher, Choreographer
Ballet/Jazz/Contemporary
As Owner Ms. Young has over 30 years of teaching and choreography experience that she feels extremely grateful to be able to share with the formation of Downtown West Dance, LLC. She was a Ballet major at Virginia Intermont College as well as having danced professionally for Jean Ann Ryan Productions, Inc. (JAR) as a Soloist and Dance Captain. Her last contract took her to Japan where she toured Asia on the M.S. Asuka, a five-star Japanese cruise ship.
Ms. Young’s students have gone on to be a Prima Ballerina and Principle Dancer for Ballet companies in Europe as well as here in America. They have also danced for Beyoncė, Madonna, Prince, Kendrick Lamar, Nikki Minaj, the Grammy’s and Tony’s, and been in the movies In The Heights, Tick, Tick Boom, Succession, the Marvel series Hawkeye, etc.
Ms. Youngs’ teaching experience includes the following:
- Director of the Alexander Ballet Theatre
- Ballet/Jazz Teacher & Choreographer for the Centreville Dance Academy
- Ballet Mistress for the Madison Civic Ballet where she also served as Chairman for MAGnificant, the monthly newsletter for the Madison Arts Guild
- Jazz Teacher for the Mississippi Ballet Theatre
- Director of the Benton Academy of Dance
- Jazz Director for the Southeastern (SEVA) Dance Theatre
- Director and Ballet Teacher at Camp RISE!, located at the historic Attucks Theater in Norfolk, VA. During Young’s tenure, the theatre was presented the Presidential Award of Excellence by Michelle Obama in 2012
- Special Programs Educational and Outreach Coordinator for the Crispus Attucks Cultural Center, Inc. at the Attucks Theater
- Teacher and Choreographer at Forever Fit Dance Studio in Sneads Ferry
- Choreographer for Debbie’s Angels Productions
She has choreographed for DKNY, the Jr. Miss. Madison pageant in Mississippi (group dance for all contestants as well as the routine for the contestant who won the Talent Award), the Clinton Country Dancers who compete nationally, Matrix Hair Products, SEVA Dance Theatre, and most recently for Debbie’s Angels Productions where she had the pleasure of choreographing The Little Mermaid and The Wizard of Oz for Jacksonville High School. Her work has won awards for Best Use of Music, Best Use of Partnering, Best Use of a Prop and Highest Overall Score for a Group Dance.
Address
624 New Bridge Street, Suite #800
Jacksonville, NC 28540
(910) 333-3536
(910) 333-3524
Hours
Monday - Friday: 9 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Weekends: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.