Foundation of Arts -- Jonesboro, AR

Amber Bond (Hip Hop 1-5, Stepping Stones Tap, Tap 1-2, Dance Team Prep) has been a FOA instructor for four years and has been dancing since age 4. She started dancing at Christy McNeil Dance Studio at age 6 and remained there until her graduation in 2002. Amber has won many dance competitions on local, regional and national levels, including competitions at Walt Disney World. Amber was the Nettleton High School dance team captain and was named a member of the Arkansas State A-Team. Amber enjoys teaching children how to dance, softball, music, and shopping during her spare time. She is currently attending ASU and majoring in Speech Communications.

Tanya Eddy (Mixed Media, Basic Drawing, Portrait Drawing) is a native of Northeast Arkansas. She attended Arkansas State University and received a degree with a major in Biology and a minor in Art. Tanya is primarily a portrait artist. A number of her works have been on display in private collections and in various art galleries, including the Fort Smith Art Center and the St. Louis Artists’ Guild. She and her husband have a seven-year-old daughter, Maya.

Michelle Edwards (Stepping Stones, Adult Ballet), a native of Chicago, began her training in dance at the age of three and studied under Joyce Harley and at Stone & Cameron School of Ballet. She was selected to perform at the Illinois State Dance Festival as a teenager and after high school attended Abilene Christian University in Texas and earned a B.S. in Social Work. While in Texas, Michelle was a contracted member of the Abilene Metropolitan Ballet Company under the direction of Marj Baucum. During her tenure with the company she was the Principal Dancer for four years, Co-Assistant Artistic Director for three years and recipient of the Senior Achievement Award. At the same time Michelle founded and directed Deo Gloria, a Christian ballet company that ministered across the Southwest. Michelle moved to Memphis where she was a member of Kingdom Dance, a Christian company that ministered in the Mid-South and across the country. She taught and choreographed extensively with the company until her move to Jonesboro in July 2006. Currently, her husband Gary is an Assistant Professor of History at Arkansas State University, and Michelle enjoys teaching at The Foundation of Arts.

Mary Finley (Beginning Ballet) is currently a student at JHS, has been dancing and performing at the FOA for 10 years. Mary is a graduate of The Foundation of Arts Teacher’s Assistant Program and mentored under Heather Intres. Over the past three years, Mary has participated in intensive ballet workshops at the Cecchetti Council of America, Ballet Chicago and the Nashville School of Ballet. Mary is also a member of the JHS Dance Team.

Stephanie Gurley Hardy (Acting, Creative Improvisation, Great Plays and Creative Writing) attended Arkansas State University majoring in Theatre Arts for 3 years before changing her major to English. She received a BA in English from ASU in 1998 with a minor in Theatre Arts. Stephanie has 6 years experience teaching in public school system throughout the state.

Heather Intres (Dance Director, Ballet 2.5-5, Pointe) is originally from Las Cruces, New Mexico where she danced many principal roles in The Nutcracker Ballet, Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty and Coppelia. After receiving a Kinesiology and Biomechanics degree from Texas Christian University, Heather integrated her knowledge of anatomy with the principles and physics of ballet. Working for The Foundation of Arts since 2001, Heather directed and choreographed The Nutcracker Ballet 2002-2006, and provided choreography for Annie, Hansel and Gretel, Winnie the Pooh, The Sound of Music, and The Fabulous Follies. From 2004-2005, Heather was employed as a faculty instructor and choreographer for Ballet Chicago, where she taught pre-professional and professional students the Balanchine Technique. At Ballet Chicago, Heather continued her own training under New York City Ballet’s Daniel Duell and Patricia Blair.

Elena Johns (Stepping Stones Ballet, Ballet 1) is currently home-schooled and has been dancing ballet, as well as performing in the Nutcracker, for 3 years. Elena is a graduate of the Foundation of Arts Teacher’s Assistant Program and mentored under Lisa Maritch.

Naomi Lawrence (Stepping Stones Ballet, Ballet 2) is currently home schooled and has been dancing, as well as performing, for five years. Naomi has been teaching a home school ballet program and is a graduate of the Foundation of Arts Teacher’s Assistant Program. Naomi mentored under Lisa Maritch for four years.

Lisa Maritch (Stepping Stones Ballet) is originally from Clearwater, Florida and moved to Jonesboro in 1992. She started dancing at the age of four and studied ballet, tap, jazz and modern under Janet East Beyer, a graduate of Julliard. She was a member of the Christian based dance company, In His Image, and toured with them for four years. She has been active with interpretive dance within her local church. In 1998, Lisa founded and formed In His Step, a non-profit organization of Christian Dance. She is enjoying her time with The FOA teaching three and four year olds ballet.

Elizabeth Sales (Ballet 5) was born and raised in Little Rock, Arkansas and started taking ballet at the age of five from Lorene McAffee. Her early training was in the Cecchetti technique. Her dance instruction training background includes many studios including Ballet Arkansas/Little Rock Civic Ballet, Arkansas Art Center Ballet, South West Ballet-Bill Martin Viscount, Tidewater Ballet, Old Dominion University Ballet, and the Richmond Ballet as well The McAffe Ballet. She has 29 years of teaching experience. After moving to Jonesboro in 1994 she and Catherine Kyle established a new ballet program associated with the FOA in 1995. She served as the assistant director for the 1996 Nutcracker and director for the 2004 production. She has performed in various other ballets including Cinderella, Coppelia, and Romeo and Juliet. She holds a BA degree in Chemistry and graduated from medical school in 1985. She currently practices medicine full time with Doctor’s Anatomic Pathology and is medical director of the St. Bernard’s Medical Center Laboratory. Her hobbies include ballet, duck hunting with her husband, Hugh, and spending time with her daughters, Elizabeth and Catherine.

Lizzy Sales (Ballet 1) is currently attending JHS and has been dancing for 11 years. She has performed in the Nutcracker Ballet for 10 years. Lizzy has attended ballet intensives at Ballet Chicago, American Ballet Theatre and Nashville Ballet. She is a graduate of The Foundation of Arts Teacher’s Assistant Program and mentored under Heather Intres.

Brandon Stevens (Little Artists) is in his 3rd semester of teaching for the Arts Center. He's loved every opportunity and usually leaves the class having learned as much as he's taught. His classes usually focus on younger children, ages 4-6. When not teaching for The Arts Center, he teach at Jonesboro Pre-K Center. He is in his third year there and has taught for the Montessori School of Jonesboro as well as the Pediatric Day Clinic. He's also actively involved at First Baptist Church where he teaches youth Sunday school. With what little "spare time" he has, he enjoy reading and helping at Gearhead Outfitters.

Otis Watson (Advanced Oil Painting) has been drawing and painting since age four. He attended Mississippi County Community College where he majored in Commercial Art. In 1990, Otis transferred to ASU to study graphic design and studio art. He worked as a graphic billboard painter from 1994-2001, and in 2003, he began teaching portrait drawing and oil painting at the FOA. He has held many exhibitions including The Arkansas' African-American Artists, the Living Black History: African-American Artist of NEA, and Celebrating Black History Art Exhibition. Otis has received many prestigious awards including 1990 President's Award & Best of Show at the Mississippi County Community College, 1993 Second Place award at ASU's student art exhibition, 1998 Best of Show Award at Chicago, Illinois' Museum of Science and Industry Art Exhibition, and 2000 Honorable Mention Award from Dallas, Texas' African-American Art Exhibition.

Taylor Williams (Ballet 2) is currently attending Ridgefield Christian School. This will be his 10th year to dancing and 9th year to perform at the FOA. Taylor has attended such ballet intensives as Ballet Magnificent, Ballet Chicago and master classes. Taylor is a graduate of The Foundation of Arts Teacher’s Assistant Program and mentored under Lisa Maritch.

Heather Winberry (Adult Drawing and Watercolor, Mosaic Workshop) is a homemaker and home educator with 7 years experience teaching in public schools. She is raising two daughters while teaching at The Arts Center. Her main artistic interests are painting, drawing, and particularly portraits. She paints portraits on commission as well as painting murals. Heather holds a BFA from Arkansas State University with K-12 certification.