Margaret Anne has the great privilege of being a third generation Briarwood Ballet teacher. Since the age of three, she has been twirling through Briarwood’s studios, exploring (and testing) the mercies of her Creator and Savior. During high school, Margaret Anne danced with Ballet Exaltation for several years while also pursuing a path in Musical Theatre. In 2009, she moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where she studied acting and dance at Point Park University and trained in many different forms of dance. Some of her favorites include musical theatre jazz (under the late Ron Tassone who performed in the movies of Hello Dolly and West Side Story), Graham technique, and contemporary. Upon graduation, Margaret Anne returned to Briarwood Ballet as a teacher until she met her husband, married, and moved with him to Houston and then Nashville. There she started a small ballet program through Covenant Conservatory, worked as the Director of Lower School Dance at Christ Presbyterian Academy, and taught ballet, jazz, hip hop, and tap for Fellowship School of Dance. In 2017 she was certified in “Leap and Learn” curriculum for preschool and early elementary aged dancers. In 2020 her family moved back home to Birmingham, and she rejoined the Briarwood Ballet team. Her deepest desire is to share the eternal gift she received in the studios of Briarwood Ballet with the next generation of young dancers. ... See MoreSee Less
Beth Bischoff, from Oahu, Hawaii, began her classical ballet training at the age of 9 with Ballet Hawaii under the direction of Pamela Taylor-Tongg. Throughout her pre-professional training she participated in ballet master classes taught by Michael Vernon, Maria Vegh, Alaine Haubert, and Finis Jhung and attended summer intensives with Ballet Magnificat! and the American Ballet Theater. In 2003 Beth moved to Jackson, Mississippi to join Ballet Magnificat!’s trainee program and became a company artist in 2004. As a company artist she traveled around the United States as well as Czech Republic, Italy, France, Macedonia, Israel, Honduras, Belize, Slovakia, Germany, Canada, Poland, and The Netherlands performing and teaching master classes and workshops. In 2011, Beth married and moved to Birmingham, Alabama where she was the Artistic Director and instructor at Westwood Ballet for six years. In 2019 she began teaching at Briarwood Ballet. Beth’s passion in teaching is for her students to see their uniqueness as beautiful and inspiring; to realize their full potential, not only as dancers but as loved children of God; and to know the freedom of a heart that is abandoned in worship to their Creator. Beth lives in Leeds, Alabama with her husband Eric and their four children. ... See MoreSee Less
Leesa attended the National School of the Arts in Johannesburg, South Africa. There she trained extensively in Cecchetti, pointe, pas de deux, Horton, Graham, and Cunningham technique as well as in Spanish dance. Additionally, she spent extended hours training in the Royal Academy of Dance curriculum with yearly certification in ballet, pointe and character dance. Throughout her arts training Leesa took master classes from teachers and companies such as the Alvin Ailey American Dance Company and PACT Ballet Company, and was afforded opportunities to study dance in Russia and London. Leesa enjoyed opportunities to perform in Giselle, La Sylphide, and Swan Lake. Additionally, Leesa excelled in contemporary dance and was accredited with a nomination for “Most Promising Dancer” by the country's leading dance awards, later achieving a distinction in contemporary dance. Upon completion of her training, Leesa was accepted into well-known dance institutions such as The Rambert College of London, The Alvin Ailey College of Dance, The University of North Carolina, PACT Ballet Company, and The North West Arts Council Dance Company. Leesa joined the North West Arts Council Dance Company, performing nationally and internationally, with many televised events across the world. Leesa has taught at the SA American International School, Tenterden children's home, Kohl Academy of Performing Arts, and eventually Briarwood Ballet, which she feels has been her most rewarding practice to date. ... See MoreSee Less
Isabelle loves you so much, Mrs. Leesa!! You are such a great balance of pushing them to improve and laughter that makes the studio so uplifting. 💗 It is obvious you love your students!
Emi LOVES Mrs. Leesa! She said she has the two best qualities a ballet teacher can have in her opinion: super strict and super funny!
This weekend we are thrilled to host our second guest choreographer of the 2024-25 season, Jiri Voborsky!
Jiri Voborsky of 10M Foundation and formerly of Ballet Magnificat, taught a master class to some of our upper level students this morning and is currently setting 5 new pieces on Ballet Exaltation. We are inspired by this beautiful choreography and are so proud of our dancers for their endurance and dedication in this process. ... See MoreSee Less