Cheryl Whitworth

Owner / Director of Dancing Gems / Instructor

Cheryl started dancing at the age of 3, started assisting classes in 1992, and began teaching in 1994. In 2000 she became owner of ADT.

She has studied and taught jazz, lyrical, ballet, hip hop and tap and is a certified member of Carolina Dance Masters and Dance Masters of America.

Her work has received numerous "Best Choreography," "Most Entertaining," and "Judges Choice" awards as well as many overall high score awards.

Cheryl received her B.S. degree in management from UNC-Asheville. She is proud and honored to own the studio she has always called home.

Claire Condrey

Instructor

Claire Condrey has been trained in several different styles of dance since she was about 3 years old. She trained in various dance studios growing up (including two years with Asheville Dance Theater before graduating!), and she continued that training in college.

She graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Dance and a Business Minor from Anderson University in South Carolina. While at college, she heavily trained in tap, jazz, ballet, and modern. She had the opportunity to create and choreograph 3 different tap pieces that were performed in the main stage Dance Concerts that happened each semester. She also choreographed, directed, and performed in her own show for her Senior Project that included 8 dances in the styles of tap, jazz, ballet en pointe, hip hop, and contemporary/modern.

Claire has been teaching dance since 2024, and she is very happy to call Asheville Dance Theater her dance family!

Jaime Head

Instructor

Began studying dance at the age of 3 and has been part of the Asheville Dance Theater family most of her life.

She has over 15 years teaching experience in such subjects as ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical and pointe and is a certified member of Carolina Dance Masters and Dance Masters of America.

Jaime has a master's degree in human resource development and works at UNC-Asheville.

Megan Jones Medford

Instructor

Megan grew up training with Asheville Dance Theater where she first fell in love with this magical art form! She received a BA in dance education from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

She spent six years living in NYC as a professional dancer and teacher. Along with free-lance work Megan was a company member with Periapsis Music & Dance, Link! The Movement, and Shauna Sorensen and Dancers. Some of her performances include SummerStage, Jazz at the Lincoln Center, American Dance Guild Festival, Symphony Space, New York Moves, Carnival, and Choreographers Canvas.

Megan trained with Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Alonzo King Lines Ballet, Martha Graham School, and American Dance Festival. She was on faculty for the Children & Teen Program at Broadway Dance Center and All Star Studios in NYC. She has guest taught and choreographed for studios and conventions around the states.

Megan and her husband Jay moved back to their hometown of Asheville, NC in 2016 to start a family. They are the proud parents of their son Baxter Hayes. Since her return she has performed with Stewart/Owen Dance, Lindsey Kelly Dance, and the Asheville Ballet. She is thrilled to be able to share her love of dance by continuing to perform and teach.

Photo courtesy of Stewart/Owen Dance.

Aubry Good

Tumble Instructor

Aubry Good began dancing at age 4 and transferred to Asheville Dance Theater when she was 5. She continued dancing at Asheville Dance Theater for 13 more years until she graduated in 2002.

In 2010, Aubry returned to Asheville Dance Theater as an instructor and has overseen the acrobatic/tumble program since 2016.

When she is not working at Asheville Dance Theater, Aubry grows and builds homeschool communities throughout Western North Carolina. Within each homeschool community she ensures that the classroom is a positive space to learn and grow. Aubry applies the same principles of a healthy classroom environment into her tumble classes with the goal for students to strive for understanding in physical ability and education within the tumble program. Aubry understands the importance of education in every form and seeks to keep the tumble program fresh, approachable, and enjoyable.

Corine Rhom

Instructor

Corine danced at Asheville Dance Theater for 15 years where she was a teachers assistant and substitute teacher for 2 years.

She competed regionally and nationally for 10 of those years with the Dancing Gems and even performed with one of the Gems top 10 nationally ranked groups at Showstopper Nationals.

Corine graduated from Appalachian State University in 2013, and currently works in digital sales. She has been teaching level 1 at ADT since 2014.

Alena Campbell

Instructor

Alena grew up dancing at Asheville Dance Theater where she learned just how important movement, the art of dance and dance family can be! She received her B.A. in Dance from Elon University and has since taught dance for nearly two decades—the majority of these years at Asheville Dance Theater. Her favorite styles are modern, contemporary and ballet.

Outside of the studio she has also worked as a pediatric Occupational Therapist, an early childhood teacher and various support roles within education and childhood development. She loves getting to know her dance students and uncovering all the ways movement connects us to ourselves, to others and to the world. Being in the dance studio and leading class is one of her most favorite things to do. She takes her job of creating a space that feels safe, FUN, and empowering seriously. She is so grateful to be part of Asheville Dance Theater again and looks forward to moving with you!

Madisyn Ballard

Instructor

Madisyn Ballard was a member of the Dancing Gems for 10 of her 16 years at Asheville Dance Theater.

She attended Mars Hill University for a year and was on their dance team. She then transferred to Blue Ridge Community College to study cosmetology and business. She will be graduating December 2025.

She started teaching hip hop and jazz at ADT in 2024 and loves teaching dancers her love of dance at her home studio!

Morgen Gough

Instructor

Morgen has nearly 20 years of dance training and choreography experience. She has studied at the prestigious Alvin Ailey School, Ballet Chicago and studied choreography and musical theater at NC School of the Arts and American Dance Festival. Morgen’s classical training creates the basis for her modern ballet style. It is Morgen’s belief that the future of ballet is in the fusion of the traditional with diverse dance styles and wide ranging theatrical influences including aerial, hip hop and rock opera.

Penney Russell

Office Manager

Penney has been a part of our ADT family since 2002 when her family moved to Asheville from Houston, Texas and her daughter chose to continue her dance career at ADT.

Penney received her B.S. degree in accounting from Louisiana State University and enjoys working in the office and watching all the children grow through dance.

She is happy to call Asheville Dance Theater home.