Elevate Performing Arts Center is More Than Just Great Dancing™! We believe each student has God given worth and abilities, and the performing arts not only bring out each child's unique qualities, but also teaches them important life lessons! We know that not every student will go on to perform professionally, but our hope is that the lessons they learned through the performing arts will last them a lifetime.
Our goal is to provide a family friendly environment, with positive teachers in professional studios, all while instilling values and traits that will help develop our students into leaders. Our focus is to raise up the next generation to be strong leaders through classes, performance and volunteer opportunities, and our LEAD Performance Company.
Staff and Instructors
Elevate is proud to provide a professional instruction in a family environment. With a mixture of tradition and innovation, our faculty brings the best out of students each and every day.
Danielle Aikens-Holland
Founder & Artistic Director
Ms. Danielle has been dancing for 42 years, playing piano for 40 years, and singing for 27 years. She has her Bachelor of Arts in Music with a focus on piano performance, as well as a minor in Dance from Brenau University. She founded Elevate Performing Arts in 2002, which has allowed her to share her passion for music and dance and have a positive impact on hundreds of students over the last 22 years. She is proud that Elevate is the charter member of More Than Just Great Dancing affiliated studios for the state of Georgia.
Justin Holland
School Director
Mr. Justin is the School Director of Elevate and has been leading the team from the start. Former Stage Manager for Savoyards Light Opera in Atlanta (now the Atlanta Lyric Theater), he has been involved in productions of the Pirates of Penzance, Fiddler on the Roof, Kismet and more. He is passionate about inspiring kids to be the best that they can be and teaching them to give back to community.
JESSE BIONDI
Guitar, Strings
Jesse Biondi is a multifaceted musician and educator with a rich career spanning 25 years. His journey in music began at an early age, leading him to become a classically trained cellist and an accomplished guitarist. Jesse has not only played in numerous touring bands, but also showcased his talent as a concert cellist, performing across the country and captivating audiences with his skill and passion for music.
Beyond his performance career, Jesse has dedicated six years to nurturing the next generation of musicians as a middle school orchestra and chorus teacher. His commitment to music education and his ability to inspire young minds in the art of music is amplified by his unique perspective as someone who has not just studied music, but lived it. With the ability to play 13 instruments and counting, Jesse is excited to bring his expertise and experience to Elevate PAC!
Mallary bales
Tippy Toes, Tutus & Bowties
Mallary began her training at the age of three at 5*6*7*8 Dance Academy of Performing Arts in Buford, GA. She trained, performed, and competed in various styles with a larger focus on ballet, jazz, contemporary, lyrical, jazz, tap, pointe, and acro techniques and received awards at numerous competitions both at regional and national levels. She also performed in the company’s production of the Nutcracker as The Sugar Plum Fairy, The Snow Queen, and various other solos and ensemble pieces.
Mallary is expected to graduate in the Spring of 2025 with her Bachelor of Science in Psychology, as well as her Bachelor of Arts in Dance. While at Brenau she has performed and choreographed for the department’s Evening of Dance and Senior Thesis Showcases, as well as been a part of numerous guest artist residencies.
Alongside her love for performing, she has grown a love for teaching and watching the younger generations create and flourish through movement. She works with children from the ages of 2-18, teaching ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary, lyrical, and acro techniques. With a background in psychology she has hopes to become a Pediatric Occupational Therapist and continue her career as a dance teacher and choreographer to combine her two loves; the mind and dance.
Egypt byrd
Elementary Hip Hop, Hippity Hop, Junior Hip Hop
Egypt Byrd is a dancer born in Spartanburg, South Carolina and raised in Atlanta, GA. She began her dance training at the age of 3 with Ballet and Tap. She now specializes in Ballet, Jazz, Modern, West African, and Hip Hop. She has trained with Ballethnic Dance Company, where she performed lead roles in The Urban Nutcracker, Sugarloaf Performing Arts, and she is currently a senior at Brenau University, where she is pursuing her Bachelor of Arts in Dance. She has also had the opportunity to perform throughout the Southeast. Egypt plans to continue her passion for dance after college and aspires to dance professionally for commercial artists and with companies that focus on her strongest areas of dance, as well as becoming a sought after choreographer.
Alaina Cardiges
Senior Hip Hop, Senior Tap
Alaina has been dancing for 20 years. She began her dance training at North Georgia Dance and Music Factory, and started taking classes at Elevate Performing Arts Center in the 5th grade . She has trained in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Pointe, Hip Hop, Acro, and Contemporary, and was also a member of our Competitive Dance Company, where she received numerous awards, and also received a scholarship from the Pulse. Alaina has taught various styles and ages at the studio and is excited to be teaching again this season. Along with having a marketing degree from the University of North Georgia, she loves having the opportunity to perform professionally around the Atlanta area. Alaina enjoys being able to help her students grow as dancers and have fun while they learn.
grace darden
Junior Ballet, Senior Ballet
Grace Darden is pursuing a double major in Dance and Marketing at Brenau University. She grew up at the Woodstock School of Ballet where she trained in Ballet, Modern, and Jazz. Grace danced as a company member with the Gainesville Ballet company for the 2022-2023 and is an active member of the Brenau University Dance department where she expands her dance education, performs, and choreographs. She has recently expanded to Musical Theater by working as a dance intern with the Aurora Theater for the production of “The Sister Act” and “The Sister Act Junior” in 2024. She is also certified in mat pilates and teaches pilates in Woodstock. Grace is so excited to be joining Elevate and hopes to provide a fun environment for her students to develop as artists!
isabella holland
Acro, Elementary Tap
Isabella has been dancing at Elevate Performing Arts Center for 18 years. She has trained in Ballet, Pointe, Hip Hop, Jazz, Contemporary, Acro, and Tap. She has also been a part of our Taking Shape Leadership Program, and served as a class assistant for 5 years. Isabella was a member of our Competition Dance Company from 2012-16, and 2022. In addition to attending JUMP and Pulse conventions, she has also had the opportunity to perform at Walt Disney World twice, as well as performing in Times Square and at the New Amsterdam Theatre in NYC! She looks forward to helping her students grow as dancers, while having fun!
bria Kellar
Darby’s Dancers
Bria is a pediatric occupational therapist by day, Darbys Dancers teacher by night. She is a local to Northeast GA where she began her dance training at age 4, growing in ballet, tap, jazz, and modern dance and performing in Atlanta with her pre-professional modern dance company, Good Moves. She attended Kennesaw State University where she decided to pursue a Bachelor’s in Psychology and a minor in dance, though was active in the KSU dance company and Nu Delta Alpha. Bria pursued her Master’s of Science in OT at Brenau and currently practices in an outpatient clinic locally. Bria was an avid volunteer for a special needs dance program in undergrad and knew that once her education was complete, she wanted to head off her own program. Bria began small with local dance camps before finding her place with the EPAC community and Darby’s Dancers. She loves being able to combine both her passion for working with children with disabilities and her lifelong love of dance in a way that is fun and beneficial for all involved!
Isabella Kulig
Tutus & Bowties
Bella has been dancing for 14 years, and has been dancing at Elevate the last 6 years. She has trained in Ballet, Pointe, Tap, and Jazz, and has performed in The Nutcracker All Jazzed Up, as well as performing the lead role of Alice in Elevate in Wonderland. Bella is passionate about dance and cannot wait to share the knowledge she has with her students, and is excited to help them grow as dancers and as individuals. She is currently attending the Georgia Institute of Cosmetology to obtain her master cosmetology license. Bella is excited to be joining the Elevate staff this season and can’t wait to see what God has in store for her this year!
Alexis mcphail
Ballet Beginnings, Contemporary Ballet, Hippity Hop, Intermediate Ballet
Alexis grew up in the suburbs of Atlanta, GA and trained in various styles of dance from the age of 4. She received a Bachelor of Science in American Dance Pedagogy from Oklahoma City University. After graduation, she continued her training in New York and performed on the Today Show’s Halloween Special. Alexis also performed as a cast member on the Queen Mary 2 with Cunard. There she trained in the UK before boarding the renowned ocean liner. She has had the privilege to choreograph and coach for the Mill Creek Dance Team since 2019. Her pom choreography helped secure Mill Creek’s first state title. She has continued her education through certification in PBT (Progressing Ballet Technique). Alexis’s heart for teaching has traveled with her wherever she goes from Oklahoma to New York to Atlanta. She loves being in the classroom to inspire the next generation of artists.
lily pittman
Elementary Ballet, Elementary Jazz, Junior Tap
Lily discovered her passion for dance while dropping into a lyrical class at the age of 14. From there she was hooked! She then started her dance training at Sawnee School of Ballet in 2014. During Lily’s time at SSB she was a member of the Sawnee Ballet Sapphires performance group who were invited and danced in the Night Parade at Disney World, an inaugural member of the Sole Tappers performance group, along with participating in Sawnee Ballet’s Class Assisting Training program. She continued to trained in Jazz, Modern, Ballet, Musical Theatre, Irish, and Tap. On the side she dipped her toe into the community theatre world and danced in the musical ensembles of Holly Theatre’s White Christmas and 42nd Street. In 2018-2019 Lily also performed as a Principal Dancer In Sawnee Ballet Theatre’s “The Nutcracker” as the Rat King. In 2018 she then started her journey as a dance teacher and taught Jazz, Lyrical, Creative Movement, Ballet, Pointe, Acro dance, Tap and her personal favorite Irish. Lily worked as the Choreographer for “Holiday Inn” (2021) and “She Loves Me”(2022) at The Historic Holly Theatre in Dahlonega, Ga. Lily is beyond thrilled to be back and sharing her passion for dance again!
kelly rayborn
Junior Contemporary, Junior Jazz, Senior Contemporary, Senior Jazz
Kelly, a native to Lawrenceville Ga, received her training from Southern Ballet Theatre. She has attended summer intensives at Atlanta Ballet, and American Ballet Theatre. She continued her education as a dance major at Brenau University where she received partial scholarship and later finished at Kennesaw State University with a ballet concentration. Over the past 7 years, Kelly has performed professionally for Royal Caribbean Cruise Line where she performed on 6 different ships in over 13 various production shows. Kelly is very honored and excited to have been selected to tour with “The Thorn” for their upcoming fall season and looks forward to returning to her students for the remainder of the year. Kelly is passionate about inspiring the next generation of dancers to captivate audiences and share the art of dance.
gracie tipton
Musical Theater
Gracie Tipton is a teaching artist from Gainesville GA. She is in her final year of student teaching to complete her degree in Theatre Education at Piedmont University. Gracie is passionate about singing, acting, dancing, and teaching. She has worked at several high schools in the surrounding area, choreographing and directing as a guest artist. She has spent the most time working with students at North Hall High School. Her work there has earned awards in Region One Act competitions, as well as the 2024 Shuler Award for "Showstopping Number". Gracie enjoys her time on stage. Some of her favorite roles include Alice Murphy in Brightstar, Joanne in RENT, Becca in The Rabbit Hole and Rosie in Mamma Mia. Gracie is overjoyed to be on the Elevate team, as she is incredibly passionate about sharing her love of theatre with young students.