Instructors

We take great pride in the quality of our instructional staff. All of our teachers have a combination of extensive professional experience or degrees and all have had previous teaching experience. For detailed information about our specific instructors, please read through our brief biographies below:

LeAnn Garth is the Artistic Director of Magical Movement Dance and Fine Arts Academy. She has studied dance since 4 years of age, and attended the University of Arizona on a full dance scholarship. She has studied dance at the University of Nevada and Arizona State University and danced professionally in both Ballet and Modern companies. Throughout her professional career, she has owned and operated 4 private studios in the United States, Europe and the Far East. She has 31 years teaching experience in all dance forms = Tap, Ballet, Pointe, Modern, Jazz, and Acrobatics = all levels from beginning to advanced. Some of her professional accomplishments include:

• Member of DEA (Dance Educators of America)
  
• Member of Professional Dance Teacher Association (PDTA)
  
• Member of National Dance Association (NDA ) and the American Alliance for Health,
• Physical Education recreation and Dance. (AAHPERD)
  
• Member of Dance Arts Institute (DAI)
  
• Graduate of Dance Educators of America (DEA) teacher training programs.
  
• Certified by DEA by examination to teach ballet, jazz, tap, modern dance, and acrobatics.
• Continuing education through 2 yearly workshops with well-known ‘famous’ Master teachers and dancers as well as working on additional certifications in dance studies
  
• Also furthering education in child development and early childhood education workshops
  

Mrs. Garth also has a nursing background, which further enhances her knowledge of child development, anatomy, injury prevention and correct use of the body. Mrs. Garth has taught dance all over the world and has had contracts with the federal government to teach dance. She has also been employed by the Henrico School system. Both jobs require complete finger printing and background checks. Mrs. Garth is married, has two grown children. Her hobbies include collecting dance-related items, antiques, Steiff animals, reading, traveling and of course dancing. She feels privileged to share her love of music and movement with your children.

Maggie Szydlowski Joseph started dance at the age of seven with dance and acrobatics. Soon thereafter, she added ballet, pointe, and tap. While attending Longwood University, Maggie danced with the Longwood Company of Dancers and added Hip-Hop, Lyrical, and African dance to her repertoire. While with the Company, Maggie choreographed a number of pieces, and was featured in solo work as well. While at Longwood, she also learned the importance of showing emotion as part of her dance performances bringing additional depth and range to the choreography, which better lends itself to the theatre.

Maggie studied both Theatre and Education and received her BA in Theatre from Longwood as well as her teaching license. Maggie is currently teaching Theatre and Theatre Production at L C Bird High School as well as coaching the Dance Team. At Magical Movement, Maggie teaches Jazz and Hip Hop to students ages 9 and up.

Ms. Ashley joins the Magical Movement Studio from Sweet Briar College where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Dance. While at Sweet Briar, Ashley was a teacher of creative dance with pre-kindergarten through eight year olds, and she also taught tap, ballet, jazz, modern, and hip hop to all age groups. She has worked with a competition dance team on conditioning, and has been a choreographer for children’s productions of “Beauty and the Beast” (July 2009) and “Dracula Baby” (October 2009). Ashley was the president of Taps and Toes at Sweet Briar, and was also chosen to perform at the American College Dance Festival (ACDFA) in 2011 and 2009. Ashley brings strong choreographic ability and a unique eye for props and lighting for intriguing staging. Miss Ashley is also Zumba® certified. We are excited to have Ashley join the staff at Magical Movement this year!