Dianna Jones received her early dance training from Margaret Powell and Donna Blanchard and continued her education at Louisiana State University under the direction of Dr. Terry Worthy. There she was a member of LSU's Tiger Band, performing with the LSU "Golden Girls" and served as Assistant Choreographer her senior year. Ms. Jones has studied professionally with David Howard, Finis Jhung, Mia Michaels, Joe Tremaine, Wilhelm Burmann, Alex Magno and Paula Morgan-Maddox. She has owned and directed the renowned Jean Leigh Academy of Dance for over 40 years and in 2007, co-founded Willow Oak Contemporary Ballet along with Artistic Director, Tamu Ortenzio.

Ms. Jones is a gifted master teacher whose students have been accepted to such prestigious universities as Boston Conservatory, NYU, Chapman University, University of Arizona, Marymount Manhattan, and the world-renowned Juilliard School. The School of American Ballet, The Rock School, Jacob's Pillow, Alonzo King Lines Ballet, and American Ballet Theatre are a few of the many esteemed continuing education programs her dancers have been chosen to attend. Dancers trained by Ms. Jones have performed with many classical and contemporary companies across the United States and have earned commercial success as well, appearing in films such as "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button", "High School Musical", and "Pitch Perfect." Others have credits including "The Academy Awards", "The Ellen DeGeneres Show", and Fox's "So You Think You Can Dance.” Several of her students have graced the Broadway stage in productions of "Anastasia," "Les Miserables," and "For the Girls." Her dancers have performed in notable companies including Poz Dance Theatre, Wes Veldink Movement, Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble, Willow Oak Contemporary Ballet, The Radio City Rockettes, Chloe Arnold's Syncopated Ladies, and L.A. Dance Project. Her dance company performed at the Tanzommer International Dance Festival in Innsbruck Austria, receiving rave reviews.

Ms. Jones’s expertise has been noted in Dance Teacher magazine in which she was one of only three dance educators chosen to address the subject of authentic artistic expression. Ever the student herself, in 2019 she became certified in Progressing Ballet Technique.

Ms. Jones is the mother of two, proud grandmother of three and is a member of Zoar Baptist Church.

— DIANNA JONES

Studio Executive & Artistic Director/Instructor

Tamu Ortenzio has over 25 years of experience teaching ballet technique, pointe, choreography and arts management. Tamu is an American Ballet Theatre® Certified Teacher in levels Pre-Primary through 5 of the ABT® National Teacher Training Curriculum and Progressing Ballet Technique, a supplemental strengthening program for dancers. Additionally, she has trained, mentored, and coached students now in prominent schools and companies including School of American Ballet, The Juilliard School, The Joffrey Ballet School, Nashville Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, State University of New York at Purchase, New York University Tisch School of the Arts, University of Arizona and Boston Conservatory.

Tamu began her dance training at Mobile Ballet (Mobile, AL) and also trained as a scholarship student at the Joffrey Ballet (NYC), Atlanta Ballet, International Rotaru Ballet School and Giacobbe Ballet School. After dancing, Tamu graduated from Spring Hill College and went on to own a ballet studio and professional company for many years. Tamu has staged full length ballets including The Nutcracker, Carmen, Scheherazade, The Fairy Doll, Les Sylphides, as well as many mixed bill programs. Tamu has organized various performance events and fundraisers as well as private coaching and choreography for professional dancers and companies. ​

Tamu’s experience in arts education and management include being a full time educator at several performing arts high schools, higher education and corporate fundraising, nonprofits and business development. Tamu is the Artistic Director Of Willow Oak Contemporary Ballet started in 2007 with Dianna Jones.

— TAMU ORTENZIO

Young Dancer's Conservatory Associate Director/Instructor

— CRYSTAL WELCH

New Programs Director/Instructor

Christy Womack Boston, from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, started her dance journey when she was 2 1/2 at Jean Leigh Academy of Dance. Her training intensified when becoming a member of the JLA Dance Company from 1996 to 2004. She had the opportunity to dance in the New York City Disaster Relief Benefit and performed in the prestigious Tanzsommer Dance Festival which showcased in three different cities in Austria.

In 1999, she became an instructor for Jean Leigh in multiple dance genres. From 2002 – 2012, she acted as the Company Tap Director, where her dancers were awarded Overall Performance high scores. She continued to uphold the legacy that had been set in previous years by her Artistic Director and dance teacher, Dianna Jones.

Academics has always been a high priority to Ms. Boston. She graduated 8th in her class from Belaire High School in the Medical Magnet Program, and in 2004, graduated Magna Cum Laude from LSU with a Bachelor of Science. In 2005, she began teaching first grade at North Corbin Elementary and has continued nurturing this age for the last 16 years. During this time, she has been a teacher of the year nominee and received the Teacher of the Year award in 2017.

Christy has continued to work with Company dancers as a Tap choreographer and instructor, and in 2019, received a Choreography award for her overall-winning, Junior Tap piece "Jelly’s Jam." Dance is a part of her and teaching will always be her passion. “Why Fit In When You Were Born To Stand Out!”

— CHRISTY BOSTON

Assistant Teacher Director/Instructor

Originally from Houma, Louisiana, Shelby began her dance training at a young age in a variety of styles, including ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, and hip-hop. During her senior year of high school, she focused on expanding her knowledge and mastery of the hip-hop genre, studying with many of the industry's top commercial artists. Throughout her training and competitive years, Shelby traveled to conventions and competitions across the country, earning numerous scholarships and opportunities to further her dance education.

Shelby continued her training at Southeastern Louisiana University (2018-2020) as a member of the nationally recognized Lionettes Dance Team. During her collegiate career, she trained with many accomplished choreographers and instructors, including Peyton Matthias and the Tribe 99 team. She represented Southeastern at UDA College Nationals in Orlando, Florida, helping the Lionettes earn a Top 3 national finish in Division I Hip-Hop.

In May 2020, Shelby earned her Bachelor of Arts in Marketing with a concentration in Social Media and Advertising. She then completed her Master of Arts in Strategic Communication in May 2022.

Today, Shelby serves as the Recruitment and Program Operations Coordinator and Assistant Coach for the Southeastern Louisiana University Lionettes Dance Team, where she assists with recruiting prospective student-athletes, program development, team operations, and outreach initiatives. At Jean Leigh Academy of Dance, Shelby serves as Director of THE INDUSTRY program and Revue Coordinator. She is passionate about creating meaningful opportunities for dancers to grow both technically and artistically while building confidence, discipline, and a lifelong love of dance.

— SHELBY JOHNSON MATHERNE

The Industry Director/Instructor

Anneke Hansen is a dance teacher, a choreographer and performer, and an events curator. Movement is her medium and her joy is making things move well: human bodies mostly, but also ideas that cross the divides of discipline, perspective, and experience.

As an educator, Anneke’s dance classes fuse technique with anatomical science, building balanced, functional strength and mobility while giving dancers insight into their unique bodies and needs. Her vision for future generations of dance artists is one in which they are supported by technical training which goes beyond tradition and incorporates anatomical science to promote less injury and more long, satisfying careers, challenging the notion that dancers must suffer and that dance is inherently an artform for the young. FOUNDATIONS, Anneke's three-part teacher training and certification program, provides professional dance artists and educators with tools to foster healthier dance practices. Anneke served for many years as assistant to master anatomist and neuromuscular educator Irene Dowd and is regular guest faculty at some of North America’s top studios and programs. She takes pride in helping pre-professional and professional dancers meet the challenges of their art with strength, joy, and humor.

As a choreographer, Anneke’s work has been presented at numerous venues in New York City, such as The Chocolate Factory Theater, University Settlement, Irondale Theater, and Draftworks @ Danspace Project, as well as nationally and internationally. She has been international guest artist-in-residence at Dance House in Dublin, Ireland, and Universidad de las Americas in Puebla, Mexico. Her company Anneke Hansen Dance has received critical praise in the press and funding from LMCC’s Manhattan Community Arts Fund, NYFA’s BUILD grant, and the Puffin Foundation, among others.

As a performer, Anneke has had the pleasure of working with New York choreographers Sara Rudner and Susan Rethorst, and for the Australia-based Russell Dumas, among others.

Since 2017, Anneke has developed an events based salon project, First Person Plural, which brings thinkers of diverse backgrounds together to move beyond disciplinary boundaries and create conversations about topics that move our lives, including AI, Embodiment, and Intelligence; Borders, Belonging, and Citizenship; and Conceptualizing Pleasure.

Anneke holds a BA from Sarah Lawrence College, and an MA in Critical Journalism and Creative Publishing from The New School, where she also studied transdisciplinary design. In addition to teaching dance and anatomy for dancers, Anneke designed and led a series of dance composition workshops for young woman at Rikers Island Jail in New York City in 2018.

— ANNEKE HANSEN

Instructor

— SUMMER BONNECAZE

Instructor

Adair Springfield is a Louisiana native, educator, choreographer, and performer whose career spans dance, fitness, commercial entertainment, and arts education.

She began her training at Jean Leigh Academy of Dance under the direction of Dianna Jones, studying there for nearly two decades while also training with renowned master teachers including Paula Morgan, Jason Parsons, and J.T. Horenstein. In 2009, Adair relocated to New York City, where she continued her training at Steps on Broadway and Broadway Dance Center while pursuing professional opportunities as both a performer and choreographer.

Her professional credits include work with Confetti Entertainment, New York Fashion Week, Broadway Bares, and corporate events produced under the direction of Joe Lanteri. After relocating to Los Angeles, she performed and choreographed for television, live events, and commercial campaigns, appearing alongside artists and industry professionals including Taio Cruz, Lacey Schwimmer, J.T. Horenstein, and Jennifer Hamilton.

In addition to her performing career, Adair spent more than a decade in the fitness industry as a master trainer and instructor, working with celebrity clientele and earning certifications in both barre and the Lagree Method. She later completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing with an emphasis in social media.

Today, Adair has returned to her roots in Louisiana, where she teaches and mentors the next generation of dancers at Jean Leigh Academy of Dance. Drawing from professional experiences in New York, Los Angeles, and beyond, she is passionate about developing technically strong, artistically driven performers while continuing the tradition of excellence that shaped her own career. Perhaps most meaningful is the opportunity to watch her daughter, Westyn, now follow in her footsteps as a student at Jean Leigh Academy of Dance, continuing a legacy that has come full circle.

— ADAIR SPRINGFIELD

Instructor/Social Media & Marketing

Layla Ruffin is a proud Lionette alumna and the Head Coach of the Southeastern Louisiana University Lionettes. With 8 years of coaching experience at the middle school, high school, studio, and collegiate levels, she is known for her passion, leadership, and commitment to developing disciplined and confident athletes. Before becoming Head Coach at SLU, Layla served as an assistant coach for the nationally recognized Destrehan Desty Darlings, helping lead the program to national success.

Throughout her coaching and competitive career, Layla has earned multiple choreography awards and holds 2 national championship titles along with 4 ICU Hip Hop World Championship titles. Her experience ranges from competitive studio dance and game day performance to collegiate nationals and elite hip hop training.

— LAYLA RUFFIN

Instructor

Camryn began her education in dance at the age of four at Jean Leigh Academy of Dance. What started out as a hobby, grew to into a passion. By the age of 12, she decided to further her training by joining their prestigious Company. She earned numerous regional scholarships and competed award-winning group pieces. Camryn not only progressed as a dance student in her 15 years, she was also blessed to mentor under Jean Leigh’s most seasoned and experienced instructors in the Assistant Program for 9 years.

After graduating from Doyle High School, she chose to continue her education at Louisiana State University, where she is majoring in Kinesiology. She hopes to become a Physical Therapist with a focus in Sports Therapy for recovering athletes.  

Camryn prays that she lives up to the excellence of her former teachers, and is grateful to be a part of shaping the future of Jean Leigh and young dancers for many years to come!

— Camryn Stewart

Instructor

Sadie has been dancing for over 15 years and grew up taking classes at Jean Leigh Academy of Dance. By eight, she developed a deeper love for dance and became a company member, where she continued under the direction of Ms. Dianna Jones and Mrs. Summer Bonnecaze for eight years. As a company member, she was able to gain numerous years of competition and convention experience, trained under many guest artists and spent most of her summers training in ballet at intensives such as the American Ballet Theater. She is a former Denham Springs High School Jackette as well as a former captain of the Denham Springs High School Cross Country and Track teams.

A recent graduate of Denham Springs High School, Sadie is currently pursuing a degree at LSU in hopes to one day becoming a sports medicine orthopedic surgeon! Majoring in kinesiology and minoring in biology, she is also a student in the Ogden Honors College. Sadie has spent many years battling an athletic hip dysplasia diagnosis and has had many correction surgeries such as a bilateral periacetabular osteotomy, an arthroscopic labral repair, and a CAM lesion removal. This led her to grow a passion in medicine in hopes to help athletes, like herself, return to the sports they love!

— Sadie Dufrene

Instructor/Administrative Assistant

Deborah Ross is a Minister of the Gospel of Christ for 22 years, at The Church of God. She accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior August 25, 1978, at age 19. As a minister, aside from pulpit ministry, she enjoys intercessory prayer and encouragement for those that God places in her life. Ms. Deborah loves to work with young people. She was the youth leader in her church 30 plus years, and the youth choir director.

Ms. Deborah is a graduate of Southern University with her Bachelor’s degree in Print Journalism and her Masters in Broadcast Journalism. She interned at the Baton Rouge Chamber of Commerce in Public Relations; a passion that is true to her heart.

Ms. Deborah is the mother of three biological children and other children that God has blessed and placed in her life. She is a grandmother and a great-grandmother.

— DEBORAH ROSS

Studio Chaplain

Coming soon...

— Austyn Chopin

Operations Manager