Abby Gilder McAllister
BFA, Dance Education
Owner and Performing Company Director
Abby is the owner and performing company director of Fancy Dancer. Abby grew up in Dublin as a student and company member at Fancy Dancer. She graduated from Dublin High School and went on to Brenau University where she graduated cum laude with a BFA in Dance Education. While in college, Abby performed as a soloist and demi soloist with The Gainesville Ballet. She later went on to pursue a performing career with Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines. Abby moved to Chicago in 2006 and performed in the off-Broadway Show, “Awesome 80s Prom.” She is beyond excited to be back in Dublin since 2007 giving back to the community that has always been supportive of her dream.
BFA, Dance Education
Owner and Performing Company Director
Abby is the owner and performing company director of Fancy Dancer. Abby grew up in Dublin as a student and company member at Fancy Dancer. She graduated from Dublin High School and went on to Brenau University where she graduated cum laude with a BFA in Dance Education. While in college, Abby performed as a soloist and demi soloist with The Gainesville Ballet. She later went on to pursue a performing career with Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines. Abby moved to Chicago in 2006 and performed in the off-Broadway Show, “Awesome 80s Prom.” She is beyond excited to be back in Dublin since 2007 giving back to the community that has always been supportive of her dream.
Allie Brown
Hip Hop/Contemporary Teacher Hip Hop Co Director
Allie graduated from Dublin High School in 2013 and Georgia Southern University in 2020 with her Bachelors Degree in Marketing. Allie was a company member for the national LA Dance Magic Company. She has been dancing since the age of 3 and was a performing company member for Fancy Dancer for 11 years. Allie has been the director of the Hip Hop Company at Fancy Dancer for the past 7 years. As the director, Allie has been awarded the Apogee Award, the award given to the highest scoring dance at a competition and has also won the Best Choreography award at numerous competitions.
Hip Hop/Contemporary Teacher Hip Hop Co Director
Allie graduated from Dublin High School in 2013 and Georgia Southern University in 2020 with her Bachelors Degree in Marketing. Allie was a company member for the national LA Dance Magic Company. She has been dancing since the age of 3 and was a performing company member for Fancy Dancer for 11 years. Allie has been the director of the Hip Hop Company at Fancy Dancer for the past 7 years. As the director, Allie has been awarded the Apogee Award, the award given to the highest scoring dance at a competition and has also won the Best Choreography award at numerous competitions.
Kennedy Jones
Tap Teacher/ Tap Co Director
Kennedy grew up in Warner Robins, GA and has been dancing since the age of two. She was a company member at the International City School of Ballet, dancing 40 hours a week. She also performed with “Ready for Action” company. Kennedy is trained in ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, contemporary and clogging. She has been in the competitive world of dance her entire life. Kennedy has won multiple awards and scholarships through dance. In 2021, Kennedy’s choreography won highest scoring dance in the whole competition! Through all of her training and performing, Kennedy has found her passion for teaching dance. She loves being part of the F.D. Family!
Tap Teacher/ Tap Co Director
Kennedy grew up in Warner Robins, GA and has been dancing since the age of two. She was a company member at the International City School of Ballet, dancing 40 hours a week. She also performed with “Ready for Action” company. Kennedy is trained in ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, contemporary and clogging. She has been in the competitive world of dance her entire life. Kennedy has won multiple awards and scholarships through dance. In 2021, Kennedy’s choreography won highest scoring dance in the whole competition! Through all of her training and performing, Kennedy has found her passion for teaching dance. She loves being part of the F.D. Family!
Bethanie Loyd
Tumbling Instructor
Bethanie graduated from East Laurens in 2009. She is now teaching kindergarten at East Laurens Primary. She is a certified gymnastic instructor through Coach Wayne (Savannah, GA). She enjoys working with children and watching them learn and grow as individuals. She is looking forward to working on the basic fundamentals in order forthem to learn the most advance skills. She enjoys working with aspiring cheerleaders and is looking forward to working with your child this year at Fancy Dancer!
Tumbling Instructor
Bethanie graduated from East Laurens in 2009. She is now teaching kindergarten at East Laurens Primary. She is a certified gymnastic instructor through Coach Wayne (Savannah, GA). She enjoys working with children and watching them learn and grow as individuals. She is looking forward to working on the basic fundamentals in order forthem to learn the most advance skills. She enjoys working with aspiring cheerleaders and is looking forward to working with your child this year at Fancy Dancer!
Shannon Barr
Tumbling Instructor
Shannon grew up in Dublin and was a student and company member at Fancy Dancer for 10 years. She attended Georgia Southern University her freshman year before transferring to Liberty University in Virginia. She was a three-year NCAA Division I cheerleader at Liberty where she was a member of the 6th place UCA National team. Shannon was also chosen to be a representative to the NCAA Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), where she led efforts by student-athletes in community outreach projects. She graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology and returned to Dublin in 2015. She is currently the Head Coach for Varsity cheerleading at Trinity. She recently began her 6th year as a member of the FD staff currently teaching Tumbling classes. She loves supporting her students as they develop new skills!
Tumbling Instructor
Shannon grew up in Dublin and was a student and company member at Fancy Dancer for 10 years. She attended Georgia Southern University her freshman year before transferring to Liberty University in Virginia. She was a three-year NCAA Division I cheerleader at Liberty where she was a member of the 6th place UCA National team. Shannon was also chosen to be a representative to the NCAA Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), where she led efforts by student-athletes in community outreach projects. She graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology and returned to Dublin in 2015. She is currently the Head Coach for Varsity cheerleading at Trinity. She recently began her 6th year as a member of the FD staff currently teaching Tumbling classes. She loves supporting her students as they develop new skills!
Abbigail McNatt
Ballet & Jazz Instructor
Abbigail McNatt is started taking dance lessons at Southern Strutt when she was 3 years old and started competing at age 6. She has trained in ballet, jazz, tap, hip hop and many other styles of dance. She had the privilege of studying under Tawney Giles, Caroline Lewis, Susan Dabney, Chrissy Whitehead, Regina Willouhgby and many others. She had the honor of being awarded Miss StarPower and finishing 3rd nationally. Abbigail was honored to also be a company member of a studio that finished 2nd in the nation overall. Over the past 4 years, Abbigail has been doing what she is most passionate about, teaching dance to young students. Abbigail is excited to see what God has in store for her with the Fancy Dancer Family!
Ballet & Jazz Instructor
Abbigail McNatt is started taking dance lessons at Southern Strutt when she was 3 years old and started competing at age 6. She has trained in ballet, jazz, tap, hip hop and many other styles of dance. She had the privilege of studying under Tawney Giles, Caroline Lewis, Susan Dabney, Chrissy Whitehead, Regina Willouhgby and many others. She had the honor of being awarded Miss StarPower and finishing 3rd nationally. Abbigail was honored to also be a company member of a studio that finished 2nd in the nation overall. Over the past 4 years, Abbigail has been doing what she is most passionate about, teaching dance to young students. Abbigail is excited to see what God has in store for her with the Fancy Dancer Family!
Dee Dee Averett
Office Manager
Dee Dee is our Office Manager. Dee Dee started working part time at Fancy Dancer the summer of 2016. She loved it from the first moment. Someone said it this way: “It keeps her Grandma bucket full”. Those words were so true. At the time, her 4 children lived in different corners of the United States, so the interaction with these beautiful dancers filled her heart! That love has only grown since then! In January of 2020, she became full time at Fancy Dancer. Dee Dee loves spending time with her children and grandchildren -they all now live only a car ride away! Dee Dee said “When I started working at Fancy Dancer, I not only landed the best job ever, but I have also gained the most amazing family! I have the best boss, amazing coworkers that are so very talented and super fun! I get to interact with children that are not only talented, but smart and beautiful. I’m one lucky girl!"
Office Manager
Dee Dee is our Office Manager. Dee Dee started working part time at Fancy Dancer the summer of 2016. She loved it from the first moment. Someone said it this way: “It keeps her Grandma bucket full”. Those words were so true. At the time, her 4 children lived in different corners of the United States, so the interaction with these beautiful dancers filled her heart! That love has only grown since then! In January of 2020, she became full time at Fancy Dancer. Dee Dee loves spending time with her children and grandchildren -they all now live only a car ride away! Dee Dee said “When I started working at Fancy Dancer, I not only landed the best job ever, but I have also gained the most amazing family! I have the best boss, amazing coworkers that are so very talented and super fun! I get to interact with children that are not only talented, but smart and beautiful. I’m one lucky girl!"
Lindsey Ruple
Cheer Instructor
Lindsey graduated from East Laurens in 2016. She graduated from Middle Georgia State University with her BSN in December 2020 and currently works in the CCU at Fairview Park Hospital. She is a certified tumbling instructor by Coach Wayne (Savannah, GA) and loves working with kids and seeing them grow in their skills and gain more confidence! She looks forward to working with your child this year at Fancy Dancer!
Cheer Instructor
Lindsey graduated from East Laurens in 2016. She graduated from Middle Georgia State University with her BSN in December 2020 and currently works in the CCU at Fairview Park Hospital. She is a certified tumbling instructor by Coach Wayne (Savannah, GA) and loves working with kids and seeing them grow in their skills and gain more confidence! She looks forward to working with your child this year at Fancy Dancer!
Rachel Tessin
Ballet Instructor
Rachel took dance starting at the age of seven. She began competing with Peacock’s Performing Arts Center her freshman year of high school where she won many Judge’s Awards and scholarships. During her recreational training, Rachel studied Ballet, Jazz, Contemporary, Hip-Hop, Lyrical, Tap, and Modern. Upon graduating high school, she attended Valdosta State University (VSU) in pursuit of a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance. While attending VSU Rachel performed in the annual dance concert showcasing lyrical, modern, jazz, and hip-hop styled dances. In addition, she taught master classes and choreographed numerous dances for showcases throughout her college career. Rachel graduated in May of 2021 and is thrilled to have the chance to start working as a dance instructor full-time!
Ballet Instructor
Rachel took dance starting at the age of seven. She began competing with Peacock’s Performing Arts Center her freshman year of high school where she won many Judge’s Awards and scholarships. During her recreational training, Rachel studied Ballet, Jazz, Contemporary, Hip-Hop, Lyrical, Tap, and Modern. Upon graduating high school, she attended Valdosta State University (VSU) in pursuit of a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance. While attending VSU Rachel performed in the annual dance concert showcasing lyrical, modern, jazz, and hip-hop styled dances. In addition, she taught master classes and choreographed numerous dances for showcases throughout her college career. Rachel graduated in May of 2021 and is thrilled to have the chance to start working as a dance instructor full-time!
