Dance Instructors

Autumn Armstrong

Studio Director

Autumn began her dance education at the age of two.  She studied in the genres of tap, ballet, jazz, contemporary, and hip-hop, and started choreographing and teaching at the age of fourteen.  Autumn has competed in both dance and cheerleading, and pursued hip-hop and gymnastics into adulthood, privileged to have been a member of several national championship teams.  She completed her B.S. in Accounting from the University of Alabama in 2000.  Over 18 years ago, Autumn began her most important role in the dance world as a parent of a multiple title winning dancer, and this only expanded her affinity for all genres of dance.  Her experience as a dance student, instructor, choreographer, and parent has developed not only an understanding of the dancer’s mind, but also of the expectations of the dance consumer.  Autumn has choreographed numerous national champion solos and group routines over her 30 year career. It is her objective at Birmingham Academy of Dance to provide top-notch instruction, impeccable customer service, and an all around enjoyable and unforgettable dance experience that will be cherished by both student and family.

Brandon Norris

Dance Instructor

Brandon Norris was born and raised in Winfield, AL. He attended Hubbertville High School and went on to earn an Associate’s Degree in Drafting and Design Technology. Brandon started clogging at the age of 3 and hasn’t stopped since. Over the years he has earned numerous national titles such as 7-time CCA(Clogging Champions of America) Team National Titles, 6 CCA Duet National Titles and 7 CCA Solo National Titles. Brandon auditioned for Fox’s hit show “So You Think You Can Dance” Season 3 where he made it through to the top 100 dancers and was one of only 2 dancers invited back to perform on the finale of the show. He also led his team Dynamic Edition to a Top 5 finish on Season 3 of MTV’s America’s Best Dance Crew. Now at the age of 30 Brandon travels all over the nation doing choreography and conventions. Brandon co-owns Dynamic Dance with his sister Shannon where they share their love for teaching others the joy of dance.

Shaina Trumer

Dance Instructor

Shaina Trumer is a native of Birmingham, Alabama and has been dancing since the age of 5. Miss Trumer has been educated in the background of contemporary, hip hop, modern, jazz, ballet, and tap. Her deep love for the art of dance has led her to a higher education at Troy University where she graduated Summa Cum Lade with a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Dance. While at TROY she was casted in and choreographed numerous original works, traveled to and had work accepted into various dance festivals. Shaina has also traveled to Italy to attend and perform in Danza in Arte Pietrasanta, an international dance festival. Here Miss Trumer received intensive training from world renowned artist such as Maria Kochetkova, Sebastian Kloborg, and more. Before college and accomplishing these achievements, Shaina was a competitive dancer at Birmingham Academy of Dance where she won multiple awards. At the same time, she began working for the studio as a part time teacher whilst attaining her high school education. After high school, Shaina maintained her commitment to her students by taking on a part-time teaching role in tandem with accepting a position as a competitive choreographer at B.A.D throughout her collegiate career. Shaina is happy to return to Birmingham Academy of Dance where she plans to not only teach technical terminology, history, and a respect for the art form; but also to encourage the same love and passion she has found in dance to her students.

Spencer Shirley

Dance Instructor

Spencer began her dance education at age 2, and has been training in all genres including ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary, clogging, and hip hop for over 15 years.  Spencer has won many accolades and titles as a competitive dancer including Miss Platinum, Miss Thunderstruck, Miss Masquerade, Miss Inspire, Miss Elite Teen Dance, Dance Master’s of America Chapter 33 Miss Dance, and Miss V.I.P dance.  She was awarded the Steven Boyd Memorial scholarship award for her passion on stage, as well as numerous scholarships to world-renown programs such as the Rockettes. Spencer is currently a student at the University of Alabama and continues to share her love for all genres of dance with students in the classroom and on the competitive stage.

Mary Bailey Campbell

Dance Instructor

Mary Bailey Campbell is originally from Guangdong, China. She was adopted at 11 months old and has lived in Birmingham, Alabama ever since. She began her dance training at Alabama Dance Academy at age 3. She later became a student at Alabama Ballet, where she spent 12 years in the school under the direction of Roger VanFleteren and Tracey Alvey until her graduation. At Alabama Ballet, she trained in the Royal Academy of Dance syllabus, where she received the highest mark of “Distinction” multiple times on the annual exam. She has received scholarships and attended numerous summer intensives including Alabama Ballet, Nashville Ballet, Brenau University, and American Dance Festival. She has been trained in styles such as ballet, pointe, partnering, jazz, modern, character, contemporary, hip-hop, and afro-fusion. She began performing professional roles as a student with the Alabama Ballet company at age 14. Some of her favorite productions include George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker, George Balanchine’s Western Symphony, George Balanchine’s Serenade, Dennis Nahat’s Blue Suede Shoes, Pepita’s Don Quixoté, Derek Rocas’ In The Stars, and Roger VanFleteren’s Coppélia. She is currently an apprentice with the Alabama Ballet Company and continues to perform new works with them.

Sophie Barron

Dance Instructor

Sophie has over 15 years dance experience in a multitude of genres including ballet, jazz, hip hop, and contemporary.  She has danced competitively, and has had training as both a Birmingham Academy of Dance company dancer and instructor.  Sophie continues to pursue her dance education, and enjoys sharing her love of dance and talent with students of all ages and skill levels.  She is a great asset to our program as a dancer, teacher, and choreographer!

Micah Hardge

Dance Instructor

Micah was born in Columbus, GA. With a stifled passion for dance since his childhood years, Micah attended Alabama State University on a full academic scholarship where he was able to freely grow and develop his love for dance in professional and informal settings. Graduating summa cum laude from ASU in Spring of 2021, Micah now lives in Birmingham, AL. where he works full time as a public relations specialist. With an intense love for teaching choreography and visuals, Micah is excited to continue to pursue his love for dance and is greatly looking forward to helping  students build and exude confidence through the genre of hip-hop!

Annabel Forbert

Dance Instructor

Annabel Fobert is from New York City. She trained at Ballet Academy East, under the direction of Darla Hoover, and Miami City Ballet School, under the direction of Arantxa Ochoa. Annabel, as a student, has performed principal and soloist roles in works by George Balanchine, Alan Hineline, and Jenna Lavin. Annabel is currently in her 5th season as a professional dancer with Alabama Ballet. Throughout her professional career she has been given the opportunity to perform in many programs such as Serenade, The Nutcracker, Western Symphony, and most recently Coppelia. Annabel is excited to continue teaching ballet to the dancers at Birmingham Academy of Dance throughout the year!

Kaylyn Evans

Dance Instructor

Kaylyn Evans began dance at the age of 3, and continued her dance education in studio and competitively for over 15 years in all genres.  Kaylyn’s favorite genres are Contemporary and Jazz, and she has won multiple choreography awards, judges choice awards, and first overall placements with her competitive team choreography. Kaylyn continues to pursue her love of dance through teaching, and education through conventions and classes.

Abby Lewis

Dance Instructor
Abby Lewis has grown up in the Birmingham area and has been dancing since she was 3 years old. She has been trained and educated in ballet, contemporary, jazz, modern, acro, and pointe. She began her dance training at Briarwood Ballet where she performed in both the Intensive and Enrichment divisions. For the last two years of her time at Briarwood Ballet, she had the opportunity to be a part of the performing group, Immanuel. She trained under Kenn Tolle, Meredith Dorough, Brittany Bischoff, and Leesa Jacques.

Abby is currently a student at Samford University and a member of the Samford Dance Company. While in the company, she has had the privilege of performing pieces choreographed by Alisa McCool, Bryant Henderson Shea, Brittany Bischoff, and Anna Foshee.

Since early high school, Abby has loved getting to teach dance to rising dancers. While at Briarwood, she worked as an assistant and substitute teacher. Now she has the joy and privilege of conducting her own classrooms. Her passion is to uplift her students through a loving classroom environment that encourages growth in technique and artistry.

Lucy Glover

Dance Instructor
Lucy began dancing at the age of 2 and continued her dance education for over 15 years. After high school, she attended Troy University on a cheerleading scholarship where she minored in dance. While in college, she competed in several Miss Alabama preliminaries where she won the talent award multiple times with her tap dance, “Dr. Jazz.” (Tap is her favorite!). She began teaching dance in 2006, and has been privileged to work with several local studios throughout the years as an instructor. Lucy is a Springville native and lives there with her husband, Tim, and their five children. (Ages 16 to 7) Lucy has two daughters currently as BAD dancers and elite competitive students. She recently graduated from Samford University with her MSW. She is so excited to be back in the dance world as a part of this excellent studio and cannot wait to share her love of dance with all who enter her class!

Madison Ward

Dance Instructor
Madison Ward is a Birmingham native was a competitive dancer most of her life. Madison was a Hewitt- Trussville Highstepper for four years where she competed in conventions and band competitions. Madison recently graduated from Samford University where she was captain of the Samford University Dance Team for two years, choreographed Step Sing for her sorority, and led many other dancing groups on campus. Madison has years of choreography experience with Hewitt- Trussville High School, Springville High School, Alpha Delta Pi sorority, and Samford University dance.

Katie Genetti

Dance Instructor
Here is a little bit about me! I grew up in Birmingham and attended Vestavia Hills city schools. I danced at Jackie O’Neal from age 2 to 14. I moved to NS dance studio going into my sophomore year of high school and stayed with them until I graduated in 2017. It was such a great learning experience at both studios. At each studio I took all genres of dance such as ballet, jazz, hiphop, contemporary, acro, and tap; I also started to do competition dance at age 8 and competed for both studios. I was on my middle school’s dance team and was a Vestavia Hills Rebelette all throughout High school. Dancing for those 16 years was where I created some of the best memories, made the sweetest friendships, learned discipline and responsibility, and embraces my creative side. I went to Troy University for college and majored in Graphic Design with a minor in Photography. I was also a Phi Mu while at Troy and had several opportunities to compete in different Greek life dance competitions. After my freshman year the chapter gave me the opportunity to help lead the dances which gave me the responsibility of creating the dance, teaching it to the girls, finding music, and getting costumes for everyone. It was so much fun and really made me miss the studio. I have been wanting ot put my dancing shoes back on for the longest time so when this opportunity was at my doorstep I had to take it. So excited for this upcoming year!

Cody Maggiore

Cody grew up in Los Alamos, New Mexico where he began dancing at Dance Arts Los Alamos with Cristin Severini and Jonathan Guise. He completed his final two years of high schoolat The HARID Conservatory’s year round program, studying primarily with Meelis Pakri, graduating in 2017. Furthering his training at Butler University he earned a BA in Dance Pedagogy and a minor in Environmental Studies graduating with honors in 2021. While with Butler Ballet, Cody had the opportunity to perform principal roles in The Nutcracker, and Marek Cholewa’s Facets, and also performed in Gerald Arpino’s Light Rain, and Patrick deBana’s world premiere of Falling Sky. After graduating, Cody joined the Alabama Ballet as an apprentice and was promoted to main company for the 22/23 season. He is excited to teach and work with the students of Birmingham Academy of Dance!

Karina Barone

Dance Instructor

Received her BFA from the Institute of Professional Arts in Mar del Plata, Argentina. As a dance teacher she work with different schools in Argentina, Venezuela, Miami, West Palm Beach, and Iowa. As a dancer she works for “New Century Dance Co.” winner of Event Solutions Spotlight award as Best Entertainment Company in South Florida 2003-2007,from his foundation in 1999 until 2006 when she moved to Iowa. As a professional dancer she was fortunate to share stages with many international artist like Boy George, John Secada, Jackie Velazques, Celia Cruz,Juan Gabriel and many others , she was also selected to go to London to dance for Andrew Lloyd Webber. As a Choreographer she works for Iowa Shakespeare Experience since 2006 to 2011, working with dancers as well as non-dancers. Des Moines metro Opera production of Carmen in 2007, and Iowa Art Alliance Foundation bringing dance to elementary schools , helping to expose kids to the arts and sharing her love for dancing. As a dance teacher she works with many dance Studios like : “That’s dancing”, Florida 2004-2006 “School of Classical Ballet and dance” “creative Movement Dance Co.” “Westside dance”, Iowa, 2006-2010.

Rhaly Milling

Dance Instructor

Hi, my name is Rhaly Milling and I am currently a Senior at the University of Alabama where I study dance. I am originally from Madison, Mississippi where I first studied at a classical Ballet studio, Mississippi Metropolitan Ballet. There I was trained in Ballet, En pointe, Jazz, and Modern. I then moved to a competition studio where I competed in all styles and taught, Encore Dance Company. I am also going on my fourth year with Universal Dance Association Staff. I have such a passion for dance and especially teaching and look forward to working with these amazing dancers at B.A.D!

Riley Cooper

Dance Instructor

Riley Cooper began dancing at three years old and is from Hoover, Alabama. She got her training through Alabama Dance Academy. Ballet was her first love, but she has training in ballet, pointe, lyrical, contemporary, jazz and tap and character dance genres. She was apart of ADA from age 5 to 18, and apart of their performing company for 8 years, having a variety of roles. Her favorite roles were Magic Mirror and a dwarf in Snow White and a Snowflake and Mouse Queen in the Nutcracker. She was blessed to have the chance to choreograph and be a student teacher starting at age 15. Along with that, she had opportunities to learn from a variety of instructors through Manhattan Dance Project and UBC. After high school, she began pursing her degree in Chemistry, in the fall of 2021, and pursing her Masters in Environmental and Occupational Health. She began coaching gymnastics at 18, to expand her knowledge. However her heart has always remains in the art of dance, particularly ballet and lyrical/contemporary.

Olivia Cardwell

Dance Instructor

My name is Olivia Cardwell and I have danced for 15 years! I grew up in Gadsden, AL dancing in the areas including ballet, lyrical, tap, baton twirling, hip hop, and jazz. My favorite genres of dance have always been jazz and ballet. Through attending many dance and baton camps throughout the years, my love for dance continues to grow through the community and sisterhood it brings. I find my passion through teaching and equipping younger dancers.