Meet The Team
Artistic Director and CEO
Christina Hicks
Christina is an Alabama native and graduated from Troy University BS in Communication Studies and Dance. She was a founding member of the Troy Dance Repertory Ensemble (TDRE). While with TDRE, she traveled to China on a dance concert tour in 2010. In 2011, she was awarded the Chicago Arts fellowship and worked with Hubbard Street Dance Chicago on their development team. She danced with The Lost Colony in Manteo, NC and is a Guest Artist with DraMAStic Dance Works in Onancock, VA. She has worked and performed with Patti Rutland Jazz since 2013 and proudly took on the role of Director in 2018.
Director of Curriculum, Company Member
Kerry O'Brien Herring
Kerry received a B.F.A. in dance from Marymount Manhattan College. As the result of a choreography and performance focused dance degree, Kerry's own choreographic works have been presented in collaboration with Troy University, Pikes Peak community College, The Confucius Institute, the Southeast Alabama Dance, and Shachah Touring Company. Kerry's more recent endeavors include teaching dance and choreographing works for Northridge Dance Conservatory, the Roy J. Wasson High School Performing Arts Academy, as well as dancing professionally with the Ormao Dance Company. Currently, Kerry serves as faculty with Lucretia's School of Dance and the Alabama Dance Works Studio .
Company Member, Teaching Artist, Rehearsal Director
Ryan Miller
Ryan started dancing at the age of seven. At nineteen, he moved to Chicago where he performed with Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago, and Thodos Dance Chicago. He performed works created by Lucas Crandall of Hubbard Street Chicago, John Lehrer, Shapiro and Smith, and Lar Lubavitz. He was selected to perform alongside members of Joffrey Ballet, Hubbard Street, River North in the closing number of Chicago’s Dance for Life Benefit. Ryan then moved to Austin, TX where he became a directed the Capital City Dance Company and started a pre-professional program for young dancers. His choreography has been performed in the Alvin Ailey CitiGroup Theater, Ruth Page Theatre Chicago, and Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago. He is now home in Dothan, AL teaching and performing at Alabama Dance Works.
Company Member, Teaching Artist
Madison McGriff
Madison began working with PRJ in 2017 by apprenticing with the professional company. Before joining the company, Madison danced as a student and competed with the PRJ Performance Team at the dance center. After two years of apprenticing with the company, she became a company dancer in 2019. She has been working for PRJ Company Dancer for three years now and also teaches for the PRJ Dance Center and the BEYONDance outreach program. She recently choreographed a piece for our advanced performance team and won the Excellence in Choreography Award at the Dance Educators of America competition in Altanta, GA.
Company Member, Teaching Artist
Lauren Hart
Originally from Owensboro, Kentucky Lauren is in her 7the season as a company member and instructor. She received her professional training at Western Kentucky University where she was a dance major with a stage electrics minor. Lauren has worked as a counselor for Jazz on Tap on tour, and has performed throughout the country as well as Costa Rica. She worked for a variety of touring broadway shows including Beauty and the Beast and Drowsy Chaperone. She is extremely excited to be returning to BEYONDance outreach and the ADW studio!
Company Member
Elisha Burroughs
Elisha is in his 5th season with PRJ, and 4th season as a principal dancers. He began dancing right after high school in 2012 and began teaching hip-hop in fall of 2013. Although he started off completely self-taught, later on he received hip hop training in Chicago from Robert Hoffman and Ava Berstine. His training continued to diversify upon joining the company, adding jazz, ballet, contemporary, and modern styles. Elisha looks to continue training and meeting new people along this journey.
Company Member
Michaela Pearse
Michaela Pearse is a recent graduate of Troy University where she received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance. In her time at Troy, she had the opportunity to choregraph and produce original work, as well as perform featured roles in many Troy Theatre and Dance productions. Michaela was one of ten dancers at the University to be chosen to study dance abroad in Pietrasanta, Italy this past summer. While studying abroad, she took class from professionals like Maria Kochetkova and was selected to perform original work by Alice Klock and Florian Lochner of Flockworks. Michaela has taught at various studios since age 16, starting at her home studio in Prattville, Alabama. She now dances with Alabama Dance Works’ professional company in Dothan, Alabama, along with teaching dance in Dothan City Schools with ADW’s BEYONDance outreach program.
Company Member
Meghan Lyman
Originally from Huntsville Alabama Meghan Lyman has been studying dance for over 20 years and has recently graduated from Troy university with her Bachelors of Fine Arts. While at Troy she received many choreographic and performance opportunities and was chosen as one of the ten dancers to study abroad at the DAP Festival in Pietrasanta Italy. Her choreography has been selected for various festivals including Drapinsky Company’s Catharsis Series, Alabama Dance Festival, and the DAP Festival. While at Troy she also performed in a variety of Theatre productions including Medea, Specs in Newsies, Mamma Mia, and was apart of the Troy University touring ensemble The Pied Pipers. Meghan is extremely excited to be starting her first year post graduation as a company member with Alabama Dance Works in Dothan Alabama along with teaching dance in Dothan City Schools with ADW’s BEYONDance outreach program.
Company Member Intern
Arianna Pruitt
BIO COMING SOON!
Director of Operations
Falin Williams
Falin has been with ADW now for seven years. Her many roles include managing the ADW Studio in Dothan, working for the ADW professional company with photography and videography, and also providing the marketing and graphic design for ADW as a whole. Outside of work, Falin enjoys participating in community theatre with SEACT and also loves performing with the ADW company every now and then!
Company Member, Teaching Artist, Company Liaison
Ryan Wagstaff
Ryan is in his 7th year as a company member and is a choreographer, dancer, actor, and artistic director. He is proud alumnus of Troy University and a native of Montgomery, AL. Along with teaching workshops and training camps, his career highlights include: performances with Christina Fulton; SYTYCD; and performances under the artistic direction of Rob Hoffman and Travis Payne. Ryan is excited to share his work with you all and is grateful to God for his many blessings!
Company Member, Teaching Artist,
Performance Team Coordinator
Elizabeth McGriff
Elizabeth is a 6th year company member and an instructor at ADW. She began competing at fourteen and was dedicated to training which resulted in many regional and national awards including the 2015 senior elite duo/trio national title with her sister Alexandra through the Platinum National Dance Competition. She is a Certified Acrobatic Arts Module One teacher and is also certified in Alixa Flexibility.
Company Member, Development Coordinator
Kiser Olds
Originally from Fairhope, Alabama, Kiser Olds obtained her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from Troy University. Training in dance and musical theatre most of her life, Kiser finds that her true home is onstage. She has appeared, as dancer and soloist, in several Troy University Theatre and Dance Productions and, in spring of 2021, was selected to choreograph a concert piece for Art In Motion: All the World’s a Stage. Kiser’s choreography has been nominated and or showcased with organizations such as Drapinsky Company’s Catharsis Series, Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival, and Alabama Shakespeare Festival. As a first year company member with Alabama Dance Works, Olds is thankful for the opportunities she has been given and looks forward to her future with the company.
Company Member, Teaching Artist, Outreach Director
Jameka Oates
Jameka is in her 9th year with us and is from Abbeville, AL. She apprenticed with PRJ in 2014 and performed in SOAR. She worked for the Southeast Alabama Medical Center's Child Development Center for five years. She is also the Director of Dance at Northview Christian Church, and she has been a part of this ministry for fifteen years now. She has choreographed for Be U: Beautifully Unique non-profit, local cheerleading teams and organizations, and 2022 Debutante Ball. She was also an assistant coach for the Onyx Stars Dance Center. She has a love for musical theatre and is involved with Southeast Alabama Community Theatre as a choreographer and has participated is many shows. Jameka enjoys teaching for the ADW Studio and the BEYONDance outreach program and looks forward to her new position has the Outreach Director.
Company Member, Teaching Artist
Emma Grace Benton
BIO COMING SOON
Teaching Artist
Megan Brezina
BIO COMING SOON!
Company Member Intern
Crystal Dubose
BIO COMING SOON!




Our Apprentices

Melody Chen

Vanessa Fuqua

McKayla Haynes

Jordyn McGriff

Paige McKinnie
ADW Trainees

Sean McGriff

Kayla McKinnie

Mia Williams





























