About Us

Barbie’s Encore Dance Productions is the perfect place for your future star to shine! From the first tutu to the senior performance, your child is always in the spotlight!

2011-2012 will mark Barbie’s Encore Dance Productions 13th year of operation. We pride ourselves on creating confident and skilled dancers. We are in high demand for community performances. Our dancers not only learn about dance technique, but about the art of dance as well.

We offer a comprehensive beginner program for all ages, as well as competition teams.

We have a traditional dance recital in May annually. We also perform a holiday show in December. We are featured dancers at Belmont Fallfest and Mt. Holly Springfest every year. One of our favorite events is dancing in the Mt. Holly Christmas parade! The Ovation Competition teams attend 2-5 regional and 1-2 national competitions each year.

Our dancers always command a crowd! We are known through the area for interesting and new choreography. Our Ovation Performance Troupes enjoy a very successful season competing in recreational and intermediate level competitions. We are the home of the 2011 America's Petite Miss Dance. We had 6 groups win Overall Grand Champion Awards at Dance Machine Nationals this year alone. Barbie's Encore Dance Productions was named "2009-2010 National Studio of the Year" at Dance Machine National Competition. Our students go on to perform and enjoy dance well into their adult lives!

We offer a fun-filled relaxed environment for young dancers. They enjoy learning the art of dance to songs they know and love, like The Wiggles, Sesame Street and Barney

“Mrs. Barbie” has studied dance for over 25 years and has 14 years of teaching experience. She has performed in "The Nutcracker", and also as the lead in "Sleeping Beauty". She is a graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, where she was a member of their national award winning dance team The High Kickin’ Heels. She has also coached and choreographed for numerous dance teams and cheerleading squads, including Campbell University and South Point High School. Mrs. Barbie was named Gaston County's Young Woman of the Year 1993 and was 1^st finalist for the state title where she won the talent award. She has also choreographed and performed for Atlantic Records recording artist, Retina. She was named America's Miss Dance Teacher 2005-2006.

We are pleased to have Mr. Scott join us for his fifth season with our studio. His collaborative choreography with Mrs. Barbie won them the best choreography award at White Lightning Regional Dance Competition for the 3rd year in a row. His breakdance class is always a popular one!!!

Billie Jean Crews - Dance Instructor

Miss Billie Jean has been on our staff for 6 years as the tap instructor for the adult class. This past year, her Mini Hip Hop team was the Overall National Grand Champion for the second year in a row! She has over 20 years dance experience and has performed leads in "Sleeping Beauty" and "The Nutcracker".

Lauren Workman - Dance Instructor

We are very pleased to have Miss Lauren working with our advanced clogging dancers again this year! Miss Lauren was the recipient of the "Best Choreography" Award at Dance

Machine Regional Dance Competition for 2011. This year, she will also be teaching in our new Pom Dance Division. Lauren is a former Miss Mt. Holly and brings extensive experience and expertise to her position. She is also available for private pageant coaching and advisement.

Cherie Hudson - Dance Instructor

Mrs. Cherie studied dance at Connie Dorn (now known as "Rhythm") Dance studio for 7 years and at The Next Step Dance Studio for 6 years. She was a "Next Step Dancer" (the competition team) for 6 years, as well as being a student teacher there for 3 years and a teacher for 1 year. Mrs. Cherie was a Garinger Lettergirl in high school, and has studied in the adult class at BEDP for the last 4 years.

Mrs. Gina has been dancing for 36 years! She began her dance training at age 6 at McConnell's School of Dance in Mt. Holly and continued there for 14 years, also teaching classes in tap, ballet and jazz. After graduating from East Gaston High School, she attended Appalachian State University where she earned a B.S. degree in Elementary Education and a double certification in grades K-6. While at ASU, she trained in ballet, jazz and modern dance and performed 2 years with the ASU Dance Ensemble. After college, Gina took modern dance classes at Elements in Dance in Dallas, NC and taught classes in tap, ballet, jazz and modern dance. She was a member of Kingdom Dance Ministry, which traveled North and South Carolina performing at worship services, weddings, women's conferences and church events. During this time, she also developed a dance ministry at Grace Baptist Church in Mt. Holly. Her most recent endeavor was performing at the Gaston Boys and Girls Club "Dancing for the Future Stars" event in March 2011, where she danced a waltz and swing dance as the "professional" partner with her husband, Mayor Bryan Hough under the direction of her former student and longtime friend, Mrs. Barbie:) We are thrilled to have Mrs. Gina join BEDP this year instructing our Kickerz and Twirlerz I classes!

“Miss Jessie” has studied dance for over 20 years. She is a 2005 East Gaston graduate where she was a 4 year member of the East Gaston Dance Team. She regularly choreographs for local hip-hop artists, and has danced back-up for several. She is currently a senior at East Carolina University. She specializes in Hip-Hop and Modern Dance Instruction.

Mrs. Renee is in her 30th year of coaching gymnastics. She and her husband are the owners of Twist and Tuck in Lincolnton, NC. She is USAG safety certified and is also KAT certified - Kinder Accreditation for Teachers. She has served as the chair of N.C. USAG Trampoline and Tumbling Board of Directors and was also the recipient of the Small Business Person of the Year Award from the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce. We are thrilled to have Mrs. Renee join us for her first year at BEDP!!!

"Miss Marie" has studied dance for 16 years. She is the 2005 valedictorian of East Gaston High School and a recent graduate of Wake Forest University. She is attending Elon College Law School on a full academic scholarship. She specializes in preschool dance instruction.

These devoted young ladies are in attendance in every class. They assist in dance instruction, and are “big sisters” to the younger dancers.