About us....

Joy's School of Dance, Inc., was started in the Fall of 1989 by the current owner/director, Joy Garrett with the goal of giving rural children professional but afforadable dance instruction.  Mrs. Garrett was born and raised in Amelia where she began dance at the tender age of 3.  Upon graduation from Amelia Academy, Mrs. Garrett attended the Virginia Commonwealth University receiving a BFA in Dance and Choreography.  She has also choreographed many musicals for churches and high schools as well as teaching for Sparc, The School of the Performing Arts in the Richmond Community.   Mrs. Garrett is also a member of Dance Educators of America! Several students have gone on and continued their dance training on a college level.

Instructor, Mrs. Robin Shaffer has been with Joy's since its beginning, teaching the Beginning and Intermediate levels.  Mrs. Shaffer began her training at the Martinique School as well as training at the Richmond Ballet.  She has many certificates in dance from The Robert Christopher Dance Seminars and attends dance conventions thru the year.  Her patience and kindness with the young inspiring dance students is wonderful,making them willing and wanting more dance training as they get older.

Instructor, Mrs. Casey Flippen, is a graduate of Joy's School of Dance.  After graduating, she attended Sweet Briar college where she earned a BA in Dance and education.  Mrs. Flippen, who just recently got married, lives in Amelia with her husband Dustin.  She has been teaching at Kenston Forest for the last two years.    We are very pleased to have one of our own return and join and teaching staff.

Joetta Ingraham joined us in January 2009 as our Tumbling and Jazz combo teacher.  Ms. Ingraham is the 1978 Virginia State gymnastic champion.  She has National and International experience.  She began her training with the Martinique School of dance in Ballet, Pointe, Tap, Jazz and Modern dance where she took for several years.  Ms. Ingraham has taught at the Richmond Olympiad, the Virginia International Gymnastic and Dancersize for kids as well as tumbling for many local and statewide daycare centers.  We are very lucky to have Ms. Jo as a part of our teaching staff. 

Jessica Burgess joins us for the 2009 Summer session and our 2009/2010 Fall/Winter session.  Ms. Burgess is a graduate of JMU where she received her BA in Dance and in English.  She is currently the Marketing and PR assistant for the Richmond Ballet as well as performing with the Z Mullins Dance Company.   Ms. Burgess has performed in many venues and has choreographed many dance pieces for local dance studios, companies and is working on her solo project called j.e.s.s.b.u.r.g.e.s.s. Dance.  She will be coaching and choreographing for our Junior and Senior Jewel Dance team this year.