Nicole Onuszkanycz – Owner/Director/Instructor
nicole@adonaischoolofballet.com
Nicole began her ballet training under Loyd B. Tygett, Keren Gibb Hilliard, and David Herriott with Community Ballet (now Huntsville Ballet) in Huntsville. She also received instruction from well-known master teachers such as Shamil Yugudin (formerly of Bolshoi Ballet) and Mira Popovich (Birmingham Southern College). Nicole has danced leading roles with the Huntsville Ballet in their productions of “The Nutcracker”,” Romeo and Juliet”, “Les Sylphides”, “Les Patineurs”, and “La Bayadere”. She received a Wings Award for her performance as “The Sugar Plum Fairy” in “The Nutcracker.” Nicole’s students have been selected by audition to participate in many prestigious summer intensives and year round programs at American Ballet Theater, Dance Revolution, Ballet Magnificat, Joffrey Ballet, Boston Ballet and Alabama School of Fine Arts. Nicole has taught throughout the North Alabama and Atlanta area and has choreographed for several church productions. Nicole was blessed to be able to attend Ballet Magnificat’s Teacher Training Course in the summer of 2022 and 2023 where honed in on their syllabus and approach in teaching dancers ages preschool through advanced! Nicole’s vision for her students is to facilitate the best technical training possible, to reach their full potential as a dance artist and to see them use that art to bless their community and to glorify the Lord!
Meredith Black – Instructor
Meredith grew up dancing at Nancy Dance Studio in Jacksonville, Florida. She instantly had a love and passion for dance and being on the stage and worked diligently to pursue her dream of becoming a Radio City Music Hall Rockette. She competed and trained in cities all over the country including Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas and Orlando. She began teaching and sharing her love of dance with young children in high school. While attending Florida State University, Meredith suffered an injury that took her life in a different direction. Instead of focusing on dance, she pursued a degree in Advertising and Graphic Design as well as graduate work in Elementary Education. Meredith continued to teach at local studios in the evenings during the early years of her teaching career because she just couldn’t fully give up dancing. After moving to Los Angeles she began staying home to focus more on her family. She moved to the Huntsville area three years ago with her husband and two girls. When she is not homeschooling her girls during the week, she is spending time at the studio. She is so thankful to call Adonai home and is excited to share her love of dance and Jesus with all of her new students.
Rebekah Cranidiotis – Instructor
Rebekah started dancing at Adonai at the age of 6. She has received instruction in ballet, pointe, modern, tap, worship, and some jazz. She has had the opportunity to travel with Adonai’s company to Nashville First Baptist and Project Dance. Rebekah has also ministered through dance at multiple churches, schools, and nursing homes in the Huntsville area along with the Madison Street Festival. She has attended Ballet Magnificat Summer Dance Intensive both in 2024 and 2025. She has also attended multiple workshops including Renovate Ballet, Shewfelt with Vitality School of Dance, and Luba Gulyaeva. Rebekah has danced multiple leads in the Nutcracker including Lead Chinese, Lead Spanish, Demi-Flower soloist and the Mouse Queen. She has also performed Little Swans in Swan Lake and was the Snow Queen in Anne of Green Gables. Rebekah loves worshiping the Lord through dance and giving Him all the glory and helping others learn how to worship the Lord in all styles of dance. She loves watching people’s faith grow and strengthen through dance.
Nora Duehring – Instructor
Nora began dancing around the age of 3 and has trained in ballet, pointe, modern, and tap. She has trained at Adonai School of Ballet since its beginning and was invited to join their Company as a high school freshman. She has had many opportunities to perform with Adonai at Madison Street Festival, Project Dance, and many other local events. Nora has performed featured roles with Adonai such as Snow Queen and lead Russian in The Nutcracker, and a Little Swan in Swan Lake. She has also had the opportunity to attend summer and fall intensives with professional companies such as Ballet Magnificat! In Jackson, MS, and Renovate Ballet Company in Augusta, GA. Nora has enjoyed every opportunity to share the good news of Jesus through the gift of dance God has given her. She is so excited to share her love of showing Christ through the art of dance to her students!
Elizabeth Freeze – Instructor
Elizabeth “Liz” Freeze grew up as a missionary kid in Svay Rieng, Cambodia. She discovered her love for ballet during one of her family’s visits to the U.S at Peoria Ballet Academy in IL. While in Cambodia, she trained with various international teachers. She has attended summer programs at Charlotte Ballet and Sacramento Ballet. In 2022 Liz trained at Oklahoma City Ballet in the Post Graduate program. The following season she was a trainee in the Sacramento Ballet’s Second Company. Liz has had the privilege of training under Jill Krutzcamp, Rhodes and Elise Elliot, Racheal Nye, Natasha Fielding, Bruce Steivel, Ian Thatcher, Molly Daly, Amanda Miller and Jorge Laico. Liz has performed in various showcases and recitals as well as Nutcracker, Cinderella, and Coppelia. She also choreographed for the Sacramento Ballet Second Company’s Choreography Showcase. Liz moved to Huntsville in 2024 to be an Apprentice at the Huntsville Ballet Company. Liz looks forward to teaching about ballet as a beautiful art form to glorify God.
Mary Graves – Instructor, El Roi Company Director
Mary started her ballet career at the age of 2 in the Huntsville area, and was trained under Keren Gibb Hilliard, and David Herriott, at Alabama Youth Ballet Theater. She began attending Adonai School of Ballet and Fine Arts in 2016 and has been on the staff since 2021. Mary has danced as several main parts in classical ballets including as a Little Swan in Swan Lake, as Clara in the Nutcracker, as a pas de trois member in Paquita, as a soloist in Stars and Stripes and has portrayed the roll of Cinderella in the classical ballet. She has traveled with the Adonai company to Project Dance, Dance Revolution, and Living Christmas Tree as ministry opportunities to share the love of Jesus and to improve dance technique by taking classes with the members on staff. She has also participated in Ballet Magnificat’s summer intensive, and with the Assemblies of God Fine Arts Convention. Teaching has always been her passion and she has had the opportunity to teach underprivileged children of the Boys and Girls Clubs in the Huntsville area and assisted with the special needs classes at Adonai. Mary has a desire to teach children how to use their gifts to glorify God and pursue excellence in the art form. She believes that dance should be used as a way to worship our Heavenly Father and strives to impart those same beliefs to younger generations.
David Herriott – Instructor
David received his early dance training with Loyd Tygett at the Huntsville Civic Ballet. He danced professionally as a principal soloist with Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet and North Carolina Dance Theatre, touring internationally, and working with noted choreographers including Agnes de Mille, John Neumier, Norbert Vesak, and Elliot Feld. Mr. Herriott has held the positions of Artistic/Executive Director of Huntsville Ballet Company, and Columbus Ballet, and Artistic Director of AYBT since its inception in 2006. He has choreographed for Fantasy Playhouse, ArsNova, Huntsville Community Chorus, and Around the Curtain Children’s Theatre – and won the contemporary division of the 1992 Panoply Choreography Competition. He has been an instructor at Santa Monica College and at The University of the South. Mr. Herriott’s former students have been invited to study and perform with Alvin Ailey, ABT, Joffrey, Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Atlanta Ballet, Alabama Ballet, and Harrid Conservatory to name a few.
Kat Holley – Instructor
Kat began her dance training at the age of three at Noth Alabama Dance Center, under the main teaching of Barbara Ellen Smartt, and Melony League, training in the disciplines of Tap, Ballet, Modern, Jazz, and Musical Theatre. She competitively danced for eighteen years earning multiple awards. Kat also attended many intensives where she learned from awesome instructors like, Twitch, Ben and Miller, and Luba Gulyaeva. She has had the opportunity to perform at panoply festivals, NADC’s story of ‘Noah’s Arc’ and AYB’s rendition of The Nutcracker as the ‘Mouse Queen’. Kat has been teaching since 2012, with lots of crazy energy. She has won many high awards for choreography at Rising Star, Primetime, and Next Star competitions, and taught an intensive alongside the traveling tour of Riverdance. Kat absolutely loves sharing her love for Christ through fun movement and music to all ages.
Whitney Huynh – Instructor
Whitney Huynh began her dance training at age 10 in Madison, AL. She has studied ballet with Carrie Rothwell (Academy of Classic Arts), Huntsville Ballet, and Nicole Onuszkanycz. She has also attended and performed at Project Dance and Dance Revolution workshops. She taught at Melodies Dance School and Steps of Faith Performing Art Center before joining Adonai in 2014. Whitney holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Management from the University of Alabama in Huntsville and worked in missile defense prior to having her 3 children (Eleanor, Henry, and Vivienne). She and her husband, Huy, are swing dancers and have taught together locally, regionally and internationally (Rome, Italy). Regardless of the dance style, Whitney promotes a blend of technique and artistry. She loves teaching students of all ages by encouraging them to develop their abilities to the fullest and to use their talents to bless others and glorify God.
Emma Jahnke – El-Shama Company Director, Instructor
Emma was born and raised in Huntsville, Alabama where she began dancing at the age of three. In 2020 she joined the company at Adonai School of Ballet where she choreographed and performed as a soloist and corps in ballets such as Cinderella, Swan Lake, Paquita, Stars and Stripes, and The Nutcracker. She began teaching in 2021. After graduating she moved to Jackson, Mississippi in 2023 to be a trainee with Ballet Magnificat! After graduating the trainee program in 2025, she transitioned into the position of Costume Mistress at Ballet Magnificat! In January of 2026 Emma moved back to Huntsville and rejoined the staff here at Adonai. She loves pouring into the community here at Adonai inside and outside of the studio. She is excited and expectant for what the Lord is going to do here at Adonai! One of her favorite passages is Habakkuk 3:17-19 “Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. God, the Lord, is my strength; and He makes my feet like the deer, He makes me tread on my high places.”
Erin Johnson – Instructor
erin@adonaischoolofballet.com
Erin began her dance training at age four at the Tolbert-Yilmaz School of Dance in Roswell, Georgia. Erin had an opportunity to dance in a church musical production at age 8, and has had a passion for worshiping the Lord through dance ever since. She continued her training with the Atlanta School of Ballet and Capital City Ballet, and had opportunities to perform with Atlanta Ballet and Chattanooga Ballet. She studied ballet and modern dance at Butler University’s Jordan College of Fine Arts, and pursued degrees in dance and elementary education. Erin received a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the University of Georgia. She and husband Steve have three children: Matthew, Ryan, and Katie. She has taught both public and private school, ballet, tap, and worship dance, and enjoys using dance and sign language to participate with the praise team at The Grove Baptist Church.
Savannah King- Instructor
Savannah took her first ballet class at the age of three and quickly fell in love with the art form. She has trained in traditional and worship ballet styles, pointe, and modern. In 2016 she joined Adonai’s dance studio as a student. Since then, she has performed a variety of roles in Adonai’s shows, including all their performances of The Nutcracker, and most recently brought the role of Mrs. Blewett to life in their adaptation of Anne of Greene Gables. She is passionate about using dance as way to share the gospel and bring honor to her personal Savior, Jesus. She looks forward to sharing that passion with the next generation of dancers at Adonai!
Hayley Keir – Instructor
Hayley Keir started her ballet training at the age of 3 at San Ramon Valley Dance Academy & Lamorinda Dance Center in California. At the age of 13, Hayley had the opportunity to continue her training at North Carolina School of the Arts under Melissa Hayden (from New York City Ballet) and Fanchon Cordell (American Ballet Theatre). When Hayley was 16, she was asked to further her pre-professional ballet training at the Nutmeg Conservatory in Connecticut under the direction of Sharon Dante. In 2005, Hayley began her professional ballet career with the Atlanta Festival Ballet in Georgia. With the Atlanta Festival Ballet, Hayley danced soloist roles such as Snow Queen and Dew Drop in the Nutcracker and Tiger Lily in Peter Pan. In 2011, Hayley join Georgia Dance Theater under the direction of Sherri Davis. There she danced leading roles such as the Sugar Plum Fairy in the Nutcracker, Giselle in Giselle, Odile (Black Swan) in Swan Lake, and Jane Eyre in Jane Eyre. In 2016, Hayley retired from the stage and was promoted to Ballet Mistress with Georgia Dance Theater. As Ballet Mistress, Hayley trained students and professional dancers. She helped choreograph and set full length ballets like The Nutcracker, Romeo & Juliet, and La Bayadere. In 2018, Hayley & her husband moved to Florida. There she taught early childhood ballet classes at the Brevard Ballet Academy before welcoming their 2 girls, Sarah & Lydia. In August of 2023, Hayley and her family relocated to the Huntsville area. Hayley is very excited to get back into the studio and work with all the wonderful students at Adonai School of Ballet.
Maggie Lamey – Instructor
Maggie began her dance training with Linda Soule at Covenant Dancers in 2015 when she was eight years old. She attended Covenant Dancers through the company’s merge with Hawthorne Conservatory, going on to dance in many workshops and classes including lyrical and contemporary training, taught by Annie Sentell. She also had the privilege of training under Ballet Magnificat at their intensive course hosted at Adonai in 2023. Maggie has a love for creating original choreographies; while still in high school, her works appeared in Hawthorne’s recitals, consisting of three ballet dances, a contemporary ballet solo, and contemporary ballet duet. Becoming a teacher’s assistant only increased her love of teaching dance, and she began pursuing that career in 2024 under Linda Soule’s guidance. Since then, Maggie has joined Adonai as a staff member, with the goal of bringing the same joy and approachability of learning dance to her students that she grew up with. Maggie continues to instruct with Adonai, and with Hawthorne as well, in the form of specialized workshops for both pointe students and adult ballet beginners.
Fran Meaux – Instructor
Born in Louisville, Ky, and one of 6 children, and because of circumstances, Francita was raised in a convent. Not realizing that God had a calling on her life, she would dance in her own privacy, read the Word of God and become enthralled as she helped clean the place of worship. Her passion continued to control her mind even though it was unknown to others. She was never given professional lessons but was inspired and taught by her Creator. Not until years later did God give her the opportunity to release her gift. Married at this time with two children and raising two of her brothers, practicing in her own privacy, her Pastor the late Dr A. J. Elmore, gave her the opportunity to share her gift. Like no other dance, she was dancing for the Lord. Unknown at this time “Liturgical Dance” became a part of the worship experience. A complete thespian ministry was form, consisting of many of the children and adults. The move to Alabama, many years later, opened the door even wider when “Miss Fran” as she is called, formed her company “Les Maseran”. She and her dancers danced for many churches in the North Alabama area. She was blessed by becoming a manager of the “Dance Factory”, owned by Susan Fisher where she was trained in the art of tap and ballet. She continued to use her gift in teaching tap, ballet and Liturgical dance. “Miss Fran” has a strong passion in the teaching of special needs in which she form “JUST FOR ME”. After seeing Miss Fran and her special group dance, the Mayor of Athens opened the Senior Center for her and her troupe for their recital. Attending the event, he praised Miss Fran in her efforts. In addition to Fran’s past accomplishments, she taught dance at Piney Chapel School until its closing. She is presently teaching at Elkmont Elementary School and has recently added Tanner School to her portfolio. Multi tasking seems to enhance her ability and skills to build confidence in her students. Her relentless passion for her gift is forever powering her and at age 77 still holds her strong in her gratefulness to God for His gift to her. Soon to be 78, there are no signs of aging and no time of retiring.
Rebecca Sims – Instructor
Rebecca began her dance training at Kelly’s Studio of Dance when she was 6 years old. After dancing there for 5 years, she began dancing at Adonai in 2018. She is trained in Ballet, Pointe, and Modern, and is passionate about worshiping through dance. In 2025, Rebecca had the wonderful opportunity to attend Ballet Magnificat!’s teacher workshop, where she spent time fellowshipping with other dance teachers and absorbing as much knowledge as she could. She has earned an Associate’s degree in general education from Calhoun Community College and is pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in K-6 special education at Athens State University. She hopes to continue teaching dance through and after college. Rebecca has had the opportunity to dance in several amazing performances and enjoyed being different characters in each. Some of her favorites are “Maugrim” in The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, the “Enchantress” in Beauty and the Beast, and a “Herald” in the Nutcracker. Rebecca began assisting with classes when she was about 14 years old and fell in love with it. She continued to assist until she became a teacher in 2023. Rebecca strives to inspire her students, as her teachers did, and still do, for her. She looks forward to teaching ballet for many years to come!
Eva Thompson – Instructor
Eva began her dance training at the age of four at North Alabama Dance Center (NADC) in Madison, AL. During the thirteen years that she trained there, she received her primary instruction from Barbara Ellen Smartt, Melony League, and Jennifer Bernhard in the disciplines of ballet, pointe, tap, modern, and jazz. She also had the opportunity to perform multiple roles in Pointe Station’s original ballet Noah and was a junior company member for the 2003-2004 season. Eva also attended Pointe Station’s summer intensive for many years. In 2006 and 2007, Eva had the opportunity to attend Ballet Magnificat’s Summer Dance Intensive, where she received training from Kathy Thibodeaux, Jiri Voborsky, and other company members. After high school, she continued her dance training with The University of Alabama Department of Theatre and Dance in Tuscaloosa, AL, where she received pre-professional training from Sarah Barry, Cornelius Carter, Qianping Guo, and Rita Snyder. Eva graduated magna cum laude from the University of Alabama with a BFA in Dance and a BS in Physics in 2012. Eva has been teaching at Adonai since 2015. She loves sharing her passion for dance with others, and she encourages each of her students to train with excellence and for the glory of the Lord. Eva is an ABT® Certified Teacher, who has successfully completed the ABT® Teacher Training Intensive in Pre-Primary through Level 5 of the ABT® National Training Curriculum.
Madeline Watson – Instructor
Maddie started learning ballet when she was three years old and was trained by Keren Gibb Hilliard, and David Herriott, at Alabama Youth Ballet Theater. She has trained under Nicole Onuszkanycz at Adonai School of Ballet and Fine Arts since 2016. She has been a part of ballets such as The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Stars and Stripes, and Paquita. Maddie has attended several different events such as Project Dance, Dance Revolution, Living Christmas Tree, and Ballet Magnificat’s summer dance intensive. She has had the privilege of helping teach a workshop for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Huntsville called Dream Kids Camp, and has enjoyed assisting in a Special Needs Ballet Class since 2019. Maddie has participated in the Assemblies of God Fine Arts Competition and has won first place in the category of Worship Dance Solo at the State level in 2021 and 2022. She has been teaching at Impulse Dance Center for one year and was previously a substitute teacher there. She has taught a Beginner Acro/Creative movement class and a Ballet 1 Advanced class. Maddie loves teaching and sharing what she knows. She likes to make learning a fun experience and enjoys watching her students grow. She has a heart for worship and using dance as a way to glorify the Lord and make His name known.
Julia Wood – Instructor
Julia started her ballet career at the age of 10 at Melody’s Dance Studio and later joined Steps of Faith, learning under Nicole Onuszkanycz, continued to study dance under her at Adonai School of Ballet and Fine Arts, and is excited to be joining as staff this year. Julia has taught previously at Rhythms of Grace Dance Academy in New Market, AL, teaching the intermediate and advanced Ballet and pointe classes. Julia has danced several leading roles in classical ballets including as a Big Swan in Swan Lake, as the Mother of Moses in Moses, and as Eve in the Creation Story. She has traveled with the Adonai Ballet Company to Project Dance, Dance Revolution, and Living Christmas Tree as opportunities to show love of Jesus through dance and to learn different ways to worship God through dance. She has had the opportunity to teach Ballet to foster children in Paraguay while on mission. Julia believes that dance as worship to Jesus is an act of obedience in doing all things to honor Him, and can be a way to demonstrate God’s grace to others. She has a desire to teach children to bring glory to God through dance and how to incorporate worship in their dancing, so they can grow closer to God and be a blessing to others.