OUR STAFF
Steeple Arts continues to offer the most professional, qualified teachers in Alabama. Most of our Steeple Arts teachers took class and trained at Steeple Arts. Our students experience quality instruction in a safe, supportive, fun environment which not only prepares them for more technical aspects of the art, but also instills discipline for success in life. Along with their dance training, young girls are taught grace, poise and social amenities. Most importantly, they are taught to “hold their pretty heads high, have self confidence and be proud of themselves.”
DEANNY COATES HARDY
Deanny Coates Hardy began her formal dance education under her mother, Lola Mae Coates, at age 2. Growing up at Steeple Arts has given Miss Deanny an insight and exposure to the art of dance and choreography that few can match.
Miss Deanny has studied and taught all styles of dance and movement, not only under her Mother, Lola Mae Coates, but in New York as well; studying with such dance legends as Al Gilbert, Jaques D’ambois, Madame Alexandra Danilova and the Radio City Music Hall Rockettes. She also continues her dance education by attending dance conventions annually, studying under master teachers such as Joe Tremaine, Frank Hatchett, Luigi, Darrell Retter, and Janice Barringer to mention a few.
During high school, Deanny was an assistant teacher at Steeple Arts. She was also a member of the Mountain Brook High School “Dorians” dance team until graduation in 1986, receiving the “110% Award” for most outstanding Senior Dorian. In college she performed on the Ole Miss “Rebelette” dance team, with the University of Mississippi“Pride of the South” Marching Band. Deanny also choreographed numerous campus events for her sorority, Pi Beta Phi. After graduating from the University of Mississippi in 1990, she joined the teaching staff of her mother’s school.
Her credits include not just teaching dance, but also choreography for several pageant contestants, musical theatre productions and dance team competitions. In 1995, Deanny was named as the Assistant Director of Steeple Arts, and upon her motherʼs retirement in 2002 became the Director of Steeple Arts Academy of Dance, where she carries on the 3rd generation of excellence. Now, in addition to teaching, she devotes her full time to the position of Director of Steeple Arts Academy of Dance, and the training of its students, in whom she tries to instill, not only the love of dance, but a development of grace, self confidence, and poise, inherent to the art of dance. Miss Deanny is the Producer, Director and Lead Choreographer for Steeple Arts’ bi-annual concerts.
Annette Troxell Collins
Annette Collins began her dance training at Steeple Arts at the age of seven and continued until her graduation from Mountain Brook High School. She graduated from Rhodes College in 1977. While at Rhodes, Annette performed with and choreographed for the Liturgical Dance Company. She received her masters degree in Special Education from UAB in 1982. Currently, Annette is on faculty at N.E. Miles Jewish Day School, where she teaches science and coordinates the Student Support program. In 1977, Annette began teaching at Steeple Arts and has continued her training at Alabama Ballet, Children’s Dance Foundation and the Pointe Dance Center, as well as participating in numerous dance conventions and conferences throughout the United States. She has studied under a number of master teachers which have included Tara Fasshuer, Roger van Fleteren, Janice Barringer, Jacques Dʼamboise, Frank Hatchett and Mark Morris. Annette learned about stagecraft and choreography from Lola Mae Coates. She is highly involved with the design and choreography for the Steeple Arts Concerts. Miss Annette is the instructor for the Adult Ballet Classes and Adult Jazz Classes. She has “retired” from teaching younger students, but consults and guest teaches for the Senior Advanced Ballet, Pointe and Advanced Jazz classes at Steeple Arts.
BEE GROVER LEWIS
Bee Lewis began Ballet at age 2. She started her training under Frances Sheetz before joining Steeple Arts Academy in 1979. Bee enjoys all types of dance, but as a student, her favorite class was Pointe. Upon graduation from John Carroll High School, Bee attended Samford University earning her Bachelors degree in Marketing. While at Samford, she helped choreograph her sororitiesʼ annual Step Sing show, winning the “Sweepstakes Trophy” for two of those years. Shortly after graduation, she began teaching a variety of classes; gymnastics, coordination and rhythm, aerobics and swimming. She has also been an adjunct teacher at Samford University for Social Dance. In 1987 Miss Bee began teaching at Steeple Arts, where she has taught all age groups. Miss Bee currently teaches the Pre-Ballet, Petite Ballet and the Combination Classes for younger students.
Mary Haley Byrne Griffin
Mary Haley Byrne began dancing at Steeple Arts at the age of 3 and continued dancing there for 15 years. She enjoyed many types of dance, however Ballet and Pointe were always her favorite. During high school Mary Haley was an assistant teacher at Steeple Arts for classes of all ages. After graduating from Mountain Brook High School, she attended Auburn University where she majored in Early Childhood Education. While at Auburn she participated in her sorority’s annual Greek Sing dance every year. In May 2012 Mary Haley graduated from Auburn and returned to Birmingham to teach second grade at Prince of Peace Catholic School. Mary Haley was also eager to return to Steeple Arts. She teaches younger students in Ballet/Jazz classes as well as teaching the Advanced Ballet and Pointe classes. She is currently on leave raising her first child, but is still a valuable member of our faculty as a substitute teacher and comes to help out with recitals and other special events.
Mary Ellen McElroy Wall
Mary Ellen Wall started her dancing career at Steeple Arts in 2000. She studied Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Hip-Hop, and High Stepper Jazz. The skills she learned at Steeple Arts prepared her for the dance team world! Mary Ellen was a Spartanette at Mountain Brook Junior High and went on to be a Dorian at Mountain Brook High School where she was Captain her senior year. After graduating from Mountain Brook in 2008, she attended the University of Alabama where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing. Mary Ellen moved back to Birmingham in December of 2012 and started working in Neonatal Intensive Care at Children’s of Alabama as a registered nurse. Mary Ellen married her husband Kevin in August of 2013. They recently bought a house and share it with their two Golden Retrievers, Gunner and Charlie. Mary Ellen assists and teaches Combination Classes for the younger students, as well as teaching Advanced Hip Hop and High Stepper Jazz-Dance Team Prep Classes. She is currently on leave raising her first child, but is still a valuable member of our faculty as a substitute teacher and comes to help out with recitals and other special events.
Kelly Ireland
Kelly Ireland began dancing at Steeple Arts at the age of 2 and continued dancing there for 16 years. After graduating from Mountain Brook High School in 2007, she attended UAB where she is currently studying Secondary Education. She is thrilled to be back with the Steeple Arts family. She still enjoys taking classes at Steeple Arts attending the Adult Ballet, Jazz and Zumba Classes. Kelly currently assists with the Pre Ballet and combination classes with the younger students.
MONICA WESSON
Monica Wesson began dancing at Steeple Arts at age 3, under the the Academy founder Lola Mae Jones, and then under Lola Coates. In 1969 Mrs Jones selected Monica to be a student teacher, a position she held until her graduation from John Carroll High School, where she was voted “Most Talented” in 1974. Miss Monica continued to study and teach dance while attending Montevallo, where she performed to acclaim in several theatrical productions, both at Montevallo and with Town and Gown Theater. In 1978 Monica moved to Huntsville, AL where she remained active in theater and dance, studying with the Huntsville Ballet and teaching Pre-school Ballet. She also assisted at Steeple Arts recitals as stage crew. In 2000, Miss Monica rejoined Steeple Arts as an assistant teacher to Bee Lewis.
Kathy Couch Nolan
Kathy Nolan joined Steeple Arts in 2001 as the Academy’s receptionist and secretary. Kathy has over 25 years of experience working with children as a pre school teacher. At Steeple Arts, her days are filled with phone calls, managing the office and greeting students and parents. In addition to office duties, she also ties shoelaces, fixes elastic, and just hands out much needed hugs. And still these are only a part of what Kathy brings to the Steeple Arts Family. Creatively, Miss Kathy is our head seamstress and costume mistress. During her time at Steeple Arts, Miss Kathy has also become an assistant with the Pre-ballet classes and is an assistant instructor in the Steeple Arts 6th Grade Ballroom Program.
Mitzi Ireland
Mitzi Ireland has been a part of our Steeple Arts Family since she took Ballroom from Mrs Coates “many moons ago”. She continued her relationship with the studio when her daughters, Tricia and Kelly, were students at Steeple Arts.In addition, Mitzi also served as the Office Receptionist at Steeple Arts Academy for several years. Currently, she is on Staff at the IPC Day School. As a “Trooper”, she helps out backstage with our Dance Concerts and other special studio events during the year. Miss Mitzi has also become an assistant with the Pre-Ballet Classes.
LOYCE HIBBS
Loyce Hibbs joined Steeple Arts as class pianist in 2006. Loyce began piano lessons when she was eight years old. At age 16 she began playing for various groups in her church. Since that time she has continued to play both piano and organ for her church and has volunteered as a pianist at a nursing home. In 2005 she moved to Alabama. Miss Loyce provides accompaniment for Steeple Arts Pre-Ballet, Petite Ballet, and Combination classes for younger students.
Sanford Hardy
Sanford Hardy is the husband of Steeple Arts Academy of Dance’ Director, Deanny Coates Hardy. Originally from Mississippi, Sanford is a graduate of the University of Mississippi and a former USAF officer. He is the Vice President of Hardy Commercial Properties and is the Facilities Manager of the Steeple Arts Complex. Sanford is also the designer and builder for the the Steeple Arts Concert sets. He is an Assistant Instructor with the Sixth Grade Ballroom Classes. He says, “I like to see the kids, both boys and girls, learning something that will stand them in good stead later in their lives, whether they realize it right now or not. It’s also fun to see them gaining confidence over the course of the class and learn to interact with each other in a more formal setting.”
Lucy French Spann
Lucy Spann begin dancing at Steeple Arts at age 5 and remained as a student at Steeple Arts for 13 years. She has always enjoyed dancing, especially Ballet. While in High School, she assisted a few classes and found a new calling. After graduating from Mountain Brook High School, Lucy attended Presbyterian College in Clinton, SC where she majored in Early Childhood Education. While there, she and three other students founded the “Thornwell Dancers”, a program to bring dance to children living at the nearby Thornwell Home for children in crisis. Lucy taught ballet and jazz to these children, many of whom had never experienced any type of formal dance. After graduating from college, Lucy returned to Birmingham where she taught Preschool at Highlands School during the mornings and assisted at Steeple Arts one day a week. After her first child was born, she stopped teaching at Highlands and began to assist with more classes at Steeple Arts. She is currently on leave raising her children, but is still a valuable member of our faculty as a substitute teacher and comes to help out with Recitals and other special events. Lucy now has four children, three of whom are current students at Steeple Arts.
Tricia BRICE
Tricia Brice began her dance training at Steeple Arts at age 2. After graduating John Carroll Catholic High school in 2007, she received a BS in Exercise Science from Samford University in 2011 and an MAE in Physical Education from UAB in 2015. Throughout college, Tricia was an assistant for ballet, tap, hip hop, and jazz classes. After college, she was given the opportunity to teach her own hip hop classes for the studio. Aside from Steeple Arts, Tricia works for Advent Episcopal Day School as a Physical Education Teacher, and is the program director at Camp Winnataska during the summer. She loves staying active, especially through outdoor pursuits such as rock climbing and backpacking. She has always enjoyed working with children and has greatly appreciated Steeple Arts for affording her that opportunity. Tricia currently teaches the Junior Advanced Hip Hop and Jazz classes at Steeple Arts as well as teaching a satellite class for Petite Ballet at Advent for 4-5 year olds.
Ann Bailey Nelson
Ann has been a part of the Steeple Arts family for many years. She started dancing at Steeple Arts at a young age and has especially always enjoyed Jazz, Hip Hop and Ballroom.
She graduated from John Carroll High School in 1987, and after high school she won the title “Alabama’s Perfect Teen”!
Ann was invited by Lola Mae Coates to return to Steeple Arts and become an assistant instructor to Annette Troxell-Collins in Ballet, Pointe and Hip Hop and an assitant to Bee Lewis in Ballet, Jazz and Tap. Ann also assisted Mrs Coates with the 6th grade Ballroom.
Ann’s daughter became a student at Steeple Arts at age 2. Due to commitments that come with raising children and a career at Energen Resources, Ann had to take time away from Steeple Arts.
But now Ann is excited to be returning to Steeple Arts, assisting Miss Bee with the younger students in the Pre Ballet and Ballet/Jazz classes as well as teaching the 6th grade Ballroom with Miss Deanny.
Miss Ann says, “Once you are part of the Steeple Arts Family, it will always hold special place In you heart.”
