Profile Category: Staff

Sidney-Clay is a former AFAA Voice and Theatre student and is grateful to be a part of AFAA now as the Directors' Assistant in the Theatre department. Sidney-Clay’s passion for singing, acting, and creating motivates her to encourage students to use their talents for God’s glory. Currently pursuing a B.S. Degree in Fashion Design and a Minor in Music Performance from Liberty University, Sidney-Clay is inspired by her avid appreciation for classic black-and-white movies to bring back the fashions from the 1920s-1950s.

Marie Rouser began dancing under Jo-Ann Stevens in Durham, NC, when she was about 9 years old. She graduated from Belhaven College (now Belhaven University) in Jackson, Mississippi in May 2007 with a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Business Administration and a Minor in Dance. There, she studied under Cynthia Newland, Laura Morton, Britta Wynne, Stephen Wynne and many others. She volunteered as a counselor for the USA International Ballet Competition Dance School in 2006 and 2010. Marie owned and operated her own dance studio in Hillsborough for 7 years then taught at Arts Alive in Burlington for several years before becoming their interim director in 2016. Over the years, she has taught ballet to a handful of ice skaters. She planned and choreographed many dances for herself and others throughout her dancing career and led dance/worship arts ministries at local churches. Marie was a ballet instructor at Hillsborough Cheer Dance and Gymnastics for the past 2 years where she also served as a coach for one of the competition teams. Marie is passionate about teaching dance and making sure children, teens, and adults learn correct ballet technique to help them excel as a dancer. 

Susanna has been dancing since the age of three. She is classically trained in the Cecchetti method of ballet and also has experience in pointe, tap, jazz, and modern dance. She has had the opportunity to take classes at UNCG and The University of Wales Trinity Saint David. She has over fifteen years of teaching experience with all ages and levels and has had the opportunity to perform internationally with the Project Dance in Israel, Gathering of the Artisans Conference in Asheville and Germany, and various other mission opportunities abroad. She is passionate about her family and being a supportive wife to her wonderful husband, Sam, and a mother to her three children, Joseph, Charlotte, and Colette. Her heart is to spread the gospel and glorify God through excellence in dance.

Elizabeth has 9 years of teaching experience in dance with a background in ballet, modern, contemporary, and jazz. She began teaching in 2013 with Arts Alive Fine Arts Studio and continued with Alamance Fine Arts Academy. She has studied various forms of dance since she was little with her main focuses being ballet and modern, and she is Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT) certified. She is passionate about bringing emotion through movement and inspiring her students to dance for their Creator’s glory.  Elizabeth lives in Graham, NC with her husband, Caleb, and dog, Stella.

Jessica, a homeschool mom of 5, has enjoyed making music as long as she can remember. In 2005 she received her BA in Vocal Performance from Evangel University in Springfield, MO and has enjoyed teaching and coaching voice students since then.  She and her husband have lead worship together for over 20 years.  She has directed Homeschool Choirs in Rowan and Alamance County for 4-1/2 years.  She loves sharing her love of singing with the students of AFAA.