Artistic Director
Mrs. Jaclyn has a great passion for dance and a loving heart for teaching children. She has been dancing for most of her life and teaching for over 25 years. She also works in her church nursery on Sundays and teaches kindergarten 3.5 days a week. Jaclyn knew at a young age that she wanted to teach dance and worked very hard to pursue that dream. While in high school, she performed with a pre-professional ballet company and performed in multiple story ballets including her favorite, “The Jungle Book”. Jaclyn continued her pursuit of dance by studying at Brenau University and performing in many shows. In her sophomore year, Jaclyn was chosen to be one of three dancers in an opera. While at Brenau, Jaclyn taught under Diane Callahan and other dance instructors at the Gainesville Ballet. She also attended the American College Dance Festival multiple times and worked the festival in all aspects when it was hosted at Brenau in 2000. Jaclyn began teaching when she was a sophomore at Brenau. Upon graduating Cum Laude with a B.F.A. in Dance Pedagogy, Jaclyn continued to teach at dance studios and churches in the Greater Atlanta area. She started up programs, such as modern and lyrical and rejuvenated Ballet and Pointe programs. She also revamped the pre-school program and helped double the enrollment at dance studios. In 2006, Jaclyn worked as an assistant dance director then the dance director in 2012-2014 during which she developed a ballet company and started the tradition of an annual Christmas Show.
Jaclyn constantly continues her dance education through taking classes, attending professional workshops and summits and keeping up with the latest teaching techniques. Jaclyn is also nationally certified in acrobatic arts. She studied under many greats in the dance world, such as Phyllis Allen, Missy Osborne, Carol Smiarowski, Vincas Greene, and Jolie Long. One of the many ways Jaclyn keeps up her continuing education is by taking classes from greats such as Gus Solomons, Jr., Bob Rizzo, Finus Jhung, Tyce Diorio and many others. Jaclyn’s excitement for dance continues to grow. After getting married and starting a family, she decided to help more children and their families develop a great love and appreciation of dance. Jaclyn’s excitement about Integrity Dance Academy and sharing her love of dance with children of all ages and backgrounds in a positive family friendly atmosphere continues to grow every year.
Mrs. Jaclyn’s philosophy on teaching is to give the children and adults in her class strong technique and a positive learning experience. Her students learn an appreciation for dance and confidence in themselves that carries on throughout their lives. As a mom of two daughters, Jaclyn understands both the teacher and mom side of children developing a love for dance. Several of her students have gone on the study dance or theater in college and some are performers and actors in LA and Atlanta. Some are becoming teachers themselves. Many graduated students have brought their children to her to take dance classes. It’s wonderful to teach first and second generation children. We welcome everyone who walks through the door whether it’s for a visit or a dance class.
Ms. Nicole, Instructor
Ms. Nicole, STORM Director & Instructor
Nicole Campbell is a professional dancer, choreographer and instructor currently based in Atlanta. Hailing from metro Detroit, she received her B.S. in Dance from Wayne State University after her childhood training at Robert Lee School of Dance and Churchill High School’s Creative and Performing Arts program. Performance credits include Hannibal Buress, Maksim Chmerkovskiy, JTDance, Gotta Dance Contemporary, Melodic Nocturne Dance Tribe and halftime shows for the Detroit Lions and Detroit Pistons. Nicole’s choreographic works have been presented in concerts for artLabJ and MoreDances Contemporary Dance Company in addition to receiving frequent top honors in competitions. As a result of Nicole’s emphasis on energy and emotional commitment in her classes, many of her students have received scholarships, special awards, top scores and professional jobs. Nicole continues to perform, choreograph and teach around the country in addition to judging for multiple competitions.
Miss Emma, Instructor
Ms. Emma, Instructor & Winter Show Director
Emma O’Connell is excited to be apart the Integrity Dance Academy family! She has been dancing since the age of two at Charlotte Klein Dance Centers at a competitive and recreational level. She's taken almost all styles of dance but her favorite is contemporary/improv. Dance has always been such a huge part of her life and she doesn't know where she would be without it. She loves to share her love of dance with Integrity students! Emma was the director of our 2022 Winter Show, ELF and is directing our 2023 Winter Show, The Polar Express. She is also currently a choreographer for our STORM competition team.
Ms. Amy, Instructor
Amy Metz started dancing when she could barely walk and began formal training early in life. She has studied ballet, tap, jazz, and modern over the years through different private studios as well as studying ballroom with Fred Astaire Dance Studios in Atlanta. She studied ballet technique through Ballet Magnificat and Hosanna Ballet summer intensives throughout her training years. In college, Amy studied all dance forms as well as dance pedagogy at The University of Georgia.
Performing started early for Amy through theatrical outlets and dance. She was a soloist and Corps. member of two dance companies in the Atlanta area that toured the south, performing classical pieces such as the Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker and multiple contemporary pieces in a Christian performing company. She also worked as a choreographer and dance captain for many theatre companies in the metro-Atlanta area. Amy has choreographed over 20 musicals in her career.
Even at an early age, Amy knew she wanted to be a ballet teacher, so it comes to no surprise that her teaching career began at the age of 12 where she assisted teachers in private studios and was teaching technique classes by the age of 16. By 21, she was the artistic director of a Christian multi-arts center that had over 200 dancers studying multiple dance forms, where she was on the curriculum development team. Amy has taught at dance studios in Georgia, South Carolina, Ohio and New York. Due to many injuries throughout Amy’s training, as an instructor she focuses on teaching technique that is developmentally appropriate in age and level to decrease the possibility of injury so dancers can enjoy a long career in dance (be it professionally or for fun!). Amy views proper technical training as the foundation of all dance performance. Her passion is helping students find the joy of discipline which can unlocks a student’s true potential and talent.
Miss Amy continues her education with the Cecchetti Council of America and is a CCA Ballet Associate Member, having taken and passed the teaching examinations for grades 1, 2, 3, and 4. She looks forward to moving on within the CCA teachers program in the future.
Ms. LaShion, Instructor
LaShion is a talented multi-hyphenate. She is a singer, actress, model in addition to dancer! LaShion received her dance training from Atlanta Jazz Theatre Atlanta Ballet and Spelman College. LaShion's performance credits span worldwide; including Fusion Latina Dance Co., the Olympic Ceremonies (Atlanta), Factor X TV (Spain), and the Paralympics Closing Ceremonies (Barcelona). LaShion has also done industrial work for Russell Sportswear and Bacardi Promotions. She has choreographed for local school, Praise in Motion, Fusion Latina Dance Company and Atlanta Jazz Theatre.