Owner and Co-Artistic Director

Wanda Lynam Percise, a Wake Forest native, has been dancing since the age of 5. She began her dance instruction with Betty Holding, a former Rockette, and continued her education at Pattie Johnson’s School of Dance under the instruction of Pattie Johnson-Marks. She attended Enloe High School for the magnet dance program where she dance with Betty Kovach that studied in New York at the American School of Ballet and the Joffrey School. who was instrumental in getting dance in the public school system and continued to study under Pattie Johnson-Marks. While in high school she danced with the Raleigh Civic Ballet and was captain of the cheerleaders at Wake Forest-Rolesville High School. Wanda graduated from East Carolina University with a BFA in dance, Where she performed in ECU’s dance theatre and performances and also was on the ECU “Golden Girls” dance team. She opened the Dance Attic in 1987 in Rolesville. The studio relocated to Wake Forest in 2000. As the owner/director of the Dance Attic she has taken her company to many dance competitions and has continued her own education through master classes with well renowned artists. She feels so blessed to be approaching 36 years of LOVING the Dance Attic. She has a passion for bringing the art of dance into the lives of children. *** Fun Fact – Ms. Wanda danced, took classes and performed with Sandra Bullock while @ ECU.

Co-Artistic Director, Company Director, Instructor All Ages

Hallie Hoy Pardo is from Wake Forest, NC and has been dancing and teaching dance for 24 years. Hoy-Pardo has a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Education from East Carolina University, graduating in 2017. During her time at East Carolina, Hallie performed in multiple black box performances as well as main stage shows. She served as Vice-President and President of ECU’s Chapter of National Dance Education Organization (NDEO), traveling to multiple conferences and presenting continuing education material. Hoy-Pardo still serves and is on this NDEO board, as she coordinates the National Honors Society for Dance at Wake Forest High School and premiered the Honors Society at The Dance Attic in 2023! Pardo served as the representative for the School of Theatre and Dance on the Fine Arts Funding Board for ECU during her time there, where she advocated for allocation of funding towards the dance department. She participated and led the tap ensemble of ECU and was a concert coordinator/stage manager for multiple shows on campus. After graduating, Hallie immediately came back to teach for The Dance Attic as well as becoming a dance teacher for WCPSS, where she was a finalists for Diane Kent Beginning Teacher of the Year Award for Wake County. Hallie has taught as the dance teacher at Wake Forest High School for 5 years now and serves as the choreographer for Wake Forest High Schools Musicals and Dance Team. Her work as choreographer on the musicals has been nominated for best choreography with Triangle Rising Stars and Hallie was announced as the Wake Weekly’s Best of The Best Teacher Of They Year for 2023. Furthermore, Hallie has been a finalist for the Wake Education Partnership’s Star Among Us recognizing WCPSS teachers, who have had dynamic impact on their school and local community. In 2024, Hallie choreographed for the ECU Club Dance Team, alongside one of our other staff members, Heather Hoy. Choreographically, Hallie has received countless highest scoring routines during her time at TDA, as well as exceptional choreography awards. Hallie is embarking on her 7th season as a staff member at The Dance Attic, but has been a part of The Dance Attic Family for 20 years this season! She enjoys sharing her passion for dance with children of all ages and levels, and is excited to work alongside Ms. Wanda as a Co-Artistic Director.

Co-Company Director, Instructor All Ages

Ariana Cruz received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Education from East Carolina University. During her time at East Carolina University, Ariana has performed in multiple main-stage shows, contemporary concerts, and senior choreography concerts. She has stage managed senior choreography concerts and was the concert coordinator for the senior solo concert. As a member of East Carolina Dance Educators, Ariana served as the Community Outreach coordinator, seeking new ways to reach the surrounding communities with collaboration through dance. She was featured as a guest teacher in the high school dance conference Immersion, as well as the Spring 2018 day of dance. Ariana served as the Millbrook High School Dance Director 4 years, and is planning on moving to Atlanta to join her soon to be husband and continue her dance journey there!

Company Choreographer, Instructor All Ages

Abigail Telenko, From Wake Forest, N.C., is a graduate of East Carolina University where she earned her BFA in Dance with a concentration in performance and choreography and Communications with concentration in public relations. She appeared in multiple Main Stage and Senior Choreography performances over her four years at ECU. Abigail was awarded the opportunity to explore and grow her choreographic work with East Carolina’s URCA grant and choreographed for the Spring Dance 2022 concert. She was most recently awarded 2nd place in Salt Contemporary Company’s choreography festival. Abigail served as East Carolina Dance Association President as well as Public Relations Intern for the Dance Program. During her first year teaching at The Dance Attic, Abigail’s choreography scored well earning highest score of the day on multiple occasions. In the future, Abigail hopes to move to New York City to perform in a professional dance company and continue her passion of choreography.

Ballet Director, Instructor All Ages

A native of Raleigh/Wake Forest and former ballet teacher at The Dance Attic, Charleigh has been dancing in the triangle area for 43 years. She received training in classical ballet from The Dancer’s Studio, Raleigh School of Ballet, and The Ballet School of Chapel Hill. Charleigh has performed with and choreographed for local organizations such as Concert Dancers of Raleigh, Dance Associates of Raleigh, True North Dance Ensemble, and various church groups. For the past 30 years Charleigh’s passion has been dance education. No matter the type of dance she believes that a firm foundation in technique and an understanding of the mechanics of movement can make even the best dancer better. Charleigh is excited to be back at The Dance Attic to share her love of moving art and to encourage young dancers to progress and grow in their craft.

Company Choreographer, Instructor All Ages, Administrative Assistant

Heather Hoy, a native of Wake Forest, North Carolina, danced at The Dance Attic for 17 years. Heather danced competitively at the Dance Attic for 15 years and is currently pursuing her degree in Elementary Education with a Minor in Dance as well as Entrepreneurial Management from Appalachian State University. Heather is considered an integral part of The Dance Attic team, and assists with managerial duties for TDA and is also one of our newest choreographers. During her time dancing at TDA, Heather won numerous awards for her routines including highest score of the day as well as several scholarships at competitions and conventions throughout the years. Heather was involved in Dance in her High School and is credited with writing the bi-laws and mission statements in order to create a Dance Team at Wake Forest High School her senior year. Now as a choreographer here at TDA, Heather’s pieces have numerous high honor awards, including highest score at multiple competitions. Now at App State University, Heather is an active member and President of the NC Dance Crew “Entropy.” In Spring of 2023 Heathers choreography for the Entropy Crew won 1st place at “APPs Got Talent” Competition, receiving a cash prize. Heather is excited to return to teach at The Dance Attic at the start of the 2024 calendar year, as she finishes up her senior year!

Company Choreographer, Instructor All Ages

Allie London is a graduate from ECU’s dance program with a BFA in Dance Performance and Choreography and really enjoyed her first season with The Dance Attic. Ms. London loves being in the studio and working with dancers of all ages while sharing the knowledge she has gained since she started dancing at the age of 5. Originally from the Charlotte area, Allie grew up as a competition dancer and knows that world inside and out. She trained in ballet, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, tap and hip hop and has competed with all of these styles. It’s very important to her that she creates a learning environment that can push dancers in a healthy and exciting way.

Instructor All Ages

Jessica Doyle is originally from Tucson, Arizona, she moved to North Carolina in 2016. Jessica danced for 12 years and has been a dance teacher for 6 years. Jessica was part of a studio and was also on her high school dance team. She was in multiple Hip Hop crews and she auditioned for Americas Best Dance Crew. She loves performing and teaching all ages and levels. Jessica started teaching dance in Tucson starting in 2012 and taught at The Dance Attic from 2016-19. She has won choreography and judges choice awards for multiple pieces of choreography.

Advanced Technique Instructor

Alyssa Hogan is currently the Dance Teacher and Company Director at Franklin Academy in Wake Forest, North Carolina. Alyssa has been dancing competitively at the state and national level since she was five years old. She specializes in Pom, Jazz, and Hip Hop and has choreographed several state and national award winning pieces. She was a proud member of The University of Cincinnati’s Dance Team her freshman year and then returned to Arizona to pursue her passion for coaching and creating choreography for a local high school and studio. Upon moving to North Carolina she worked at TDA as one of the Company’s Directors for five years. She is excited to be at TDA teaching what she believes to be one of most important parts of dance…TECHNIQUE. Outside of dance she is married to her husband, Craig and is a proud mother to two beautiful children, Carsley and Cayden.

Acro Director, Social Media & Content Coordinator

Delaney Nunn is a Sophomore at East Carolina University and has been a part of The Dance Attic family for 7 years. Delaney is now on her journey at ECU to get her major in Elementary Education and is currently a member of the ECU Club Dance Team. Since graduating in 2022, Delaney has supported her TDA family and assisted staff throughout the season. Delaney assists in managing The Dance Attic social media, and loves collecting memories of all of our dancers at TDA. During her 6 years of competitive dancing at The Dance Attic, Delaney was a recipient of The Dance Attic scholarship award, a teacher assistant, and an intern for the staff during her senior year of high school. Delaney also competed in gymnastics for 5 years and is well known at TDA for doing some of her specialty tricks. Delaney is so excited to start teaching at TDA and bring her knowledge and experience back into the dancers. Equally so, she looks forward to spending time with her dance family, and home away from home.

Administrative Manager

Melissa Austin currently lives in Wake Forest and has been part of The Dance Attic family since her daughter began dancing with us in 2012. Last year Melissa joined the TDA staff as our administrative assistant. In this role Melissa supports families and dancers by answering questions, processing tuition, and registering new dancers while also supporting the staff with general administrative tasks. Her favorite part of working at TDA is registering new dancers and seeing the excitement on their faces as they prepare to begin their dance journey. Melissa is looking forward to serving our TDA families and staff during the upcoming season.

Office Assistant Addison Harman

Addison Harman, a Raleigh/Wake Forest native, currently lives and runs a business here in Wake Forest and will be joining us for her 2nd year with The Dance Attic. Last year Addison joined the TDA staff as a front desk assistant and is excited to be coming back for year 2. Addisons loves working at The Dance Attic, as it shows what community partnerships, connections and having a dance family is all about! Fun fact: Addison has only danced for 1 year (at age 4) but that year was with miss Wanda at The Dance Attic. She looks forward to spending her dance career retirement behind the front desk and greeting all of our dance families at the door this season!

Instructor and Senior Apprentice

Hi I’m Faith and I have been dancing at The Dance Attic for nine years! I’m a junior at Enloe High School and I enjoy dancing in several styles at school as well. My favorite thing about The Dance Attic is the community we build with each other; I’ve been able to meet some of my closest friends through dancing here! I am ecstatic to continue working as a part of the TDA intern team for the 2022-2023 season as one of the 2022 TDA scholarship winners!

TDA 2022-23 Substitute Teacher/Cleaner Ms. Christi is a proud TDA alum! She is a native of the Wake Forest/Raleigh area, and is a graduate of WF-R High. Christi earned her B.A. in elementary education at UNCW and continued her education at Meredith College where she earned her certification in Dance K-12. Christi brings 17 years of teaching experience, and most of those years were teaching dance in Wake County Public Schools. She is currently the dance specialist at Hunter GT/AIG Magnet Elementary School in downtown Raleigh. She has choreographed many children’s musicals both in schools and in community theatre. She is passionate about sharing the joy of dance with children and helping them grow in both ability and confidence. She is happy and grateful to be a part of the dance family at TDA!

TDA 23-24 Teacher Assistants

Here are TDA, we offer a Teacher Assistant program for dancers middle school aged and up to assist in classes for younger dancers. Dancers take advantage of the opportunity to develop leadership skills and dive into the teaching side of all things DANCE!

TDA 23-24 Interns

Here are TDA, Our Interns are dancers that go above and beyond for TDA with assisting with events, setting up and breakdown, and other volunteer duties at the studio.