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 35 years LOVING the Dance Attic. She has a passion for bringing the art of dance into the lives of children. *** Fun Fact – danced, took classes and performed with Sandra Bullock while @ ECU.
Co-Artistic Director, Co-Company Director, Instructor All Ages
Hallie Hoy Pardo is from Wake Forest, NC. She has a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Education from East Carolina University. During her time at East Carolina, Hallie performed in multiple main stage shows as well as senior choreography and contemporary concerts. 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. Pardo still serves and is on this NDEO board, as she coordinates the National Honors Society for Dance. Pardo served as the student representative for the School of Theatre and Dance on the Fine Arts Funding Board for ECU where she advocated for allocation of funding towards the dance department. She participated and led the tap ensemble and also was a concert coordinator/stage manager for multiple shows. After graduating in 2017, 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 serves as the choreographer for Wake Forest High Schools Musicals, and with this work has been nominated for best choreography with Triangle Rising Stars. Hallie has received countless highest scoring routines, as well as exceptional choreography awards during her years teaching and choreographing at The Dance Attic. Hallie is on her sixth season as a staff member at The Dance Attic, and is the dance teacher and program director at Wake Forest High School. She enjoys sharing her passion for dance with children of all ages and levels, and is excited to join Ms. Wanda as a Co-Artistic Director this season.
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 is currently is embarking on her 4th year as Director of the Dance Program at Millbrook High School
Ballet Director, Instructor All Ages
Company Choreographer, Instructor All Ages
Abigail Telenko, from Wake Forest, N.C., is a recent graduate of East Carolina University where she earned her BFA in Dance with a concentration in performance and choreography and Communications with a concentration in public relations. She has 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 her URCA grant. Most recently, Abigail had the amazing opportunity to choreograph for the Spring Dance 2022 Concert. She served as East Carolina Dance Association President as well as Public Relations Intern for the Dance Program. In the future, Abigail hopes to move to New York City to perform in a professional dance company and continue her passion of choreography.
Company Choreographer, Instructor All Ages
Allie London will be a graduate from ECU’s dance program this May with her BFA in Dance Performance and Choreography and is over the moon to begin a new career with The Dance Attic starting this summer. 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.
Acro Director
Bre Thompson, originally from Kansas City, grew up in Wake Forest. She competed in both all star cheerleading and competitive gymnastics from the age of 8-16. Attending gyms around the triangle, such as Wake Forest All Stars, Cheer Extreme and more. In 2011, Bre ended her cheerleading and gymnastics career. She made the transition from athlete to full time coach. Over the last 10 years, Bre has had the opportunity to coach at many gyms: The Tumble Gym, GymCarolina, Tri-County and SGA Gymnastics. Bre has worked in both the recreational and competitive side. She has experience working with athletes from level 2 through 10, including Xcel levels. Before starting her journey with The Dance Attic, Bre was a competitive Xcel coach at SGA Gymnastics. Bre is always eager to expand her knowledge in tumbling and acro by online seminars and past workshops. Bre is very excited for her 4th year at TDA, and looks forward to bringing new ideas to the dancers!
Advanced Technique Instructor
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 back 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.
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.
Company Choreography, 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. 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 year. Heather was also involved in Dance at High School by writing the bi-laws and mission to be able to create a Dance Team at Wake Forest High School her senior year. Now at App State University, Heather is an active member of the NC Dance Crew “Entropy.”
Office Assistant – Addison Harman
Instructor – Youngest Dancers
Hi i’m Alli! I have been dancing with TDA for 9 years. I am a senior at Wake Forest High and I am a part of their dance department as well. I am so excited to teach this season and look forwards to all of the new memories!
CLICK HERE to learn more about our staff and some of their “favorites”
TDA 2022 Intern and Scholarship Award Winner
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 Intern
Hi I’m Diara and I’ve been dancing at the dance attic for 7 years. I’m a junior at Wake Forest High school and I enjoy being able to continue my passion for dance there as well. One of my favorite things about TDA is the connection and love for dancing that everyone shares there, and the strong relationships I have built in this studio. I am very excited and grateful to be an intern for the 2022-23 dance season at TDA !!
TDA 2022 Intern
Hi I’m Kiana and I have been dancing at the Dance Attic for 7 years. I’m a junior at Wakefield High School where I am also apart of the dance company. I love The Dance Attic because it is a place where I can be myself and express emotions through dance. I have created so many meaningful friendships through dance and I wouldn’t trade it for the world. For this upcoming 2022-23 season at TDA I am more than thrilled to be an intern and dance another year with the people and studio I love.
TDA 2022 Intern and Scholarship Award Winner
Hi I’m Merritt and I have danced at The Dance Attic for 9 years! I’m a freshman at Wake Forest High School where I also enjoy dance under the instruction of Ms. Hallie! My favorite thing about TDA is the new bonds you make with people and how much TDA feels like a family with everyone being so supportive and loving! I am excited to be a new part of the intern team as well as a scholarship award winner at TDA for the 2022-23 season!!
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. In addition to being a dance teacher, she is also mom to a football player, a TDA dancer, and a spunky almost 4 year old! She is married to Barry of F45 and they maintain a foundation called Fight Like Paxton in honor of their son who passed away in 2011. She is happy and grateful to be a part of the dance family at TDA!
TDA 2022-23 Substitute Teacher – Andrea Dula
Andrea Dula is a dancer from Raleigh, North Carolina, who began dancing at the age of three. She danced at her church and in school at Enloe High School. She is currently pursuing her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Education at Meredith College. Andrea serves as the Vice President of Meredith College’s Fierce International Rhythmic Experience (F.I.R.E) and also serves as a member of the Meredith Dance Association (MDA). She is also a full company member of the Meredith Dance Theatre and has performed in numerous faculty, main-stage, and emerging shows.
TDA 22-23 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!
