Lisa A. Toups
Shelley S. Grames
Artistic Staff
The Artistic Staff at The Ruth Mitchell Dance Theatre include...
Lisa A. Toups
Lisa A. Toups is an experienced and award winning teacher and choreographer. She is certified by Dance Masters of America and her choreography has been featured by the Southeast Regional Ballet Association. She was recognized at the International Dance Festival in Los Angeles, California for her dedication to the art of dance, her unique style of choreography and her promotion of anti-violence through dance. Several of Ms. Toups’ students have performed, professionally, with leading dance companies and on Broadway. She has coached students into the finals of the Youth Grand Prix and other technical dance competitions. Whether it is a full scholarship to a dance college or acceptance into a professional company, her students are consistently prepared for any dance endeavor they choose.
Ms. Toups is an adjunct faculty member of Pebblebrook High School of Performing Arts in Cobb County, GA and has been the featured jazz instructor for the Georgia Governor’s Honor Program and at Kennesaw State University. Ms. Toups is currently the Artistic Director of the Ruth Mitchell Dance Theatre and the Director of Georgia Dance Conservatory, both located in Marietta, Georgia.
“Lisa Toups is a master teacher and choreographer. With her innate sense of creativity, she is able to create dances that showcase the incredible talents and skills of her dancers.”
~ Earl Reece
Executive Director of The Strand Theatre
Chair of the Education Task Force for the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre
Shelley S. Grames
Shelley S. Grames began her dance training at the age of 12 in Jackson, Mississippi. She studied and performed with the Academic and Performing Arts Complex and Ballet Mississippi. While in Jackson, she had the privilege of studying with teachers and coaches from the International Ballet Competition, her first dance history teacher being Thaila Mara. At the age of 14, Shelley and her family relocated to Savannah, GA, and she became a soloist with Ballet South. After high school she attended Brenau University on scholarship to continue her dance training with Diane Callahan and the Gainesville Ballet Company. In 1997, Shelley graduated with a BFA in dance pedagogy and was the recipient of the Mary Mildred Sullivan Award, the highest award that a graduate may receive.
In 1997, Ruth Mitchell invited Shelley to perform professionally with the Ruth Mitchell Dance Theatre. Since then, she has danced professionally with the Ruth Mitchell Dance Theatre, Gainesville Ballet Company, and as a guest artist with several companies in the Southeast. As a choreographer, in 2003, Shelley was awarded the Monticello Award by the Southeastern Regional Ballet Association for her work Pulsating, receiving a full scholarship to RDA’s Craft of Choreography Conference to study with Alan Hineline. In 2004, she was selected to be the Guest Alumni Choreographer for Brenau University and the Brenau Dance Ensemble, where her work was also performed at the American College Dance Festival. In 2007, her work Tarentelle was selected to be performed at RDA’s National Festival. In addition, she has also choreographed several repertoire pieces for the Ruth Mitchell Dance Theatre as well as two full length ballets, Alice in Wonderland and Peter Pan. Most recently, Shelley set her Peter Pan in New York on the Leatherstocking Ballet.
Shelley currently serves as Assistant Director for the Ruth Mitchell Dance Theatre, where she proudly studies with and works for Lisa Toups, Artistic Director. She also directs the company’s educational programs with Young Audiences of the Woodruff Arts Center. In 2007, she had the privilege of choreographing the Atlanta Symphony’s Young Peoples Concert. Also, in 2007 she was named a teaching artist with Young Audiences’ MetLife, Dance for Life program, a residency program in the Atlanta school system giving children the chance to learn and study dance.
