Meet the Staff
Patricia Cross earned a BS degree in Dance from Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, New York. She founded Adirondack Dance Theater and Adirondack Ballet Company sponsored by the State University of New York in Plattsburgh. Since moving to Nashville, Patrica has taught at Belmont University, Vanderbilt University, Harding Academy, Jody's School of Performing Arts, Smartt Steps, Opryland USA and Christ Church Nashville. Ms. Cross has choreographed 30 original children's ballets as well as staged a full length 'Nutcracker,' 'Sleeping Beauty,' 'Coppelia,' 'Les Sylphides,' and 'La Sylphide.' Ms. Cross is an American Ballet Theatre certified teacher who has successfully completed the ABT® Teacher training Intensive in Pre-Primary through Level V of the ABT® National Training Curriculum. The AMERICAN BALLET THEATRE® National Training Curriculum, a breakthrough 9 level program that combines high quality artistic training with the basics of dancer health and child development. The ABT® National Training Curriculum consists of a comprehensive set of age-appropriate, outcome-based guidelines to provide the highest quality ballet training to dance students of all ages and skill levels. In 1990 Ms. Cross founded Rejoice School of Ballet to make ballet training accessible to students from diverse backgrounds regardless of their ability to pay.
Anna Caruso Hayden began her ballet training at age 4 with Community Ballet School (Huntsville, AL). She joined the Huntsville Ballet Company at age 14 under the direction of Llyod Tyget, David Herriott, and Karen Gibb and performed lead roles in Swan Lake, Romeo and Juliet, La Bayadere, Paquita, and The Nutcracker. She then attended the University of the South, where she taught at the Sewanee Dance Conservatory and was the student director and member of the college dance company, Perpetual Motion. After earning her B.A. in U.S. History, Anna moved to Washington, DC where she performed Cinderella with the Kintz-Meijia Academy of Ballet. In 2005, Anna moved to Nashville, TN and joined the Vanderbilt Dance Theatre (VDT), under the direction of Tom Shoemaker and Jennifer McNamara. With VDT, Anna has performed Sleeping Beauty, Carmina Burana, Les Sylphides, Cinderella and numerous original works by Tom Shoemaker (Caravan, Just Let Go, Non Grata), Matthew Christenson, and Jennifer McNamara. Anna has been a guest artist for Rejoice School of Ballet and Centennial Youth Ballet. Anna currently teaches for Rejoice School of Ballet and the Vanderbilt Dance Program. She also directs the Liturgical Dance Troupe at St. Bartholomew's Church. Anna lives in Nashville with her husband Josh and three sons.
Molly Robinson, ballet and tap instructor, found her love of dance at the age of 3 at Oak Ridge Academy of Dance in East Tennessee. She spent 15 years studying ballet, tap, jazz, modern dance, and even hip hop. Molly moved to Nashville for Belmont University where she was a member of the Belmont Dance Company for 3 years. She graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelors in exercise science (pre-physical therapy) and a minor in nutrition. She is a personal trainer, fitness instructor, and a Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT). Molly loves to work with children to help teach them healthy lifestyle choices for later in life while also encouraging them towards a life with Christ. Teaching at Rejoice School of Ballet helps her to combine her love of dance, fitness, and teaching. Molly hopes to encourage young dancers to appreciate the art and athleticism of dance by treating their hearts and their bodies with respect and love.
Kayla Rowser, Ballet Mistress for summer program. Originally from Conyers, Ga., Ms. Rowser trained at the Magdalena Maury School of Classical Ballet in Fayetteville, Ga., with Georgia Youth Ballet under the direction of Magdalena Maury, Jonsie Pollock and Magda Aunon. She has spent her summers studying at American Ballet Theatre, Atlanta Ballet and the Washington Ballet, among others. After graduating high school, Kayla joined Charleston Ballet Theatre for a season before joining Nashville Ballet 2 in 2007. Kayla joined the main company as an apprentice in 2009 and was promoted to company member in 2010, Kayla has performed as the Dew Drop Fairy and Sugar Plum Fairy in Nashville’s Nutcracker, Tinker Bell in Peter Pan, Swan Queen in Swan Lake, Cupid in Vasterling’s Carmina Burana, in Salvatore Aiello’s Afternoon of a Faun, Gina Patterson’s Cryin’ Out and in Sarah Slipper’s Postcards from the Boys. She was featured as the title role in Nashville Ballet’s 2012 performance of Firebird.
Gerald Watson is a company member with Nashville Ballet, and is a teaching assistant for the School of Nashville Ballet children’s program. Gerald began his formal dance training at the Pinellas County Center for the Arts at Gibbs High School and the Academy of Ballet Arts in St. Petersburg, Fla. Upon graduating from high school he continued his studies at the Boston Conservatory and graduated with a BFA in Contemporary Dance. While at the Conservatory, Gerald performed works by Jose Limon, Ohad Naharin, David Lichine, Kathy Posin, Parren Ballard, and Danielle Argamin. He has also been a guest artist with Commonwealth Ballet Company, BalletRox Urban Nutcracker, and the Diva Day Foundation, as well as creating his own works for the Juventas Music Group and Berklee College of Music. Gerald also attended multiple Summer Programs on Scholarship, including Boston Conservatory Summer Dance, Alonzo King Lines Ballet, BalletMet Columbus, Nashville Ballet, Ballet Dance Festival and the Academy of Ballet Arts. He recently staged and directed 'La Fille Mal Gardee and performed the lead male role in Rejoice School of Ballet's production.
Jo Ellen Werking Weedman serves as Director of Marketing, Communication and Public Relations. A faculty member at Trevecca Nazarene University, Jo Ellen has been a parent and volunteer at Rejoice for several years. She oversees all internal and external communication at Rejoice.
Anna Caruso Hayden began her ballet training at age 4 with Community Ballet School (Huntsville, AL). She joined the Huntsville Ballet Company at age 14 under the direction of Llyod Tyget, David Herriott, and Karen Gibb and performed lead roles in Swan Lake, Romeo and Juliet, La Bayadere, Paquita, and The Nutcracker. She then attended the University of the South, where she taught at the Sewanee Dance Conservatory and was the student director and member of the college dance company, Perpetual Motion. After earning her B.A. in U.S. History, Anna moved to Washington, DC where she performed Cinderella with the Kintz-Meijia Academy of Ballet. In 2005, Anna moved to Nashville, TN and joined the Vanderbilt Dance Theatre (VDT), under the direction of Tom Shoemaker and Jennifer McNamara. With VDT, Anna has performed Sleeping Beauty, Carmina Burana, Les Sylphides, Cinderella and numerous original works by Tom Shoemaker (Caravan, Just Let Go, Non Grata), Matthew Christenson, and Jennifer McNamara. Anna has been a guest artist for Rejoice School of Ballet and Centennial Youth Ballet. Anna currently teaches for Rejoice School of Ballet and the Vanderbilt Dance Program. She also directs the Liturgical Dance Troupe at St. Bartholomew's Church. Anna lives in Nashville with her husband Josh and three sons.
Molly Robinson, ballet and tap instructor, found her love of dance at the age of 3 at Oak Ridge Academy of Dance in East Tennessee. She spent 15 years studying ballet, tap, jazz, modern dance, and even hip hop. Molly moved to Nashville for Belmont University where she was a member of the Belmont Dance Company for 3 years. She graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelors in exercise science (pre-physical therapy) and a minor in nutrition. She is a personal trainer, fitness instructor, and a Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT). Molly loves to work with children to help teach them healthy lifestyle choices for later in life while also encouraging them towards a life with Christ. Teaching at Rejoice School of Ballet helps her to combine her love of dance, fitness, and teaching. Molly hopes to encourage young dancers to appreciate the art and athleticism of dance by treating their hearts and their bodies with respect and love.
Kayla Rowser, Ballet Mistress for summer program. Originally from Conyers, Ga., Ms. Rowser trained at the Magdalena Maury School of Classical Ballet in Fayetteville, Ga., with Georgia Youth Ballet under the direction of Magdalena Maury, Jonsie Pollock and Magda Aunon. She has spent her summers studying at American Ballet Theatre, Atlanta Ballet and the Washington Ballet, among others. After graduating high school, Kayla joined Charleston Ballet Theatre for a season before joining Nashville Ballet 2 in 2007. Kayla joined the main company as an apprentice in 2009 and was promoted to company member in 2010, Kayla has performed as the Dew Drop Fairy and Sugar Plum Fairy in Nashville’s Nutcracker, Tinker Bell in Peter Pan, Swan Queen in Swan Lake, Cupid in Vasterling’s Carmina Burana, in Salvatore Aiello’s Afternoon of a Faun, Gina Patterson’s Cryin’ Out and in Sarah Slipper’s Postcards from the Boys. She was featured as the title role in Nashville Ballet’s 2012 performance of Firebird.
Gerald Watson is a company member with Nashville Ballet, and is a teaching assistant for the School of Nashville Ballet children’s program. Gerald began his formal dance training at the Pinellas County Center for the Arts at Gibbs High School and the Academy of Ballet Arts in St. Petersburg, Fla. Upon graduating from high school he continued his studies at the Boston Conservatory and graduated with a BFA in Contemporary Dance. While at the Conservatory, Gerald performed works by Jose Limon, Ohad Naharin, David Lichine, Kathy Posin, Parren Ballard, and Danielle Argamin. He has also been a guest artist with Commonwealth Ballet Company, BalletRox Urban Nutcracker, and the Diva Day Foundation, as well as creating his own works for the Juventas Music Group and Berklee College of Music. Gerald also attended multiple Summer Programs on Scholarship, including Boston Conservatory Summer Dance, Alonzo King Lines Ballet, BalletMet Columbus, Nashville Ballet, Ballet Dance Festival and the Academy of Ballet Arts. He recently staged and directed 'La Fille Mal Gardee and performed the lead male role in Rejoice School of Ballet's production.
Jo Ellen Werking Weedman serves as Director of Marketing, Communication and Public Relations. A faculty member at Trevecca Nazarene University, Jo Ellen has been a parent and volunteer at Rejoice for several years. She oversees all internal and external communication at Rejoice.