Lisa A. Toups
Shelley S. Grames
Artistic Staff
The Artistic Staff at The Georgia Metropolitan 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 and has been the featured jazz instructor for the Georgia Governor's Honor Program. She serves on the advisory board of the Kennesaw State University Dance Department. Ms. Toups is currently the Artistic Director of the Georgia Metropolitan Dance Theatre and the Director of Georgia Dance Conservatory, both located in Marietta.
“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 graduated from Brenau University with a BFA in dance pedagogy in 1997 and was the recipient of the Mary Milldred Sullivan Award. That same year, Ruth Mitchell invited Shelley to perform professionally with the Ruth Mitchell Dance Theatre (RMDT). Since then, she has danced professionally with RMDT, the Gainesville Ballet Company and as a guest artist with several companies in the Southeast. In 2003 as a choreographer, Shelley was awarded the Monticello Award by the Southeastern Regional Ballet Association for her work 'Pulsating', receiving full scholarship to Regional Dance America's (RDA) 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 2008, her work 'Pulse' was placed on the Gala of the festival. 'Pulse' included live musicians and was the second alternate to the Project Tier Award. Additionally, she has choreographed many repertoire pieces for RMDT and other companies, as well as two full length ballets, 'Alice in Wonderland' and 'Peter Pan'. Shelley set her 'Peter Pan' in New York on the Leatherstocking Ballet and recently created the 'Lion King of Africa' for the company. In October 2010, she was one of three finalists for the Ovation Awards in Cobb County, recognizing her achievements in choreography. She choreographed 'Aladdin' for the Gainesville Ballet to debut in March of 2011 and is restaging her 'Peter Pan' on GMDT.
Shelley has also directed the company's educational programs with Young Audience of the Woodruff Arts Center. In 2007, she had the privilege of choreographing the Atlanta Symphony's Young Peoples Concert and was named a teaching artist with Young Audiences MetLife, Dance for Life program, a residency program in the Atlanta school systems giving children the chance to learn and study dance.
