Meet Our Team

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  A native of Queens, NY, Belinda began her dance training at the age of four at Gloria Jackson Dance Studio, where she studied African, Ballet, Jazz, and Tap. A graduate of North Carolina Central University, Belinda continued her love of dance by becoming a dance instructor at Adele's Creative Dance Centre in 1992.
 

Belinda has performed at New York City’s Theatre in the Park and has appeared on Good Day New York & Spiritual Awakening. In 1993, Belinda expanded her African, Ballet, Jazz & Tap training to include Liturgical, and became the Dance Ministry Leader at Merrick Park Baptist Church in 1995. Belinda relocated to North Carolina in 2007 and lead the Dance Ministry at Redeeming Love Missionary Baptist Church until 2022.
 

 She believes in a positive approach to help Expressers learn and she delivers with a vivacious personality! 

    A native of Brooklyn, NY, Preston is a dedicated intellectual of Djembe as well as West African music.  Preston began his tutelage under Bradley Simmons, former Music Director of the African American Dance Ensemble, and current Musical Director at Duke University where he teaches West African Music and History. Preston enjoys teaching traditional Djembe rhythms. He has performed at numerous community events where his love for drumming and teaching is appreciated by everyone.
 

Technique and sound refinement are part of his curriculum, and he believes in an uplifting and unifying approach to help Expressers learn in his class.
 

Preston empowers his Expressers in cultural traditions!

  Heather Duncan was born and raised in Albany, NY and began training at the Saratoga Ballet Academy. She then went on to further her training at Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, Boston Ballet School, and Miami City Ballet School, the latter of which she trained on scholarship. 

Heather joined Carolina Ballet as a trainee for the 2018-2019 season and was promoted to the corps de ballet for the 2019-2020 season. 

 Aside from dancing professionally, Heather loves passing on her knowledge and love of dance through teaching. Heather loves bringing classical Ballet techniques and terminology based on a combination of the French, Vaganova and Cicchetti methods to Expressions in Rhythm Studio.   

  Rickky is a graduate of Western Carolina University, where she gained her B.A. in English- Professional Writing, as well as double minoring in Dance & Film Studies.

Rickky has been dancing for 18 years. Her dance education from her time in the WCPSS, to her collegiate experiences in the Dance Department at WCU, to her post-graduate teaching experience continues to expand and grow, with every choreographing opportunity. 

She has had the pleasure of taking workshops with Hiplet, Urban Bush Woman and Rhythm Street Movement. 

 Rickky is ecstatic to share her love of dance and creativity with our Expressers!