Instructor Bios

                                     Nathan Waters
Nathan Waters has danced under the direction of his father, Tom Waters his entire life. In addition, Nathan has had the pleasure of studying with famous instructors through Dance Masters of America. Nathan has also taken a Master's Class in New York with Bacari Wilder, who starred in the Broadway hit "Bring in the Noise, Bring down the Funk". A 1999 graduate of Walkersville High School and a former "Mr. Dance" Chapter 17, Nathan instructs children and adults in Tap, Jazz, and Ballroom.

Lauren Waters
Lauren Waters Knott, the baby of the Waters clan, is currently the Artistic Director of the Artistic Dance Centre.  Having studied under her father since the age of four, Lauren is a member of Dance Masters of America and a certified DMA instructor in Ballet, Tap and Jazz. Lauren has studied under many famous teachers through DMA such as Luigi, Debbie Dee, Bob Rizzo, Lorraine Suza and Shelia Barker. Lauren has also attended the Monsters of Hip Hop Convention for the past three years studying with Dave Scott, Rhapsody, Teresa Espinosa, Mr. Wiggles, Tabitha, Napoleon D'Umo, and Marty Kudelka. A 2000 graduate of Walkersville High School, Lauren is a former "Miss Dance" Chapter 17 and earned a spot to dance with Debbie Allen's "Soul Possessed" at the Kennedy Center in 2000.  Since becoming director of the studio in 2003, Lauren continues to teach multiple classes. Lauren hopes to pass her love of dance on to her students and would like to one day perform again professionally.

Kamilah Brown
Kamilah has been dancing since the age of three at various dance studios in Frederick County.  She graduated from Frederick High School in 2001, where she was the Vice President and choreographer of the Cadet Dance Company. After graduation, Kamilah began assisting and teaching at Artistic Dance Centre, while attending University of Maryland at Baltimore County.  Kamilah graduated from UMBC in 2006. She is currently a member of "Souls of Feet" dance company located in New Cumberland, PA.  Kamilah plans to pursue her Masters Degree in dance education.

Kerri Sprow
Kerri was a former member of the Artistic Dance Centre's "Dance Contraption" until she graduated from Frederick High School in 1998.  Kerri is a 2002 graduate of Winthrop University in South Carolina, where she earned a BA in Dance Education. For the past four years, she has been teaching high school dance, coaching dance teams and teaching in various dance studios. Kerri has also been a group fitness instructor, has choreographed pageants, show choirs and musicals. Kerri returns home to establish the Northwood High School Dance Academy in Montgomery County. She is thrilled to also return to Artistic Dance Centre!

Michelle Whittaker
Michelle was a student at Deborah's Dance Workshop in Torrington, CT for seventeen years and a member of the teaching staff for five.  She has trained in a variety of areas of dance including, but not limited to, Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Hip Hop, Lyrical, Acrobatics, Musical Theatre, Modern, and Beginner Tap.  She has taken numerous master classes in areas such as Jazz, Broadway, Acrobatics, Theatre Dance, Lyrical, Hip Hop and Modern.  During the summers of 2002, 2003 and 2004, Michelle attended the summer workshop "For Teachers Only" in NYC hosted by Dance Teachers Magazine.  Classes were offered in Ballet, Floor Barre Technique, Pilates, Partnering, Auditioning, Lyrical, Creative Movement for preschoolers, and Jazz.  She graduated from Naugatuck Valley Community College (NVCC) in Waterbury, CT in May 2007 with an Associates Degree in Liberal Arts, as well as her Dance Certificate. At NVCC she received the "Choreography Award" in Spring 2006 as well as the "Outstanding Service Award" for two consecutive years. She also was able to choreograph and dance in numerous concerts in NYCC, not only performing student works but repertory works in modern dance pioneers. In December of 2006, she added producer to her list of credits as she was producer at large for the student run concert, "Art Jam". Michelle joined the staff at Artistic Dance Centre in September 2007 and continue her studies at Hood College majoring in Business Management.