INSTRUCTORS

Kathy Russell Baird
Artistic Director/Instructor

Kathy is a graduate from Kennesaw State University and was trained as a ballet dancer under the renowned Stanley Zompakos, a soloist under George Balanchine with the New York City Ballet.  She also studied with Pavel Rotaru Ballet and the Houston Ballet. She attended Ballet Magnificat's intensive workshops for teachers for five summers. Several of the Baird Ballet students have received scholarships to study at Joffrey and Boston Ballet.  

Kathy started dance classes at the age of 3y and grew up performing for talent shows and school functions always winning 1st to 3rd place.  Upon graduating from High School, she became an assistant instructor for Clara Ellison School of Dance and became her successor.   She has taught ballet for Shorter College and workshops for Rome Ctiy School System.  She has performed in Rome Little Threatre's production of the Nutcracker as the "Snow Queen' as well as danced various roles in Beauty and the Beast and Swan Lake.

Most recently, Kathy won the Judge's Award in her performances in the Rome Celebrity Dance Challenge, 2011 and 2012. 

Payton Campbell

Contemporary, Jazz and Hip Hop

Payton Campbell is from Jackson, Tennessee and is a recent Berry College graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in Dance Biomechanics.  Payton began dancing his freshman year at Berry and continues to teach in studios and local settings.  He has choreographed and danced for Berry College Dance Troupe the past four years and will be working with Rome Little Theatre in Costume Design for Into the Woods.  Payton also choreographed Berry College Theatre Company's Cabaret.

Katie Kiser

 Creative Dance, Ballet, Tap, Jazz and ballroom

Katie Kiser has studied at Baird Ballet since the age of 7 and graduated from Shorter College in 2008 in accounting and University of West Ga in 2011 in math and science education. During her college years, Katie taught at the Baird Ballet and worked with preschool children at First Untied Methodist Church. Katie was a nominee for the Governor's Honor Program in dance in 2004. Most recently, she won the Judge's Choice award for her lindy hop routine in Rome's Celebrity Dance Challenge 2015.  Katie is available for private ballroom lessons upon request.

Danielle White Leonard

Creative Dance, Tap, Jazz

Danielle has studied dance at Baird Ballet since the age of 3. She has performed lead roles such as "Eve" in The Garden of Eden, "Cinderella" in When Dreams Come True, and "Snow Queen" in The Christmas Dream.  She has also performed with Stars In Our Eyes Productions in Christmas from the Heart, Beauty and the Beast, and Grease. Danielle has taught ballet, tap, and jazz to preschool and school age children for the past eight years. Danielle was choreographer for the Rome Middle School Grand Illusion Theatre Company. Her choreography was not only a part of their show choir, but it was also featured in their 2011 spring musical production of The Music Man. She has also been a back-up dancer for local Pop artist Zoe Myers.

Tessa Weimorts

Creative Dance, Tap, Jazz and Hip Hop

Tessa's love for dance began at the age of three when she visited a dance studio in Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood and began taking lessons with Expressions Dance Studio in Calhoun, Ga.  She continued her training in Rome, Ga. at the Dance Centre and was a member of their Allegro Dance Company.  She also studied ballet from Kathy Baird while at the Dance Centre and studied tap from tap star Jason Kalish from Atlanta.  Tessa is currently an instructor at the Dance Centre, where she has taught the past five years and has been a dance instructor for the Rome Dance Challenge for the past two years.  Tessa is married and has two children.