INSTRUCTORS
Who We Are
Kathy Baird
Artistic Director / Owner / Instructor
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Kathy began dance at the age of 3 from Clara Ellison School of dance and became her successor after graduating from high school. She performed in numerous talent contests as a child always placing from 1st to 3rd place. Kathy continued her studies under Stanley Zompakos, a soloist under George Balanchine, from the New York City Ballet, and Pavel Rotaru Ballet (from the Kirov Ballet) in Atlanta. She worked at Houston Ballet's summer intensive in exchange for classes and attended Ballet Magnificat's summer intensive for teachers for five years.
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Kathy performed the Snow Queen in Rome Little Theater's Nutcracker with the Ruth Mitchell Dance Company, and performed roles in Beauty and the Beast and Swan Lake with Festival Ballet from Atlanta.
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Kathy opened her own studio in 1978 and has performed and choreographed her own ballets including Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, and the Nutcracker. Baird Ballet dancers perform within the community seasonally with Rome Shakespeare Festival, local churches and social events.
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Several of the Baird Ballet students have continued to study with Joffrey, Boston, Aspen Ballet and dance with Ballet Magnificat.
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Kathy was a contestant in the Celebrity Dance Challenge and won the Judge’s award in 2011 and 2012.
She has taught ballet at Shorter College and The Rome City School System.
She is a graduate from Kennesaw State College.
In 2021, Kathy moved her studio to 107 Broad St, Rome.
Hannah Camacho
Instructor
Hannah Camacho has studied dance at the Dance Center since the age of 3 and has taught dance for the past six years. She found the love of contemporary throught her participation in Allegro Dance Company. Hannah also studied ballet with Baird Ballet and continues her work in the community through Rome Little Theatre, teaching musical theatre. She has danced in Rome Celebrity Dance Challenge winning People's Choice award winner in 2018. Hannah will be teaching contemporary classes on Saturday morning.
Jenna Jones
Instructor
Jenna Jones graduated from Berry College in May 2025 with a BA in Art Education and teaches art at East Central Elementary School. During her time at Berry, she completed a minor in dance and was a manager, dancer, and choreographer for the Berry College Dance Company. Prior to college, she trained at Chambers Performing Arts in Alpharetta, GA for 12 years and was a member of their company for 5 years under the direction of Susan Chambers and Jennifer Paige Chambers Rutshche. During her summers, she had the opportunity to attend Broadway intensives in New York and Ballet intensives in Atlanta. She is trained in ballet, musical theatre, fosse jazz, contemporary, rhythm and Broadway tap.
Amy Massey
Subsitute Instructor
Amy Massey has studied dance at Baird Ballet for the past seven years and has studied under former Atlanta Ballet principal dancers, Kristine Loveless and Stacey Slichter at North Atlanta Dance Center. She has attended Ballet Magnificat's summer intensives for the past four summers and most recently making pre-professional level. Amy has danced lead roles with Baird Ballet such as Titania in Midsummer Night's Dream, Juliet in Romeo and Juliet at Rome's Shakespeare Festival and the Sugar Plum Fairy in the Nutcracker.
Alex Gonzaga
Instructor
Alex Gonzaga Grew up in Rio Brazil and started dancing at the age of 9 after following his sister into the dance world. At the age of 15, Alex moved to the US to pursue his dream of becoming a professional ballet dancer. He has danced with the Atlanta Ballet, Terminus Modern Ballet Theatre and has had the opportunity to guest with many wonderful companies. He has danced with world renowned dancers and choreographers, to which he is forever grateful.
Sarah Young
Instructor
Sarah has studied dance at Baird Ballet since the age of six and is still currently taking classes to further her training. She is also a student at Berry College and is majoring in Elementary Education and is a member of the Berry College Dance Company. She is trained in ballet, jazz, tap, and contemporary and is a choreographer as well.
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