Meet The Instructors

Leigh (Ann) Tincher-McGuffey, Owner/Director, began her dance training at the age of 5 in her hometown of Charleston, WV. Over the years she was fortunate enough to study with Al Gilbert, Debbie Allen, Gus Giordano, Joe Tremaine, Darryl Retter and Janice Barringer, to name a few.

It was her exposure to great teachers which inspired her to want to share her love of dance. Miss Leigh began her teaching career after graduating from Marshall University where she double majored in Radio/TV Broadcasting and Theatre/Dance. After moving to the Atlanta area, she worked as a TV news anchor while also dancing and working with The Griffin Ballet Theatre.

Miss Leigh saw a need in her new home of Newnan for a choice in dance education. Miss Leigh opened Star Dance Studio in 1999, hosting an end of the year spring performance with just 30 students and 10 routines. In 2002, she left the news business for good to run the studio full time. Miss Leigh is now a member of Dance Educators of America having passed her exams with near perfect scores, and the Professional Dance Teachers Association.

Most recently, Miss Leigh performed as a dancer with Coweta's Dancing Stars. She and partner Brad Binion won 1st place in both the Judge's Choice and People's Choice categories. The annual event raises money for The Community Welcome House, a local charity that benefits women and children survivors of domestic violence in our area.

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Angie Tally-McBurnett, Instructor, started dancing at the age of four. During her teens she danced with Southern Ballet of Atlanta and was an assistant for her hometown teacher, Jean Morris.
She danced with numerous stars in Theater of the Stars' Summer Stock Productions at the Fox Theatre. She performed in many cabarets including The Manhattan Yellow Pages, one of the first in Atlanta. She played a police officer in the television series Savannah and choreographed Diana, A Gift of Music. Miss Angie has also danced in various Vegas type shows here in the United States and Mexico as well as abroad in Japan, Italy, England and Bermuda. She was extremely fortunate to be mentored by Doris Russell, an original Radio City Music Hall Rockette. Miss Angie has been teaching children and adults since 1986. She has been with Star Dance Studio since the studio's second season.

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Samantha Shaffer, ​Sam is a seasoned dancer and choreographer with over 11 years of professional training and apprenticeships in Ballet, Pointe, Contemporary, Lyrical, Jazz, Hip Hop, composition/improvisation and Musical Theater. She has blended skills and accomplishments in team connection, fitness, and lesson planning according to strength and weaknesses of dancers to maximize their growth. She has performed in several Pre-Pro & Professional shows including “Moments” directed by Liz Borom and Abba Parrot, “The Nutcracker”, “Terminus Modern Ballet Theater”, and 4 years performing with the televised “YOU Awards”. She has also been a Company member with Moments Company and Sharpsburg Dance Academy. Sam trained with Kelly Bell, Kara Methven Gates, & Bril Tyson at Southern Dance Precision, has competed in several local and non-local dance competitions, and has participated in multiple city festivals. She has also taken classes at the Broadway Dance Center in New York City, was accepted into Brenau University’s Dance Program and awarded ample scholarships and was First Alternate in 2021 for the Governor’s Honor Program.

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 ​Maddy Green, started dancing with Star Dance Studio at the age of 3. She joined the performance company team in 2007 and competed with Star Dance Studio for twelve years. She was an assistant and substitute for dance classes for many years and has been teaching dance since 2021. She graduated from the University of West Georgia in 2021 with a bachelor's degree in psychology with a minor in sociology. In addition to teaching at Star Dance Studio, Maddy is also a kindergarten teacher at Newnan Presbyterian School. She spent a year in Orlando, Florida working at Walt Disney World, but is excited to be back teaching at Star Dance Studio. 

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Deanna Saunders, Choreographer, began her dance training at Star Dance studio when she was six years old. She danced at SDS for fourteen years, with eleven of those being an active member of the Performance Company. Throughout her career, she has received many honors and learned so much from her teachers and fellow dancers. In 2016, she attended the Broadway-Bound Dancer Workshop at the Ann Lacy School of American Dance and Entertainment at Oklahoma City University. In 2017, she was chosen to participate in the DTI National's Program as a Youth Dance Ambassador, Call Back challenge finalist, and star Title Performer. In 2018, she traveled with Platinum National Dance Competition as an Apprentice for their Platinum Dance Experience. In 2018, she auditioned and was accepted as a dance major at Kennesaw State University, where she graduated Summa Come Laude with a BA in Dance in May 2022. During her college career she was a member of the KSU Dance Company for six semesters and performed in the "2019 KSU Senior Showcase," "Slang," the 2020 President's show "Mooniest," "Threshold," "Double Exposure," and "Forces of Grace." In 2020, she was overjoyed to be awarded the KSU Jo Ann Durham Modern Dance scholarship. Deanna has loved the opportunities to grow artistically by choreographing group routines, solos, and duets for the SDS Performance Company since 2019. In Fall 2022, Deanna accepted the Ballet teacher position at SDS and has thoroughly enjoyed teaching her students this dance year. In May 2023, Deanna started a new journey by pursuing her dream of becoming a physical therapist by attending graduate school at Georgia Southern University.

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Emma McGuffey, Choreographer, began her dancing career at age three at Star Dance Studio where she has been a member and a captain of the Performance Company. Emma has attended many international dance competitions and conventions where she has received numerous scholarships and special awards. Emma started as a teaching assistant at 13 and says she loves being able to teach the younger students and get to know them- they always brighten her day! Emma has been thrilled to have the opportunity to choreograph a group tap number as well as lyrical and contemporary solos for the Performance Company in recent years. Emma is attending Valdosta State University where she is pursuing a degree in dance. She hopes to be able to continue choreograph more for the studio in the future.

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Ariel Alverson, Assistant
2014-Current: Star Dance Studio Performance Company Member

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Audrey Fenton, Assistant
2017-Current: Star Dance Studio Performance Company Member

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Elaine Endicott, Assistant
2018-Current: Star Dance Studio Performance Company Member

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