Ashley Tauzier – Owner/Director

Patrice Blair – Artistic Director

Meet Our Artistic Director, Patrice Blair. With more than 33 years of teaching, choreographing, and mentoring dancers, Patrice brings a wealth of experience, knowledge, and passion to our inaugural season. Her dedication to developing strong, versatile artists and her commitment to excellence make her an incredible leader for our studio and competition program.

Patrice grew up immersed in the dance world at her mother’s studio in Pennsylvania, training in ballet, tap, and competitive baton twirling while performing throughout the United States. She continued her dance education at the University of Mississippi, focusing on Horton Technique and Musical Theater, performing with Mississippi: The Dance Company and assisting with master classes and adjudication opportunities.

After moving to Northern Virginia, Patrice became a respected leader in the local dance community, teaching at area studios before opening her own studio and founding Youth for Youth Productions, a nonprofit organization supporting pediatric AIDS research. Throughout her career, she has guided countless dancers toward successful collegiate and professional dance opportunities.

Patrice’s specialties include Acrobatics, Modern, Jazz, Contemporary, and Tap. Her passion for choreography, artistry, and technical excellence continues to inspire generations of dancers to pursue their goals with dedication and heart.

Beyond the studio, Patrice is a proud grandmother, devoted wife of 28 years, mother of a talented dance educator and choreographer, and mother of a budding rock star.

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Maddie Blair – Company Co-Director

Meet our Company Co-Director, Maddie Blair. Maddie grew up as a competitive dancer, training in a variety of styles under Patrice Blair, Kelly Sammon, and Christina Franco. Through years of dedicated training, she developed a strong technical foundation and a genuine love for movement and artistry.

After graduating high school, Maddie attended Radford University, where she earned her BFA in Dance in 2022. During her time there, she studied under renowned faculty including Inessa Plekhanova, Ji-Eun Lee, Amy VanKirk, James Robey, and Deborah McLaughlin. She performed in numerous faculty and student showcases and had the opportunity to work closely with acclaimed guest artists Maxx Reed and Darrell Grand Moultrie.

Since graduating, Maddie has discovered a passion for teaching, choreographing, and mentoring the next generation of dancers. Her innovative choreography has earned numerous awards and recognitions, and she continues to inspire young artists through her creativity, knowledge, and dedication to the craft.

As we begin this exciting new chapter, we are thrilled to have Maddie helping shape the vision and culture of Elevate Dance Company. Her passion for dance education, commitment to excellence, and love for her students make her an invaluable part of our leadership team.

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Allison Geary – Ballet Director

Meet our Ballet Director, Allison Geary. With over 30 years of professional performance, choreography, coaching, and teaching experience, Allison brings an incredible depth of knowledge and artistry to our faculty.

Allison’s dance journey began at the Gwinnett Ballet Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia, where she developed her passion for classical ballet. Her training continued with prestigious programs including the Boston Ballet, Houston Ballet, Lexington Ballet, and the Orlando Ballet, where she first joined as an apprentice before being invited to become a company member.

During her nine-year professional career with Orlando Ballet, Allison had the opportunity to work with renowned artists including Fernando Bujones, Christopher Fleming, Melissa Hayden, and many others. She performed numerous principal roles in beloved productions such as The Nutcracker, Coppélia, Don Quixote, and Swan Lake, while also performing in contemporary works and choreographing pieces for both the professional company and school.

Beyond the stage, Allison has shared her expertise with dancers throughout Florida, Georgia, and Virginia. She has choreographed several full-length children’s ballets, including The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Peter and the Wolf, The Puppet Fairy, and Cinderella. She has also coached dancers for prestigious competitions including the Youth America Grand Prix and American Dance Competitions.

Allison’s passion for classical training, attention to detail, and dedication to nurturing young artists make her an invaluable leader for our dancers. We are thrilled to have her guiding the ballet program and helping our dancers build strong technical foundations while fostering a lifelong love of dance.

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Gibs Babauta – Hip Hop Director

Meet our Hip Hop Director, Gibs Babauta. Gibs is a versatile and passionate artist whose training spans ballet, jazz, tap, contemporary, modern, and hip hop. Originally from Woodbridge, Virginia, she began developing her love for dance through years of dedicated training and performance opportunities.

Gibs attended the Center for Fine and Performing Arts Dance Program at Charles J. Colgan Sr. High School, where she concentrated on dance before continuing her education at Virginia Commonwealth University. During her collegiate training, she performed with Elevate Dance Company and further developed her artistry as both a performer and creator.

She later completed her pre-professional training at CLI Conservatory, studying under renowned mentors Teddy Forance and Riley Watts. Through these experiences, Gibs refined her unique movement style while gaining invaluable industry training and performance experience.

In addition to her stage work, Gibs has collaborated on film projects with choreographer Tyrik Patterson and Elevate Dance Company. She is also a proud alumna of the Washington Wizards Dancers, where she performed professionally while continuing to grow as an artist.

Gibs brings an incredible energy, creativity, and passion for movement to our faculty. Her ability to connect with dancers while challenging them to grow makes her a perfect fit for the Elevate family.

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Aubrey Tauzier – Instructor

Meet Our Instructor & Company Choreographer, Aubrey Tauzier. Aubrey is currently a freshman at James Madison University, where she is pursuing her Bachelor’s degree in Dance. Having grown up as a competitive dancer in Northern Virginia, she trained under the guidance of many of the same directors and mentors who now make up the Elevate Dance Company leadership team.

Throughout her competitive dance career, Aubrey earned numerous awards and recognitions as both a performer and choreographer. Her versatility as a dancer has allowed her to train and perform in contemporary, modern, hip hop, ballet, tap, and jazz, developing a strong technical foundation and a unique artistic voice.

While she enjoys all styles of dance, Aubrey’s greatest passion lies in contemporary and modern movement, where she is able to explore storytelling, artistry, and emotional connection through choreography and performance.

As a young artist continuing her education while beginning her teaching and choreographic journey, Aubrey brings fresh ideas, creativity, and a genuine love for mentoring younger dancers. She is excited to share her passion for dance and help inspire the next generation of artists at Elevate Dance Company.

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Olivia Rueter – Instructor

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Ayla Hall – Instructor

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Lyric Lucas – Instructor

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Isabella Ray – Instructor

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Leah Kochersperger – Studio Coordinator

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Sophie Tauzier – Instructor