Keller Armistead
Keller is the owner and director of Performing Arts Academy of Virginia Beach and serves as one of the studio's five instructors. She has lived in the Chesapeake area for over twenty years and is a graduate of Great Bridge High School. While at Great Bridge, she was selected to be one of the original members of the school's dance team, The Rockcats. She also participated in several plays including the school's first-ever musical production.
Keller went on to attend Mary Baldwin College and ultimately transferred to Old Dominion University. She received a degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology with a minor in Early Childhood Education. While attending Old Dominion, she also studied dance and was a cast member in many of the university's productions.
Throughout her high school and college years, Keller also competed on the Miss Virginia pageant circuit. There she displayed her love and passion for dance -- dancing during the talent portion of many competitions. Since college, Keller has had the privilege of dancing for and with a number of internationally-acclaimed dancers and choreographers, including Travis Wall, Rhee Gold, Ofer Ben and Avi Miller, Tony Corso and his wife Maureen Gelchion, Margarita de Saa', Brian Foley, Diane Gudat, Finus Jhung, Alice Korsick, Joe Lanteri, Nancy O'Meara, Hedy Perna, Gregg Russell, Art Stone, Gil Stromin, and Joe Tremaine. After dancing for over thirty years and teaching dance for ten years under the direction of Amy Brown, Keller opened Performing Arts Academy of Virginia Beach in 2011.
Presently, the studio is comprised of over one hundred students that range in age from babies to adults. The studio also has a satellite program that travels to various local preschools to teach dance. Keller has also choreographed "Singing in the Rain" and "High School Musical" for Grassfield High School. In addition, the studio offers competitive dance and has won numerous awards in local, regional, and international competitions.
In her spare time, Keller enjoys reading, listening to music, working out, and spending time with her family and friends.
Kelsey Meier
Kelsey grew up in Richmond, Virginia and is a graduate of Deep Run High School in Glen Allen. During high school, Kelsey was part of the "Dancing Lady Wildcats" for four years serving as captain in her junior and senior years. Kelsey went on to attend Old Dominion University and was a member of the ODU Dance team serving as team captain in her junior and senior years as well. She graduated with a degree in Mathematics and is now a high school math teacher at Indian River High School. The love of dance and cheerleading started at the age of three. Kelsey competed in both dance and cheerleading but ultimately chose to concentrate on dance. She danced at Barbara Hammond School of Dance taking ballet, tap, hip-hop, jazz, and lyrical. Kelsey competed in tap for many years receiving numerous awards. She has choreographed countless routines over the years for both high school and college. In her downtime, Kelsey loves to spend time with her two sons, family, and friends. She is currently an adjunct instructor at Performing Arts Academy.
Becca Schatti
Becca has been dancing since she was two. She started out at Dance Atlantic under the direction of Garnet Neilson, Sherry Dunn, and Karen Buchheim. She then went on to dance with Virginia Beach Ballet with Mr. Danny. After that she took classes at the Rec Center with Jean Widlika. Then she found a home at Jean Wallace Studios where she studied under Jean Wallace, Lisa Wallace, Lynley Tolls, and Kathleen Watson. She became a teacher's assistant at the age of twelve and started teaching at the age of sixteen. She has also taught at Energy Level Dance Studio. Becca has taken classes with Madame Darvasch, Kenny Ortega, and Savion Glover.
Becca is a graduate from Frank W. Cox High School. She was on the dance team and very active in the theater department. She was a soloist dancer in Bye Bye Birdie and Ensemble for Cabaret and Hello Dolly.
When Becca is not at PAA, you can find her at various preschools teaching Dance, Cheer, Sports, and Fitness. You can also find her running around either the Princess Anne, Great Neck, or Kempsville Rec Centers teaching dance. As if her schedule weren't busy enough, on the weekends you can find her waiting tables at Y'Not on Great Neck Road.
Becca's other passion includes Musical Theater. She has done numerous shows on and off the stage. She has worked with Little Theater of Virginia Beach, Little Theater of Norfolk, Great Bridge High School, and Kempsville High School. Some of her favorite shows she has done are Side Show (Tattoo Girl), Chicago (Choreographer), Godspell (Choreographer), Little Mermaid Junior (Choreographer), Addams Family (Assistant Choreographer), Young Frankenstein (Assistant Choreographer), and many more. She is very excited to be the Assistant Choreographer for Hairspray at The Little Theater of Virginia Beach the summer of 2018!
Becca is very excited to be a part of the PAA family! She is looking forward to the many adventures with the students and the teachers! 💖🌟💖🌟
Kelsey Friend
Kelsey has lived in the Hampton Roads area for 2 years. She was born and raised in North Branch, Michigan. She is currently attending Regent University to pursue her Bachelor's Degree in Paralegal Studies.
Kelsey has always had dance as part of her life. She has danced herself for 21 years and began student teaching at the age of twelve. She then started teaching dance at the age of seventeen in the studio in which she grew up. Kelsey has also been a part of the competitive dance world for 12 years. Along with attending many competitions she has attended dance camps, conventions, and also has her 2nd year certification from Dance Masters of America.
Kelsey's forte is ballet, jazz, lyrical/contemporary, and hip-hop, but she enjoys sharing her love for all styles of dance with her students.
Along with dance Kelsey enjoys spending time outdoors and anything that involves her dog, Maci.
Kelsey loves being a part of the PAA Dance family and can't wait to see what the new year has to offer for herself and her students!
James Ekemezie
James began dancing in 2013 as a senior in high school. He taught himself how to breakdance through YouTube videos and practiced every day after school. After senior year, he attended Old Dominion University and founded his current dance crew “CREWcial.”
Now, he has graduated with a degree in Psychology, is currently performing with CREWcial, and is the current Hip-Hop Instructor at Performing Arts Academy.
Madison Vickhouse
Madison is from Virginia Beach, Virginia and attended Denise Wall’s Dance Energy for most of her training. Throughout her years at the studio she became a member of their competition team and won countless specialty awards and titles. She has had the pleasure of training under amazing instructors such as Denise Wall, Travis Wall, Stacey Tookey, Jason Parsons, and many more. Madison has always had a love for strong technique and artistry and still pushes that with her students today.
A recent graduate from Shenandoah Conservatory, Madison received her Bachelors of Fine Arts in Dance (Magna Cum Laude). Throughout her time there she learned from incredible faculty and guest artists. During her time in the program, she had the privilege of performing in fourteen main stage performances that included specialty shows for donors and guests as well as countless student-led performances. She also choreographed multiple solos and group pieces, and her works were selected to be part of main stage performances. During her time at Shenandoah, she found a passion for choreography and teaching. She is dedicated to her work and her students and has found great success in her training programs.
Madison has also danced in multiple professional productions which included performing around the globe. She has performed solos in Chengdu, China, Gothenburg, Sweden, and many other locations. She has also performed in Guys and Dolls as Hot Box Ferguson with Virginia Stage Company. Most recently, she danced in numerous music videos and was contracted to choreograph as well. Madison takes her professional experience and translates it into the classroom to enhance her students' knowledge and looks forward to working with our dancers!
