Erica Goggans
Director
Erica founded Glory & Grace Dance in 2008 as a platform to provide technically sound dance instruction in a Christian environment that focused on hard work, discipline, and mutual respect for all students.
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Erica began training in 1994 as a junior in the Department of Theatre & Dance at the University of Alabama under the tutelage of Edy Barnes, Linda Caldwell, and Cornelius Carter. One year later she was accepted into the Alabama Repertory Dance Theater, the university’s pre-professional company. During that time she trained at Harvard University and performed featured roles in a special productions by guest choreographers.
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Erica graduated in 1996 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in American History. Later that year she met her husband Tommie and they were married one year later. This began an eight year sabbatical from dance to focus solely on being a wife and mother. In 2002 Erica was transformed by the power of Christ Jesus and devoted her life to serving him. One year later, following the birth of her fourth child, she endured an illness lasting eight months but was miraculously healed. It was at this time God led her back to dance, this time as a method of worship and training young dancers for His glory.
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Erica currently serves as Artistic Director and certified instructor implementing the Cecchetti method, an internationally recognized training method for Classical Ballet.
Erica is the mother of eight children: Tommie IV, Natalie, George Edward, Garrett, Kellah, Nissah, Lena, and Patrick. She is truly grateful for the addition of her daughter, in law and in love, Tristan and her grandson Tommie J! She enjoys singing, cooking, beach days and mentoring young women. Her favorite scripture is Galatians 3:3.
Mandi Parker
Instructor
Mandi Parker is the Tap Instructor at Glory and Grace Dance. She is from Gadsden where she took dance for eleven years until it was time to take a break and seek the Lord and His plans for her life. She continued her tap education while in college at the University of Mobile but as an elective. Although it wasn't her major, she could not get away from her love of the dance form that is tap.
After college, she married her wonderful husband, Scott, and they have two amazing children, Logan and Brecklyn. Her devotion to the Lord and His calling as wife and mother have been her number one focus and priority. She and her husband have been in youth ministry and have homeschooled their children, so the opportunity to combine her love for ministering to students while teaching tap was an unexpected surprise sent from the Lord. She is so honored to be called to be a part of what the Lord is doing at Glory & Grace.
DeLynn Norris
Instructor
DeLynn Norris grew up in Kennesaw, GA with her parents and younger brother. At the age of four her parents enrolled her in dance classes at their local dance studio. She continued dancing and competing until she graduated high school. She then began teaching dance at her childhood studio. After high school she attended Georgia Highlands College and soon transferred to Kennesaw State University.
While in college she was a part of a college Christian group and worked as a nanny, an office assistant, and an after school teacher. She studied dance and earned a bachelor’s in Early Childhood Education. She also met her husband and stepdaughter during this time. After graduating she and Tj were married and she moved to Alabama. It was here that God led her to be the director of the preschool ministry at Mountain View Church. He then led her to Erica Goggans to continue her passion for dance.
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She is no longer the preschool director at her church because God led her into the Calhoun County School system where she currently teaches Pre-K. This is her seventh year at Glory & Grace Dance and she looks forward to what God has ahead!
Faith is the oldest of 5 siblings and the only girl in her family. She grew up in Southern California at the beach. Right after her high school graduation in 2006 she went on a mission trip with her church's youth group to Brazil. There she met her future husband, John who was attending the same mission trip. Faith and John were married in 2008 and moved to Redding, California.
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In 2011 they moved their family to John's hometown of Gadsden, Alabama where they have lived since. They have 3 children who are all in elementary school. Faith is an RN with a passion for critical care nursing.
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Faith started Ballet and Jazz at 7 years old and danced all through high-school even into adulthood. She loves the LORD with all of her heart and loves being able to worship Him through dance. It is a prayer of hers that others would encounter the LORD's presence and love through her dance and her students' dancing.
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Faith Weber
Instructor
Adriane Burgess
Instructor
Adriane started taking dance at 7 years old. She took ballet, pointe, tap and jazz until she graduated high school. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Marketing and a minor in English.
She married her high school sweetheart in 2008. She and Auston grew up in Etowah County. They have 2 children. Adriane retired early from a career at Alabama Power Company after 14 years of service to be a full-time mom and homeschool her children. She and her husband are active youth leaders at City Church. She loves the Lord and dance.