Shelly Ridley Steward is a native of Columbus, Ohio. She is the founder and Artistic Director of Judah Performing Arts Center, the home of Judah Dance Theater, Preaching Feet Dance Company, and Judah PAC. She is also the founder and director of Christian Dance Academy.

Mrs. Ridley-Steward received her dance certification from The Ohio State University where she has also done graduate work. She is a state licensed Dance Educator who taught Dance in Columbus Public Schools for 10 years. Shelly has ministered dance throughout the United States and Africa. She has worked and ministered with various groups and organizations like Upward Bound, FACE, Columbus Parks and Recreation, Life Line, Out of Him Ministries and various churches.

Shelly is a graduate of the Ft. Hayes Performing Arts Program. She received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Dance from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. While matriculating at the University of the Arts, she studied dance from the world renowned faculty members such as Pat Thomas, Milton Myers, Donald Lunsford, Judith Jamison (Artistic Director of the Alvin Ailey Dance Theater) and Maurice Hines (Brother and dance partner of famed performer Gregory Hines).

She is the founder of The Raah Church Dance Ministry, which later became Trevitt New Life Dance Ministry where she attends. Shelly resides in Columbus with her husband and children.

 

Meghan Schultz

Meghan brings her strong passion and love of dance to the Judah Performing Arts Center. She is a recent graduate from The Ohio State University where she received a Masters of Arts in Education. Prior to that, she received her Bachelors of Arts and K-12 teaching license in dance from the University of Akron. She has nearly 10 years of teaching experience in public schools and private studios around Ohio.

 

Joyelle K. Fobbs

Ms. Fobbs was invited to join the Dance Theatre of Harlem Company in 2002. Ms. Fobbs began her training with Elzbieta A. Kutek in Michigan and continued her studies at American Ballet Theatre (ABT), Kirov Academy, Julliard and Dance Theatre of Harlem schools. She then toured throughout the U.S. and also England and Germany as a member of the Dance Theatre of Harlem. She later attended the University of Michigan receiving her BFA in dance with Honor's in 2007. While there she, was featured as a soloist in works by Alonzo King and Martha Graham, performed in several operas, and choreographed numerous dances that have been performed in Michigan and elsewhere.

She has also received numerous merit scholarship awards as well as the Dance Magazine® Craft of Choreography Award. Joyelle also enjoys singing and is a STOTTPilates® fully certified instructor. Joyelle has recently been seen dancing with Dayton Ballet and just finished her ABT teacher training in NYC. She is an MFA candidate in dance at the Ohio State University, where she'll be conducting research on dance injury prevention. Joyelle is so excited to share the joy of dance with the Judah Performing Arts school and the Columbus community.

 

Aureyl Pitts

Aureyl Pitts is a native of Columbus, Ohio. She attended The Ohio State University where she graduated with a dual degree in Dance and Communications. She began her training with Two Left Feet in the Right Direction under the tutelage of Stephanie Bland. She then went on to train with BalletMet, under the direction of April Berry. While there, she performed works by April Berry, Maria Glimcher, Rosalyn Dove, Travis Gatling, and many more. While at The Ohio State University, she trained with artists such as Bebe Miller, Susan Hadley, Teena Custer, Maria Glimcher, Coco Loupe, and Abby Yager, among many others.

She also attended The International Association of Blacks in Dance festival for three years under The Ohio State Department of Dance Quarterly Funding Initiative. While at OSU, she also co-founded the Black Dance Alliance, which performed works in the community, and assisted in bringing artists to teach forms of the African Diaspora into the dance department. She has just recently completed working on a solo project, which she co-choreographed with up-and-coming artist Afaliah Tribune, entitled "Journey".