Our Faculty
Our Faculty
The RCPA staff is a wonderful mixture of qualified instructors who love their students and work very hard to set a positive example for them to follow. At RCPA, not only do we stress dance technique, but we also try to instill in our students values that will hopefully follow them throughout life and help them in their future choices. Children and teens need a positive atmosphere in which to grow and develop and RCPA strives to be that place. We hope that your experience with us will be an extremely positive one. If at any time you need to discuss anything with your teacher or directors, please feel free to contact us.
Robin Williams - Co-Owner/Choreographer
Robin's training began at age 11 in North Alabama, studies that included ballet, jazz and acrobatics. She was a member of the North Alabama Gymnastics Team. Her ballet career continued as a four year member of the Tennessee Festival Ballet Company in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, where she performed in famous ballets such as The Nutcracker, Swan lake, Gizzelle, and Cinderella, just to name a few. While with the company, she was chosen as one of the select few to study in Europe for the summer under world renowned international dance instructors. Robin is also certified by Dance Masters of America. Choreography credits include many award winning competition dances performed on the regional and national level. She has choreographed many community musicals as well as local performances.
Emily Wilbanks - Co-Owner/Choreographer
Emily began her dance training at age 3 in Huntsville, Alabama. During her youth, she took classes from Ann Brown, Pat Livingston and Bobbie Hall, all of Huntsville. Emily enjoyed taking classes in ballet, tap and jazz. She also trained under various instructors at conventions in Atlanta, Nashville, and New York City. At age 14, Emily began student teaching at Bobbie's School of Dance and by age 16, she was instructing classes of her own. She also taught for Dance Elite in Huntsville until deciding to open Rover City Performing Arts in Decatur. As a choreographer, Emily has worked with the Twickenham Repertory Company, Decatur Civic Chorus and the Calhoun Community Theatre Department. Emily is certified to teach by Dance Masters of America
Gracie Machado - Instructor/Choreographer
Gracie has been a member of the RCPA staff since 2019 and she is super excited for another year working with and getting to know her dancers!! Gracie began dancing at 3 years old, here at River City and continued dancing through High School and became an assistant teacher and a member of the River City Ensemble! While dancing with RCPA Gracie performed in many award winning dances in Ballet, Tap, Jazz and Modern! Upon graduating from Hartselle High School, Gracie received a dance scholarship to attend Southern Union which allowed her the opportunity to continue her dance training at a college level! Gracie enjoyed dancing at SU and performed in all the dance and theatre productions during her time there. She was chosen for a pas de duet and solo role as well! She also performed as a member of the SU dance team! Gracie transferred to Troy university her sophomore year to continue her education and graduated in 2019 with a BA degree in Communications with a minor in Public Relations! She is also employeed as the Marketing Coordinator at WCU Credit Union here in Decatur!
Tahauny Cleghorn - Instructor/Choreographer
Tahauny is delighted to return home to her RCPA family! She began her dance training at age 3 at Steps Dance Company in Cullman. AL and continued her training at RCPA, where she was also a member of the River City Ensemble. Tahauny attended Wallace State Community College and the University of Mantevallo, and holds both an AA in Liberal Arts and a BFA i Musical Theatre. Tahauny was active in both WSCC's and UM's performing arts departments as an actor, vocalist, choreographer, and assistant director, and was the recipient of the Walter Trauer Award for Overall Excellence in the Theatre form the UM faculty. Tahauny has been seen as a performer, teacher, and choreographer throughout the state of Alabama, most notabley is her role as "Libby Liberty" as part of the Next Great Americans Tour with the Liberty Learning Foundation. She has served as a teaching artist with the Virginia Samford Theatre, Birminham Children's Theatre, and Red Mountain Theatre Company. Some of her choreography credits include Godspell, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Fun Home, The Three Musketeers, West Side Story, Peter and the Starcatcher, and A Year With Frog and Toad, in addition to award-winning pieces at many regional, state and national talent competitions. Tahauny can't wait to pass on some of her knowledge and experience to the next generation of RCPA dancers.
McCoy Cleghorn - Instructor/Choreographer
McCoy is thrilled to return to her favorite place in the world, the RCPA studio. Sher began her dance training at age 3 at Steps Dance Company, and found her happy place soon after at RCPA and in the River City Ensemble, She is currently a student at Wallace State Community College with a performing arts concentration. She can be seen on any and all Wallace State stages as the dance captain and assistant choreographer of the Wallace State Theatre, where she's held leading and featured roles in Big Fish, Mary Poppins, Shrek, The Musical. The Addams Family, and many more. McCoy is the writer and choreographer for the drama ministries at Addison Church of God, where she also serves as a vocolist on the praise team and as an assistant in children's ministries. McCoy is an accompished vocalist and has placed at both the state and national levels of many music, dance and drama competitions. She is delighted to bring her love for dance and performance to future tiny dancers of RCPA.