Lori Gelezinsky   Director & Instructor

Lori is a native of Chadbourn, NC and a current resident of the Cherry Grove community. She graduated from West Columbus High School as Valedictorian in 1990. During high school she trained locally, and studied at the North Carolina Governor's School of Dance. While pursuing her degree at East Carolina University as a North Carolina Teaching Fellow Scholarship Recipient, Lori performed with the college's nationally ranked dance team for four years - competing in the ESPN College National Championships held in San Antonio, Texas (where they were ranked fourth in the nation) and San Deigo, California. She was also cast in ECU's annual Dance Theatre for three years consecutively. Lori graduated Magna Cum Laude with a B.S. degree in Dance Education from ECU in 1994.

 Lori holds a certification from the State of North Carolina to teach dance to grades kindergarten through twelve in the public schools and taught dance and theatre arts to students at East Columbus High School from 1994 to 1998. While there, she created and directed the county's first and only School Dance Team, the Gator Girls who competed in the National High School Dance Team Championships in Orlando, florida. She directed "Oliver!", "Westside Story"' "Bye Bye Birdie", and "Little Shop of Horrors". Lori was voted twice by her fellow faculty members at ECHS as the school's "Teacher of the Year". Lori also served as choreographer for the Columbus County Theatre Association in their production of the musical "Grease".

 Lori taught at Turning Point Studio in Whiteville in 1996 and 1997 and has served on the Board of Directors for the North Carolina Dance Alliance. She was honored twice with an invitation to serve as guest dance clinician for the largest student arts festival in the state - "Celebrate the Arts" in 2001 and 2004. Lori has judged auditions for the ECU Dance Team and for professional teams in the Winston Salem area.

 Having opened Southside Dance Center in 1997, she has directed and taught in the studio for the past 12 years. Lori ultimately holds family as her highest achievement and greatest possession. She is married to Barry Gelezinsky and they have two children, Brady and Layla. She is an active member of Cherry Grove Baptist Church where she co-teaches an adult Sunday School class. Lori feels extremely blessed and praises the Lord for His grace and mercy.

 

 

Staci Long - Instructor

Staci Long is completing her third year on staff at Southside Dance Center. Having danced since the age of two, Staci trained locally during her younger years. She graduated from West Columbus High School in 2001 and was on the Varsity Cheerleading Squad for all four years. She later studied with the Arthur Murray Dance Studio in Raleigh, North Carolina where she became an instructor of ballroom dance. She has also been on the faculty of Janice's School of Dance in Dunn, North Carolina. Staci is the daughter of Jan Long of Fair Bluff, North Carolina and Phillip and Rhonda Long of Chadbourn, North Carolina where she grew up. Staci has always known that dance would play a big role in her life and she is a great asset to our studio.