Carol DeLarue

Carol is the owner and director of DeLarue Dance Centre. She is a member of Dance Masters of America, Louisiana Association of Dance Masters, Dixie Dance Masters and Dance Educators of America. Carol has been a guest teacher for Dance Masters of America regional conventions in Detroit, New York and Ohio. In 1987, she choreographed the opening Miss Dance of America for Dance Masters of America's National Convention in New York City. She has had a total of six Miss Dances' of Louisiana, four Junior Miss Dances' and one Petite Miss Dance. Several of her students have been awarded scholarships to Joffrey School of Ballet in New York City and Gus Giordano Dance Centre in Chicago, IL. Mrs. DeLarue attended USL, majoring in Choreographic Design. She continued her dance education, attending the Jazz Dance World Congress in Evanston, IL and learning from numerous dance masters throughout the United States. Mrs. DeLarue completed the three year Teachers Training School in Buffalo, NY and was presented the Janet Bachna Scholarship award.

Dawn DeLarue Simpson
Dawn graduated from DeLarue Dance Centre in 1992 and has been on the staff for 19 years. She graduated from St. Thomas More in 1992 where she participated in, and received major rolls in the plays "Fame" and "Bye, Bye Birdie". She was a four year member of UDA's staff and STM Sparklers, serving as captain her senior year. Dawn is a graduate of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, where she majored in Performing Arts with an emphasis in Dance. She played a major role in the play "Hair" and participated in the UL Fall Concert and UL State of La Danse as a choreographer and dancer.  She was a member of Kappa Delta Sorority.

Dawn has participated in numerous performing arts competitions and was 1st runner up to Miss Dance of America in 1992. She attended World Congress of Dance in Chicago and attended both the Martha Graham and Alvin Ailey Winter Intensive programs in New York City. She is a graduate of Dance Master's of America Teacher's Training School in Buffalo, NY.

Dawn is the mother of Jacob, Caroline, Samantha & Jack.

Allison Adams
 

Allison graduated from DeLarue Dance Centre in 2008, completing 12 years of dance.  This is her second year on staff.

She is a graduate of Lafayette High School where she maintained a 3.8 gpa as an honor student.  While attending Lafayette High, Allison was a member of National Honor Society, Beta Club, and was a Regent Scholar graduate.  Allison was also a participant in Lafayette High's 2008 musical production "Guys and Dolls".

Allison is currently a sophomore at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette majoring in Exercise Science with a minor in Dance.

Allison was a participant in ULL's 2009 production of "An Evening of Dance".

Kristi Carr
Kristi is from McComb, MS and has been teaching dance for 17 years. She completed her Business Minor at the University of Mississippi, where she was a member of the Ole Miss "Rebelette" Dance Team. Kristi went on to earn her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Choreographic Design/Dance at UL.

Upon completion of her BFA, she studied at the Alvin Ailey Dance School in New York City, while working as assistant to the Business Manager and Bursar for the school. She was also on staff for the Junior Programs of BDC and Bridge for Dance.

In 2001, Kristi moved to Los Angles, CA., where she was on staff for Millennium Dance Complex and helped open and run E. Motions Dance Center in North Hollywood.

Prior to returning to Lafayette to teach at DDC, she returned to the Alvin Ailey School and the International Ballet Competition Dance School to continue to study as an instructor.

She is currently on staff for UL@L where she teaches Jazz, Modern, and Dance History. She is also serving as the coach for the Lafayette High Dance Team.

Abby Dumatrait

Abby graduated from DeLarue Dance Centre in 2006, completing 16 years of dance.  She is a graduate of Teurlings High School where she served as Student Council President her senior year.  She was selected as 2nd maid on homecoming court and was Teurlings Rebel of the Year.  Abby participated in TCH spring musicals for four years, performing a female lead role her senior year in "The Wizard of Oz".

Abby attended Dance Masters of America Teachers Training School in Buffalo, NY, completing two years of the SHIP program and one year of the Teacher's Training program.  She has performed at the Miss New Orleans Pageant, Gabriel Mardi Gras Ball and "The Gathering of Artists" under the Cangelosi Dance Project.  She was also a participant in UL's 2006-2007 "State of La Danse" and "An Evening of Dance.

Abby is currently a unior at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, majoring in Fashion Merchandising.

Lacey LeBlanc

Lacey graduated from DeLarue Dance Centre in 2003, where she was a student for 15 years. She graduated from Acadiana High with a 3.8 gpa.  While at a AHS, she was a cheerleader, serving as captain her senior year.  She was an All-American Cheerleader and choreographer for dance routines at camps and competitions. 

Lacey has participated in UL's State of la Danse and An Evening of Dance both as choreographer and dancer.  She has attended the American College Dance Festival in 2005, 2006, 2007 & 2008.

Lacey is a graduate of the University of Louisana where she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Performing Arts, with an emphasis in Dance. She was the recipient of the Outstanding Graduate Award for College of the Arts in 2007.

Lacey is a graduate of Dance Masters of America Teacher's Training School in Buffalo, New York.

Kim Manuel

Kim graduated from DeLarue Dance Centre in 1979 and has been on DDC's staff for 23 years.

While attending DDC, Kim was the 1979 Miss Dance of Louisiana, representing Louisiana's Chapter of Dance Master's of America at the National Convention in New York City, receiving the award for most talented non-finalist. 

Kim is a member of Dance Masters of America and Louisiana Association of Dance Masters. She has studied dance under Gus Giorodano in Chicago, IL for 2 years and was a member of the Gus Giorodano Dance Company. Kim attended Jazz Dance World Congress and the Teachers Training School in Buffalo, NY.

Kim is the mother of a daughter, Kimberly and a son, Cory.

Michelle DesOrmeaux Merrill

Michelle graduated from DeLarue Dance Centre in 1997 and has been teaching for DDC since her graduation. Michelle is a graduate of St. Thomas More where she was a member of the STM Sparklers for 2 years and was an STM Cheerleader for 2 years.

Michelle is a graduate of the University of Louisiana Lafayette, with a degree in Elementary Education. While attending UL, she was a member of the Rajin Jazz dance team and danced for Lafayette's professional Arena Football dance team.  She was the recipient of a scholarship to study ballet under Val Salnikov and to perform in the Swan Lake Production.  Michelle was crowned Miss UL, winning the talent competition, and was also a Miss Louisiana contestant, receiving the Miss Photogenic Louisiana award.

Michelle was head of the Intramural Aerobic Department at UL for 4 years.  She is a Certified Personal Trainer and Aerobic Instructor and has instructed cheerleading and tumbling.  She is presently an aerobics instructor at Red Lerille's Health Club.

Vivica Bertinot Marino

Vivica graduated from DeLarue Dance Centre in 1992 and has been on DDC's staff for 18 years. She is a graduate of Carencro High School where she was a member of the CHS Dazzler's Dance Team, serving as captain her senior year.

Vivica is a graduate of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, with a major in English. She received her Master's degree in 2002, maintaining a 4.0 GPA. Vivica is presently an English teacher at Teurlings Catholic High School, where she heads the English department.

Vivica is a graduate of Dance Master's of America Teacher's Training School in Buffalo, NY. She was a participant in the 1992 Miss Dance of Louisiana competition, placing as 2nd runner up.

Vivica is the mother of daughters, Gabrielle and Victoria.

Melissa Musson
Melissa graduated from DeLarue Dance Centre in 2003, completing 16 years of dance. She has been on the staff for six years. Melissa is also a graduate of St. Thomas More where she was a member of the STM Sparkler Dance Team. While attending STM, she was a Who's Who Among American High School Students.

Melissa graduated from the University of Louisiana with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree, with an emphasis in dance.  She was on the Dean's list four consecutive years.  While at UL, Melissa attended and performed at the American College Dance Festival in Texas.  Melissa was a member of the UL Ragin Jazz Dance Team.  She participated in UL's State of la Danse and An Evening of Dance, both as choreographer and dancer.  Melissa also performed several character roles in UL's reconstruction of Mozart's The Magic Flute.

Melissa has trained with Ballet Hysell in New Orleans under the direction of Harvey Hysell and the Academy of Performing Arts under the late Larella LaRouche-Pitts.  Melissa is a graduate of Dance Masters of America Teacher's Training School in Buffalo, NY and is a member of Dance Masters of America and LA Dance Masters.

Kim Babin Parich

Kim graduated from DeLarue Dance Centre in 1995 and has been at DeLarue for 14 years. She is graduate of Lafayette High School and was a member of the LHS dance team for 3 years, serving as co-captain her senior year. Kim was a Who's Who Among American High School Students and a Regent Scholar Graduate.

Kim graduated from the University of Louisiana, where she maintained a 3.3 gpa, majoring in Speech Pathology. She received her Masters in Speech Pathology in 2002. She is presently employed by the Iberia Parish School Board as a Speech Language Therapist.

Kim is the mother of a son, Michael.

Nicole Ryan

Nicole graduated from DeLarue Dance Centre in 2005, completing 14 years of dance.  This is her 5th year on staff.

Nicole graduated from Lafayette High School where she was an honors student.  She attended the Lafayette Parish High School Arts Academy dance program for four years.

She is currently attending the University of Louisiana at Lafayette where she is majoring in Performing Arts with an emphasis in Dance.

Nicole participated in UL's State of La Danse and An Evening of Dance as both a dancer and choreographer.  She also attended the American College Dance Festival in 2007, 2008 and 2009.  She is a graduate of Dance Master's of America Teachers Training School in Buffalo, NY.