Kathleen Marleneanu

Teacher

Kathleen started dancing at the age of 10 and hasn’t stopped since! She is from Arkansas where she began her dance journey with Deborah Moore Academy of Dance. She continued training at Henderson State University where she performed and choreographed for the HSU Dance Company and American College Dance Festivals, and graduated summa cum laude with a BA in English and minor in Dance. She is trained in jazz, ballet, modern, contemporary, hip hop, and tap.

Kathleen did not know exactly how dance would remain in her life, but God has continued to grow her passion and open doors. Over the years, she has been blessed to attend dance intensives in Chicago, Boulder, Austin, Wichita, Monroe, St. Louis, Laramie, and Houston, as well as to take classes in LA and NYC. Kathleen first danced professionally in Branson, then taught and directed the middle school dance program at Arkansas Arts Academy for 3 years before joining the Christian-based nonprofit New Creation Dance Company. With New Creation, she discovered the most meaningful purpose of dance, and had the privilege of performing, choreographing, and teaching for 12 years, the last three of which she also served as director. 

Additionally, Kathleen holds an M.Ed. in Learning Systems Technology from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, is on the AR Arts Council's Arts in Education Roster, and is a nationally credentialed teaching artist through Young Audiences Arts for Learning. As a teaching artist for over 10 years, Kathleen uses dance to inspire joy, discovery, and connections via residencies for schools, museums, libraries, and organizations such as AR Learning Through the Arts and A Plus, as well as writing curriculum and presenting PD on arts integration. After moving to Melbourne with her husband and two children, Kathleen is so grateful to have found Graceful Gifts and continue using dance to share the love and peace of God.

Tera Perkins

Teacher

Tera is an award winning teacher, choreographer and judge from Orlando, FL.  She has taught and choreographed for several studios around the country and is currently teaching at Integrity Dance Center in Winter Springs, FL.  Tera began teaching in 2001 and took over as owner/director of Deltona Dance Academy aka The Dance PAD in 2003.  She was a studio owner for 9 years.  Her students have been awarded many regional and national top awards at competitions and conventions across the country.  She has received recognition for her choreography at numerous competitions over the years.  Tera has years of judging experience and has judged for several large competitions across the country.  Her extensive background in dance gives her the opportunity to share her comments and critiques with teachers and dancers alike.  She is honored to be judging for Tribute.

Abigail Chapman

Teacher

Abigail began dancing at the age of 3 in Lansing, Michigan, where she grew up. She continued training in ballet as her love for worshiping God through dancing grew. In high school she was a part of the Greater Lansing Ballet company where she had the opportunity to perform many story ballets including the nutcracker. While she loved dancing and performing since she was a little girl, she has always wanted to teach dance and share her love of it with others. In high school she was a classroom assistant for two years at her home studio until she was entrusted with her own class for two years.

Abigail continued her dance training by pursuing a dance major at Belhaven University, training extensively in ballet and modern. She was given many opportunities to train under knowledgeable instructors as well as various guest artists. She had many performances as she was a part of the dance ministry ensemble and the dance ensemble multiple times. Abigail graduated in May of 2025 with her Bachelor of Arts in Dance and has recently moved to Melbourne with her husband. Abigail is excited for the opportunity of teaching dance at a Christ centered studio!

Amy Dimeo

Teacher

Amy began her dancing journey the moment she was born, God gave her a passion and love to dance. Born and raised in New Jersey and not far from Manhattans Theatre district, it fired her passions for dance and the arts. She began taking classes in Ballet, Tap, Lyrical, Acrobatics, Jazz, Hip Hop, and being on a dance competition team for the dance company.

As most children she involved herself in many activities. Her family were members of a Christian Church that offered weekly acting classes, performed productions in our church that also lead to community productions.

Being so close to Manhattan she was able to attend acting classes that lead to auditions for Disney. She also enjoyed being a cheerleader, and in High school became part of the traveling competition cheerleading team.

Having a love for the Arts, in college she continued with their dance program and studied photography. She became  a professional photographer with some of her work published in magazines and around Brevard county.

As a mom and a dance teacher, she gets to share her God given love and passion of dance with her son and Graceful Gifts sweet children.