Rebekah... Owner/Artistic Director
Rebekah is a professionally trained classical dancer. Native to Williamsburg, she went on to perform in the entertainment world as a professional dancer, singer, and choreographer. At the age of 8, Rebekah was placed in the advanced level in her ballet company and proceeded to be put en pointe by the age of 10. She trained in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Lyrical, Hip Hop, Modern, Character, Irish, and Musical Theatre. Rebekah has performed in ballets with principle dancers from NYCB, ABT and more such as The Nutcracker, The Secret Garden, The Tales of Beatrix Potter in which she starred in. At the age of 13, Rebekah was chosen to travel and perform with the Robitsheck Dance Ensemble in Germany. After she trained as a classical dancer she went on to perform professionally, starting at the age of 16. Rebekah has been instructing students to succeed as a dancer for over 15 years. She previously founded the Y Performing Arts Academy from 2009-2014, but then pursued her dream of owning her own studio, En Pointe Dance Academy in 2015. Rebekah shares her own passion for dance with her students by encouraging them to achieve their goals and dreams.
Kevin- Instructor
Kevin Hawkins was born in Williamsburg, VA. At a very young age his mother realized his talent and put Kevin in the Regency Dance Academy in Richmond to study dance. Kevin trained in Hip Hop and Jazz and later joined to study at Broadway Dance Arts as well. After graduating high school, Kevin attended the Savannah College of Arts and Design in Georgia. There he studied graphic arts, hip hop, jazz funk, belly dancing, dance hall, African, and contemporary. During his college studies, Kevin held summer dance jobs on cruise ships. In 2002 Kevin had the opportunity to work with Missy Elliott during her music video, Gossip Folks, set as an extra. There he was introduced to the famous choreographer Fatima Robinson from NYC who has choreographed for artists like Aaliyah, The Black Eyed Peas, Janet Jackson, and Britney Spears. In 2005, Kevin accepted an instructor position at VCU (Virginia Commonwealth University) and is currently still instructing young dancers who attend there. Kevin has also been an instructor for the Debbie Allen Dance Academy located in Los Angeles, CA. During his time with the Debbie Allen Dance Academy, he is flown all over the United States to teach a seminars and conventions. Starting in 2012, Kevin was hired to instruct hip hop by Rebekah Blythe at the Y Performing Arts Academy and then followed her as she opened En Pointe Dance Academy! Kevin love being a part of En Pointe as a hip hop instructor and is thrilled to be able to share his art to young children and the people who surround him!
Nicole- Instructor
Nicole is a native of Williamsburg, beginning her dance training under the tutelage of Sandra Balestracci. She later went on to study at the Kirov Academy of Ballet in Washington, D.C. and holds a BA in Philosophy with a Minor in Dance from Christopher Newport University. She has performed professionally with various companies including Busch Gardens Williamsburg, Kings Dominion, Virginia Stage Company, Virginia Opera, Experimental Film Virginia, Virginia Musical Theatre, MoonMax Productions, and Todd Rosenlieb Dance. She began teaching in 2012 and has taught at various local studios and schools throughout Hampton Roads including serving as a guest teacher and adjudicator for York County’s School of the Arts. She specializes in classical ballet, pointe, pre-pointe, contemporary, acro, and choreography/composition classes. She also has particular interests in somatic movement, yoga, and Ohad Naharin’s Gaga technique, which she combines with her dance background to provide her students with a unique experience focused on developing their own movement styles while also learning proper technique. Her goal is to inspire and empower students to explore their own creativity while also giving them an understanding of movement and technique that will help them keep their bodies and minds healthy throughout their dance journey. She is excited she gets to share her passion with the students at En Pointe Dance Academy!
William- Instructor
WILLIAM STERLING WALKER began dance training at the age of 14, at the Chamber Ballet (now the Virginia Regional Ballet) in Williamsburg, Virginia. He went on to receive the Artist Merit Award from the Virginia School of the Arts, and was a Regional Dance America scholarship recipient. He also trained with the Allegheny Ballet Company, and Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet. He has danced professionally with the Richmond Ballet, Starr Foster Dance Project, Chris Burnside and Dancers, Charisma Dance Theater, and has guest taught and performed throughout Virginia and beyond as far reaching as central Mexico, the coast of Columbia South America and Southern Spain. He is a certified teacher in the Wolf Trap teaching method for children. William taught for eleven years Ballet, Jazz, Modern, Latin, Flamenco and Techno Hip-Hop at Henrico County High school's Center for the Arts, and The School Of The Latin Ballet Of Virginia in which he was the Junior Company Director and veteran dancer of it's professional company The Latin Ballet Of Virginia. At this time he wishes to continue to pass along the joys and strength that dance has given him to aspiring young people and adults within the 757 area.
Shawn- Instructor
Miss Shawn has had an extensive professional career in dance and theatre as a performer, choreographer and director. As a professional entertainer, she performed around the country as a dancer, singer and actress in touring shows, theme parks and regional theatres. At Busch Gardens Tampa Bay while the lead dancer in "Kaleidoscope", she was also the assistant park choreographer and trained the incoming performers for their shows. Her work also includes appearances in commercials and film.
After settling in Williamsburg, Miss Shawn opened "Broadway Dance Arts" where she served as owner and artistic director for 21 years. She formed the first competition dance team and musical theatre performance group in Williamsburg. Her students have won many National awards and gone on to professional careers. Miss Shawn also enjoys performing and choreographing for Williamsburg area school musicals and theatres. Her most recent performance was as Mrs. Wormwood in "Matilda"at the Willliamsburg Players Theatre. Shawn is very excited to join the EPDA students and become a part of their dance family.
Erin- Instructor
Erin Hipple started dancing at the age 8 under the direction of Rebekah at the Y Performing Arts Academy. In 2014, Erin continued her training when Rebekah opened En Pointe Dance Academy. She was one of the first dancers on the En Pointe Dance Company. Erin enjoyed furthering her education by dancing on the company for 4 years. While on company, Erin was given the opportunity travel. While traveling with the company she was able to train with professional dancers in NYC, Orlando and more. She was even given to opportunity to dance at Miss America as well as the Cherry Blossom Festival in DC. Some of Erin’s fondest memories involve her time spent on the EPDA company. Erin’s love for instructing began at the age of 10 when she started assistant teaching. She later became an instructor at 17 and has loved it ever since. Erin went to college for business but could never break away from the En Pointe family. She continued to volunteer at and in performances until she officially rejoined the studio family as an instructor in 2023. Erin is trained in tap, ballet, jazz, hip-hop, and lyrical. She is excited to share her love of dance with the students at En Pointe and to watch their passion for dance grow.
Dr. Blair Sweeney- Certified PT, DPT
Dr. Blair Sweeney is a pediatric physical therapist in the Williamsburg area and she is the owner of Cardinal Pediatric Therapy Services. Her passion for performing arts and expertise in movement are coming together perfectly through this partnership with EPDA. Blair has an extensive history working with pediatrics and has expertise in development of growing bodies. She understands the rigor and demands of training a dancer undergoes, and utilizes research based approaches to help your dancer achieve their goals related to their dance career. Blair is also a mom of EPDA dancers.
As the studio's personal physical therapist, dancers will now have access to Blair when appointments are scheduled before, during, or after their classes, at the studio. This will save families and dancers both time and money. Whether your dancer has an acute or chronic injury that would benefit from physical therapy, or you want to use her expertise for monitoring the overall wellness of your development as a dancer, Blair is now exclusively offering dance medicine services to the EPDA family.
Joy- Customer Engagement Coordinator
Claire- Office Management Assistant
Charlotte- Guest Instructor
Charlotte Robbins, an En Pointe Dance Academy alumni, born and raised in Williamsburg, started dancing at the age of just 2 years old. She started locally at the Institute for Dance and later went on to dance with En Pointe Dance until she graduated High School. Charlotte danced with En Pointe’s Senior Company for 6 years and became company captain. Charlotte trained under Artistic Director, Rebekah Blythe for many years. As a student she had to opportunity to volunteer as a teacher's assistant where she really fell in love with teaching and was eventually trained to become an Instructor. When it comes to the arts, Charlotte is well versed in singing, dancing, and acting. Charlotte sang at Walt Disney World in the Internationally broadcasted candlelight precession, along with performing in show choir, many musical theater productions, and as soprano soloist with the award winning Acapella Group “Harmonix”. Charlotte is trained in tap, ballet, jazz, hip-hop, contemporary, modern, lyrical, and musical theater. During her training, Charlotte had the opportunity to take classes with Ballet Hawaii as well as Joffrey Ballet School in New York City. While dancing at Joffrey she trained in additional styles such as African, Latin Jazz, Street Style Jazz, Ballroom, and yoga/aerobic training. Outside of the studio and theater Charlotte enjoys pilates and barre conditioning. Charlotte loves working with children and is in nursing school with hopes of becoming a Pediatric Nurse.