Instructors & Staff
Ms. Elizabeth Bridgeman
Elizabeth Bridgeman is the founder and owner of Bridgeman Academy of Performing Arts. Throughout her career, she performed with prestigious companies such as The Muny, Opera Theatre of St. Louis, Broadway Kids, The Canadian Ballet (Les Grands), and Circus Harmony. Elizabeth founded a non-profit theatre organization prior to starting Bridgeman Academy and is certified in Progressing Ballet Technique. She is passionate about equipping students in the arts to serve God and others and has nearly 20 years of teaching experience.
Mr. Will Brighton
Will Brighton is a dancer, choreographer, and teacher based in St Louis, MO. Originally from Ann Arbor, Michigan, Will holds a BFA in Dance and BA in English from Western Michigan University. While at WMU, Will performed in concerts alongside Taylor 2 and Peridance Contemporary Dance Co. and had the honor of performing both in historical works by George Balanchine, Paul Taylor, and Antony Tudor, as well as original works by contemporary artists Christian Denice, Yin Yue, BAIRA, and others. Upon graduating, Will joined The Big Muddy Dance Company where he is currently a company dancer. Will also performed as a guest artist with Saint Louis Ballet in their 2021 production of Alice in Wonderland by Brian Enos.
Mr. Spencer Everett
Mr. Spencer received a BFA from the Ailey/Fordham Dance program and went on to dance for Ailey’s second company for two seasons. He teaches modern and contemporary while on tour and in NYC with the company. As a choreographer, he has showcased his work at the Young Voices in Dance Program for the 40th Annual Battery Dance Festival, the Ailey Citigroup Theater, and Barnard College in collaboration with the Barnard Movement Lab. He is additionally honored to serve the dance community as a member of Dancewave’s Artistic Advisory Council.
Ms. Kayla Neeper
Kayla Neeper received her Associate’s degree in Dance from Florida School of the Arts and also performed professionally in the company Three Hearts. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Anatomy and her Doctorate in Chiropractic. She is Acrobatic Arts certified and has over 10 years of teaching experience.
Mr. Marcus Benson
Marcus Benson has been dancing continuously for over 14 years. Marcus began teaching at Bridgeman in 2021 and has six years of prior teaching experience. His strengths are step, hip-hop, and mime. With immense competition experience across the United States, he has performed both as a team member & coach. Along with Bridgeman Academy, he currently teaches at Dance Plus & Pointe of Surrender Dance Studio where he also serves on the coaching staff for their competition team.
Ms. Dorothy Davis
Dorothy Davis began teaching at Bridgeman Academy in 2021. She graduated from AMDA (Los Angeles) with her BFA in Dance Theater and has been dancing for 20 years. She currently works with the COCA Hip Hop Company dancers, as well as, other St. Louis dance studios, and also performed in a Prince show directed by Stephanie Landwehr.
Ms. Colleen McGowan
Colleen is a Musical Theatre and Performing Arts instructor at Bridgeman Academy. She has more than 15 years of experience onstage and offstage as a Performer, Manager, Educator & Arts Ambassador. She also teaches Beginner Piano, Vocal Coaching at Harmonious Fine Arts Studio. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and Dance, Music Minor in Vocal Performance from University of Missouri - St. Louis
Ms. Vesta Harrier
As a teacher at Bridgeman, Vesta brings with her a Bachelor of Performing Arts degree from the American Musical Dance Academy (AMDA) with special focuses in Musical Theater and Dance. Musicals in which Vesta has performed include: Legally Blonde, West Side Story, High School Music, Annie, Little Shop of Horror, and Aida. She has also done work for The Badgers Kompany and Commonality Dance Company. Her professional experience also includes dancing in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, the LA Opera, and the Carnival Choreographers Ball (LA).
Ms. Teresa Wilmes
Teresa Wilmes trained at Virginia James Dance Academy beginning at the age of three. She continued taking classes into her adult years and trained with renowned companies such as Steps on Broadway in New York City. Teresa brings over 20 years of teaching experience and has trained in the subjects of tap, jazz, ballet, baton, pointe, lyrical, and gymnastics. Teresa truly enjoys dance and loves to pass on her passion for the arts to future generations. Her daughters carry on the dancing tradition and are also students at the Academy.
Ms. Ada Gouse
Ada Gouse began her dance training in New York at the Munson Williams Performing Arts Institute, specializing in Ballet, Jazz, Tap, and Modern. During her training, she had the opportunity to work with Daniel Ulbricht and Olga Kostritzky at the New York State Summer School of The Arts: School of Ballet. She also had the opportunity to work with prominent companies such as Pittsburgh Ballet Theater and Colorado Ballet. After graduating from Munson Williams Ada continued her training at the University of Utah where she graduated with a BFA in ballet. Ada is continuing to pursue ballet at Saint Louis Ballet during the 2024-2025 season. She has many years of experience teaching classes in the styles of tap, conditioning, ballet, pointe, repertoire, and has also facilitated rehearsals at many dance schools around Utah and Saint Louis.
Ms. Ella Martin
Ella Martin is a Saint Louis native and received her training from Saint Louis Ballet. She augmented her training by attending intensive programs with Miami City Ballet, American Ballet Theater, Pittsburgh Ballet Theater, and Ballet Chicago, among others. Since 2021, Ella has been a trainee with Saint Louis Ballet under the direction of Gen Horiuchi, and has been given numerous opportunities to perform alongside the company. Additionally, Ella recently began her professional career as a member of the cast of The Raffaella Ballet in South Bend, Indiana. Ella looks forward to teaching at Bridgeman Performing Arts for the 24/25 Season.
Ms. Aspen Ross
Aspen trained in the Pre-Professional Program at the Denver Academy of Ballet before earning a full scholarship to the prestigious Kansas City Ballet School. While at Kansas City Ballet, she had the opportunity to train, perform, and teach students ranging in age from 2 to 18. Aspen also worked with Boston Ballet before moving to Saint Louis to pursue her passion for dance at Saint Louis Ballet. With 8 years of teaching experience, she comes highly recommended by the Children’s Division Dance Coordinator at Kansas City Ballet. We are excited to have her work with our students during the 2024-2025 season!
Ms. Romina Basulto
Bio Coming Soon!
Ms. Angie Thompson
Angie Thompson is an educator with 35 years of classroom and administrative experience. She has worked in a myriad of venues with a variety of students from kindergarten through high school. For 20 years she was the Head-of-School for a performing arts school for preschool through high school. Currently, she has started her own micro-school where she personally teaches elementary students.
Ms. Tracy Weber
Bio Coming Soon!
Ms. Emma Holt
Emma is a student teacher for Pre- and Beginning Combo classes at Bridgeman Academy. She is a member of the Pre-Professional Dance Program with more than 11 years of dance experience and she performs with the Ignite Performance Company. She has also trained with the Joffrey Dance School and is actively involved in Girl Scouts of the USA.