Our staff

Leigh Johnson Roush is the artistic director and owner of the studio and City Youth Ballet where she teaches all ages & ability levels. Leigh began studying dance at a  very young age and has trained under renowned instructors such as Edward  Villela, Marcus Alford, Kathryn Horne, Melissa Hayden, and Duncan  Noble. She has studied at the North Carolina School of the Arts, Wake  Forest University, and Eckerd College and was a principal with the  contemporary ballet company 'Dance Innovations' in St. Petersburg, FL.  Leigh is certified with high honors in classical ballet and modern dance  by Dance Educators of America and a certified instructor of Progressing  Ballet Technique.  Her students  have been accepted to study with the School of American Ballet, Boston  Ballet, Houston Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Washington Ballet,  Atlanta Ballet, and numerous others. Other students have continued their  dance training on the college level at schools such as New York  University, UNCSA, Pace University, East Carolina University, The School  in London, Virginia Commonwealth, University of Cincinnati, and Yale  University. Her students are performing professionally throughout the  U.S., on Broadway, on cruise ships, and teaching internationally. 

A teacher at heart, Laura is always excited  to share her love of dance with students of all ages. She is certified  in Waltz, Tango, Foxtrot, East Coast Swing, International Latin dances  including Jive, and Gymnastics Safety and Tumbling. Laura has also  trained extensively in Jazz, Tap and Musical Theater. She is the  production manager and choreographer for The Talent Company in  Albemarle. Laura has also been involved with Stanly County Dancing with  the Stars since 2012 as a producer and/or choreographer. 

Caleb first started tap in 2017 at 12 years old at TDA in Scottsbluff, NE. He trained under Kyle Van Newkirk with TDA for a year before moving to Philadelphia where he trained under the Rock School for Dance Education for another three years. Under the Rock, he took both ballet and tap while also taking tap classes with the Koresh Dance Company. Caleb’s love of ballet and tap extended into his next Traineeship with Balletmet in Columbus, OH, where he was a trainee under the company’s ballet program and taught a beginners tap class for the academy. Up to present, Caleb is a Trainee with Charlotte Ballet, and hopes to continue his commitment and love for dance.