Dr. Danielle Abbott

Dr. Danielle Abbott is the tumble and Dance Your Way instructor at Betty’s School of Dance.  Her drive to create better opportunities for children with disabilities and learning differences lead Danielle to earn her Doctorate of Education in Curriculum and Instruction in Special Education.  She has combined her passion for dance with her extensive knowledge in special education to create our Dance Your Way program designed for dancers with special needs.  Danielle began dancing as a young child, and she quickly fell in love with the movement. Danielle trained in numerous facets including ballet, Pointe, tap, jazz, lyrical, and gymnastics. She studied with professionals such as Jacqueline Dormany and Emily Adams in the Piedmont region of North Carolina. As a cheerleader for six years she competed at the national level. Convinced that dance was her lifelong dream, Danielle was accepted into East Carolina University to further her dance career. After auditioning for the program, Danielle was quickly promoted to level III and IV during her freshman year. However, a devastating foot injury thwarted her dream of dancing professionally. Yet, Danielle had already accumulated enough hours to claim a minor in dance. Danielle persevered and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from ECU and immediately began her career as a Social Worker. After a three year sabbatical from dancing, she decided to audition for a pre-professional company in Eastern NC and danced there for approximately 1 ½ years. After relocating to Statesville to begin a family, her love for dance was rekindled in 2008 when she enrolled in adult classes at Betty’s School of Dance. In 2012 she began teaching intermediate and advanced level tumbling as she also worked full time as a Social Worker for 7 years. It is Danielle’s belief that dance not only has the power of self-expression, but is a natural stress-reducer, and teaches discipline. Classes with Danielle are energetic, fun, and full of encouragement!