Staff – Pat Brown School of Dancing | Best Dance Education

Our Founder

Pat Brown (Advisor and Founder)

Pat Brown first studied dance with Jane Hart in Hartford, Connecticut, and then at the Hartford Conservatory. She was trained in the Cicchetti method of ballet but believes that an eclectic approach to teaching and learning is the most beneficial for her students. After moving to Jackson, TN. from Upstate New York she opened the Pat Brown School of Dancing in 1963. She founded Ballet Arts, Inc along with Jacquelin Rolls was the Artistic Director of the local civic group Ballet Arts, Inc., since its beginning in 1972 – 20. Under her direction many master teachers and famous dancers from various parts of the world and the United States have performed for Jackson audiences. In 1999 the Tennessee Association of Dance awarded Ms. Brown “Dance Teacher of the Year.”

“Miss” Pat has taught and touched the lives of young people that have gone on to careers in dance, as dancers, actors, singers and dance teachers. She is proud of those that work in the business and professional world, are homemakers and are parents of new dancers. She enjoys the visits of her former students and likes to see the added generations in her classes.

Since 1964

Professional Dance Instruction

Kim (Brown) Turner

Owner and Instructor

Kim Turner now owner has been part of the dance studio for over 40 Years. As a child she started classes at age 2 in Tap, Ballet, Jazz, Acrobats, and Pointe which she continued through high school. She also studied gymnastics with the YMCA until she graduated from high school.

Her training with her mother, Pat Brown, prepared her to be an asset to the studio. After a brief absence she took over teaching in the satellite schools in Dyersburg, Corinth and Savannah. When the enrollment in the Jackson studio increased, Kim concentrated on the acrobatic, lyrical, tap, hip hop, and preschool programs at the Jackson studio.

Kim completed all levels in Acrobatic Arts (Certified) to better serve her students in tumbling and acrobatic dance. Her students come to her from surrounding areas. She has trained dancers that have won places on university dance teams across Tennessee and Mississippi. Also, professional dance teams which include the TN Titian’s.

Kim brings a warmth and friendliness to the studio in her work with the “babies”. Her gentle but firm guidance with the young classes has helped develop many shy children into confident and budding ballerinas. She continues to educate herself by going to teacher conferences and training workshops.

Scott Brown

Office Manager

Melissa Turner

Instructor / Assistant Director

Melissa, born and raised in Jackson, TN is a graduate of TCA and is the daughter of Kim (Brown) Turner and granddaughter of Pat Brown (founder of Pat Brown School of Dancing and co-founder of Ballet Arts, Jackson). She started dancing at the age of 3 and over the next 15 years of her life, she was at the studio training 5 days a week. Her weekly training under Pat Brown, Stephanie Freeman, and Kim Turner included several classes in Ballet, Pointe, Acrobats, Tap, Jazz, Lyrical, and Hip Hop. Melissa spent her summers training at intensives under instructors from San Francisco Ballet, Cincinnati Ballet, NYC Theatre of Harlem, and many others.

At the age of 10 Melissa joined Ballet Arts of Jackson as an apprentice member. She moved up in the company over the next few years to Junior Performing member then Senior Performing member. During her time in the company, she danced in several lead roles, some of which including Clara (Nutcracker), Stepsister (Cinderella), Coppelia (Coppelia), and many others. She is now in her second year with the company as the Dance Repetiteur.

Melissa has her ABT Certifacation (American Ballet Theatre in New York City) and plans to continue training to better serve her students. Recently Melissa completed training seminars with the Rheo Gold Las Vegas Conference and the Las Vegas Dance Teacher Web Conference.

Melissa’s vision of staging and choreography is a great asset to PBSD. She is a big asset to her boss/mom as her assistant for the studio. She is so excited to be working with her PBSD family and looks forward to sharing her gift and love of dance with the next generation of dancers!

Caroline Purcell Meinert

Instructor

Caroline Purcell Meinert is a Jackson native and a Ballet Arts and PBSD alumna. From the young age of four years old Caroline began dancing, wanting to be trained in all forms of dance offered at Pat Brown School of Dance. She was trained in ballet, pointe, modern, jazz, tap, hip hop, and musical theatre. She received other training with Joffery Ballet, American Ballet Theater, Orlando Ballet, Kirov Academy of Ballet, and the Radio City Rockettes. Wanting to immerse herself more in the art of dance, she attended the conservatory at the University of Missouri, Kansas City, where she received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in dance performance and choreography in 2017.

While at UMKC Caroline was blessed to be a part of many professional opportunities as a dancer, such as her performance with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts in Kansas City.

Caroline has continued her love for dance by performing professionally, choreographing, and teaching. As a teacher Caroline trained dancers and choreographed pieces for the Youth American Grand Prix. There, her contemporary choreography qualified for the finals in NYC. Caroline recently received her certification from the American Ballet Theater National Training Curriculum in levels Pre-Primary through Level 3 in New York City. She is also certified in Progressing Ballet Training, and has her 200hr teaching certificate in yoga.

Caroline is the Artistic Director for Ballet Arts Inc. of Jackson as well as an instructor for Pat Brown School of Dance. Caroline is so proud to return as an instructor to Pat Brown School of Dance where they sparked her love for dance.

Kelly Bryan

Instructor

Kelly Bryan is a Jackson native and an alumna of Pat Brown School of Dancing, where she trained for 13 years and participated in the student-teacher program. She was a member of Ballet Arts of Jackson for eight years. Along with Ballet Arts Summer Intensives, Kelly attended the Rockette Summer Intensive in New York City and Governor’s School for the Arts. After graduating high school from the University School of Jackson, she continued her education at The University of Tennessee at Knoxville where she majored in Recreational Therapy and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Education.

While in Knoxville, she served as a counselor at several camps for individuals with special needs and worked recreational workshops helping those with unique abilities. Kelly has worked in a variety of facilities such as skilled nursing, therapeutic horseback riding, and youth behavioral health helping residents and participants find alternative ways to achieve their goals and increase their quality of life. Along with teaching dance classes, she is also currently working as the Program Assistant at the Therapy and Learning Center here in Jackson.

Kelly trained with the very best at Pat Brown School of Dancing and is excited to use what she has learned with her very own classes this year!

Reese Davis

Instructor

Reese Davis is a Jackson native and a Ballet Arts and PBSD alumna. She grew up dancing at PBSD and has taken almost every type of class offered! Alongside this, she participated in Ballet Arts of Jackson for eight seasons. Some of her favorite roles included: The White Rabbit, Arabian Soloist, Dew Drop Fairy, and Peter Pan. I have attended summer training at Ballet Arts Intensives, Memphis Ballet, Atlanta Ballet, Ballet West’s Art Emotion, Millennium Dance Complex’s Masterclasses, High Expectations Aerial Arts classes, and was involved in Musical Theatre/Vocal lessons.

She is currently studying Exercise Science Pre-Physical Therapy major at Union University. She is a member of Zeta Tau Alpha Fraternity and was a 22-23’ Union University Cheerleader.

We are proud to announce Reese currently holds the title Miss Hub City Volunteer and will be competing the Summer for title Miss Tennessee Volunteer. Her talent will be dance choreographed by one of our staff Caroline.

Amber Hobbs

Instructor

Amber Hobbs found a passion for dance in her early teens when she first learned Hebrew and folk dancing. This love for dance quickly became her focus and she started choreographing and performing for many church events. At 17 she watched Riverdance with her friends and was captivated. They hired Wendy Windsor from the Scott Ellis School of Irish Dance in Franklin to come teach them workshops. These workshops eventually led to the formation of an Irish dance troupe that would tour and perform.

Amber’s love of dance and self-discipline led to her becoming the head instructor and choreographer of the 50+ member Irish dance troupe named Windance. Windance performed in festivals all across Tennessee and drew crowds with their high energy and unique dances. Windance went on to perform at the Jackson Mississippi Celtic Fest multiple times and at the North Texas Irish Festival in Dallas.

Amber hopes to pass on her enjoyment of dance and strong work ethic. She brings a sense of community to her classes as well as helping students individually excel.

Megan Powers Jones

Instructor

Megan Jones was born in Southern California. While living in California, Megan spent many years on stage in both dance and musical theater. She danced at The Dance Factory for many years; tap always being a favorite. She also participated in youth repertory theater as both a cast member and an assistant director.

Megan moved to West Tennessee in 2004 to attend Freed-Hardeman University, majoring in Special Education. She is married and has two children. Her oldest daughter has been a dance student at Pat Brown for the last 6 years.

Megan is thrilled to upgrade her “Dance Mom” title to “Dance Staff” at Pat Brown School of Dance.

Sharla Patton Key

Instructor

Sharla Patton Key is a Jackson native and an alumna of Pat Brown School of Dancing, where she studied all style of dance. She is a graduate of Jackson Central Merry High School in Jackson, TN. She graduated with honors from The University of Memphis in 2005 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theater and Dance. Her accomplishments include choreographing the opening number for the Miss Bronze West Tennessee Scholarship Pageant sponsored by The Jackson (TN) Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. for the past 16 years and she has served as its production chairperson for the last 5 years. In addition to the production chair, she now serves as chair of the pageant. Other accolades include choreographing dance numbers for churches and other organizations and assisting with productions. She graduated from Jackson State Community College in May 2017 as a Registered Nurse and is currently employed by West Tennessee Healthcare where she previously specialized in Respiratory care but now utilizes her skills in the Labor and Delivery Department. Her personal life includes her 15-year marriage to her high school sweetheart, Brandon Key, and the addition of their 4 children, Brayden (10), Bryleigh (7), Brooklyn (2) and most recently Bryanna (1). In spite of a busy life, she finds time to volunteer with her sorority, Delta Sigma Theta, serving as past chairperson of the Nominating Committee as well as an active role in her church, Journey, serving in their nursery and as a spokesperson for their “informational videos”.

Raven Parks

Instructor

Raven Parks is a Jackson native and an alumna of Pat Brown School of Dancing, where she studied dance and tumbling. She started cheering Madison County Parks and Recreation and YMCA. She continued to cheer for Jackson Middle, Rose Hill Middle, Jackson Central Merry High School, Northside High School, and Memphis Elite. Her dance and tumbling training also started at a young age at Pat Brown School of Dancing, Southern Extreme, and Jackson 10 Allstars. She continued on into college cheering with Bethel moved University and The University of Memphis. She later graduated college with her Bachelor’s and Masters’s in Early Childhood Education.

Raven served as an instructor for the Universal Cheerleading Association and at numerous clinics and camps throughout the southeast region. She made over 10 appearances competing notionally and won 7 championship titles. She coached Jackson Christian cheerleaders for 4 years and brought back 6 first place trophies in their division at UCA camp. She currently works for West TN Healthcare as a Family Support Specialist.