ASHLEE WILLIAMSON

(Tap, Ballet, Jazz, Lyrical, Gymnastics, & Irish Dance)

Ms. Ashlee Williamson is a third generation dance teacher who has been teaching dance for 17 years.

Grayce Paris, Ashlee's grandmother, started Paris Dance School 78 years ago. Grayce traveled the world dancing with the USO and was the first person ever to do "toe tap" - dancing with taps attached to her pointe shoes.

Grayce passed her dance school to her daughter, Cherilynn Paris Lemmons. Ms. Cherilynn was Miss Teenage Atlanta and Miss Salute to America. In addition to teaching dance classes and managing Paris Dance School, Ms. Cherilynn also enjoyed a career as a professional performer, dancing throughout the United States in shows and on television.

Cherilynn's daughter, Ashlee Lemmons Williamson, now owns and operates Paris Dance School. Ashlee began dancing professionally at the age of 16. She has danced with traveling dance companies, performed at the half-time show at the Citrus Bowl, hold numerous titles and has won many talent competitions. She also danced in the opening ceremonies for Georgia State games with Latoya Jackson. Additionally, Ashlee was a competitive gymnast and state champion. She has also been the choreographer for many theatre productions. Under Ashlee's direction, Paris Dance School expanded to include gymnastics, cheerleading, and twirling in addition to dance. In 19998, Ashlee met Mr. Karl Drake, of the Drake School of Irish Dance, and as his assistant, is able to bring certified Irish Dance instruction to the southern counties. Ms. Ashlee no longer teaches gymnastics, she let that go recently to concentrate on and develop her dance program. Ashlee's dancers have won both regional and national titles, have danced in Citrus Bowl Half-time shows, Superbowl Half-time show, cruise lines, professional dance troupes, and even at Disney World. One of her dancers is currently dancing in a professional dance company in Atlanta.

The Irish program at Paris Dance School has been very successful. Ms. Ashlee's dancers have quickly moved into the Championship levels and compete locally, nationally, and internationally. She has several dancers who qualify and compete at the Irish Dance National Championships and Irish Dance World Championship each year, and one of her dancers is the current Southern Region champion for her age group. Paris School's Irish dancers perform in the community throughout the year - especially around St. Patrick's Day. She has had one dancer who completed a contract as the featured performer during the World Fest Show at Silver Dollar City in Branson, MO, and another dancer who just completed a year long contract touring the US, Canada, and Europe with The Magic of Ireland dance show.

Dominy School of the Performing Arts is pleased to welcome Ms. Ashlee to our studio!