Our story

In the late 1950’s a dance hall was opened in Moss Point by Marguerite Benson Hall Nelson. She taught children from Pascagoula and Moss Point all the way to Lucedale. Ms. Nelson was soon joined by dance instructor JoAnn Christopher, fresh from studying ballet in San Francisco in 1960. Not many years later the two became business partners and co-owners of the dance hall.

The Studio of Dance was officially founded in 1978 when Ms. Joann became sole owner, and in 1984 moved to its current home on Chicot Street in Pascagoula. Ms. Joann ingrained in her students classical techniques and traditional dance values. She encouraged a superior work ethic and deep dedication that led many of her students to lifelong careers in dance across the country, some on Broadway.

In 2003, after many years as a dance instructor alongside Ms. Joann, former student and member of the original Melange Dance Company Felicia Busby purchased the Studio of Dance and Gymnastics. Ms. Felicia brought a passion for dance, elevated modern performances, and a joie de vivre that attracted a new generation of eager and excited students. During her tenure, the Studio added hip-hop classes and dancing in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Finally, in 2022, Ann Cumbest Fallo took the lead as owner of the Studio. A former student of both Felicia and Joann and member of Melange, Ms. Ann from an early age found a lifelong love of dance at the Studio. Before pursuing a graduate degree, she taught for 15 years and was honored to work with her two mentors on projects including America's Junior Miss as well as the Mississippi/Alabama All-Star Classic Football Game.

Ms. Ann is honored to follow in the footsteps of Ms. Felicia, Ms. Joann, and Ms. Nelson and looks forward to continuing their legacies of providing superior dance instruction to the children of Jackson County.