Brandi Ahmad
OWNER
Brandi Ahmad brings over twenty five years of professional dance and cheer experience to B.LA.
After competing in cheerleading at Carson- Newman College, Brandi danced with the NFL's Atlanta Falcons, the AFL's Georgia Force, and the NHL's Atlanta Thrashers. She also spent six years coaching with the WNBA's Atlanta dream dance and cheer team.
Brandi is entering her eighth season as coach of the Ponte Vedra High School Splash dance team, whom she led to a top-5 finish at this years National Dance Alliance High School Nationals competition after several regional 1st-place finishes. Brandi has been married to her husband Hamzah for 14 years and is a proud boy mom to Jayden and Mayson. She purchased A2k in June of 2022.
Macey Rowan
Dance Director
Jazz | Contemporary | Lyrical | Ballet | Technique
A native to Jacksonville Florida, Macey began her dance training at the age of three.
Macey has performed in Jacksonville’s First Coast Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, and Cinderella productions. She graduated high school from Douglas Ander son School of the Arts, where she was a member of dance theatre.
In August of 2017, she moved to Miami FL to pursue her BFA at New World School of the Arts/University of Florida. During her college career, Macey had the pleasure of performing works by Ohad Naharin, Jennifer Archibald, Peter London, Paul Taylor and more. She continued her summer studies at intensives she gained scholarships to including Alonzo King LINES Ballet, the Radio City Rockettes Summer Intensive, Martha Graham Winter Intensive, and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. After graduating with her BFA in May of 2021, Macey danced with Peter London Global Dance Company where she completed two international tours and two seasons at the Adrienne Arsht Center. She has performed in Miami Art Basel Week, music videos, and collaborative symphony performances. During her six years in Miami, she was a devoted teacher to BBharts Performing Arts where she led the competition team in her final year, and found a passion for teaching.
Macey is so excited to return home to share with and nurture the talent of Jacksonville. As a dance educator, Macey believes all students have the privilege to be challenged to their maximum potential as an artist. In a room full of individuals, each student should feel inspired, accepted, and challenged.
Briley Rowan
Dance Instructor
Ballet | Pointe | Variations | Technique | Flexibility | Stretch & Conditioning
Briley Rowan was born in Jacksonville, Florida, where she began her training at the age of three. Growing up she was introduced to many styles such as ballet, modern, contemporary, and jazz. She went on to formally train at Miami City Ballet School in the pre-professional program. She has also studied at summer intensives such as Exploring Ballet with Suzanne Farrell, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Nashville Ballet, and BalletX. Briley is a guest artist with Peter London Global Dance Company where she has had the pleasure of participating in an international tour to Trinidad and Tobago. Briley has also danced along with Cuban Classical Ballet of Miami, where she has performed in their Nutcracker production.
Briley loves watching her students develop a passion for the arts while nurturing them to discover their artistic potential.
Jordann Pierluissi 
Dance Instructor
Leaps & Turns | Jazz | Acro | Pom
A graduate of the University of Central Florida, Jordann brings 17 years of coaching, dancing, and national ranked experiences to B.L.A.
During her time at UCF, Jordann was a member of the competitive dance team where they placed in the top 10 at the UDA College Nationals in the division 1A hip hop category. She lead the Village High School Golden Girl's Dance Team to second place at the National Dance Team Championship in the Varsity High Kick Division. The team continued their success placing top 5 in the High Kick Division and six final placements in the Varsity Pom Category at NDTC.
Jordann's choreographic success includes 3rd, 4th, and 5th place finishes in the high kick choreography category, and the DTU All Star High Kicks & All Star Pom National Titles.
Jordann is currently a choreographer for Bre Choreography Management & Agency as well as the lead coach for the Nease High School Pantherettes.
We are thrilled to have Jordann sharing her gift with our students at B.L.A.
PAYTON ATKINKS
Dance Instructor
Jazz | Leaps & Turns | Stretch & Conditioning
Payton Atkins is a highly accomplished dancer and educator from Ponte Vedra, Florida. She began her training in jazz, contemporary, ballet, acro, and hip-hop at the age of two. In her high school years, she was apart of the Ponte Vedra High School Dance Team, where she served as a four year member and captain. From an early age, Atkins has boldly expressed her passion and admiration for her craft, always advocating for the art & athleticism of dancers.
She is a recent graduate from Florida State University where she was a member of the nationally ranked FSU Golden Girls Dance Team. In her senior season, Atkins served as a captain & four year member. Payton helped lead her team to a 3rd place finish at UDA College Nationals in the rigorous D1A Jazz category. Along with this accomplishment, Atkins and her team were selected to represent the country as Team USA in 2023, where she became a gold medalist at the ICU World Championships!
Payton accretes many of her amazing dance opportunities, connections, and achievements to her role as a UDA Staff instructor. She has been so fortunate to mentor, educate, and foster relationships with athletes across the country while getting to continue her passion of dancing at the next level. She is beyond excited to be teaching at BLA this season & can’t wait to give back to the city that gave her so much!
She is a recent graduate from Florida State University where she was a member of the nationally ranked FSU Golden Girls Dance Team. In her senior season, Atkins served as a captain & four year member. Payton helped lead her team to a 3rd place finish at UDA College Nationals in the rigorous D1A Jazz category. Along with this accomplishment, Atkins and her team were selected to represent the country as Team USA in 2023, where she became a gold medalist at the ICU World Championships!
Payton accretes many of her amazing dance opportunities, connections, and achievements to her role as a UDA Staff instructor. She has been so fortunate to mentor, educate, and foster relationships with athletes across the country while getting to continue her passion of dancing at the next level. She is beyond excited to be teaching at BLA this season & can’t wait to give back to the city that gave her so much!
ALANAH SANDOVAL 
Office Manager / Dance Instructor
Stretch & Conditioning | Leaps & Turns
Alanah began dancing at the age of three in Orlando, Florida. She continued her training for 9 years before moving to Ponte Vedra and attending classes at the Grace Conservatory.
Previously Homeschooled, Alanah began attending Ponte Vedra High School where she joined the Ponte Vedra High School Splash Dance Team. During her time at Ponte Vedra she had the honor of competing with her team at several competitions, including UDA and NDA Regionals finishing 1st place and ranking top 5 nationally.
After graduation, she began teaching as an instructor at BLA, as well as assisting Acro classes alongside Ms. Jordann. This season, she is an Instructor and Office Manager at BLA and is very happy to see smiling faces every day at the front desk.
She has a passion for competitive dance, seeing all students grow their love for the arts, as well as helping them to succeed in their own dance journey.
Robert Rimmer
Guest Instructor
Hip Hop
A Jacksonville native, Robert Rimmer began his dance journey at 8 years old training in ballet, modern, contemporary and hip hop styles. As an aspiring performer Robert received esteemed recognition as a competitive dancer, where he was granted a consultation meeting with Bloc Talent Agency as well as multiple scholarships including acceptance into The American Musical and Dramatic Academy. He has worked extensively alongside renowned choreographers such as Johnny Blaze, Julian DeGuzman, Peter Pinnock, and Marlee Hightower and even spent a year traveling across the nation as a Faculty Assistant (Pro-Reveler) under the direction of Frank Musso with Revel Dance Convention. He has attended notable programs such as Duncan Cooper’s Summer Intensive and the Florida Ballet Summer Intensive on scholarship and in 2022 traveled alongside Artistic Director of Dance with Jax, April Henehan, as her assistant for a Fellowship at Jacob's Pillow 90th Anniversary Dance Festival. Additionally Robert was a featured Gala performer for the 2023 American College Dance Association’s Southeastern Conference at Brenau University (GA) and will perform at the upcoming National College Dance Festival at Cal State Long Beach (CA), in May. Most recently Robert earned his BFA in Dance from Jacksonville University, and was awarded “Outstanding Senior in Dance.” His performance credits include works by Doug Varone, Glenn Morgan, Brian Nicholson, Jens Bjerregaard, Norbert L. De La Cruz III, Michael Lomeka, Yidi Lin, Lana Heylock, and Doha Abounouadar.
