DAAOPA
We offer all dance genres, gymnastics, tumbling, karate and other classes for all ages and levels.
Fall 2026 Registration
Who We Are
Desiree Autrey’s Academy of Performing Arts is celebrating our TWENTY-ONE year anniversary. We offer all dance genres, gymnastics, tumbling, karate and other classes for all ages. We provide a positive environment for our students where we encourage them to reach their full potential. Our students have had the opportunity to perform at Walt Disney World, Kings Dominion, appeared on Dance Moms and have trained at Broadway Dance Center and Joffrey Ballet in New York City. We are very active in our community and our students have the opportunity to perform at community events.
We offer in-house master classes for our students in dance, cheerleading, etc where they have the opportunity to further their education. Come and join our studio family! Here’s to TWENTY-ONE years!
Owner/Artistic Director
Desiree is a graduate of Wayne Community College and The University of Mount Olive with her Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration. Desiree trained at Artistic Dance Academy for fifteen years under the direction of Patricia Warren and Ellen O'Quinn and has trained with numerous master class instructors. Desiree's students have won numerous awards at the local, state, and national level and have been featured on the television series Dance Moms, performed at Disney World and Kings Dominion and trained at Broadway Dance Center & Joffrey Ballet. Desiree is also a "Top Teacher" award recipient from Star Systems National Dance Competition which is the largest dance competition in the country. She has received numerous choreography awards throughout her career.
Desiree is a former competitive dancer and pageant competitor and has held over thirty titles which include Miss Goldsboro, Miss Duplin County, Miss Wayne County, Queen of the Wayne Regional Fair, Miss Southern Wayne, and had the honor of competing for the prestigious title for Miss North Carolina for two years. She was named a Top Ten Talent of North Carolina and has won numerous first place awards at local and national dance competitions. Desiree had the honor of being the featured entertainer/performer at the Miss United States National Pageant. She has served as a pageant mentor and coach and former students have won Miss North Carolina as well as Miss NC preliminary titles and winners in the PONC and Little Miss NC pageant systems. She has served as a chaperone for Miss North Carolina as well as the Miss United States National Pageant. She is the director of the North Carolina Pickle Festival Pageant which is known throughout the state and country and has been featured on Good Morning America, MTV, and in Jane Magazine. Desiree is very active in her community and has served as the Entertainment Chairperson for the North Carolina Pickle Festival for the last twenty-six years and is also the director for the Queen of the Wayne Regional Fair Pageant.
Meet Our Staff
Blair Sarvis
Blair Sarvis is a Pikeville native who graduated from high school in 2022 and works full time at the Pikeville Dawg House and teaches at DAAOPA. Blair has been a student at DAAOPA for sixteen years and is now part of the alumni. Blair is furthering her dance education with the National Dance Education Organization.
Blair has danced since she was twenty-two months old and won her first dance competition at age four. She has gone on to win many awards and titles throughout dance and pageants. She is the current Miss Pikeville and the North Carolina Pickle Festival Queen. Blair has also worked on television projects and walked runway shows throughout her childhood. She has performed in many places to include local festivals, parades, Kings Dominion, and Disney World. She has been a featured dancer and performer at the North Carolina Pickle Festival and Downtown Goldsboro's Light Up event! Blair has attended master classes in several states and has trained at Broadway Dance Center and was accepted to the prestigious Joffrey Ballet Summer Institute in 2020. Due to the pandemic, she trained online with Joffrey Ballet. She has also competed on Toddlers and Tiaras and Dance Moms and won titles for both. Blair has taught in some capacity at DAAOPA (beginning as a teacher assistant) since she was twelve years old.
Blair has a black belt on moo duk quan taekwondo and has competed on the local, state, and national level. She looks forward to teaching the next generation of students at DAAOPA.
Instructor
Kayla Bryant
Kayla Bryant is twenty-four years old with nineteen years of dance training under her belt and has been with
DAAOPA for eleven years learning from Desiree, teaching classes, and performaing locally at events which include the North Carolina Pickle Festival and the Downtown Goldsboro's Light Up event. She has competed in dance competitions for several years with DAAOPA on the local and national level and winning numerous first place awards!
Kayla is also a former competitive cheerleader. She trained in all star cheer and tumbling with Carolina Elite Athletics. She has years of experience of competitive cheer with multiple state and national champion titles. Kayla especially enjoys teaching hip hop, tap, and jazz.
Kayla has attended multiple master classes at Broadway Dance Center in New York City, performed in Disney's Christmas Parade at Walt Disney World as well as auditioned and invited into Joffery Ballet School which is a prestigious honor and where she trained in 2020.
Instructor
Jennifer Bond
Jennifer has been teaching at DAAOPA for five years. She has fourteen years of training in several dance genres. Jennifer is a graduate of Artistic Dance Academy where she also participated in the production, Dance for Christ for several years. Jennifer is a graduate of Wayne Community College with her Associate in Arts degree and a graduate from East Carolina University receiving her Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management. Jennifer's favorite style of dance is hip hop but she fell in love with just dance in general and the way it makes her feel! Jennifer has taken several different master classes from experienced dancers from as far as Texas and New York and a few others. She has been a featured dancer and performer at the North Carolina Pickle Festival and Downtown Goldsboro's Light Up event! Jennifer is a numerous first place award winner at local and national dance competitions.
Jennifer loves children and enjoys teaching them new things and learning new things as well along the way. Jennifer enjoys watching her students grow, not only in dance itself but as people!
Instructor
Bryce received her dance education from Artistic Dance Academy for over eight years and was a performer in the annual production, Dance for Christ! Bryce cheered for ten years in elementary, middle and high school. She is a proud former Little Falcon cheerleader, Norwayne Middle School cheerleader, and a CBA High School cheerleader and being a member of award winning squads. Bryce is a graduate of Charles B Aycock High School and a graduate from Cape Fear Community College and is a licensed cosmetologist!
Bryce’s favorite style of dance is contemporary because you just can let your body feel the music and be free! Bryce loves children and being able to help children excel in not just dance but in the real world as well!
InstructorBryce Alford
Kathryn is a lifelong Pikeville, North Carolina resident and a graduate of East Carolina University, where she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art Education. With a passion for art and education, she recently retired after thirty-one years as an elementary art teacher, inspiring countless students to explore their creativity, build confidence, and develop their own unique artistic style.
In addition to her years in the classroom, Kathryn served on the Board of Directors for the Wayne County Arts Council, helping to promote and support the arts throughout the local community. An accomplished artist, she enjoys painting and drawing, and several of her original works have been featured in art shows. She was also recognized as a featured artist in the book Johnston County Creates, celebrating the work of talented local artists.
Kathryn believes that art should be fun, encouraging, and personal. She is passionate about creating a positive, welcoming environment where every student feels inspired to express themselves, build confidence, and take pride in their creativity. She is excited to share her experience and love of the arts with the students of Desiree Autrey’s Academy of Performing Arts.
Art InstructorKathryn Edwards
Ellijah Bryant
Ellijah is a dedicated educator, coach, and former collegiate dual-sport athlete with a passion for helping young athletes grow both on and off the field. He brings 14 years of football, nine years of basketball, and eight years of track and field experience, providing students with a strong foundation in athletic performance, teamwork, and sportsmanship.
During his high school career, Ellijah attended football camps at NC State, Duke University, Wake Forest University, East Carolina University (ECU), and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he received instruction from top collegiate coaching staffs and further developed his skills. After graduating from high school in 2017, he became a four-year starter in collegiate football while also competing in track and field, earning his bachelor’s degree in 2021.
For the past six years, Ellijah has served as both a teacher and coach, combining his experience in education and athletics to help build disciplined, confident, and motivated student-athletes. His Sports Agility & Conditioning classes focus on developing coordination, strength, speed, game awareness, decision-making, and confidence while emphasizing discipline, accountability, teamwork, and character.
Ellijah is committed to creating a positive, encouraging environment where every student-athlete is challenged to work hard, build confidence, and reach their full potential—both in sports and in life.
Sports Agility & Conditioning InstructorOur Mission
We strive to provide a positive environment for our students where we encourage them to reach their full potential.
Our Classes
*Add student name in note line when making payments to ensure it is applied correctly. Thank you
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$45 - One Class
$75 - Two Classes
$95 - Three Classes
$125 - Four Classes
$145 - Five or More Classes
FAMILY TOTAL RATE WOULD BE $145.00 per month if signed up for five or more classes (PER TWO STUDENTS). Three or more children? Add $25.00 to the family rate.
Also see Additional Fees for Registration and Recitals
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$55 - Per Month/Per Student
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Four One Hour Sessions $145.00 Per Month
Four Thirty Minute Sessions $85.00 Per Month
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Registration Fee $45.00 PER FAMILY (Due when you register for classes).
Recital Fee: $50.00 PER FAMILY – Due by March of 2027. The $50.00 recital fee helps pay for the auditorium rental fee, props, programs, backstage workers, etc. You will receive TWO FREE TICKETS that are included in the recital fee. General admission will be $15.00 per person at the door (free for ages three years and younger). ALL STUDENTS AND CLASSES including Gymnastics/karate students will participate in this show. RECITAL IS TUESDAY – APRIL 20TH AT 6:00 P.M. AT THE PARAMOUNT THEATER.
Costume fees for our spring recital are due by January 30, 2027. Costume fees are $70.00 PER CLASS. (Spring Recital is TUESDAY – APRIL 20TH at 6:00 p.m. at The Paramount Theater in Goldsboro). All dance students will need to purchase a pair of tights which are due on January 30th. Dress rehearsal will be on MONDAY, APRIL 19TH beginning at 4:30 p.m. All gymnastics, tumbling, cheerleading, baton, karate classes will wear the recital t-shirt with black shorts. The t-shirt fee is $25.00 and will be due in March.
Tuition Rates (Per Month)
Registration Fee $45.00 PER FAMILY (Due when you register for classes).
Fall 2026 Schedule
Studio A
Monday
4:15 - 4:45 Tumbling Toddlers (Blair)
4:45 - 5:15 Kinderdance (Jennifer)
5:15 - 5:45 Beginner Gymnastics (Jennifer)
5:45 - 6:15 Beginner II Ballet (Kayla)
6:15 - 6:45 Intermediate Gymnastics (Kayla)
6:45 - 7:15 Beginner Hip Hop (Jennifer)
7:15 - 7:45 Intermediate Tap (Kayla)
7:45 - 8:15 Cheerleading (Kayla)
Tuesday
5:15 - 6:00 Beginner Art, Ages 5 & Up (Kathryn)
6:15 - 7:00 Sports Agility & Conditioning, Ages 5 & Up (Ellijah)
Thursday
4:30 - 5:00 Tumbling Toddlers, Ages 2 - 4 (Blair)
5:00 – 5:30 Kinderdance, Ages 2 - 4 (Blair)
5:30 - 6:00 Turns & Leaps - Intermediate/Apprentice Students (Blair)
6:00 – 6:30 Performance Troupe *Invitation only (Blair/Kayla)
6:30 – 7:00 Karate (Blair)
7:00 – 7:30 Apprentice Lyrical (Blair)
7:30 – 8:00 Apprentice Jazz (Kayla)
Studio B
Monday
4:45 - 5:15 Beginner Tap (Blair)
5:15 - 5:45 Intermediate Jazz (Blair)
5:45 - 6:15 Beginner Ballet (Jennifer)
6:15 - 6:45 Beginner Jazz (Blair)
6:45 - 7:15 Intermediate Contemporary (Bryce)
Tuesday
5:15 - Until Private Lessons
Thursday
6:30 - 7:00 Intermediate Hip Hop (Kayla)
7:00 - 7:30 Adult Jazz (Kayla)
7:30 - 8:00 Baton (Blair)
Order Your Dance Shoes & Apparel
Contact Us
daaopapikeville@yahoo.com
919 738-8443
109 NW Railroad St
Pikeville, NC 27863