Artistic Director: Meryane Martin Murphy
Mrs. Murphy began dancing at an early age in Nashville, Tennessee with Joy Zibart, an early member of Martha Graham's company. At age eight she began her ballet training with Albertine Maxwell. She performed as an artist member of the Nashville Ballet across Tennessee and at SERBA Festivals throughout the Southeast. As a young dancer, she spent her summers at training programs in Bar Harbor, Maine, the Banff Centre in Canada, Ballet West in Aspen, Colorado, Joffrey's American Ballet Center in New York, and San Francisco Ballet in California. In addition to ballet, she has had intensive study in modern, jazz, Spanish, and Hindu techniques. Among her teachers were Mme. Hilda Butsova, George Zoritch, Mme. Felia Doubrouvska, Vera Volkova, Robert Joffrey & Arnold Spohr. Ms. Murphy holds a B.A. in Dance from Birmingham Southern College where she studied with Mira Popovich and continued her education with extensive graduate work in dance at N.Y.U. She has directed the Tuscaloosa Community Dancers, served on the Alabama Dance Council, danced with the Pensacola Symphony, and has been a guest teacher and speaker for many schools and civic organizations in Alabama, Tennessee and Florida. Since moving to Andalusia in 1979, she has operated the Academy at Andalusia Ballet and served as artistic director of the Andalusia Ballet. She attends many seminars studying the various methods of ballet training, dance therapy, and injury preventions.

In 2002 Ms. Murphy was awarded the Andalusia Chamber of Commerce's Distinguished Service Award in recognition of her many contributions to the arts in our community.

Teacher: Callie E. Hatchett
Mrs. Hatchett, received her early training in classical ballet from Meryane Martin Murphy, director of Andalusia Ballet. She holds a BA in Dance from the University of Alabama where she performed with the Alabama Repertory Dance Theatre as well as the choreography group Dance Alabama.  After graduating, Ms. Hatchett danced with Southern DanceWorks in Birmingham and taught ballet, modern and jazz in Tuscaloosa. Through state funded grant projects to expose underserved communities to the arts, she has taught dance and creative movement in numerous elementary schools.  Currently, Ms Hatchett is working to complete her Master of Arts in eighteenth century British Literature through Florida State University.  In January, she moved back to Andalusia to join Andalusia Ballet where she teaches ballet, jazz and creative movement and assists with rehearsals.

Teacher: Laura Wells
Mrs. Wells, a former student of Meryane Martin Murphy, grew up dancing with Andalusia Ballet.  She attended the University of Alabama on a dance scholarship from the Department of Theatre and Dance.  Mrs. Wells has a BA in Dance Performance and Choreography and a BS in Business Management.  While at the University of Alabama she was a Scholarship Counselor with the American Ballet Theatre Summer Intensive.  Additionally, Mrs. Wells has been a Board Member of the Alabama Dance Council for the past four years.  She is a winner of the American College Dance Festival and performed in the Opening Ceremonies of the Atlanta Centennial Olympic Games.  Mrs. Wells is so excited to be working with Andalusia Ballet. 

Secretary: LaRoy Bass
Mrs. Bass is Secretary to Andalusia Ballet and studio Manager for the Academy at Andalusia Ballet. She has been Secretary to Andalusia Ballet since 1996 and Mrs. Murphy's studio manager since 1991. Mrs. Bass became involved when her daughter, Jennifer, started taking classes with Mrs. Murphy in Lockhart, AL in 1983. As her daughter became more involved, so did Mrs. Bass; by being backstage where you always need a mom, sewing costumes, managing props, etc. "Ballet became more of a passion for me than it did for my daughter and when she no longer danced, I continued to be involved." she said. "The first ballet I saw was The Nutcracker and the magic of it just sent shivers down my back and I knew this was something I wanted to be involved with."

Business Manager: Lanette Goodyear
Mrs. Goodyear is a Business Manager for Andalusia Ballet. She grew up in Andalusia, is a graduate of Andalusia High School, but lived in the Carolinas for 40 years. She was the Administrative Assistant for McAlister Square Mall and Secretary for the Merchant's Association for ten years where she developed an avid interest in the Arts. Her background in business has contributed to the financial and publicity aspects of the Ballet. In addition, she is President of the Andalusia Hospital Volunteers and sings in the First Methodist Choir.