LaTonya Wise - Founder/ Artistic Director
LaTonya Wise is a local Athenian. She started her dance career at the age of 11 and fell in love with it from day one. Her formal training began at East Athens Educational Dance Center, where she studied ballet, tap, modern, and jazz. She was able to perform with many companies including Ballethnic Dance Company and the University of Georgia Ballet Ensemble to name a few. She has also had the opportunity to take many West African classes and perform in many outreach performances. LaTonya had a break in her dance career in 2001 to enjoy the beauty of motherhood and move to Jacksonville, Florida. She has had four children, two girls and two boys, and they have followed in her dance footsteps. She continued to teach and choreograph in Florida for five years until moving back to Athens in 2008 where she taught and choreographed for over 100 children. In 2011 she became a member of the DanceFX Concert Dance Company in Athens, GA. She graduated from Athens Technical College in 2013 with an associate of applied science degree in Marketing Management. She founded WiseXpressions in the Fall of 2012 with only two students doing private lessons. Her dream was to open her own dance studio and to not only teach dance, but make her students appreciate and love dance as well. LaTonya has taught and choreographed for over 16 years and has danced for over 20 years. Dancing is her passion and is a honor to teach students that want to learn the technique and creative side to dance.
Jelisa Laster - Business Manager
Born and rised in Atens, GA Jelisa Laster took part in many extra curricular activities throughout her childhood including, but not limited to chorus and track. She graduated Clarke Central High School and moved on to join the military (Army branch). Jellisa was stationed in Fort Drum and did one tour in Iraq. After returning home she joined the work force for a number of years and decidedto work towards something bigger, a career. Ms. Laster recently enrolled at Full Sail University where she is currently workng towards earning a Bachelor's degree in digital marketing and is also a member of NSCS (National Scholar of Collegiate Scholars). Jelisa plans to use her education to help small businesses leaarn how to market digitally. Jelisa joined the WiseXpressions team in November of 2019 as business manager.
