The Team
Who We Are
Lori Rayborn
Artistic Director
Lori Rayborn has produced exceptional dancers and choreographers currently working throughout the United States. Ms Rayborn has a passion for working with young children. She has danced since the age of three and never lost her love for the art. Ms. Rayborn presently sits on the board of directors for the Hammond Ballet Company and is an active member of Dance Masters of America. Ms. Rayborn is currently a regional, national, and international judge for dance competitions. Ms. Rayborn is the proud mother of three beautiful daughters.
Grace Jeanfreau
Project Director
Grace Jeanfreau is the Assistant Director and has taught at A Touch of Class Performing Arts for 16 years. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Kinesiology with an emphasis in dance from Southeastern Louisiana University. She received her ballet training from Giacobbe Academy of Dance in Metairie, Louisiana. As a dancer Mrs. Jeanfreau was a member of Delta Festival Ballet and the New Orleans Ballet Ensemble. Mrs. Jeanfreau is presently the Assistant Artistic Director of the Hammond Ballet and is an active member of Dance Masters of America.
Janet Neyrey
Instructor
Janet Neyrey was born in New Orleans and began her training with Pat LeClerq at Ecole de Ballet. She also trained with Phoebe Brantley in Baton Rouge and danced with the Louisiana Concert Company. After receiving a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Education from Southeastern Louisiana University, Ms. Neyrey graduated from Texas Christian University with a Master of Fine Arts in Dance while performing with Ballet Concerto in Fort Worth, Texas. She also acted as a docent for the Fort Worth/Dallas Ballet Company. Upon returning to Hammond, Ms. Neyrey founded The Hammond Ballet Company and is in her eighteen year as Artistic Director of Hammond Ballet. She has taught all levels of ballet for over thirty years. Ms. Neyrey is certified to teach. by American Ballet Theatre.
Megan Kinchen
Instructor
Megan Kitchen began teaching in her hometown of Brusly when she was 18 at Machita & co. and began teaching at ATOC in 2005. Lori Rayborn assisted her in gaining her certification in 2009 with Dance Masters of America and has been with ATOC for 17 years. She and her husband own the Steakhouse in downtown Hammond. Life can get pretty hectic trying to balance business and teaching. She loves jazz but needs contemporary in her life to feel the slow of things. She wants her students to know that dance can be the best therapy.
Madison Mizell
Instructor
Madison Mizell started gymnastics at the age of two which eventually led her to the competitive level. After her career as a gymnast she made the transition to pole-vaulting at which she was had the honor of competing at the collegiate level. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology from Southeastern Louisiana University. She is currently finishing up her Master’s degree in Physician Assistant studies in New Orleans where she hopes to continue working with athletes within the medical field. Miss Maddie has been teaching for ATOC for the last 9 years and has had the opportunity to teach at a variety of studios around Louisiana. She loves watching students grow and reaching their full potential, not only physically, but mentally as well.
Bella Rayborn
Instructor
Bella Rayborn is a proud alumna of A Touch of Class Performing Arts. She has been dancing for 18 years and is classically trained in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Contemporary. and Acro. Bella is a proud member of both the National and the Louisiana chapter of Dance Masters of America. She is a proud graduate of St. Thomas Aquinas where she was a member of the nationally ranked STA Starlettes. Bella has attended many intensives throughout the country where she has received instruction from many amazing instructors. She is passionate about the progression of dancers and pushing them to be the best possible dancers as well as people. Bella holds the dancers to a high standard and enjoys helping them reach the goals they set for themselves.
Teddi Rayborn
Instructor
Teddi Rayborn has been dancing for 18 years. She is a proud member of the Louisiana chapter of Dance Masters of America where she is a member of the executive board. Teddi is also a rehearsal director for the Hammond Ballet’s production of the Nutcracker. She has been teaching and choreographing for over
5 years. Teddi is technically trained in ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary, and acro. She graduated from St. Scholastica Academy in 2017 where she was a member of the St. Paul's Golden Blues. Teddi is also a graduate of Louisiana State University. She is the proud coach of the nationally ranked Holy Ghost Sparklers. Teddi loves working with the dancers and sharing her passion of dance. She teaches all ages from tots to teenagers. She loves inspiring dancers and loves watching them grow as both dancers and a people.
Regen Puissegur
Instructor
Regen Puissegur started dancing at the age of 2 with A Touch of Class Performing Arts where she eventually started competing until she graduated high school. She also attended Hammond High Magnet School where she was a cheerleader for 3 years including captain her senior year. After high school, she attended Louisiana State University and was a Tiger Girl for 4 years. She has a Bachelors degree in Sociology with a concentration in Criminology. Regen now enjoys spending time with her husband and 2 year old son, traveling, and continuing to share her passion of dance with the students at ATOC.
Kayla Gangi
Instructor
Kayla Gangi has over 16 years of experience throughout her dance career. She began dancing at the age of 2, and started competing by 9 years old. She traveled throughout the country during her time competing, and was awarded several national scholarships and awards during this time. She spent those years training at Lemoine Academy of Dance, and was also apart of The St. Thomas Aquinas Starlettes throughout high school. She currently is a student at Louisiana State University majoring in Kinesiology.
Wilene Hobdy
Office Manager
Willene Hobdy is a native of Arab, Alabama. She moved to Louisiana in 1984 and raised her
family here.
She has worked in Pre-School for more than 30 years and has a love for children and seeing them grow
and learn. She is the mother of four daughters and grandmother to twelve beautiful grandchildren.