The Team
Who We Are
Rodney Williams
Director
Rodney L. Williams, or Mr. Rodney as he is known by the thousands of dance students he has nurtured during his career. A graduate of William and Mary with a BA in Music Composition and Dance Choreography. Where he received the 1976 Martin Luther King, Jr. academic scholarship and the Steven Palades Music Scholarship. After completing his BA at William and Mary, he went on to teach in Richmond Public Schools from 1980-1992 as a music teacher. While there, he won a Teacher of The Year award. Also, in 1980 he became director of City Dance Theatre (CDT).
Mr. Rodney made a career change in 1992 when he became the Director of Dance for Longwood Company of Dancers, and a Professor at the University. During this time, he went on to win College Dance Educator of the year with Virginia Health Physical Education Recreation and Dance (VaPHERD). Where, over the years, he has taught numerous professional development workshops for VaPHERD conference attendees.
In addition to music performances, he has adjudicated dance for Miss America (2000) and received a John F. Kennedy Center for the Arts Teacher Fellowship. He continues to work as director of Richmond City Dance Troupe and enjoys creating powerful choreographic works that showcase the virtuosity of the students in the program. In his tenure as director for CDT, students have received scholarships for dance programs, won pageants, dance company positions, and some have become educators as well. Mr. Rodney continues to inspire the inner artist in everyone he meets.
Talita Jackson
Co-Director
Talita Jackson is a native of Richmond Virginia, driven by creativity, arts and passion; so it was no surprise that Jackson would choose a career that embodied all of those principles. In 2005, Talita Jackson received her BFA in dance and choreography from Virginia Commonwealth University. For over 20 years, Ms. Jackson had been a dance educator. To give back to her community Talita started teaching in and around the local community centers, dance studios and even founded a local dance team that still operates today. Ms. Jackson taught dance and enrichment and dance as an interdisciplinary subject for 9-12 grade students in Richmond Public Schools. Talita Jackson is currently the director of the City Dance Program, where she implements extensive dance programming and training for the citizens in the community of Richmond, Virginia. While programming for the City Dance Program, Jackson also is the co-director of the City Dance Theatre, a multi-award winning dance company, comprised of the city’s youth that travels and competes around the world. Jackson has won numerous awards from attending dance conferences and for choreography including the prestigious, Choreographer’s Cup Award, an award awarded to the educator that has presented the greatest body of work. Talita Jackson is currently an adjunct faculty member at Virginia Commonwealth University and most recently held a residency at Mary Baldwin University where she continues to pour her talents and share her experience and knowledge with the young adults of the future. She is also formerly an adjunct faculty member at University of Richmond. Recently, Ms. Jackson was privileged to earn another movie credit for her choreography of the Netflix original movie entitled Burning Sands. Talita Jackson is also a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated.
Farron Anderson
Teacher
Farron Anderson is a creative professional with a passion for bringing ideas to life across dance, performing arts, film and stage production. She was apart of City Dance Theatre for 10 years from the age of 8 to 18. She continued her dance education at Virginia Commonwealth University and received a BFA. She has worked with Fortune 500 companies, celebrity talent, and educational institutions, managing everything from operations and budgets to logistics and creative direction. Collaborating with diverse teams, solving problems, and adapting to fast-paced environments is her strong suit. Whether mentoring dance students or coordinating high-profile projects, she's driven by the power of storytelling and creating meaningful experiences that inspire and connect people.
Lise Briggs
Teacher
Lise is a Richmond native and lifelong creative who has been part of the City Dance Program and Theatre for over 12 years. She began as a dancer and now shares her passion as a teacher, helping students grow both artistically and personally. Her dedication to dance and to uplifting others creates a supportive and inspiring environment for every student she teaches.
In 2024, Lise graduated from James Madison University with a Bachelor's degree in Communication Studies. She now brings her creative vision to our social media, helping tell the story of our community beyond the studio.
Driven by the belief that “We can't expect the world to get better by itself, we have to create something we can leave the next generation,” Lise approaches both teaching and life with purpose, passion, and a commitment to making a positive impact.
Challen Wellington
Teacher
Challen has been dancing for the past 20 years and teaching for the last 14 years. She was a competitive dancer at her local studio and on her high school dance team. She went on to complete a BFA in dance. She loves dance because it is an amazing form of expression and it teaches lessons and discipline both inside and outside of the studio. Challen hopes to share the joy that dance has brought her and instill the discipline it provides that has helped her reach personal and professional goals. She hopes that dance gives students an opportunity to gain tools for long-term success in life.