Blakely Cottle is originally from Atlanta, Georgia. She attended Florida State University where she studied theatre and dance. Blakely holds a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre from the University of Alabama at Birmingham where she was the recipient of the Ruby Lloyd Aspey Scholarship and member of Alpha Psi Omega, Theatre Honors Fraternity. She has continued her education through the National Dance Education Organization’s courses in Creative Dance in Early Childhood. In her 30 years of dance training, she has studied jazz, ballet, and tap at studios throughout the southeast. Blakely has been with The Dance Foundation for 15 years. Blakely is the Program Director for infant-2nd grade at The Dance Foundation. She is also a teaching artist specializing in curriculum for young students and students with disabilities. She is proficient in American Sign Language. Blakely loves to use her background in theatre and dance to craft fun lesson plans for her students and create a space where each child is able to achieve their personal best. Blakely currently lives in Homewood with her husband and two children – River and Alexander.