Our Team
Dance
Christina Weinzetl
-Artistic Director
-Dance Dept. Head
-Dance Instructor
Christina Weinzetl began dancing at the age of 4. Upon moving to Cartersville, Ga at the age of 11, she began training with Steps of Faith Dance Company until the age of 18. Alongside her dance training, she was a part of ACT I since their first production of Fiddler on the Roof in 2002.
Christina studied dance at Belhaven University and has a degree in Anthropology in which she graduated Magna Cum Laude from Lee University. Her training includes tap, classical ballet, contemporary, modern, musical theatre, and hip hop. She trained with such programs as The American Ballet Theatre, The Radio City Rockettes, and The Georgia Ballet. Professionally, Christina has spent the past 20 years teaching and choreographing for companies such as Dramatic Truth Ballet Theatre, International Dance Festival Ireland, Unity Dance Troupe, Mississippi Baptist Fine Arts Conference, and Cleveland Academy of the Arts. She has also danced professionally in London, England with Elevate Dance Company and The Rebirth Network. She was also a soloist dancer with Unity Dance Company where she portrayed such characters as Satan in their production of "The Veil" and Reuben in "Dreamer". Locally, she has performed with the Atlanta Pops Orchestra and also at the Fox Theatre with Dance Canvas. In addition to Christina's dance training, she has also studied both acting and voice.
She has portrayed roles such as Cathy Seldon in "Singin' in the Rain", Sally Brown in "You're a Good Man Charlie Brown", Miss Skillion in "See How they Run", and was featured in such TV shows as "The So and So Show". Christina held the position of the Company and Missions Director of the Steps of Faith Dance Company for 6 years. She is currently the resident choreographer for the ACT I Community Theatre and The Grand Theatre here in Cartersville, Ga. Christina and her husband Austin are very passionate about their community and using the arts as a form of outreach where the arts are not accessible. They have taken dancers to places locally such as Appalachia Kentucky, and abroad such as Kenya, Africa.
They are beyond thrilled to be the directors of the ACT I Academy and are thankful to the Lord for opening up this opportunity.
Precious Luna
-Dance Instructor
Precious began her passion for dancing at age five at Steps of Faith Dance Studio. A few years before graduation, she got involved with ACT I as a featured dancer for such shows as "Singin in the Rain". She continued her training in Steps of Faiths Company until her graduation from the program in the Spring of 2018, where she was a featured performer.
She portrayed such characters as Mary, the angel Gabriel, and the Holy Spirit in Steps of Faith's original production of "The Nativity Ballet". As well, she was a consistent participant in the Youth American Grand Prix competition for both classic ballet and contemporary. During her senior year at Steps of Faith, she interned in the office where she had the opportunity to learn office management skills as well as dance classroom teaching techniques.
Precious is a very skilled dance instructor in contemporary, ballet, tap, hip hop, musical theatre as well as a special needs instructor with students who thrive in her classroom. She also held the position of assistant choreographer for the Grand Theatre’s production of "Grease" and lead choreographer for ACT I's production of "Big Fish". Currently, Precious is continuing her higher education with college alongside her dance teaching.
Precious loves helping others such as going on mission trips where she has had the pleasure of teaching dance camps to children of all ages, as well as helping in the youth ministry as a leader at her church. As a Steps of Faith alumni, she hopes to continue her passion for worshiping our amazing God through dance, and to share and teach that passion with others at the ACT I Academy.
Abby Baron
-Dance Instructor
Abby started dance at the age of 13. She has trained at Impact Dance of Atlanta in Kennesaw and the spirt of dance. Abby is trained in jazz, ballet, pointe, hip hop, tap, lyrical, contemporary, and musical theater. She started teaching her senior year at The Spirt of Dance. Her favorite styles are jazz, lyrical, and hip hop. If she’s not teaching dance or dancing, she’s at the lake, paddle boarding.
Christin Lee
-Dance Instructor
Christin grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan where she danced at Turning Pointe (under the direction of Lara and Rick who danced for Ballet Magnificat) before going to Tennessee to study Computer Animation and later get her MFA. While in college, she danced for Unity Dance Troupe and performed for 7-8 seasons.
After graduation, she moved to Georgia, with her husband Kyusun to work on film animation. Christin’s first show with ACT I Academy was “A Queen’s Star” where she danced, choreographed and grew to know all the lovely dancers and staff. She has since had roles in ACT I’s production of ‘White Christmas’ as Rhoda as well as ACT I Academy's production of ‘Through Heaven’s Eyes’ as Jochebed.
She enjoys walks in nature, creating, finding new vegan restaurants or recipes to try, and caring for her animal companions.
Iris VanWieren
-Dance Instructor
Iris VanWieren began dancing at 4 years old. She started her training at Buford School of Ballet where she grew to love the Lord and ballet. Moving multiple times throughout her life she continued to dance, trying many different styles including: tap, jazz, contemporary, musical theater, and English country dancing. Ending up back in GA she joined the Ballet Conservatory of North Georgia to further her training under Andrea Pell, while also dancing with Buford School of Ballet. After Completing highschool Iris joined and graduated from Ballet 5:8’s Trainee program. Where she became teacher certified in 3 levels of Vaganova ballet technique. She performed in many ballet’s including ‘The Dreamer’ as Leah and ‘Wayward Daughter’ as the Queen/Mother, performing her first Pas de deux. Iris went on to dance with Ballet Hartford performing a wide array of ballet and contemporary works by many guest choreographers. This year Iris finds herself back in GA dancing with The Georgia Ballet’s professional company.
As Iris has moved on from one place to the next she has continued teaching many styles of dance with a focus towards Ballet. Iris has found a passion for teaching and is excited to use her talents and gifts to teach children life long skills and a love for the arts.
Maddy Crone
-Dance Instructor
Maddy Crone trained at Steps of Faith from 2011-2016 and performed lead roles. She danced with the Orangeburg Civic Ballet in South Carolina for the 2017-2018 season.
She performed as the Dew Drop and Snow Queen in their Nutcracker Ballet and Tiger Lily in Peter Pan. Out of high school she spent one year with the company at The Georgia Ballet and three years with Addereth Contemporary Ballet.
She is currently a teacher at The School of the Georgia Ballet and teaches ballet, jazz, tap, and hiphop. Maddy is so excited to be a part of the teaching staff at Act I
MacKenzie Miller
-Dance Instructor
Mackenzie began her dance training at a young age at Steps of Faith Dance Company. She was accepted into their company program at the age of 8. Her training includes ballet, tap, modern, contemporary, hip hop and musical theatre. At the age of 15 Mackenzie joined the ACT I Academy dance company as an apprentice to the professional company where she trained until she graduated from high school.
She has portrayed such characters as Aslan in ‘Adventures in Narnia’ and Zipporah in ‘Through Heaven’s Eyes’ as well as being a featured dancer in shows such as ‘Art Through the Decades’, ‘Into the Woods’ and ‘Beauty and the Beast’.
After graduating with honors from the magnet program at Woodland High school, she is currently pursuing a degree in Chemistry at Berry College
She is currently dancing as a part of the professional company at ACT I alongside of teaching dance and being an assistant to the choreographer at the Grand Theatre for their Musical Theatre camp productions.
Music
Lin Harrison
-Vocal Instructor
Lin Harrison is a servant-artist who believes musical expression (especially singing) can be a catalyst for transformation in the lives of individuals and communities.
The creative arts played a pivotal role in his life beginning in high school through participation in band, chorus and drama. He went on to receive college degrees in vocal performance and music education leading to his first job as choral director at his high school alma mater.
Years of studying voice under multiple voice professors fueled his passion for the art of singing and guiding others on how to discover and nurture their unique one-of-a kind voice. Forty-five years of experience coaching vocalists in the choral, classical, worship, musical theatre and operatic genres has instilled in Lin an understanding on how to care for the Singer as well as how to share the concepts of Singing.
Performing Highlights include the musicals You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, The Fantasticks, and the operas The Devil and Daniel Webster, The Marriage of Figaro and Falstaff. Directing highlights include the musicals Oklahoma!, Guys and Dolls, Pippin, Godspell, The Fantasticks; and the operas Amahl and the Night Visitors and The Pirates of Penzance.
Lin and his wife Nancy live in Acworth and are the proud parents of 4 children - Austin, age 35; Aaron, age 32; Zachary, age 30; Anna Claire, age 27. Nancy is a retired special education specialist. They have three grandkids - ages 6, 5 and 2 years. Lin likes to get away by hiking and backpacking.
Katelynn Crossan
-Piano Instructor
Katelynn Crossan is the music teacher at Hamilton Crossing Elementary School. She graduated from Reinhardt University with a Bachelor of Music Education and University of West Georgia with a Master of Music in Music Education. She grew up in Kennesaw, Georgia. She started singing in choir in the fourth grade and loved it so much, it became her career. She had amazing choir directors and teachers which inspired her to pursue music.
Some of Katelynn’s favorite rolls she has played are Ms. Flannery in Thoroughly Modern Millie and Ms. Higgins in My Fair Lady. In college, Katelynn had the opportunity to auditions for operas, her favorites being Susannah and Cosi fan tutti. She has also performed with Act 1 in Bright Star and Into the Woods. Katelynn had the pleasure of studying under Dr. Martha Shaw and Dr. Anne Shantz.
Katelynn is a theater kid, a Disney adult, and a dog mom. She is so excited to be a part of the Act 1 Academy family!
Acting
Kamryn Jones
-Acting Coach
Kamryn Jones is a graduate from Kennesaw State University with a BA in Theatre & Performance Studies with a Musical Theatre concentration. She has an advanced background in vocal training, acting, dance, and improvisation. Her background in teaching the arts ranges from elementary to college level.
From teaching for elementary and middle school improv for 2 years, a directing, choreographing and teaching for a KSU musical theatre intensive for 3 years, and assisting in student-led productions, she is excited to work with the students on their craft and helping them grow!