The 2008-2009 Faculty
Kathy Fomby - Director
Miss Kathy began her studies in the school at the age of six. Throughout her student years, she was active in the Texarkana Community Ballet and the Texas Association Teachers of Dancing. She began her teaching role in 1976 and was awarded her Teachers Certificate in 1978. Miss Kathy is a graduate of Texas A&M University—Texarkana, a life member and current director of the Texas Association Teachers of Dancing and a member of Oklahoma Dance Masters Association. Annually she takes students to TATD conventions for advanced studies. She currently serves as Past-President and current Treasurer of the Texarkana Community Ballet. Miss Kathy is an accomplished dancer in all forms of dance and is responsible for all the activities of the school as well as choreography, placement and lesson planning and development.
Ann Nicholas - Associate Teacher - Ballet
Miss Ann did her first plie’ at the Judith McCarty School of Dancing on her fourth birthday and continued her studies as a student and student-teacher until her graduation from Texarkana College. Miss Ann danced solo roles in the Texarkana Community Ballet production of The Nutcracker, performed the role of Swanhilda in ‘Coppelia’ and danced the lead role in Rhapsody in Blue as her graduation solo. She received her Teachers Certificate in 1975 and became a member of TATD the same year. She is a graduate of Tulsa University. While in Tulsa, Miss Ann performed and toured with Tulsa Ballet Theater and studied with the legendary Roman Jasinski and Moscelyne Larkin. She performed with Shreveport Ballet Theater and Shreveport Symphony Ballet. Miss Ann returned to Texarkana and re-joined the JMSD faculty in 1981. She is past-president of Texarkana Community Ballet and the 2004 recipient of the YWCA Audrey Little Reagan Award in Arts and Letters. She serves as the Ballet Critic for the Shreveport Times and works with TEX*REP, Downtown Youth Theatre and the TRAHC children’s theatre group.
Debbie Duck Bricker - Associate Teacher
Miss Debbie has been teaching for twenty one years in the School. She grew up in the school and danced with the Texarkana Community Ballet as a student. She received her Teacher’s Certificate in 1988. Miss Debbie is a member of the Texarkana Community Ballet and the Texas Association Teachers of Dancing. She is a graduate of Centenary College in Shreveport, La. Miss Debbie performed with the Escaped Images Dance Company while at Centenary College.
Julie Gross Aultman—Associate Teacher
Miss Julie has been a dancer for thirty one years and has been a faculty member for the past twenty years. She performed in many productions of the Texarkana Community Ballet including the Nutcracker. Miss Julie completed her Teacher’s Course in 1991 and is a member of Texarkana Community Ballet. Miss Julie is a graduate of Texas A&M University.
Carla Wren - Associate Teacher
Miss Carla grew up dancing in Texarkana and is a gifted dancer in ballet, tap, jazz, Spanish, acrobatics, belly dancing and modern dance, as well as drill team and cheer squad instruction. Miss Carla danced in many productions of the Texarkana Community Ballet while a student and is a graduate of the Judith McCarty School of Dancing Teachers Course. Miss Carla is a member of the Texarkana Community Ballet and the Texas Association Teachers of Dancing and is a graduate of Centenary College in Shreveport, La.
“Dedicated to the Arts”
Martin Beck - Acting Teacher at "The Actor's Studio at Miss Judy's"
If your son or daughter is interested in becoming a great young actor; or if they would just like to improve their ability to speak to groups; or lose an accent; or improve their self-confidence; or to enhance their other performing arts like singing or dancing, "The Actor's Studio at Miss Judy's" is a great place to start!!!
Martin Beck has directed 4 motion pictures, 4 music videos, 6 national
TV shows, and countless documentaries and television commercials
during the last 40 years. In1991 Martin returned to his hometown of
Texarkana. His greatest joy now is teaching talented young actors
and lecturing in Colleges. In the Summer of 2004, Martin returned to
the professional stage as a character actor in the world famous
Black Hills Passion Play on it's 65th Anniversary in the Black Hills
of South Dakota.
In July 2007, Martin completed directing and producing a 2 hour DVD
called "Finding Hope" which was created by Fred Hansen.
"Finding Hope" is now being distributed nationally.
This is Martin's 8th year of teaching private and group Acting Classes at "The Actor's Studio at
Miss Judy's", and his 14th year of teaching acting in Texarkana. Martin is an essential part of the Texarkana Community Ballet, where he has performed for 13 consecutive years as "Herr Drosselmeyer"in "The Nutcracker", "Dr. Coppelius" in "Coppelia" and the "Evil Stepmother" in "Cinderella". For more information about Martin, check out his website at
Our Teachers
Left to Right:
Julie Aultman,
Ann Nicholas,
Debbie Bricker,
Kathy Fomby, (Director)
Fred Hansen, (Owner)
and Carla Wren.
Student Assistants
Each year the Artistic Director selects assistant teachers from the students who are participants in the Teacher’s Course. These students are chosen based on their ability to provide assistance in dance instruction as well as leadership and role modeling for younger students. The Judith McCarty School of Dancing is privileged to have so many extraordinary young women from which to choose.
The following students are participants in the Teachers Course and are eligible to become Assistant Teachers:
Martin Beck as "Annas" the elder high priest.
Martin in 2007
L to R - Rachel Burgess, Annie Elise Garrett, Shelby Lusk, De'Janae Farr, Kelsey Wren, Catherine Thomas, Samantha Barakat, Tori Wilson, Klancy Johnson, Morgan Harrison, Haleigh Kate Wright, Kelsey Townsend
