Rita Collins

Ms. Rita is Executive Director of Treasure Arts, Inc. She began dancing at the age of five. She studied with Jeanne Robinson, Carolly Barta and Dianna Lawson with the Birmingham Civic Ballet and at Birmingham Southern College as a youth. Ms. Rita has studied many forms of dance including ballet, modern, jazz, tap and Israeli folk dance. Ballet remains her favorite.

Ms. Rita received her Bachelor’s Degree at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa and her Master’s Degree from the University of Alabama in Birmingham, both in Early Childhood Education. She received a certification in Reading Recovery from the University of Montevallo. Ms. Rita taught kindergarten, first grade and Reading Recovery in the Birmingham City Schools. She taught Reading, Writing and English at Lawson State Community College and served as principal for a local Christian Academy.

At The Birmingham Ballet Academy Ms. Rita taught ballet ,as well as, sacred dance. She has helped to establish several Sacred Dance groups in the State of Alabama and conducts Sacred dance workshops. She has authored a book entitled, ”After the Call: the Practical Application of Sacred Dance”. She recently went to the New Hope School in Managua, Nicaragua as a visiting missionary and taught dance to the children there.

Ms. Rita has written, choreographed and directed several dance-dramas including the, “The Christa Stories”, which were set to original music scores and performed locally.

Ms. Rita loves to dance, teach and read. She enjoys seeing children discover a love for literature and the arts. She has three grown children: Carlee-the singer, Chloe-the dancer and Mark- the actor (and soccer player!)

Olivia Turner McGaha

Olivia Turner McGaha is a Music Teacher and Musical Theatre Director for Treasure Arts, Inc. Mrs. McGaha is an accomplished singer, pianist and Orff Instruments instructor.

She was awarded the Fullbright Fellowship with which she traveled to Japan. She was awarded the Metropolitan Opera Guild-Creating Original Opera Grant and is a Member of the Board of Directors of Birmingham Summer fest Musical Theatre.

Mrs. McGaha received her Bachelor of Science Degree from Mississippi Valley State University. She attended Vander-Cook School of Music Summer School in Chicago, Illinois and obtained her Masters Degree in School Counseling from Alabama State University.

She taught general music in grades K-5 and 6-8, presented spring and Christmas Musicals and prepared students for All City Music Festival in the Birmingham City Schools from 1975 until 2003.

From 1996-1999 she served as Director of Musical Drama at New Pilgrim Baptist Church and directed musical dramas at the Bethel Baptist Church Community Learning Center from 2004-2006.

Mrs. McGaha enjoys participating in marathons to raise money for organizations such as the Leukemia Society. She completed marathons in Anchorage, Alaska, Cape Cod, MA and Phoenix, Arizona.

Jeremy Copes

Jeremy Copes is technical director for Treasure Arts,Inc. Jeremy is a graduate of Woodlawn Magnet High School. He began his theater career as an actor with the Birmingham Civil Rights Museum's Youth Legacy Group. While at Woodlawn, he sang, danced and acted as well as ran the lights and sound for assemblies and stage productions.

His debut role was as the King in Cinderella. Jeremy has the exciting distinction of being the first male dancer with the Lyrical Dance Team. He has an amazing instinct for the technical side of stage production. We are blessed to have Jeremy on our team.

Erin Ellis

We are excited to add to our staff Ms. Erin Ellis. Ms. Erin is an energetic, friendly, and amazing dance teacher. She loves working with small children and they LOVE her. A teacher at heart and a very enthusiastic dancer, Erin inspires the youngest of students to love performing.

Erin's love for performing began early in life. She was on the National Champion cheerleading team at A. G. Gaston Boys & Girls Club for 4 years. She served as team Co Captain. She was a Majorette in Middle School for 3 years and was a Feature Twirler (Two batons, Fire baton and Blades). She studied Modern Dance at Ramsay High School for 4 years. She was a Majorette at Ramsay High School for 2 years and served as Co Captain. Erin was on the M-Squad Dance Team at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga for 2 years and served as Co Captain.

Ms. Erin is the mother of three year old Chloe Michelle. Currently, she is a Senior at The University of Alabama at Birmingham working on a B. S. in Mathematics and minor in Education. Ms. Erin has 4 years experience in working with non-profits and local boards of education. She has served several Americorps commitments: Project Ready for School, birth to 5th grade ; Birmingham READS and kindergarten to Second grade.

Currently she is a Teacher at 21st Century HOPE Center.
We are so excited to welcome Erin to the team!