Toneta is founder of the only professional touring dance company in the history of West Virginia. The company recently was awarded the WV Governor’s Arts Award for “Arts in Education.” This is also her 35th year teaching children at her Pineville Dance School. Her awards include the 2005 Governor’s Arts Award for Excellence in the Arts, 1989’s WV Woman of the Year in the Arts, the Monticello Scholarship in Choreography from National Association of Regional Ballet, certificate for special achievement from Dance Kinetic Institute in NYC, and three summer certificates from world-renowned American Dance Festival held at Duke University. Toneta has taught master classes throughout the eastern U.S. and in Brazil for the Federal University at Espirito Santo, Axis Dance Company, and Lenira Borges Dance Company. In 1992, she was guest dance artist for the College of WV’s Pearl S. Buck Project. She and her husband, Acie, reside in Beckley with their son, Holden Paul.