Director bio:   
 

For over 25 years, Jo Ann Hodge has influenced lives of children through her passion for dance and inspirational teaching. Believing from an early age that life and dance are intertwined, Jo Ann studied with such greats as Charles Kelly, Frank Hatchett and Joe Tremaine, just to mention a few.

 During her college days, she took classes from Constance Hardinge in the Ballet department of Virginia Intermont; received a B.S. degree in Education from E.T.S.U.; was a member of the E.T.S.U. gymnastics team; was DMA Southeastern Miss Dance; and was second runner-up at the Miss Tennessee Pageant.

 As time quickly goes by and former students start sending their little ones to dance at Studio Dance, all that seems distant but very rewarding. Today, Jo Ann can be found teaching class regularly, advising our outstanding Studio Dance staff that keeps dancers on their toes at our main studio in Johnson City and in Elizabethton at the Parks & Rec building, coordinating her fine "Fantastics" dance teams, working up special benefits for St. Jude Children's Hospital, passing along inspirational thoughts to dancers who need that extra touch and offering girls opportunities to dance and study at workshops and competitions in New York City and other dance locales.

Jo Ann is married to Kelly Hodge and has two children, Alexis, who has grown up to be a wonderful dancer herself and a great role model for aspiring young dancers, and Patrick, who loves music more than anything. (Don't tell, but Patrick danced before he joined the band.)

  
Instructors:

 Wendy Berry

Hi everybody!! My name is Wendy Berry. I have been a dancer for Studio Dance for the last 23 years, and I have been a dance teacher for the last 12 years. As I always joke with JoAnn, "I came with the building." I am a 2005 graduate of ETSU with a double degree in Mass Communications in Advertising and Spanish. I will also complete my Master's in Education (hopefully) in May. Did I also mention, I'm a high school Spanish teacher? Dancing has provided so many opportunities for me. I have performed at several events such as the Appalachian Fair and St. Jude's Benefit, competed in several competitions, and danced in Disney, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line and Carowinds. I have also been the colorguard instructor for Gatlinburg Pittman, Sullivan East, Daniel Boone and Unaka High School. I have also been lucky enough to perform for Paramount Theatre Bristol in productions like "Oklahoma" and "Bye Bye Birdie".

I love every aspect of dance, but, for the last 5 years, I have been the main tapp teacher for Studio Dance. I love music and rhythm. Tapp is one of my favorite types of dance (next to jazz and lyrical). I am also the Junior Fantastics instructor. These girls know how to work, how to shake, and how to bust a move (I am so proud of them!) I look forward to teaching your children to love music and dancing as much as I do. It has truly enriched my life. LET'S HAVE FUN, LET'SHAKE, LET'S DANCE!!!

 

Alex Hodge

Hello Everyone!!! My name is Alex and I love to dance! I have been dancing at Studio Dance since way back in 1991 and have been teaching dance for about seven or eight years now. I have spent a big portion of my life at the studio and I have enjoyed every minute of it! Although I like all forms of dance, I have to admit that tap is my true passion. Through the years I have had the wonderful opportunity to dance aboard two different cruise ship lines, at Disney World's Magic Kingdom three times, the Florida Citrus Bowl, at New York City's Broadway Dance Center, and other various locations across the United States. I have been awarded several dance scholarships while dancing at PDTA conventions to study in New York City. In my "free time" away from dance, I am in the Honors-in-Discipline program at ETSU's College of Nursing. I hope to graduate in 2010 with my BSN and work in a NICU. Dance through the years has taught me discipline, team work, how to work hard, and so many other life lessons that I know I will use regardless of what I'm doing in the future. I hope to pass some of these life lessons along to the kids I teach everyday!

Tabitha Presnell

Hello everyone my name is Tabitha but everyone calls me Tabbie. I have been dancing with Studio Dance since I was eight years old, and I have helped assist and teach dance classes since I was thirteen. I have attended many dance workshops and conventions through out the years and have done several dance competitions. I have been very lucky to have performed in Disney World twice, upon a Royal Caribbean cruise ship in the Bahamas, and at many other local events such as basketball games and the Appalachian Fair. I was also apart of our fantastic group for many years and I have been lucky to have been apart of Studio Dance's benefits for St. Jude's. I have also participated in a few semi-pro dance teams. I am a graduate from Elizabethton High School, and just currently graduated from ETSU in May with my Bachelor of Science with a concentration in Microbiology. I am however, planning on going to Pharmacy school and in the process of apply. I have a wonderful mother and two younger sisters Brandy (who has danced before) and Amber (who currently dances). I am so excited about this year and I am looking forward to teaching your children.........LET'S GO DANCE!!!!

 
Kellie Tolley

Hello everyone! I am Kellie Tolley and I am 26 years young. This is starting my 4th year teaching with Studio Dance and I can't believe how fast the time has gone by. I am so excited to have the opportunity to continue working with the talent that passes through the doors here.

I began dancing at the age of 3 doing tap, ballet, jazz, lyrical, and acrobatics. As a student of "Lesa's School of Dance" I was a member of the "Dazzling Dance Company" and competed at many regional and national competitions. While in high school I had the opportunity to do assistant teaching, and knew instantly that I wanted to teach dance as a career. After high school dance carried me, on scholarship, to Virginia Intermont College in Bristol, VA where I earned my B.F.A. in Dance. Thus leading me to the doors of Studio Dance!!

I have very much enjoyed being here and am honored to work with Ms. Joann, the other great staff, and the awesome dancers. I hope everyone has a wonderful year, learns something new, and dances their heart out every chance they get. If I haven't had the opportunity to have you in class yet, I hope to very soon!

 

Erin Weatherford

Hi! My name is Erin Bradley-Weatherford; I am 24 years old. I have been dancing for 20 years at Studio Dance and teaching for many years loving every minute of it. I am a high energy person with a unique style. I like to mix all forms of dance to make my style. I mainly teach hip hop and the younger kids. But last year for the first time I started an Adult hip hop class. We had so much fun. This year I am teaching the class again at both JC and E-town. I can't wait. Hip hop is my favorite type of dance, I love teaching it and dancing it.

Again this year I have the privilege to teach the FANTASTICS and the NEW Junior-ettet I can't wait to get started on that. It's going to be awesome.

Dance has taken me to a lot of places. I have been to several workshops in NC, SC, GA, FL, and KY. I also got to go to NY City to dance at Broadway Dance Center twice in the past summers, had the privilege to dance aboard the Carnival Cruise ship "Sovereign of the Seas" and several other venues. This summer I had the chance to go to The Monsters of Hip Hop in Orlando Fl. It was awesome. Some of the instructors were Dave Scott, Rhapsody, Jamal Sims, and Kevin Maher just to name a few. It was the best workshop ever!

Here's a little about me, I have been married for 4 years; I have a 3 year old son named Ryan Jay. I graduated in December of 05 with a degree in Personal Computer Support. After taking 2 years off I am currently attending Northeast State to finish 2 degrees which are in Internet Web development and Business management. I also work at First United Methodist Church in Elizabethton. I am looking forward to share the gift of dance with your child like Joann has shared with me for so many years! I can't wait to meet all of you and keep Dancing!!

Assistant Instructors:

 Jordan Fair

Hi! I'm Jordan Fair, this is my fifth year as a Student Assistant at Studio Dance. I'm 18-years old and I'm a freshman at Northeast State. This is my 16th year dancing at Studio Dance. I have taken dance workshops and competed in dance competitions in several different states as well as danced in Disney, on the Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship, and New York City. I'm looking forward to a great dance year and I hope you are too!

 
Katilyn Giddens

 
Correna Maroukas

 Hey Everyone!! My name is Correna Maroukas and I have been dancing for 8 years. This is my fifth year of teaching and I enjoy it very much. I am a junior at Science Hill High School (Go Toppers!) I have danced aboard the cruise ship Soveirgn of the Seas, taken class at Broadway Dance Center in NYC, and I have also attended many competitions. In Pigeon Forge at PDTA , I was awarded a Ballet Scholarship by Jerry Rose. Let's have a great year at dance!!!

  
Student Assistants:

 Rikki Duvall & Lacy Snapp