Kellie Overstreet - began instruction and choreography with Studio Dance in September of 2005. Kellie has traveled to many cities for training and conventions, including New York; taking lessons at Steps on Broadway and Broadway Dance Center, and under the instruction of many highly skilled and recognized dancers. While in high school Kellie began assistant teaching, and knew instantly that she wanted to teach dance as a career. After high school her passion and love for dance carried her, on scholarship, to Virginia Intermont College in Bristol, VA where she earned her B.F.A. in Dance (Ballet and Modern) in May 2005. During her time at Virginia Intermont, she was also a member of the Cobra Cheerleading Squad and aided in starting the V.I. Dance Team.
Over the past 11 years Kellie has provided instruction in Ballet, Pointe, Lyrical, Jazz/Contemporary, and Tap with Studio Dance. She states “I am inspired every year by getting to witness the growth in the dancers of Studio Dance. It is such an amazing feeling to think that I can have an influence on their love for the art of dance, and that
they learn to appreciate and respect it. There is a lot of talent here, both in the students and the instructors; and it is an honor to work with Jo Ann and the other great staff.”
Kellie is available for choreography to those interested in solo & duo/trio competition pieces, as well as privates for improving strength/ flexibility and technique. Kellie currently resides in Chuckey, TN. Kellie has three children Jaxon, Jullien, and Kynslie who are the love of her life and always keep her busy.
For over 30 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. Meet Your Studio Dance Instructors
Correna Fowler-Dance is one of Correna's lifelong passions! She has been dancing at Studio Dance since 11 years old and began assisting and teaching quickly after. She is well versed and experienced in all styles of dance. Correna was a member of our Senior Fantastics competition team, duets, and trios competing throughout the region. She was awarded multiple Ballet scholarships from numerous dance conventions; she has also performed in New York City and on Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines. Correna would go onto dance locally for the ETSU Dance Team while studying special education. She moved to California, for five years, to be with family but did not stop with dance. While managing at luxury resorts she was the director of Ballet at a local YMCA. Now with two children, Correna is back in Tennessee and ready to teach once more at Studio Dance.
Taylor has been part of the Studio Dance family since she was 11 years old, when she began her dance career. Since then, she has developed a passion for dance that pushed her to continuously study and train under not only the faculty at SDJC, but also under her mentor Anna Perry. Taylor graduated high school with the highest honors and attends ETSU where she is pursuing a double major in Musical Theater and Exercise Science and a minor in Dance. Taylor is a certified Dance Teacher by the UNLV School of Dance and a certified instructor of Progressive Ballet Technique. The accomplishment she’s most proud of, however, is earning a highly competitive and sought after internship with Breathe Dance Convention. Taylor is very excited to be on faculty at SDJC and commits herself to constant education and training so that she can be the best instructor she can be for the current and future dancers at the studio.
Mrs. Nadine started dancing at the age of 2 in her home on Long Island, NY. She started to competitively dance at the age of 7 at Dorothy’s School of Dance and danced there until graduating from high school. She studied all forms of dance, including ballet, modern, tap, hip hop, jazz, lyrical and contemporary. As part of her studios competitive team, she won multiple High Score awards and performed in NYC and Disney. After high school, Mrs. Nadine joined the Marine Corps, and retired after 20 years of faithful service. Prior to joining the Studio Dance family she taught at a local studio in Eastern North Carolina. She taught various levels of dancers and won multiple awards for her choreography and routines. She holds certifications in Understanding Choreography, Intro to Dance and Strength and Conditioning from CLI, Injury Prevention and Return to Dance from DancemED and is a Relative Motion certified teacher. Mrs. Nadine is passionate about bringing healthy and safe strength training to dancers and helping them reach new goals. Mrs. Nadine is married to her husband Jason, and has two children, Riley, and Jason. Mrs. Nadine and her family are excited to settle down in Tennessee and join the Studio Dance Family!!
Wendy Berry Fields began dancing at the age of 3 and has now been with Studio Dance for 29 years. During her first performance (as a pink bunny), Wendy fell in love with dancing, entertaining, and the stage. As a teenager, she became a member of the Junior Fantastics, the Junior Elite Fantastics, and later the Senior Fantastics, performing in numerous cities and venues, including Carowinds, Disneyland, and Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines. She has also performed as a triple threat in Paramount's productions of Oklahoma and Bye Bye Birdie.
Wendy began working as a student assistant at Studio Dance more than 18 years ago and has enjoyed watching the girls grow, not only as dancers but as amazing individuals who have come to mean so much to her. In college, she continued her relationship with Studio Dance while also becoming the youngest color guard captain in ETSU history, show choir choreographer for Daniel Boone and Science Hill high schools, and color guard instructor at Gatlinburg-Pittman High School. In her "spare" time, she earned a B.A. in mass communications (advertising) and Spanish. Later she earned her master’s in education. Wendy loves all aspects of dance, especially jazz and tap. She credits Studio Dance for her love of music and the arts.
Katie Larkey is from Johnson City, Tennessee. She grew up dancing at Studio Dance, beginning at the age of 3. During the 12 years of dancing for Studio Dance, she met several amazing people and made friendships that she still has to this day. During this time, she grew so much as a dancer and her love for the art of dance flourished. She danced competitively for Studio Dance. Katie grew up competing solos, duets, trios, and group dances for Fantastics. Katie has performed in Disney World and Universal Studios with Studio Dance. After her family moved to Bristol, Tennessee, she continued her dance experience at another studio. Katie continued to dance competitively throughout high school. She also danced at several conventions, like Hollywood Dance Jams where she received two scholarships. Katie is currently in grad school pursuing her Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology at ETSU. She danced on the dance team at ETSU and competed at UDA College Nationals in Disney World for 4 years. Katie’s favorite styles of dance are jazz and lyrical. She is thrilled to say she is back where her love for dance began. She is so honored to give back to this special studio and excited to work with each dancer and watch them grow!
Michelle began dancing at the age of two and has been with Studio Dance for 20 years. She is currently a choreographer for the Dynamic Company. Michelle was a member of the Fantastics competition team for many years and competed in multiple solos and duets at venues throughout the region. She has also performed at Disney World, Universal Studios, and in New York City. She was a member of the ETSU dance team for four years, competing at nationals in Orlando each year, and also had the opportunity to perform in the football playoffs. Michelle is available to choreograph solos or duets/trios for competitions, or work privates to improve technique. She would love to share her passion for dance with you.
Emily Nelson began dancing at the age of 3, and joined the Studio Dance family in 2020. Since her very first rehearsal 15 years ago, Emily fell in love with the art of dance. Her favorite styles of dance are lyrical and hip hop. She competed solos and group dances in many different cities for Studio Dance throughout her time there. Emily has also performed in the Disney World Christmas parade twice, and has danced in the pregame performance at the Citrus Bowl. Emily is also a former captain of the Daniel Boone Dance Team. She is currently enrolled at East Tennessee State University studying Radiologic Science. Emily is so excited to be continuing her dance career as an instructor at Studio Dance, and is extremely grateful to be surrounded by so many incredible students and teachers alike!
Carsen Giles's first and true passion in life has always been dance. Now that she is an adult and has followed her dream of dance studio ownership, a new passion has emerged – teaching dance. It is truly where her heart is. She has always believed that there is no greater feeling than moving to a piece of music and letting the rest of the world disappear.
Studio Dance (founded in 1983) has been like a second home for Carsen since the age of three (nearly a quarter of a century!). Her mom swears she could walk on her hands before her feet! Carsen spent many of these years as a competitive dancer, competing multiple genres of dance as both a soloist and ensemble member of groups. Carsen has danced in New York City, Disney World, Universal Studios, and Las Vegas. Her favorite genre of dance is jazz, but she loves it all.
Though Carsen began her journey at Studio Dance as a student, she transitioned to teaching her own classes as a junior in high school. This opened a whole new door for Carsen, as she was able to teach her own students and choreograph her own dance pieces. Carsen took over ownership of Studio Dance in June 2020, and has been awarded “The Tri-Cities Best of the Best Dance Studio” in all 3 years that she’s been at the helm. Today, Carsen is an award-winning choreographer and is often called upon to train, teach, and help select members of area high school dance teams as well as the ETSU dance team.
Carsen is an ETSU graduate with a bachelor's degree in business and a minor in Dance. While at ETSU, she spent four years on the university's dance team, serving as team captain both her junior and senior years. Carsen is also the coach of the David Crockett High School Dance Team. She has most recently attained a dance teacher certification by the University of Las Vegas Nevada.
Carsen currently resides in Jonesborough, TN with her husband David and the official Studio Dance mascot, Maltipoo puppy Remy Pogue.