Staff

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Mrs. Leah is basically a modern-day superhero. By day, she teaches logic and numbers as a third-grade math teacher at Ripley Elementary School. By night, she transforms into a creative powerhouse and teaches artistry.

With over 17 years of dance experience and a Bachelor of Arts in Dance Education from the University of Tennessee at Martin, Leah is both a skilled technician and a devoted mentor. She continues to pursue ongoing training in dance education, constantly evolving her craft to better serve her students.

Leah’s artistic journey is rich and diverse. She’s been performing color guard since she was a toddler, plays the oboe, and has attended IPOP in Los Angeles to expand her performance repertoire. Whether she’s choreographing competition pieces or helping a beginner discover their rhythm, Leah leads with empathy, creativity, and high standards.

As a proud partner and Artistic Director of Emerald Dance Collective, Leah specializes in curriculum development, staff mentorship, and student progress evaluation. She also gives back to the arts community by assisting local color guard teams and supporting Ripley High School’s dance and band programs.

Leah believes that dance is more than just movement; it’s a language that teaches resilience, expression, and confidence. Her mission is to cultivate thoughtful, well-rounded artists who aren't afraid to shine, dream big, and work hard. 

Mrs. Michaela has been dancing for over 20 years and teaching almost as long. She began assisting at the studio she grew up in at just 10 years old and was fully leading her own classes by the time she graduated high school. Along the way, she also earned opportunities to assist professional dancers at major conventions. All of these experiences helped shape her into the educator she is today.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Dance Education from the University of Tennessee at Martin and brings the perfect balance of creativity and consistency to the classroom. She's more than just a proud partner at Emerald Dance Collective; she’s also our Competition Director, Event Coordinator, and Scheduling Manager. If it needs to be planned, prepped, or perfected, Michaela’s on it. She’s disciplined and structured, but her students know how much she believes in them and that she’s always in their corner, ready to cheer on every accomplishment, no matter how big or small.

Her performance credits include dancing in the Chick-Fil-A Bowl Parade, opening for the Music City Rockettes’ Christmas Spectacular, performing in the Spector Dance Showcase in Marina, California, and placing at several national competitions. She’s now shaping the next generation of dancers not only at Emerald but also as the dance teacher and team coach at Ripley High School. She continues to sharpen her skills through certifications, master classes, and studio owner networks because she knows the best teachers never stop learning.

Her goal is to help dancers build strong technique, confidence, and the kind of work ethic that serves them both on and off the stage.

Mrs. Crystal (affectionately known as “CC” to the littlest dancers) is a theater kid turned studio co-owner with a big heart and even bigger imagination. As a proud partner at Emerald Dance Collective, she wears many hats: instructor, communications & customer service lead, social media wizard, chaos coordinator, and all-around bringer of the fun. 

With a background in early childhood education, Crystal has a knack for working with our youngest performers. Her classes are filled with creativity, confidence-building, and age-appropriate technique that lays a strong foundation for future training. She is certified in Progressing Contemporary Technique (PCT) and Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT Level 1). Crystal takes as many hours of Continuing Professional Development as she possibly can, fueled by a deep thirst for knowledge and a commitment to personal and professional growth. 

While she is best known for the work she does with our preschool students, she is equally passionate about teaching storytelling, artistry, and character-driven choreography that resonates with students of all ages. Crystal is proud to contribute to all levels of the studio and is committed to helping every dancer grow, shine, and feel seen. 

A lifelong lover of the arts, Crystal pours her passion into every class, and when she’s not teaching, she’s often behind the camera capturing life’s most special moments with her signature fairytale flair. 

Mrs. Deana’s full bio coming soon!

Mrs. Alaina’s full bio coming soon!