ALLISON SMITH

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, DANCEFX, INC.

Allison Hayn brings 20+ years of industry experience as the Executive Director of Dancefx Inc. After living in New York City for five years, Hayn took over as Executive Director of Dancefx Athens in August of 2009 and has since expanded to Dancefx Atlanta, adding to our Athens and Charleston locations. She is Owner and Director of Open Call Competition, a prestigious national touring dance competition offering dancers the opportunity to be guided by top industry professionals. At Dancefx, she oversees Dancefx, Inc. in addition to teaching 20 classes per week, and directs the Dancefx Concert Dance Company (with co-director Kaitlin Butcher), Apprentice 2 Company, Training Company, Modern Pin-Ups Apprentice Company and FX Company Program.

In addition to her Dancefx life, Hayn enjoys guest teaching around the Southeast- she is a guest choreographer for the UGA Department of Theatre and Film Studies, including their 2019 production of Young Frankenstein, and has choreographed the Winder-Barrow High School musicals since 2010. Her guest teaching also includes the University of Georgia Dance Department, the University of South Carolina's Summer Dance Conservatory, Southern Spice Dance Studio, Cumming Dance Academy and Fever Performing Arts to name a few. She has been a judge for UGA's Greek Grind for the past six years, UGA India Night for the past three years, and Pointe Of Grace's auditions for the past three years. She has served as the Producer of The Pulse on Tour for 13 years, taught at NYC's Broadway Dance Center's Children and Teen Program and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the Dancefx community. Hayn is a 2004 graduate of the University of Georgia's Honors Program and was instrumental in the opening of Dancestyle Dancewear and the establishment of the Dancefx Youth Program during her time at school, as well as being a founding member of Dancefx Concert Dance Company(2000).  Email Allison

KAITLIN BUTCHER

DIRECTOR, YOUTH PROGRAM

Kaitlin grew up in Nashville, TN and began dancing at the age of five at Green Hills School of Dance. As an elite company member, she competed nationally for nine years, performed with The Moscow State Ballet when she was ten years old, and trained under the talented Brock Clawson.

Kaitlin is the youth program and company director at Dancefx in Athens, GA. She enjoys teaching master classes and setting competition choreography throughout the Southeast. She guest judges for Open Call Competition and guest teaches for the University of Georgia's Dance Department. Her choreography has been recognized and awarded on a regional and national level by Starpower, DMA, BravO, Adrenaline, and Open Call to name a few.

Kaitlin loves being involved in the Athens community and has worked and choreographed for a number of local events and organizations including Project Safe's Dancing With the Athens Stars, Athens Regional Medical Center's Pink Glove Video, Alzheimer's Association Walk, and Athfest Music and Arts Festival.

Kaitlin holds a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from the University of Georgia with an emphasis on Human Anatomy and Physiology. She provides experience, talent, and knowledge to the Athens and dance community.

Email her at kaitlin@dancefx.org

CATHERINE HUFF

DIRECTOR, ENRICHMENT & OUTREACH

Dancefx is honored to welcome Catherine Huff as Director of Enrichment and Outreach. She is our newest full time admin! She has been on staff at Dancefx since 2020 and has taught in the classroom for the last 15 years (with children ages 6 weeks-12years) in special education, general education, and Montessori in both the public and private sectors. She has a masters degree in Early Childhood Education and a Montessori teaching degree.

With Catherine at the helm of Enrichment and Outreach, Dancefx will be able to do more good in the community. Her first projects are heading up the alliance with The State Ballet of Ukraine, working with public and private schools on collaborations, and initiating in-house classes and workshops that utilize her expertise.

Email her at catherine@dancefx.org

NATALIE COX

DIRECTOR, CONTACT BALLROOM COMPANY

DIRECTOR, REVOLUTION SALSA COMPANY

Natalie Cox is the Director of Contact Dance Company at Dancefx, is Artistic Director of UGA's Ballroom Performance group (BPG), teaches The University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education, and performs and teaches at various other venues around Northeast Georgia. Natalie received her A.B. from the University of Georgia in 2003 and her J.D. from the University of Georgia in 2006. While at UGA, she was a member of the UGA's BPG from 2002-2006 and served as president her last year. Notable annual performances include DanceATHENS, the Dancefx Spring Concert, and the Piccolo Spoleto Festival in Charleston, South Carolina. 

Continual training is very important to Natalie; she annually attends dance camps such as the Adult Ballroom Camp at Brigham Young University and the Independence Day Ball Camp in Washington, D.C. During her travels, she has had the great fortune of taking lessons from ballroom greats such as Ron Montez, Jean Marc Genereux & France Mousseau, Pierre Allaire & Mireille Veilleux, Karina Smirnoff, and Tomas Mielnicki & J.T. Thomas. Email Natalie

DEVIN DENNIS

DIRECTOR, SWEET DREAMS COMPANY

DIRECTOR, SWEET DREAMS APPRENTICE COMPANY

Devin studied at Masters Academy of Performing Arts in high school with a focus in musical theater. During her senior year she took her first dance class at DANCEFX and was hooked. She began taking every hip-hop class offered, and after a few years, decided to expand her dance training through tap, jazz, ballet, pointe, and contemporary. She never pictured giving up her training as a competition cheerleader but quickly made the transitions from white sneakers to pointe shoes. Devin is the Director of our hip-hop performance companies, Sweet Dreams and Sweet Dreams Apprentice. She also teaches many adult and youth classes in multiple styles. She continues to train with today's leading choreographers across the United States.

JANET ROBERTSON

YOUTH & ADULT BALLET

Janet Robertson has been teaching with Dancefx since its inception, and has been an faculty member at the University of Georiga Dance Department since 1985, primarily basing her teaching methods and philosophy on the years she spent working with Stanley Zompakos, former member of NYCB. Her training was further enhanced, having been coached for performances by Anna Sokolow and Ernestine Stodelle.

Robertson shares her many talents with the Athens community as a guest teacher and choreographer and for the East Athens Educational Dance Center; as guest choreographer for the UGA Ballet Ensemble; in collaboration with Peggy Thrasher; and as an actress and set decorator with the Town & Gown Players. She recently finished a series of 20 videos for the Carl Vinson Institute of Government's research project on mediation and conflict resolution under Peggy Herrman and Jerry Gale. Robertson was given the Dance Athens 2004 Award for Excellence by the Athens dance community. Robertson holds an A.F.A. in Dance from Sullins College, where she trained under Valentina Belova, a B.A. in Art and an M.A.T., both from Lynchburg College in Virginia.

BRITTNEY SEABOLT

ADULT & YOUTH CLASSES

Brittney took her first ballet class at the age of six. She immediately joined the competition company, where, over time, she expanded her training from one style of dance to a multitude of styles. Fourteen years and four studios later, Brittney's training has grown to include ballet, pointe, contemporary, modern, lyrical, jazz, tap, hip-hop, breakdance, and musical theater. Brittney joined the Dancefx family in 2011 as an FX company member where she quickly discovered her passion for choreography. She soon began choreographing her own competition solos. Two years later, she joined the teaching staff. Recently, Brittney spent a summer training in multiple styles with The Joffrey Ballet School and was offered a position in the Joffrey Trainee Program, in New York. Brittney often trains under today's leading choreographers through conventions and master classes. She is currently a member of the Dancefx Concert Company.

ERIKA DOUGLAS GREENE

BALLET & POINTE

Erika grew up dancing in at the Athens School of Ballet and performed with the Athens Ballet Theatre for over 20 years. She studied under Janet Robertson and Marianne Hale. She also participated in workshops with Ron Colton and Joan Buttram. She not only danced with the Athens Ballet Theatre but served as Assistant Artistic Director and Stage Manager. Today, Erika is a full time special education teacher, and a mother of two little boys. She continues to stay involved in the dance community by teaching ballet and stage managing. 

CHELSEA HARNEY

DIRECTOR, ADULT TAP COMPANY

YOUTH CLASSES

Chelsea set her feet on the stage at age 2 and never stopped performing. She has been trained in ballet, pointe, contemporary, jazz, hip-hop, ballroom, clogging and tap. She received most of her training from Fara Fox Tyree School of Dance before spending three years at Dancer's Pointe under the direction of Danielle Bridgewater. She has performed in several productions of the Nutcracker, The Snow Maiden, Sleeping Beauty, Firebird and An American in Paris. She was a company member of the Winchester Dance Ensemble where she performed in various community festivals, parades, shows and competitions. She trained with the Louisville Ballet Company and the Lexington Ballet Company in Kentucky. She also has training in musical theater and has been a featured dancer in musicals such as Wicked, Chicago, High School Musical and A Chorus Line. 

JESSIE PENOUILH

YOUTH CLASSES

Jessie grew up in Baton Rouge, LA and began dancing at the age of 4. She danced competitively for 7 years with Jete Dance Company and finished out her training at Tari’s School of Dance. In high school, Jessie danced under the supervision of Rebecca Acosta, the associate director of the Baton Rouge Ballet Theatre. During this time, Jessie performed and choreographed for a multitude of school shows including Chicago. During her senior year of high school, Jessie was an apprentice for the contemporary dance company Of Moving Colors. 

Jessie attended Loyola University New Orleans, where she obtained her Bachelor of Arts in History and minored in Criminology and Political Science. She was a member of Loyola’s competitive dance team for 1 year before deciding to take on a greater challenge. Jessie went on to be an NBA dancer for 2 years with the New Orleans Pelicans. In her second year, she became co - captain of the team. 

Jessie is currently in Athens pursuing her Masters of Public Administration at the University of Georgia. Last summer, Jessie started dancing at Dancefx and quickly found her home there. She is a member of the Dancefx Concert Dance Company.

MALLORY WARE

YOUTH CLASSES

Mallory Ware attends the University of Georgia and is pursuing her bachelor's degree in Marketing, minoring in Human Development and Family Science, and she will receive two certificates in Entrepreneurship and NonProfit Management. Mallory plans on getting her masters in clinical social work and becoming a play therapist, but she believes she will always continue teaching dance! 

Mallory's dance training began at the age of three and continues to this day. She is currently a member of Concert Dance Company at Dancefx. Her training includes 6 years in FX Performance Companies at Dancefx, the South Carolina Summer Dance Conservatory, New York and LA classes, and an internship in New York- working at Broadway Dance Center, The Tank NYC, and Pentacle.

Mallory has been teaching dance for 6 years and enjoys assisting Master Teachers in convention classes. She was Event Coordinator at Open Call Dance Competition for 3 years. In this role, Mallory was able to travel nationally and connect with multiple dance studios, agencies, and partners.

Mallory is currently leading Petite and Junior Company at Dancefx and teaches multiple classes, ranging from PreK to the FX level. Next year, she will join Jackson County's Dance Team as Co-Director. Mallory's true passions are dance and children. Being able to have a positive influence on children and share her love of dance is the greatest privilege and will continue to be her biggest reward as dance educator. 

ANDIE RICHARDSON

YOUTH CLASSES

Andie grew up in Athens, GA and began dancing at the age of three at Dancefx Inc. She was a member of Dancefx's performance and competition company from ages seven to eighteen before graduating in 2023 to attend the University of Georgia. 

Andie is currently pursuing a degree in dance and journalism at UGA. Andie has trained in New York and LA  and is proficient in ballet, jazz, tap, hip hop, contemporary, and modern dance. 

She currently holds the title for Open Call Competition's Senior Principal Lead Role, where she tours with Open Call and manages backstage as well as assists convention classes. Andie is a member of Concert Dance Company, Tap Company, and ViXens at Dancefx and loves teaching children how to dance. 

TESS HOLLOWAY

YOUTH CLASSES

Tess Holloway took her first dance class at the age of two and immediately fell in love.  She grew up performing in community theater productions such as Annie and Newsies before focusing her attention solely on dance.  She trained in FX company for three years in high school and loved performing and competing with her Dancefx family.

Tess’ collegiate dance journey began at the University of South Carolina, where she had the opportunity to train under professors with years of experience working with professional dance companies and take classes with Bill T. Jones Dance Company during their month-long residence at the university.  While she loved her first year at USC, she longed for the community and opportunities to teach and perform that Dancefx provided and decided to continue pursuing her degree closer to home.

Tess is currently a student at the University of Georgia, earning a degree in Spanish with minors in Portuguese and Dance, and a member of Concert Dance Company and the Classic City Tap Collective at Dancefx.  Her career goal is to become a medical interpreter and continue teaching dance.  Tess hopes to use her strengths to help others and make a positive impact in her community.  She loves teaching dance because she gets the privilege to share her favorite form of self-expression and watch as it brightens the lives of others.