THE MOVER.

Hannah Hayward is a bright, joyful artist with a heart and passion for movement, education, and performance. She is a graduate of the Ailey School scholarship program in NYC, a certified teacher with American Ballet Theater, an alumna of the University of Tennessee, and teaches dance and the AE Dance Company along with Psychology at Austin East Magnet High School in Knoxville, TN. Hannah has served as a teaching assistant to Francisco Gella, was a Pre-Professional Trainee with Complexions Contemporary Ballet, and is on faculty at Rock the House Dance Convention. She is a former Artists Simply Human Assistant, a YAGP Regional medalist, a Top 10 winner at The Dance Awards NYC, and an award-winning choreographer. In 2016, Hannah moved to New York to pursue a career full-time and completed a year in the PeriDance Capezio Center’s Certificate Program before she was offered a full scholarship to the prestigious Ailey School, from which she went on to graduate with honors. At Ailey, she studied closely with Milton Myers, Ana-Maria Forsythe, Tracey Inman, and many more. In December 2021 Hannah graduated Summa Cum Laude with Chancellor’s Honors from the University of Tennessee-Martin and holds B.A. in Philosophy and Psychology. Some of Hannah’s performance credits include the Dizzy Feet Foundation Gala at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in LA, Macy’s 95th Thanksgiving Day Parade dancing Alvin Ailey’s “Revelations”, 2020 New York Fashion Week, Orsolina 28’s Gaga Showcase in Italy, the Ailey Choreography showcase, Ailey’s Global Harmony, Russian pop singer Elka’s music video, Ailey New Directions Choreography Lab, PeriDance Showcase, Complexions Contemporary Ballet at the Joyce Theater, the Broadway pre-production of Bend It Like Beckham, and High Hello the film directed by J. Alex Brinson. Hannah has a wide student base and sets choreography across the U.S.

Check out her website!

THE SHAKER.

Ken Easterly is a fun, spark of energy born and raised in Knoxville, TN. His passion for dance began at the age of eleven, when his middle school dance teacher saw that spark in him and she placed him center stage. Touring across the southeast region, as the sole hip hop act, with his middle school Vine Middle Magnet Performing Arts and Science School Dance Company, he solidified his passion for dance. When Ken got to high school he expanded his training in other styles of dance such as tap, jazz, modern, and ballet. After graduating high school Ken went to Alabama State University as a Theater major. Continuing his training, he began to perform and tour with Eclectic Dance Company he later won The Best Male Dancer from ASU’s Theater. Ken then moved to Orlando, FL, and began teaching dance at Edge Dance Studios in Lake Mary, FL. Ken also while in Orlando, performed with a contemporary dance company called Capricorn Dance Co. He began dancing with Tio-Wu Crew/Studio One Crew, and as a background dancer for artist Group One Crew. Since then he has returned to Knoxville and has continued his work and passion for dance, founding his own hip hop dance program called "On the One." On The One is geared to promote education, healthy lifestyles, and originality through dance. By training children, teens, and adults with a high-energy teaching style, students will learn various core styles of hip-hop dance. His program has been offered in several counties in East Tennessee; Knox County, Monroe County, Hamblen County, Hamilton County, Sevier County, Roane County, and Washington County. On The One partners with local organizations like the Boys & Girls Clubs of the TN Valley, Change Center, and Morning Star Development Center. Ken also started a hip-hop dance crew based out of Knoxville with some close friends named Southern Sole. The crew is geared to unify dancers in the community to train and compete nationally. Ken is most known for his choreography for Chris Blue, winner of The Voice Season 12. He choreographed 3 sold-out shows at the Historic Tennessee Theater, the UT vs LSU Halftime Performance at Neyland Stadium, his 2018 Summer Tour, and continues to perform around the world with Chris. Ken has a knowledge and love for dance that shows every time the curtain goes up or class begins.

THE IDEA MAKER.

Shannon Hayward hails from Detroit, MI with a passion for humans (specifically children), education, the arts, family(nuclear and created), words, health, and dance. During her university years, she taught in special education and learned business and art basics at a bustling photography studio. In 2005, she joined forces with designer Denise DeMarchis at a local art fair where the pair created and launched what is now known as the Matilda Jane Clothing Company. Here, Shannon spearheaded all aspects of the MJC enterprise that didn’t involve clothing design and general production, such as customer service and delivery, HR, copy editing/marketing, sales, and finances. She moved into dance studio-specific leadership and organization beginning in 2012 after her husband, Jason, accepted a position at The University of Tennessee and the family moved South. Shannon majored in English and minored in Psychology and holds certifications in Personal Training, Nutrition, Corrective Exercise, and Youth Fitness with the sole intention of training and preparing dancers (and families as a whole) for the rigorous demands the sport places on the human body. Shannon is happiest when she is doing and is passionate about all aspects of growing small humans who turn into amazing adults. She loves learning, being surrounded by the magic that is the controlled chaos of dance creativity and movement, and spending time with her amazing family. Shannon is always up for a great conversation at eye level with anyone in the 18 and under club discussing just about anything and her hardest, best, most favorite job in the history of ever is being a mum.