Instructors | Studio A SoWal Dance

Meet our Instructors

Meet our talented team of instructors at South Walton Dance Company - Studio A. Focused on teaching exceptional technique and creating unforgettable experiences inside and outside of the studio. Our goal is to create an environment that is accepting, loving and encouraging. Our team is built of former professional dancers, teachers, mothers, and trained fitness professionals. We are committed to our dancers’ satisfaction, dance success and mental health. We are dedicated to educating and training our instructors in best practices to keep dance a safe, healthy, and positive activity for kids.

Ashley - PBT, Hip Hop, Jazz, Intermediate Ballet, Team Performance Programs & DanceFit.
Jennifer - Ballet, Pointe, Theatre Jazz, Yoga & Modern
Elizabeth - Preschool Dance Programs & Beginner Ballet
Miranda - Jazz, Tap, Beginner / Intermediate Ballet
Norah - Ballet, Pointe, & Theatre Jazz
Olivia - Ballet, Lyrical, Tap & Technique
Kristin - Preschool Ballet
Holly - Contemporary, Ballet, Pointe, and Technique
Isabella - Contemporary & Acro

Classroom Assistant; Rilee Hip Hop

Classroom Assistant: Katelin Ballet

SWDC Instructors

Dedication. Expertise. Passion.

Meet our dedicated instructors.

Owner | Instructor

Studio Director

StudioA@sowaldance.com

Ashley Brooks

Ashley Brooks is the founder of South Walton Dance Company in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida. Ashley is a former UofKY Dance Team member, NFL cheerleader and choreographer for the Universal Dance Association. She is a mom of three and has a passion for dance, the local community and her family. Ashley started the local Middle School Dance Teams; Seaside Neighborhood School (2018 - 2020) and Emerald Coast Middle School (2022 - current). Her goal is to help build a strong dance community on the Emreald Coast brining guest choreographers to the studio and hiring the best staff who embrace the same goals. Ashley was named the Head Coach for the SWHS Dance Team. The High School team will be formed in 2024. With a passion for dance and building a strong dance program (for all levels of dancers), Ashley takes pride in each dancer who enrolls at SWDC.

Studio Assistant Manager

Event Coordinator

miranda@sowaldance.com

Miranda Lambright

Miranda Lambright is SWDC Studio Assistant Manager. Miranda is also one of South Walton Dance Company instructors, teaching all genres of dance. Miranda has 16+ years of dance training and continues her dance education online completing dance certifications to effectively teach the youth dance programs at SWDC.

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Artistic Director

Jennifer Austin

Jennifer Venable Austin, a Knoxville native, was an original member of the East Tennessee Children’s Dance Ensemble. Following high school, she majored in dance at the University of Tennessee, performing as a soloist for UT’s New Repertory Dance Company. She continued her dance training in New York City: modern dance training with the Martha Graham Company, Alvin Aliey, and Limon School, while her ballet training was with the Joffrey Ballet. Jennifer’s extensive jazz training includes Bob Fosse, Louigi, Frank Hatchett, and Joe Tremaine. After several professional dance years, Jennifer founded Arts In Motion in Kingston, TN. Currently, Arts in Motion provides fine arts dance training for over 400 East Tennessee students.

Instructor

Elizabeth Morris

Elizabeth has led our Intro and Beginner Dance classes for over 5 years. Elizabeth's preschool children develop gross and fine motor skills, proprioception and spatial awareness. Pre-dance classes at SWDC help children hone their creative skills. Elizabeth is a mother of two boys and volunteers at her Church for the youth.

Instructor | Company Team Assistant

Isabella Calasso

Isabella is passionate about dance, cheer and leadership. Join SWDC and Isabella for pop up classes offered monthly

Instructor

Nora Jones

Nora graduated and now works as an independent instructor for SWDC and leads a theatre program at her former dance school in Panama City Beach, FL. Join SWDC and Nora for Ballet and Theatre Jazz weekly this season.

Instructor

Kristin Swift

Kristin has been on staff since 2018 and is the owner of Blue Mountain Bakery. Kristin's passion for dance and the youth shine in her intro level classes.

Instructor

Olivia Alcantara

Olivia has many years of training in all genres of dance. She trained in New Jersey and following High School she continued to train and travels with Turn it Up Dance Convention. She comes to SWDC as a layer of support for our rec and competition programs.

Studio Master Instructor

studioA@sowaldance.com

Holly Wright

Holly has danced from a young age and completed her professional training at 'Bodywork' - Cambridge School of Performing Arts (Cambridge, England). Now residing in Florida, Holly has explored and cultured the American way of dance and thrives to teach others the art of movement, technique and musicality. Holly had a passion for choreography and will be training with our Competitive Company.

Company Team

This is South Walton Company Team Members. Established in 2023 our competitive dance program members compete at conventions nationwide. These are our founding members.

Evelyn

Founding Member

Peyton

Founding Member

Katelin

Founding Member

Rilee

Founding Member

Lily

Company Team Member

Penny

Company Team Member

Presley

Company Team Member

Charli

Company Team Member

Bella

Company Assistant

Ella

Company Team Member

Poppy

Jr Team Member

Cora

Jr. Team Member

Audrey

Jr. Team Member

Braden

Jr. Company Member

SWDC

Upon recognizing the rapid growth in our community, Ashley Brooks, Owner of South Walton Dance Company decided it was time to live out her dream and open a recreational dance studio for the girls and boys in South Walton. Ashley and her staff have multiple health, dance and fitness certifications that give you confidence in knowing your dancers safety and wellness is top priority.

Progressive Ballet Training Certificated

Zumba Certified

Yoga Certified

CDL Certified

ASAP approved studio

Insured by Coastal Insurance

Safety:

Best Educational Practices of dance Certifications
Injury Prevention & Response Certifications
Prevention & Reporting Certifications
Risk Management in the Dance Environment
CPR/First Aid Certifications

Wellness:

Social Media, Media Safety, & Today’s Dance Culture
Developmentally Appropriate Artistry
Body Image, Nutrition, & Disordered Eating
Bullying and Conflict Resolution