Meet Our Staff
Our TOP-NOTCH FACULTY receive critical assistance from our excellent support staff. Assistant Dance Instructors help maintain classroom discipline, make sure the Lead instructor's attention can always be where it is needed most and help keep our student to teacher ratio low while our office staff see that any administrative, book-keeping and billing issues are taken care of quickly and efficiently and are available to answer any class, camp or recital questions that you might have.
Kristie Thompson - Studio Manager
Kristie is a Knoxville native, where she attended the University of Tennessee. She graduated Summa Cum Laude with a B.S. in Communications. She works for Scripps Productions, which produces shows for HGTV, DIY, and The Food Network. It is her love for dance that brought her to Backstage Dance Company. She started dancing as a young child, but has been line dancing and teaching recreationally for nearly 12 years. Kristie believes that everyone can dance, as long as they remember to “Dance first. Think later. It’s the natural order.” Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are here we should dance!
Talia Childers - Artistic Director
We are fortunate to have all the styles and flavors of the West Coast that Talia brings to East Tennessee! Talia has been dancing for about as long as she’s been walking, with more than 25 years of professional dance training in Ballet, Pointe, Tap, Jazz, Lyrical, Modern Dance and Hip-Hop, as well as years of both competition and performance experience. Miss Talia has been accepted in to and attended many intensive dance programs and master classes all across the United States. She has trained at The Edge Performing Arts Center in Los Angeles, California under renowned choreographer Wade Robson who has worked with such artists as Britney Spears, Destiny’s Child, and Usher, as well as Millennium Dance Complex in Studio City, California under the legendary choreographer Shane Sparks, who currently choreographs and is a judge for the popular reality series, So You Think You Can Dance. Talia has studied under many renowned instructors/choreographers, including Kay Fulton of Santa Barbara, California, Joe Tremaine, and many more.
Talia continues her training by constantly attending seminars, workshops and master classes all across the US. She recently received her license to teach Zumba Fitness.
In 2008 Talia started the Releve` Childrens Dance Ensemble, an intensive dance performance and competitive group. To date these dancers have performed at venues such as, The Country Tonite Theater in Pigeon Forge, TN, The Fantasy of Tress, Knoxville, TN and at Walt Disney World, and have competed both regionally and nationally winning top awards.
In her spare time, Talia enjoys working as on-air talent for commercials as well as print modeling.
Miss Talia believes that every child has the power to be great and hopes that she can be a guiding light along their journey in dance. She believes that dance should instill respect for one's self and others, as well as give children a sense of structure and discipline while still having fun. They should grow to be proud of themselves and their accomplishments.
Christy Stipes
Christy has been dancing since the age of 3 with training in tap, jazz, ballet and hip hop, and cheer. In 1993 Christy started a dance club at her high school, Washington College Academy, where she choreographed both jazz and tap routines for the end of the year production. In 1999, Christy received a B.S. in Computer Science at Mars Hill College where she was a member of the cheerleading squad. While in college Christy was the assistant coach for the local high school cheer squad. Christy has also competed in several dance competitions in tap and hip hop. Winning platinum in both categories at the Dance Machine Competitions, she also took first place in the North Carolina State Dance Championships. Christy placed fifth overall in the tap category at the Dance USA Nationals in Myrtle Beach, SC. Christy has taught for several years, passing the love of dance on to children.
Maryjane Wadhams
Maryjane has an extensive background in ballet. She started taking lessons at an early age and in the 6 grade began lessons at the American Ballet Theater School in New York City, where she trained extensively in the Russian form of ballet. While in college she continued taking lessons, expanding to the study of modern and jazz. She also helped teach at the college and taught at the ballet teacher’s own school. After taking a hiatus from dance, she returned to lessons in modern, ballet , and jazz. Backstage Dance Company is fortunate to have such an incredible instructor.
Caroline Inman
Caroline is a Carter High School graduate and a student at the University of Tennessee Knoxville. She first came to Backstage Dance Company as a student. This is Caroline's third year teaching at BDC. Her classes are in high demand and fill quickly! Caroline is amazing with all of our students, and is a favorite among the toddlers. She is genuine and caring and has a spunky attitude that children love! She is a wonderful role model for our students and an exceptional instructor. She recently received her license to teach Zumba Fitness.
Melanie Everett
Melanie is a level 10 gymnast. Melanie has been a gymnast ever since she was four and has been competing gymnastics for 12 years and has made it to regionals numerous times. She is also USAG Safety Certified, which is a requirement to be a coach at competitions. Melanie was also a co-captain of her varsity cheerleading squad. She has been teaching tumbling/gymnastics for 5 years and is very excited to spread her knowledge to the kids at Backstage Dance Co.
Ryan Shi
Ryan is a recent graduate from the University of Illinois at
Urbana-Champaign in Electrical Engineering. He was in TASC Special Ops Chinese yo-yo team and performed throughout the Midwest for 4-5 years. He moved into Knoxville in March 2010 and is now working full-time as an electrical engineer. Ryan has been street dancing for 8 years and has been recently choreographing various hip-hop pieces. He believes anyone can learn to dance and is glad to be able to share his passion for street dancing.
Greg Carney
Greg, "Mr. G", is an accomplished local performer with many years experience performing and teaching Hip-Hop from beginning (aerobics) level, through the mastery series. He has choreographed hip-hop routines for Union County High School Dance Team and Loudon County High School Dance Teams as well as The G-Force Cheerleading and Tumbling Team and Knoxville Elite Cheerleading and Dance. He took 1st place in the Who Can Dance dance competition in Cincinnati, Ohio, 5th place in the Florida Spring Break Dance Off dance competition and was in the top 100 finalists for Beyones World Tour. He performed at the BudFest in Atlanta, Georgia and danced in the MC Hammer Pepsi Feelings commercial. He also volunteers as a dance teacher with Urban Divine and was the founder of P.A.R.A.D.I.C.E. (a non-profit sing/rap/dance group working to educate kids against drugs). Because of his unique step-by-step teaching style and outgoing personality, his classes are always FUN!
Judy Jolley
Judy Jolley was a gymnast, a cheerleader and a dancer who grew up in North Carolina. She relocated to Knoxville from New Orleans where she taught Pre-School gymnasts as well as assisted coaching the Pre-Team and Team in Metairie, LA. She has also taught gymnastics here in Knoxville for the past 2 1/2 years. Not only has she instructed gymnastics for 5 years, she is also a wife, a mother of a 4 year old boy and a PTA student at South College. Being able to teach children physical activities is such a blessing and I am looking forward to having lots of fun!!!
Laura Leitheiser
Laura grew up dancing in Franklin, TN, and then moved to New York City to pursue a dancing career in Musical Theatre. After graduating from the American Musical and Dramatic Academy, Laura spent the next three years traveling around the country on the National Tours of Singin' in the Rain, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. After touring, she continued performing regionally around the United States in productions from A Chorus Line to White Christmas to West Side Story. While living in New York, she trained extensively at Steps Dance Studio with numerous prominent teachers. She has recently relocated to Knoxville and is currently a student at the University of Tennessee. She is thrilled to share her love of dance and her experiences with the dancers at BDC and believes in always following your dreams. Dream big and amazing things can happen!
Nikki Buckner
I am 24 years old and a recent graduate of Tusculum College with my Bachelors degree in Business. I have been cheering since I was 3 years old and it has always been my deepest passion. I cheered competitively for both G-Force and Sharks for a combined 6 years and was on my high school squad all 4 years. I made UCA All-Stars both my junior and senior year and was accepted to teach UCA camps through the summer! I also have several years of experience in teaching cheerleading, tumbling and stunts and judging high school try-outs. I am very dedicated and love to see young girls grow in the sport. I am a mother of two little ones and understand the importance of patience and consistency. I look forward to starting new this year at Backstage and continuing my passion and love for cheerleading!
Amber Stanton
I absolutely love cheerleading and tumbling. I started power tumbling at the age of 4. I practiced with the junior olympic team while I was 5. At the age of 7 I transitioned into competitive cheerleading. I then cheered for The Bearden Bulldogs which was a competitive rec. league. After two years of dedication to the bulldogs I cheered for the Premier Sharks. I have cheered for them the past nine years. I double competed multiple times. I was a part of all the level 5 teams in the gym. Cheering and tumbling has played a major roll in my life and I have a very strong passion and drive to always give my best. I cannot wait to help other young ladies to find their own drive and passion in what they love.
Melinda Wolfe
I have studied and performed most all styles of dance since I was a kid. But age and injuries kept me out of the performance world a few years ago. I thought I was done with dancing but then I found Zumba and I KNEW it was truly my calling!
The music is contagious, the moves are fun, ANYONE can do this and it will make you feel great about your body- no matter your dance expertise or fitness level.
My goal as an instructor is to ensure you move at your own pace while encouraging the 'inner diva' to come out. And most importantly, leave with a smile on your face and a sass in your step!
And I'm so happy to have recently received my license to teach Zumbatomic for kids ages 4-12.
Hannah Troutt
Hannah is a junior at Grainger High School where she is a member of the cheerleading squad. Hannah has been cheering and tumbling for 7 years. She has attended numerous summer camps and workshops along with being a student at Backstage Dance Company. Hannah is out going, lovable and funny.
Noelle Money
Noelle is a Kingston native, who grew up as a competitive gymnast in Knoxville. Noelle competed for 8 of the 13 years that she was a gymnast, making it to the highest level that one can do here in Knoxville. After retiring from gymnastics, she was involved in modern, ballet, and jazz dance and was a competitive cheerleader all through high school and continued to dance in college. She has coached competitive gymnastics and cheerleading teams over the last ten years. In addition to teaching dance, tumbling and cheerleading classes, Noelle is also a Zumba instructor. Noelle started teaching Zumba last August and teaches many classes a week.
Susan Rhea
Susan Rhea is from Knoxville, Tn. She has been teaching music for twenty-four years in the Knoxville area. She has taught at Wallace Memorial Baptist Church, Knox Keyboards, and Lunsfords, and her own studio. She taught music in Knox County Schools for seven years, until she had children. She has been a homeschooling mom for eleven years and is the mother of three great children: Allison, Mark and Matthew. She has her bachelor of Science in Music Education and Elementary Education with her Masters in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Tennessee. She studied under world renowned teachers Dr. David Northington and Dolly Hough.
Susan specializes in teaching piano, voice, guitar, harp, theory and pre school music and movement classes. She enjoys teaching all ages 2-adults. (A person is never too old to learn music.) Lessons offered include: private, semi-private, and group lessons. Some students learn better in a group setting and other students do better with one on one teaching. Susan enjoys teaching students the love of music. She believes that everyone can succeed in music, some just succeed faster than others. Susan works with students at their pace and her main goal with her students is to make learning music enjoyable. Music lessons teach students commitment and so much more. Studies have shown that students that take music lessons do better in math and science.
