JEN BARNES Jen is well versed in all aspects of dance performance as well as in choreography and dance instruction. Barnes is coordinating the Rhythm and Spirit Program of dance, tumbling, and cheer for Williamson County Parks and Recreation. A McMinnville, TN native, Barnes received a dance scholarship to the University of Memphis, where she received a bachelor's degree in Business Administration and was captain of the dance team and member of the 2000 National Collegiate Dance Team Championship squad. After college she was a member of cheer/dance squads for the Memphis Redbirds, Memphis Grizzlies and Tennessee Titans. Barnes also taught studio lessons in McMinnville, TN and developed community recreational programs for the McMinnville Parks and Recreation Department. In 2007, Barnes joined the Nashville Predators as dance team coach and choreographer. She joined WCPR in 2008 and is currently developing community athletic and dance programs for the department.

KRISTI MCDONALD Kristi is a Franklin native with over fifteen years of formal dance training. She is a graduate of Oklahoma City University (OCU), where she received a bachelor of performing arts in Dance Performance. Kristi received a dance and academic scholarship to OCU. In college, she was a member of the American Spirit Dance Company, the OCU Pep Dancers and the Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz arena football dance team. For three years, she was a dancer for Princess Cruise Lines performing on the Sapphire, Coral, Caribbean and Diamond Princess ships. Her travels have taken her to ports of call in Asia, the Caribbean, Mexico and Alaska. She is happy to have her feet back on solid ground and sharing dance with students in her hometown.

Rhythm & Spirit is a fun, affordable and quality DANCE, TUMBLING, and CHEER program of the Williamson County Parks and Recreation

Department. The Rhythm & Spirit program began in 2012 in Franklin and has now expanded to include a program in Spring Hill and Nolensville.

Rhythm & Spirit is a wonderful opportunity for children, teens and adults to dance in a non-competitive environment with students who are not only learning; but also having fun! The program is recreational and teachers

strive to know their students as individuals to help them improve at their own pace.

· Classroom environments are supportive and informative · Small class sizes so your child will not get “lost in the shuffle” · Professionally trained and experienced instructors · Variety of class styles and techniques · Affordable class pricing · Helps support a healthy lifestyle · Participants will gain strength, balance and coordination · Participation builds self-confidence · Classes are challenging, encouraging and FUN!!!

ROXANNE MCINTYRE Roxanne McIntyre began dance lessons at the age of six, and has been hooked ever since. At Dance Classique, Franklin Dance

Academy, and Eccentrique Backbone Dance Theatre, she trained in a variety of styles such as ballet, modern, jazz, lyrical, tap, and hip

hop. This prepared her to attend Jacksonville University, where she expanded her understanding of the art of dance, including

technique, performance, choreography, and pedagogy. Her first year, she was named Outstanding Freshman in Dance, and her senior

year won the prestigious Dean’s Award for Student of the Year in Dance. She graduated Summa Cum Laude with a BFA in Dance and

an Education minor. Since college, she has continued her dance training at Vanderbilt University, performed on Chicago rooftops with

Wake Up! Waltz, and entertained as a high-kick dancer at Universal Studios Florida. She is thrilled to be able to share her love of dance

with the students of Rhythm and Spirit!

ALLISON LITTLEAllison is a native of Franklin, TN and started dancing when she was only three! After earning her BFA in Performing Arts from Western Kentucky University she moved to Los Angeles to pursue her performing career. Allison has been seen in such TV shows as Boston Legal, Mad Men, Shear Genius and feature films such as The Comebacks, The Prestige and Ocean’s 13. Allison loves performing in every genre of entertainment, but her true passion is theatre. Some of her favorite theatre credits include, The National Tour of CATS ’09-10 & ’10-11, A Chorus Line, All Shook Up, Sweeney Todd, Guys and Dolls, Nunsense, Silk Stockings and most recently a new Broadway bound musical “The Nutty Professor”, directed by Jerry Lewis himself! The most rewarding aspect of all of her experience is getting to share that knowledge and love with her students! Fortunately she has gotten to do that for the past 7 years in addition to performing. Allison is very excited to be joining the WCPR Dance program to help enrich children’s lives through the art of dance!

MARISSA MILELE Marissa was born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee. She trained for thirteen years as a company member at DC Dance Factory. Additionally, she trained and competed at Let It Shine Gym in power tumble and trampoline, ranking nationally. She has been a competitive cheerleader for many years at Prime Tyme Athletics and cheered in middle and high school. Modeling is very fun for her as she booked industrial modeling gigs with MAC Cosmetics and print work for Katrina Dance wear (2012 catalog and website). Music videos and commercials include: Drew Davis, Alex Aiona, Redneck Zombie Killers, Snowbird Channel 4 news, Top 40 Billboard, American Pickers, Worship Jamz, Nickelodeon with live performances with CMA, iShine and Believe tours, Radio Disney's NBT, Jasmine Sagginario, (opening up with Justin Beiber). She has experienced television appearances such as CMA Country Christmas as a principle dancer for Jennifer Nettles (ABC), Top sixteen girls on "So You Think You Can Dance" season 10 (FOX network), American Pickers (History channel) and iShine knect on (CBN).

TESSA MENDOZA Tessa Mendoza has established herself as a successful Choreographer and Director. Starting at the age of 7, her passion for the stage

has continued to grow as has her passion to teach. Originally from Los Angeles, Tessa Mendoza began her vocal and dance training in

Arizona. At 14, she began Choreographing for her High School Show Choir and at the age of 17 was Choreographing and Coaching

College Dance Teams across Arizona. She was awarded two Choreography Scholarships for her work on the shows “Little Shop of

Horrors” and “Godspell" and then went on to work with the Bel-Air Musical Theatre Company for Kids in Los Angeles. Tessa Mendoza

is most known for Choreographing, Dancing and Directing for Disney Star and Hollywood Recording artist Coco Jones.

KATIE STEVENSON Katie started dancing at a young age in her hometown of Omaha, NE. She spent most of her life training in ballet, tap, and jazz and enjoyed performing in local community theater productions. She attended Oklahoma City University and graduated in May of 2012 with a Bachelor of Science in Dance Management. During her time at OCU, Katie was a part of many productions and trained from respected names such as Jo Rowan, Brian Marcum, and Jay Fagan to name a few. She has also had the privilege of training in New York City, taking master classes from some of Broadway’s finest. Katie is looking forward to sharing her love of dance with her students at Rhythm and Spirit!

RAVEN JACKSON Raven began her dance training at a very young age. Getting serious into ballet, she began training at Nashville School of Ballet. There, she performed in several ballet performances including The Nutcracker and Sleeping Beauty. In 2004, she attended the Alvin Ailey School as a scholarship student where she danced for two summers before receiving a full scholarship to Brenau University to study dance in 2007. Raven has trained in many master classes from Alvin Ailey, American Ballet Theatre, Jacob’s Pillow and Juilliard.

JUSTIN MILELE Justin was born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee. Justin's love for dance started at a very young age of 8 years old. He was inspired to dance from attending his sisters dance competitions and his entire family is full of singers and dancers. He became a company member at nine years old at DC Dance Factory where he competed for twelve years and received some of the best training in the United States. Graduating from high school in 2012, he was an intense football player who participated in class 6A state playoffs and received college scholarship offers. Additionally, participating in basketball, karate and wrestling throughout some of his middle and high school years. He joined the band, Contagious in November 2012.While in the group he was booked for the ABC TV show "Nashville" (Seasons 1 and 2) as a principle dancer for Hayden Panettiere and also immediately booked the CMA Country Christmas which also aired on ABC, as a dancer for Kelly Pickler and Jennifer Nettles. He has also participated in numerous music videos and commercials throughout his life time for such artists as Austin Mahone, Brooks and Dunn, Nickelodeon, Snowbird, Alex Aiona, Jake Owens, Morgan Riley, Taylor X, and Bubba Sparxx, to mention a few.

BRITTANY CHANEY Brittany Chaney was born in Flint, Michigan and moved to Franklin, Tennessee when she was three and started dancing the same year. She trained in ballet, tap, jazz, and musical theater. Brittany not only has danced her whole life, but also performed musical theater with the Children’s Performing Arts Program. After high school, Brittany went to Columbia State Community College and was in the Entertainment Program where she was dance captain.

TOSHIA MILKS Toshia was raised in the small town of Gordonsville, TN. She started Cheerleading and Tumbling at

Gordonsville Junior High in the 7th grade. In 8th grade she was selected to move up and join the high school

competition team and competed all five years with their Co-ed team. She served as Captain her senior year,

and was selected to compete with Power Athletics Elite co-ed squad attending nationals. Before graduating,

she began her instructing career at UC Athletics, a new All-star Gym in Carthage, TN. Here she served as one

of the main choreographers, coaches and tumble instructors. During this time she also helped coach and

choreograph dances for high school teams. After the arrival of her son, Toshia joined the Rhythm and Spirit

program.

JENA LINK Jena is a McMinnville, TN native and University of Memphis graduate. She has been a gymnast since the age of 4 and also has dance training in ballet, jazz and tap. She was the captain of her high school dance team who won top honors at national competitions. Link was a dancer for the Memphis Redbirds, Nashville Predators, and has performed backup for Trace Adkins, Rascall Flatts and Jay Sean. Jena is currently a cheerleader and captain for the Tennessee Titans Cheerleaders.

BRITTNEY HANKINS Brittney attended MTSU majoring in Early Childhood Education, and minoring in Dance. She was certified to

teach Dance through the Southern Association of Dance Masters. She then attended Columbia States

Commercial Entertainment Program. Upon graduating, she received an offer to dance at Nickelodeon Suites

in Orlando, Fl. There Brittney worked for Nickelodeon, Universal, Sea World, Gaylord Hotels, and Walt

Disney World in various Entertainment roles. She now choreographs and performs with Day and Night

Theater Company based in Franklin, TN.

JEN HUTZEL Jen has a background of formal studio training in ballet, jazz, and contemporary dance styles. She has a

minor in dance from Middle Tennessee State University where she studied a variety of genres also including

modern, ballroom, and tap. While at MTSU, Jen was a member of Middle Tennessee Performing Arts

Company where she choreographed a number of pieces and also danced with Senior Company, an extension

of MPAC for elite dancers. Jen also worked for Murfreesboro City Schools Extended School Care program for

several years and cofounded the first dance program, "Project Dance". Jen has always had a passion for dance

and is thrilled to be a part of the WCPR Rhythm & Spirit family!

BROOKE MIHALEK Brooke began her formal dance training in tap, ballet, jazz, modern and musical theatre over 20 years ago at Franklin School of Performing Arts. As a Performing Arts Major at Western Kentucky University, Brooke was chosen as the only freshman to perform her tap choreography for the Department Heads of Theatre and Dance. She also learned to focus on the technique of rhythm tap and hoofing. After college, Brooke continued her dance education at the University of South Carolina and at the Georgia Ballet. She then pursued her career by performing various musical revues as a part of the Entertainment Cast of Stone Mountain Park in Georgia. Brooke is thankful to have the opportunity to be back home in Tennessee and was cast in the musical “The Producers” at the Boiler Room Theatre in Franklin. Most importantly, Brooke hopes her love for all dance forms will inspire all students no matter what age.

MILLIE MARTIN Millie is so grateful to be a part of the Rhythm & Spirit program! She has been dancing since the young age of three. She began her training with the acclaimed Miss Texi Waterman who is the original choreographer of the famous Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders. Millie attended the American Musical & Dramatic Academy; a conservatory in New York City where she studied musical theatre and dance. She landed her first professional gig at 19 and began performing and traveling all over the United States! She has served as Dance Captain and Assistant Choreographer for numerous productions along the way. She was a scholarship student at the prestigious Steps on Broadway in NYC for 5 years where she studied dance intensely and also went on to work with the School at Steps. Millie continues to perform professionally and is currently a Nashville Predators Dancer for the National Hockey League.