Dance Academy of Bartlett

Dance Academy of Bartlett teaches dance to students from age 2 upwards, with classes organized by age and ability. No audition is required to join. The studio balances education and enjoyment: all students, including preschoolers, learn steps, combinations and terminology (including French for ballet), and perform on stage. Younger students learn through movement games that develop technique. As students progress, the challenge of learning becomes the enjoyment itself.

Classes run across multiple styles. Recreational classes include Pre-Dance and Dance With Me for the very young (ages 2–3), Level 1–7 Combo classes progressing through ages 3–11 and up, Hip Hop (Kids Hop ages 6–9, then Hip Hop 1–3 for ages 8 and up), Tumbling (levels 1–3 for ages 5–11), and Ballet Technique (levels 1–4 for ages 8 and up, plus Advanced Ballet and Pointe for placement students). Advanced students join Pre-Company, JrEtte Company, SrEtte Company, Jr Company, Sr Company, Production, and Competition Groups, all by teacher placement. All students Level 1 and above perform in an annual recital; the studio runs rehearsals in two stages—first in the studio with other students, then on stage at the Cannon Center—to ease the transition to performing.

The teaching staff bring substantial credentials. Owner and director Tracy Spencer Hannon began dancing at age 2, studied theater and dance (B.F.A., cum laude), taught and choreographed with the Civic Dance Company in Georgia, directed children's rehearsals for The Moscow Ballet's Great Russian Nutcracker for over ten years, and serves as a member of the Southern Association of Dance Masters. Nikki Tartt teaches advanced ballet and pointe; she trained at Ballet Memphis and Collage Dance Collective, earned her B.F.A. in Dance Performance and Choreography from the University of Southern Mississippi, and performed professionally with Collage Dance Collective including international tours. Brennley Scarbrough, who specializes in hip-hop, trained at Weave Dance Company, Millennium Dance Complex and Monsters Dance Convention, and was a background dancer for singer NEDY. Rosemary Turner, who grew up dancing with Dotti's School of Dance in Germantown, participated in the TN Governor's School of the Arts, studied dance at Oklahoma City University, choreographed for Mississippi State University and directed Sole to Soul Dance Academy for over 15 years; she is currently Second Vice President and Chief Examiner of the Southern Association of Dance Masters. Kim Jenkins graduated from DAB and has taught since 2009; she studied dance at Columbia College (SC), is SADM certified, and trained in Acrobatic Arts curriculum. Katye Baker is a DAB alum and current student in the Dance Science program at the University of Memphis; she trained through TN Governor's School for the Arts, the Joffrey Southwest Dallas Intensive and Ballet Memphis' Beyond Technique Advanced Intensive. Carmen Norfleet graduated from Overton HS of Performing Arts, earned her B.F.A. in Dance Education from UT Martin where she performed in the UTM Dance Ensemble, and worked as a Dance Specialist in Shelby County Schools. Taylor Johnson graduated from Overton Creative and Performing Arts High School and holds a B.F.A. in Theatre/Dance from the University of Memphis; she performed in Momentum, New Voices and the American College Dance Association Adjudicated Performance. Courtney and Carmen also teach multiple recreational classes.

The studio is located at 6240 Stage Plaza East, Bartlett, TN 38134, behind Exline's Pizza at the back of the parking lot. The building includes a closed-circuit television system showing three of the four rooms so parents can observe their child's progress. Classes are closed to parents and guests during instruction for safety and classroom management reasons.

Registration opens late July for the school year and late March for summer camps. Summer camps are offered. The studio accepts cash, check and major credit cards. Office hours during the school year are Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays 3:00–8:00 p.m., Wednesdays 3:30–8:00 p.m., Fridays 3:00–6:00 p.m., and Saturdays 10:00 a.m.–12:45 p.m.

Classes are placed by teacher recommendation based on age and ability; no audition required. You'll observe via closed-circuit TV from the lobby. The studio splits recital preparation between studio rehearsals (not mandatory, no CCTV) and required stage rehearsals at the Cannon Center convention center.

The team includes owner Tracy Spencer Hannon (B.F.A., former Moscow Ballet rehearsal director, SADM member), Nikki Tartt (B.F.A. Dance Performance and Choreography, professional performer with Collage Dance Collective), Brennley Scarbrough (trained at Weave, Millennium Dance Complex, Monsters Convention; specializes in hip-hop), Rosemary Turner (SADM Second Vice President and Chief Examiner, former director of Sole to Soul Dance Academy), Kim Jenkins (SADM certified, Acrobatic Arts trained, choreographer), Katye Baker (Dance Science student, trained at TN Governor's School and Joffrey Southwest), Carmen Norfleet (B.F.A. Dance Education, UT Martin), Taylor Johnson (B.F.A. Theatre/Dance, University of Memphis), and Courtney.

No audition required; classes placed by age and ability. The studio welcomes preschoolers and teaches through movement games at younger ages.