Faculty and Staff

Originally from Atlanta, Christine grew up studying the Royal Academy of Dance syllabus under the training of Kelly Oakes-Dent at Callanwolde Fine Arts Center. By the time Christine graduated high school, she had completed RAD examination grades II through VIII Award and the major syllabus examinations Pre Elementary through Intermediate II (recently renamed Intermediate Foundations through Advanced I). Christine went on to receive her minor in dance at the University of Georgia, performing in the UGA Ballet Ensemble as well as the modern dance company, CORE. From 2002-2006 Christine taught, choreographed and directed for Freedom of Movement Dance Academy in Athens, Georgia and completed a 230 hour yoga teacher training at Asheville Yoga Center. Christine has a professional career dancing, teaching, and choreographing with the Chattanooga Ballet, and also directed the Orange Grove Dancers. Christine is the past-president of the Tennessee Association of Dance.  With experience in many forms and dance, Christine directs the Chattanooga Dance Theatre to have classes and productions in many forms of dance and movement for all ages.

Jenny Hannah is from Chattanooga. She began in baton twirling and gymnastics at the age of six. Jenny trained in ballet with Anna and Barry VanCura at Ballet Tennessee. Jenny is currently a baton twirling athlete on the elite level. A member of Team USA, Jenny is a nine time World Baton Twirling Championships medalist and a seventeen time Grand National Champion. Jenny is a graduate of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga with a BS in Biology and a M.Ed. in Health and Physical Education. She is a licensed Physical Therapist Assistant. Jenny is an adjunct instructor in the Health and Human Performance department at UTC where she is the coach for the UTC Majorettes. Jenny teaches twirling with United Twirling in Chattanooga.

Elise, a Chattanooga native, started dancing at Karen Horton School of Dance at the age of four but retired at 5 because dance classes coincided with her afternoon naptime, making her rather grumpy. However, at the age of 11, she was inspired to return to dance after watching older girls perform at an after-school dance program where her younger sister was enrolled. She joined that after-school program at Brainerd Baptist School and was introduced to Chattanooga Ballet by a friend from the class. Elise began dancing at Chattanooga Ballet in 1999 when there was no formal building, and classes were held at the UTC field house, Baylor school, and CCA dance studios. Her dance roles started out in the Chattanooga Ballet Nutcracker with beginner parts like Angel Attendant and progressed to Spice Drop, Spanish, Corps roles in Flower and Snow, and one of her favorite parts as flower demi. Elise also enjoyed dancing in Les Sylphides, Don Quixote, Swan Lake, as well as the Chattanooga Symphony and Opera Hansel and Gretel performance. In 2022, Elise joined the CDT family and mainly works with our younger dancers instilling a love for ballet!

During her training, she became a teaching assistant and was promoted to teacher when her instructor had to have knee surgery. Her first class teaching alone was on parent observation day. She had several beloved teachers, including Mr. Frank Hay, Karen Smith, and Christine Mashburn-Paul. Elise has always had a love for young dancers and enjoys seeing them hit milestones in their development. She believes that anyone can take a dance class, but not everyone leaves with a heart for dance. Her hope is that more students gain a love and appreciation for dance and become lifelong dancers wherever life takes them.  To Dance, To Dream by Maxine Drury was a beloved book that belonged to Elise's mother. This book is filled with stories of dancers from years past who were an inspiration to her as a young dancer. No one is ever too old to dance or dream! 

Ryan was born in Oklahoma City and raised in Chattanooga, TN. Ryan found his love of Hip Hop dance at the tender age of 9 years old and has been dancing ever since. To better his Hip Hop skills, he took several dance classes anywhere he could and love to watch live performances from his favorite artists

From 2013-2015 Ryan trained at WEAVE: A Conceptual Dance Company to help shape his Hip Hop style and learn other dance styles.

Ryan has taught Hip-Hop at various dance studios and schools around Chattanooga such as Ballet Tennessee, Modern Play, Divine Dance Studio, Raw Art Dance and Entertainment Corp, Velocity Dance Center, Baylor School, Girls Preparatory School and Chattanooga Center for Creative Arts. Ryan has also taught Hip-Hop for the Tennessee Association of Dance.

He is currently teaching Hip-Hop at CDT and multiple other studios in the Chattanooga and Dalton area.

Ryan preforms at different events and collaborates with local artists on special projects around the Chattanooga area.

Emily Schebler began dancing at the age of two. At twelve, she began her formal training at Chattanooga High Center for Creative Arts (CCA) as a dance major, from where she graduated as valedictorian of her class. While at CCA, she was a member of their dance company, Project Motion. In addition to CCA, Emily trained in ballet, modern, and jazz with Chattanooga Dance Theatre. While with CDT, she originated several roles in current company repertory, and some favorites include Belle in Beauty and the Beast, the Dew Drop Fairy in ‘Nooga Nutcracker, and the Queen of Hearts in Alice in Wonderland. During her time at both the Center for Creative Arts and Chattanooga Dance Theatre, she had the opportunity to choreograph several new pieces presented on the concert stage, including “The Front” and “The Future is Female” with CCA and “For Em” and “For Christine” at CDT. 

Emily holds a BBA in Dance and Movement Studies and Strategy and Management Consulting from Emory University, some completed coursework including Dance Pedagogy, History of Western Concert Dance, Dance Literacy, Contact Improvisation, and technique classes in ballet, modern, and jazz. Emily was also a member of Emory Dance Company, the performance company of the Emory dance program. As a member, she performed in many postmodern works, most notably of which being her soloist work in “Helen’s Misfortune” as a part of Kristin O’Neal’s 2019 Sweet Suite. In 2022, Emily had the opportunity to choreograph her own postmodern work “it costs a lot of money to look this cheap” on the Emory Dance Company. While at Emory, she was also the vice president of Emory’s tap club, treasurer of Emory’s ballet club, and a member of the AHANA dance group. Emily is thrilled to call Chattanooga Dance Theatre her home once again and finds so much joy in helping her students find who they are as an artist and person. 

Bio Coming Soon

Bio Coming Soon.

Julia Walker grew up in Roswell, Georgia and danced at Footnotes Dance and Acrobatics. There she trained in Modern, Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Lyrical, and Hip Hop, competed with their company, The Vibe, and had the pleasure of working with choreographers Bubba Carr and Cherrise Wakeham. After high school, she went on to major in Dance at Kennesaw State University and worked with the KSU Dance Company as both a backstage crew member, and a dancer. During her time at Kennesaw State she had the privilege of performing works by Ido Tadmor and Ivan Pulinkala, and was able to study abroad with the Batsheva Dance Company for a short time. At KSU she was

recognized for her dedication to the art form when she received the Joann Durham Endowed Scholarship for Modern Dance. Since graduating with her Bachelor of the Arts in Dance in 2016, she has done some freelance work, but has found that her true passion is teaching young dancers, and giving them a safe space to explore their artistic abilities and express themselves through dance. 

Ashley Hood is a dynamic and accomplished dancer and choreographer, holding a BFA in Dance and a minor in General Business from Troy University. With extensive training across
ballet, contemporary, jazz, hip-hop, lyrical, and modern, Ashley has honed her craft under the guidance of esteemed mentors such as James Boyd, Adrienne Hicks, Dominique Angel, Jerome
Stigler, Kelsey Metz, Michael McBride, and Lisa Bauford.
Her dance journey, which began at the Academy of Ballet and Jazz in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, has taken her to international stages. Ashley’s choreography was showcased at the
prestigious DAP Festival in Pietrasanta, Italy, in 2023. She also had the honor of attending the Limon Dance Intensive in New York City, where she trained with Dante Puleio and Kathryn
Alter.

In 2024, Ashley received the Excellence in Dance and Artistry Award at Troy University's Honors Convocation. With a teaching repertoire that spans ages 4 to 23, Ashley brings a vibrant and inspiring approach to dance education.
Ashley is now thrilled to join the Chattanooga Dance Theatre, where she looks forward to sharing her passion and expertise with a new creative community.

Bio Coming Soon.

Bio Coming Soon.

Bio Coming Soon.