Meet That's Dancing's Staff
TEACHERS
sharon Carruthers
Teaching dance has been my dream since I put on my first pair of tap and ballet shoes at the age of four. I danced my whole childhood and began assisting during my high school years. After graduating from St. Gabriel in 1979 and Mercy Academy in 1983, I began studying Psychology at Bellarmine University. I graduated from the University of Louisville with a BA in Psychology and then again in 1988 with a BA in Communications. I continued to teach dance part time as I explored other professions, including managing a restaurant and working at WAVE Television. But my dance dream never died. I opened That’s Dancing in February of 1991 with only a handful of students. I moved to this current location in June of 1999 after ‘outgrowing’ the first studio.
I have the best ‘dance husband’ and ‘dance dad’ in Barry who helps out in every way he can. Our three daughters, Kaci, Kaylee and Kenzie, love dance as well (thank goodness!). I have the best job in town! I love to dance and I love to teach. I take great pride in all of my students and my teachers. Many of my teachers have been with me since they were toddlers themselves!
Owning That’s Dancing carries with it an unbelievable amount of work, but because of such wonderful teachers and staff, helpful parents, and eager students, my job is very rewarding. I hope that That’s Dancing will forever be a ‘happy dance’ in your child’s life.
Robin heckman
I am very proud to be the ballet director here at That’s Dancing. I have been teaching here for over 11 years. I have danced professionally and taught throughout the U.S., and have chosen this studio to pursue my teaching career. I enjoy working with Sharon and the other instructors here. I especially love the students! I have watched the dancer’s appreciation of ballet grow over the years and I am very proud of the technical and artistic accomplishments.
I am originally from Hollywood, FL., where I began my ballet training. I joined the Louisville Ballet in 1986 where I danced professionally for 15 years. I have been married for 13 years to Steve Heckman and have three beautiful children, Savannah, Stevie and Jake. I look forward to another rewarding year at That’s Dancing.
misty hodges
I am the Jazz and Hip Hop teacher at That's Dancing! I have taught at That's Dancing for six years. I am also a full-time Personal Trainer at Baptist East Milestone Wellness Center. I was married in 2006 to my wonderful husband, Kenny. I LOVE to dance, but most of all I love teaching your children! Dance has been a part of my life in many different ways. I took ballet, tap and jazz for six years in a studio setting. In high school, I was a member of the Jazz Choir Production team and a member of the Dance Team. After reaching the college level, I danced at the University of Kentucky. When I moved to Louisville, I joined the Louisville Fire Arena Football Dance Team and danced with the semi-pro basketball team, the Kentucky Colonels.
Brittany Patton
That's Dancing has been a part of me for as long as I can remember. At the age of 4, I began dancing as one of Sharon's very first students (and I liked it so much that I never left!) Since then, I have had over 16 years of studio dance training. In my 'prime' dancing years, I was several main characters including Maria in The Sound of Music, an 'ugly stepsister' in Cinderella, Cogsworth the Clock in Beauty and the Beast, and Mr. Potato Head in Toy Story. After graduating from Assumption in 2004, I continued to teach dance while studying psychology at Bellarmine. I have a BA in Psychology and a BA in Sociology from the Bellarmine. I have carried my love of dance with me from childhood to adulthood. As a child, I used to love dance class with Ms. Sharon and the rest of my 'dance friends.' Through competition, I began to appreciate dance as a form of art that requires much skill and training. Now, as an adult, I find joy and fulfillment in teaching and choreography. I have been teaching for 8 years, and love it more with each passing year. I look forward to another great year teaching your children!
RACHEL KREBS
I have been
dancing at That’s Dancing since 1992. I have been an instructor since 2002
and for many years before that I was an assistant for many classes. I have
taught many age and ability levels. From three year olds to adults!
During the years when I was a student here, I had many main character roles in
our ballet productions. My most known role was that of Buzz Lightyear in
our Ballet Production of Toy Story.
I have also performed in Walt Disney World twice and as half time entertainment
at a
Emily Lewellen
I am so excited to take on this challenge of instructing your children in all forms of dance. I was a competitive dancer for 16 years, and this is my fifth year as an instructor. I attend the University of Louisville as a junior, Communication major. I have taught children ages three to 13, and have also had experience choreographing award winning solos and assisting with classes for many years. In the past, I danced many main character roles in the production ballets at the end of the season. I was Rex in Toy Story, the Cowardly Lion in The Wizard of Oz and Ursula in my final ballet, the Little Mermaid. I can’t wait to pass my love of dance to the new generation of That’s Dancing and incorporate my ideas and creations with the classic technique I was taught as a new student. I hope you and your child are as excited as I am! I can’t wait to see you in class!!
amy woods
I am 20 years
old and I have been dancing for 17 years here at That's Dancing.
I have been teaching for five years. I really
enjoy being around the kids all of the time. I currently attend the
Crystal patrick
I am a sophomore at the University of Kentucky. I am on the U of K varsity dance team. I graduated from Manual and was a dance major at the Youth Performing Arts School (YPAS), where we studied ballet and modern dance. I have been dancing at That's Dancing for 15 years. I danced competitively for 12 years. In 2001, I enjoyed the opportunity to dance with The Louisville Ballet's performance of The Nutcracker. I was cast as a soldier and polichinelle. I love to dance, so that was a great opportunity for me to see the professional side of dancing. I have been a teacher at That's Dancing for four years. I was also an assistant teacher prior to that for three years. I enjoy teaching, especially at That's Dancing, because it is a great atmosphere to do what I love to do and to share my love and enthusiasm of dance with new, young dancers.
LAUREN BURKHARDT
I am 19 years old and a sophomore at the
"Dance for yourself, if someone
understands good. If not then no matter, go right on doing what you love."
~Lois Hurst
MADELINE CONKIN
Hello, my name is Madeline Ashley Conkin. I’ve been dancing at That’s Dancing for 13 years. I take ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, pointe and hip hop classes. I love helping and teaching little girls because it also helps myself grow not only as a teacher, but as a dancer. In the ballets, I’ve been a poppie flower in Wizard of Oz, Trietar’s Sea Horse in the Little Mermaid, Gus in Cinderella, Belle’s father in Beauty and the Beast, and Wendy in Peter Pan. I’ve been helping for 3 years and this is my first year teaching. I am very excited, and can’t wait to start. I love dance so much! That’s Dancing has been my second home. I love everything about this studio and I hope everyone who walks into this studio feels the same way I do.
katie engel
Colleen nalley
elizabeth edrington
ASSISTANTS
KACI CARRUTHERS
Hi, my name is Kaci. I am 12 years old. I have been dancing for 10 years. I love it! I am in the 7th grade. I have been a lead character for 3 years and it is so much fun. I have learned so many things since I have been dancing. I especially love the little kids. They are so adorable. I love talking to them. It is always so much fun at the studio.
RILEY
My name is Riley Ferguson.
I have been dancing at That’s Dancing for 9 years.
This is my third year at
HANNAH
My name is Hannah Jennings. I’m 12 years old and in the 7th grade at JCTMS. This is my 10th year at That’s Dancing. I take tap, jazz, ballet and Lyrical. Tap is my favorite tupe of dance. This is my third year as a teacher assistant. I enjoy teaching the younger kids. They are so cute and hope that they enjoy dance as much as I do!
HOLLY KIRWAN
Hi, I’m Holly Kirwan. I am in the 8th grade. I am very passionate about dance and teaching dance. I am going into the eighth year here at That’s Dancing. I have been in quite a few of the competitive classes here since my second year. I have had the following roles in the latest ballets; Beauty and the Beast – Lead Flower and Be our Guest Chorus; Peter Pan – Lead Toy Soldier - Lead Mermaid and Life Dancer. It is an enjoyment to help teach younger students learn to dance.
Hi!
My name is Zoe Knight and I am a sophomore at
My name is
SARAH STEPHENS
I love dance! It is one of the many important things of my life. I have danced for seven years and six at That’s Dancing. I have been in a competitive class for five years. My favorite kind of dance is tap and jazz. I have had Ms. Sharon for all the time that I have been at That’s Dancing. All I can say is THAT’S DANCING is the BEST!
Madison Clark
Jessica Kanerviko
Emily Lopez
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