About Us> Faculty
Mary Cadle - Director
Mary Cadle’s professional career began with the Cincinnati Ballet Company, where she was a member for six years, performing many of the classics, as well as ballets by Balanchine and other contemporary choreographers. While dancing with the Cincinnati Ballet Company she met her husband and moved to Jackson, MS to join Ballet Magnificat!, America’s premiere Christian ballet company, where they could dance solely for the glory of God.
After several years of touring nationally, Ballet Magnificat! opened their first school, and Mary became the first teacher. From that point on, Mary gave her full energy to training young dancers in the art of classical ballet as well as mentoring and encouraging them to use their gifts for God’s glory. During this time she taught company class as well as directing the Junior Company and Ballet Magnificat! Mary also was an adjunct professor for Belhaven University, teaching intermediate and advanced level technique classes.
In 1997, Mary and her family moved to Nashville. After teaching in various schools locally and in surrounding communities, they opened their own dance school, Worship in the Arts Academy, which later became First Light Arts Academy. They directed the school for six years. Most recently, she taught ballet at Ann Carroll School of Dance. Currently Mary, her husband, and their three children live in Franklin.
Susan Russell - Manager
Susan Russell began her training in the arts with piano lessons at age six. She also studied cello, viola, and dance (hip-hop and swing), before discovering a passion for voice and composition. She continued on to receive her bachelor’s degree in Commercial Voice at Belmont University. In recognition of her skill in composition and arranging, Susan received the Huff Endowed Composition Scholarship from renowned composer, arranger, and director Ronn Huff. Since graduating from Belmont in 2008, Susan has held a variety of positions in arts education/administration and the entertainment industry. Her experience includes royalty administration for a local artist management company, assisting with Nashville Children’s Choir, administration/fundraising for Music City Youth Orchestra, and administration/Music Theory Instruction for Belmont Academy. Most recently, Susan has served as Fellowship Pre-school music and art instructor, while also offering private tutoring in music theory/aural skills. Susan is also a dedicated songwriter and performer. Susan and her husband, Ryan, reside in East Nashville. Susan is excited to get to combine her administrative skills with her love for the arts in her work at Fellowship School of Dance.
Amie Barriger - Instructor
Amie Barriger began her dance training in Nashville and studied at Franklin School of Performing Arts, School of Nashville Ballet, Metro Parks, and Vanderbilt where she had many opportunities to perform and teach. She performed in the Nutcracker with the Nashville Ballet, a "Mini-Nutcracker" with the TN Mid State Orchestra, and danced in shows at the Grand Ole Opry and at Disney World's Magic Kingdom. She also served as a judge for regional dance competitions. Amie feels very blessed to have been able to also use her gift of dance to worship God by dancing in churches throughout Nashville. She performed with the Christ Church Choir and danced in services at Christ Community Church in Franklin. Amie continued her dance training at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City but suffered an injury that ended her pursuit of a professional career. However, back home in Nashville she discovered a love for teaching and has taught ballet, tap, and jazz at many schools in the area such as Ann Carroll School of Dance, Harding Academy School of Dance, and Harpeth Hall. Currently, Amie teaches at Fellowship School of Dance and co-directs In Motion Dance Company. Amie and her husband Andrew have two children, Jordan and Jack, whom they pray will learn to worship God with whatever talents and gifts He chooses to bless them with.
Tracie Cullum - Instructor
Tracie Cullum started dancing at the age of five and has enjoyed it ever since. She studied ballet, jazz, and tap from Diane’s School of Dance in Kansas City, MO where she later learned the love of teaching as a student assistant. She then went on to become a member of the University of Central Missouri’s dance team who performed for football, basketball and other public relation events for the school. After college, she continued instruction in Missouri, Michigan and Pennsylvania. Today, she continues to perform with the ladies group known as the Dance Divas. They perform for nursing, assisted living and independent senior living facilities around Middle TN. Tracie has lived in Brentwood for the past six years with her husband and two daughters. She has been blessed with the love of dance and is thrilled to share the excitement and fun of tap and ballet with her young students.
Jamie Edwards - Instructor
Jamie Crothers Edwards began her dance training at Ann Carroll School of Dance in Franklin, TN studying ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical and hip-hop. She continued her training by spending summers training and performing in New York City and Los Angeles and furthered her ballet training by studying with Nashville Ballet under Melissa Ehrmann. She began choreographing and assisting while in high school and found a true passion for teaching and inspiring others to dance. In 2004 she was named Young Choreographer of the Year by DanceAmerica in Atlanta for her piece, "Fear." She also choreographed the musical "Holy Moses!" in 2006 in Nashville, TN. In 2006, Jamie worked at Alabama Ballet under Marketing Director Leslie Cooper and assisted with their Citydance program during the spring season. Jamie is a graduate of Birmingham-Southern College with a degree in Business Administration and moved from Tuscaloosa, AL with her husband, Aaron in 2011. After teaching dance full-time for the past five years, she is excited to have the opportunity to put her dance education to work here at Fellowship School of Dance.
Laura Hilsden - Instructor
Laura Hilsden began her training at the Academy of Dance Arts in Lenoir City, TN at an early age. She was a member of the Dance Arts Ensemble for seven years as well as becoming a teacher there. For over ten years she has been a dancer and choreographer with the Tabernacle Dance Company, an International Christian performing arts group based out of Jerusalem, Israel, where she has had many opportunities to train in various folk dance styles from around the world, as well as hone her skills as a worship leader through movement. Laura was a faculty member at Charisma Centre for the Arts in Columbus, OH from 2001-2003, where she taught ballet, tap and jazz. She also had the thrill of being a principal dancer for several years in The Covenant, a biblical musical detailing the history of the people of Israel, which opened the door for her to perform all across Europe, Israel, and the Americas. In 2010 she returned to Tennessee and taught at the Academy of Dance Arts where her dance training began, and has since moved to Franklin with her husband and their two young children. Laura is a certified jazz and ballet instructor with Dance Masters of America.
Karyn Kipley - Instructor
Karyn Pence Kipley was born in Birmingham, AL where she began her ballet training at the Briarwood Ballet. Later she trained at the Alabama School of Fine Arts under Dame Sonia Arova and Thor Sutowski, performing ballets such as Swan Lake, Giselle, and the Nutcracker with the Alabama Ballet. Karyn attended summer courses at Ballet Magnificat!, Boston Ballet, the International Ballet Competition, and Pacific Northwest Ballet. In 1993, Karyn toured with Ballet Exaltation in Russia, performing in St. Petersburg and also with the Khazakstan Ballet. She graduated magna cum-laude with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and a minor in Dance from Belhaven College in Jackson, MS. During this time, Karyn enjoyed performing as a soloist with Ballet Magnificat’s Jr. Company under the direction of Michael and Mary Cadle. After college, Karyn moved to Nashville to dance with Hosanna Sacred Arts, directed by Kenn Tolle and the Nashville Ballet, directed by Paul Vasterling. Karyn worked at Vanderbilt University’s Dance Group as a teacher, coordinator and director before founding the Fellowship School of Dance in 2004. Now, Karyn enjoys life with her husband, Pete, and their three children. Karyn currently teaches and co-directs In Motion Dance Company at the Fellowship School of Dance, using the hope and beauty of God’s gift of dance to bring redemption and light into the world.
Amanda McPeek - Instructor
Amanda McPeek is originally from Nashville, TN where she quickly realized her love for dancing and began her training at the Franklin School of Performing Arts. In 2000, she was chosen as a dancer in Leann Womack’s I Hope You Dance music video, and in 2001 was featured on Talk of the Town for her choreography. In 2010, Amanda graduated Magna Cum Laude from Florida State University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Performance. During her time at FSU, Amanda was a member of the Dance Repertory Theatre under the direction of Lynda Davis. She has worked with internationally-recognized choreographers such as Dan Wagoner, Gerri Houlihan, Monica Bill Barnes, Alan Danielson, Stephen Koester, Wallie Wolfgruber, and Rick McCullough. In 2008, Amanda choreographed and had her work produced in the Days of Dance concert at Florida State. In 2009, Amanda had the privilege of obtaining an arts administrative internship at Susan Marshall & Company and Westside Dance Physical Therapy, with acclaimed founder Marika Molnar, in New York City as a part of the FSU in NYC program. She has previously taught dance at the Tallahassee Ballet’s DanceChance program at inner city elementary schools. Amanda is certified in teaching Pilates in levels I and II through the Pilates Education Group under the direction of Anna Alverez in Miami, FL. In 2011, she was the dance director for Fellowship’s annual “e-Camp” arts camp for children. Currently, Amanda is dancing for a project-based dance company, Shauna Dever Dance, teaching dance in the Nashville area, going back to school in hopes of entering the field of dance medicine and physical therapy, and feeling so blessed to be teaching dance!
Shayna Rawls - Instructor
My first love is Jesus Christ, and He has given me a gift of dance. I was born in North Carolina but moved to Nashville at a very young age. My training consists of taking classes from many different teachers such as Lisa Jordan, Michael Cadle, Chris Tyler and Shane Sparks. Once I moved to Nashville, I immediately joined a Christian dance team. Through this dance team I was afforded the opportunity to dance in front of thousands of people at a T.D. Jakes conference. As I continued to grow in the skill of dance, I was given the opportunity to share my skills and to be president and choreographer of many teams. My passion is dance and I choose to use dance as a tool to reach others for Christ. I love all types of dance but lyrical and hip-hop are my stronger styles. I feel that hip-hop can reach a wide-range of people if you allow the Lord to lead you in what you are doing. I have been blessed to dance for a few influential Christian artists such as Cece Winans, Fred Hammond on the Dove Awards and Debbie Winans. I love to teach and have been teaching hip-hop, interpretive, and lyrical for 10 years at different churches, camps and other Christian organizations. My passion is dance, and it will continue to be as I follow Christ.
Lindsey Robert - Instructor
Lindsey’s passion for dance began at a young age. Growing up in Franklin, Tennessee, her training came from such schools as FirstLight Arts Academy with Michael and Mary Cadle, The Dance Program at Metro Parks, and the Dance Program at Vanderbilt University, where she holds a Certificate of Dance Studies. She extended her studies in workshops and intensives with Ballet Magnificat, Atlanta Ballet, Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago, The Limon Dance Company, Matt Kent from Pilobolus, and the Dance Teacher Summit in New York City. With several of her teachers being involved with StillPoint Dance Theatre, she also trained and performed with that company.
Lindsey’s dance education also landed her in a role of performing with Christian Illusionist Brock Gill as an assistant. Later, she choreographed her own ballet-infused illusions and opened for the show. It was during her time with the Brock Gill Show that she became friends with the road manager, John Robert, who became her husband in May 2012.
Lindsey has taught ballet, jazz, and modern at several schools such as Fellowship School of Dance, Tennessee Dance Arts Conservatory, The Ann Carroll School of Dance, and her own Excel Performance Studios. She has choreographed pieces seen in festivals, churches, and theaters, and was assistant choreographer in “La Fille Mal Gardee” with Tennessee Dance Arts Conservatory. It her passion to share her love of dance by teaching injury prevention techniques and doing her best to teach her students excellence, confidence, and artistry. Lindsey is happy to be teaching at Fellowship School of Dance.
Melanie Selby - Instructor
Melanie began dancing at the age of three, which started her lifelong love of dance. Her extensive dance training continued at Birmingham Dance Theatre in Birmingham, AL where she studied ballet, jazz, clogging, lyrical, and hip-hop. She attended Auburn University and was a member of Auburn’s Dance Team for four years where she performed weekly at football games, basketball games and other various school functions. While living in Auburn, she had opportunities to choreograph for the Auburn Dance Team and other dance teams in the area. Melanie now lives in Franklin, TN with her husband and three children and currently teaches creative movement, ballet, tap and jazz. She enjoys sharing the love of Jesus through her gift of dance.
