Meet the Team

Dana grew up in Sumter, SC where she began dancing at the age of 2. She received training in various styles from some of the top choreographers and teachers in the industry. Dana attended Winthrop University and received her BS in Exercise Science, with a minor in Dance. While at Winthrop, Dana was chosen as captain of the Garnet Girls dance team. While finishing up her senior year of college, she was also able to cheer professionally for the NFL with the Carolina Panthers. Dana’s current role is Artistic Director, choreographer, and instructor. She travels and teaches master classes and does guest choreography for many studios. She has completed Dance Teacher Certification from UNLV and enjoys sharing her passion and love for dance.

Lindsay Giedl is a choreographer, teacher, and dancer located in Georgia. She was a founding member of CADE:NCE – Contemporary African Dance Ensemble: New Conscious Explorations under the direction of Tamara Thomas. A graduate of The University of Georgia with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance, she can be seen in the indie film “The Last of Robin Hood,” “Honey 4,” as well as Corey Smith’s music video “Honky Tonkin’ in My Blood.” Lindsay is also currently on faculty with Ignite Dance Competition and is a 200 Registered Yoga Teacher.

Lindsay is currently in her 8th season dancing with jazz company The Modern Pin Ups and resided as the Company Director for the second company for the 2017 – 2018 season. In 2017, she created the professional company Linds&co., as a branch off her undergraduate thesis project – creating works with post-modern socio-political contemporary and improvisational movement.

Lindsay’s work was the 2020 recipient for the PANDEMIC ATLANTA Choreographer search with the City of Atlanta – Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs and was selected to present new work for the Fall for Fall Dance Festival, a new socially distanced dance festival. Lindsay is also the 2020-2021 recipient of the Kristel Rose Tedesco Residency with Mathematics-in-Motion.

Lindsay currently resides as the Dance Director at The Studio Athens, as well as is a guest teacher for Tolbert Yilmaz School of Dance, Roswell Performing Arts, and Ballet Hispanico’s Professional Studies Program. Lindsay is in her seventh season with the Joffrey Ballet School and is currently the Administrative Director/Faculty of the Summer Programs – Joffrey South and Joffrey Colorado Springs.

La'Brece Knox began dancing at the age of twelve years old. From there, he joined the competition team at New Attitude Performing Arts Center. You can see him taking the stage on America's Got Talent and becoming a quarterfinalist and finding new heights as a dancer. He then moved into doing contract dancing at King's Dominion and Cedar Point Roller Coaster Capital of America. There he was able to receive amazing and intense training with Debbie Allen, Twitch, and Wildabeast. La'Brece now is working as a dance instructor at Dance U and travels frequently for master classes and guest choreography. 

Kasie Auten is choreographer and studio owner based out of Charleston, South Carolina. She has lived in NYC and trained at BDC, Ailey, and Peridance as well as interned at Steps on Broadway. Kasie has helped develop teaching programs and competition companies at studios all over South Carolina. She held a position with Converse College as a teaching artist and co-director for the dance ensemble. Her passion lies in teaching her own dancers, guest teaching, and choreographing at studios and schools all over the east coast. She has guest taught at the Charleston School of the Arts, Rollings Middle School, SC dance festival, DMA regional conventions, Gear Up Dance Convention, choreographed for the Wando Highschool dance department, Charleston SMART camp, presented choreography in the SC research symposium, several DanceFX shows, and DanceAthens in Athens, GA. As a dancer, she performed in collaborations with artists in NYC and was a principal with the Charleston Dance Project for four seasons. Kasie is currently the proud owner and director of Creative Edge Dance Center, home to the award-winning “Edge Co” in Charleston, SC. She is also the co-director of a pre-professional modern company known as “Vibe” that is housed at CEDC. Her students are currently studying dance in college and dancing professionally in New York City, Miami, Los Angeles, cruise ships around the world, and Broadway shows.

Jasmine Edney, a Columbia SC native, is the Owner and Artistic Director of Beyond Words Dance Academy and Beyond Words In-House Dance Convention. She's been dancing since the age of 3. There is debate among her family members as to whether she learned to dance before she learned to walk! That lifelong dancing spirit is evident in her teaching style, which is becoming a popular hit among studios in the southeast. Jasmine has the dance experience that makes her an asset, offering her teaching talents in jazz, tap, contemporary/lyrical, modern, musical theater, and hip hop.

Jasmine graduated from Coastal Carolina University in 2011 with a Bachelor of Arts in Biology. She was a competitive dancer for 17 years and has spent the last 18 years teaching across the United States. Jasmine has studied under some of the most well-respected names in the dance profession such as Jason Parsons, Mia Michaels, Brian Friedman, “Nappy Tabbs,” Chris Judd, Savion Glover, Gregory Hines, Shiela Barker, Justin Giles, William Starret, Debbie Roberts, Kimberly Langley, Angie Baker, Anne Richardson, and Charlie Connolly. In addition, Jasmine has traveled, assisted teaching, and helped with choreography with dancers including Shiela Barker, Kimberly Langley, Charlie Connolly, and Christopher Robbins. Jasmine has been involved in several dance companies, dancing for the following: Carolina Dance Center, South Carolina Performing Arts Center- Company One, and Palmetto Center for the Arts. Through that time, Jasmine received countless special awards and scholarships from dance conventions such as: New York City Dance Alliance, SHOCK the Intensive, Pacific Coast Dance Fest, Apollo LIVE, Ailey II, Savion Glover IMPROV, Jazz Dance World Congress, and Broadway Kids to name a few.

Jasmine continues to judge for national dance competitions and choreograph for studios in the southeast. She looks forward to continuing to share her passion for dance with future students in the upcoming years.

Jennifer grew up in Midlothian, Virginia where she began her early dance training at the age of 3. She is a graduate of George Mason University, with a B.A. Honors Degree in Dance and Studio Management. While at GMU, she was on the Masonette Dance Team and a member of the GMU Dance Company. Jennifer studied under Susan Shields, James Lepore, Linda Miller, and Elizabeth “Buffy” Price.  During her time at GMU, she realized her passion for becoming a dance educator. Upon graduation from GMU, Jennifer became the owner and artistic director of Dance and Theatre Unlimited, in Powhatan, VA from 1998-2004. In 2004, Jennifer moved closer to home and became the owner and artistic director of Premiere Dance Academy in Chesterfield, VA. This will be her 24th year as a studio owner and dance educator, teaching ballet, pointe, jazz, tap, acro, lyrical, and hip-hop to all ages.  She has won many awards for her outstanding choreography and teaching excellence. Jennifer was recognized in the November 2015 national publication of Dance Studio Life Magazine for her methods of incorporating dance history into the classroom. Jennifer has a love for being a lifelong learner and is continually taking dance classes and attending dance educator workshops.  Jennifer is a certified instructor in Alixa Flexibility (Module 1), as well as certified with Acrobatic Arts (Module 1, 2, Aerials and Back Handsprings, Acrodance Adjudicator, and Acrodance Preschool). She is truly honored to be a part of the Ignite team! When Jennifer is not in the studio, she loves spending time with her husband, Tony, and their 2 children.

Kristen, a Fort Wayne, IN native and graduate of UGA, has been dancing and performing for over 25 years. Beginning her training at the age of 6, Kristen’s mother always knew she was a natural-born performer. She has studied ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, contemporary, lyrical, cheerleading, acrobatics, and classical voice/musical theatre. Kristen was a member of the nationally recognized UNLV Rebel Girls 

Competitive Dance Team. While attending the University of Georgia, she was a three-year member/captain of the UGA Dance Dawgs. Kristen also performed at UGA Football games as a member of the Red Coats Marching Band dance line, The  

Georgettes. 

From 2012-2017, Kristen performed as an Atlanta Falcons Cheerleader. She led two seasons as Captain, was the 2017 Pro Bowl cheerleader representative, and awarded Cheerleader of the Year. In her last season, she performed at Super Bowl LI and married the love of her life! 

In her 9 years as Faculty at the Greater Atlanta Christian School of Ballet, Kristen started their Tap, Hip-Hop, and Acrobatic/Tumbling programs teaching various genres to kids ages 2-18. 

She has also worked with the GAC Spartanettes program for many years and became the Director of the competitive dance company from 2020-2022. Winning numerous choreography, costuming, and entertainment awards, Kristen is the Owner/Director of Kreative Movement Academy of Dance. A place where she can mentor those who aspire to dance at any level, from beginner to the collegiate and professional levels.

Jasmine is a Maryland native who has over 20 years of dance training and experience. She has trained under prestigious dance studios, companies, and teachers such as Strictly Rhythm Dance Center, the Dance Theater of Harlem and the Joffrey Ballet School. Her passion for dance led Jasmine to attend Towson University, receiving her BFA in dance performance and choreography with a pre-k-12 teacher certification. 

While at Towson, Jasmine was on The Towson Pom Squad for three years. She held leadership positions, choreographed, and competed at UDA College Nationals in 2015 and 2016. The Towson University Pom Squad helped Jasmine discover her passion for performing on the football field and basketball court. She was awarded most popular and most likely to become a professional dancer!

After college, Jasmine was a member of the first ever Arena Football League dance team in Baltimore, The Baltimore Brigade. For two seasons Jasmine danced for the NBA team in DC, The Washington Wizards as a “Wizard Girl” and “Wizard Dancer”. She relocated and danced for the Atlanta Hawks for 3 seasons. When Jasmine isn’t dancing, she is choreographing and teaching both in-person and virtually!

Through her experiences, Jasmine has gained first hand knowledge of what it takes to make a Pro Dance/Cheer team. In 2019, Jasmine decided to start her own business Nxt Lvl Prep while still choreographing for many collegiate and professional teams.

Anna Burgess is excited to join Ignite Dance Competition for yet another season! When she isn’t on the road for Ignite, she serves as the Recruitment and Retention Manager for Avocet Hospitality Group. A native of Charleston, Burgess graduated from the College of Charleston with a degree in Communications and Women and Gender Studies. Burgess is an avid traveler herself, having visited 23 countries and 46 states so far.

Sherry Bodden is long-time dance mom. Her daughter is currently a member of the Buc Angels Dance Team at Charleston Southern University. She loves making her daughter’s solo costumes for competition where she loves turning simple pieces of dance attire to costumes that help her shine on stage. When she isn’t sewing costumes and cheering on Ashley, Sherry works for the City of Goose Creek and enjoys crafting with her Cricut machine and making gifts for friends and family.

Phyllis Williamson is a retired dance mom and is excited to be on tour with Ignite this season. When she isn’t on tour, she is a warehouse supervisor for USCG, managing four warehouses. She is a mom of two and a grandmother to five boys who keep her on her toes. She has also been married to Mack for 35 years and is very involved with her local church where she serves as Treasurer and a member of the praise and worship team.

By day, she is an elementary school teacher and by night she is a mom to two precious boys! She has spent many years of her life dancing on a competition team for a local dance studio. After her dancing years were over, she went on to pursue her studies toward becoming an elementary school teacher. She loves spending a few weeks out of the year helping and being a part of the dance competition scene again.

Brianna Edwards is from Atlanta, Georgia by way of Bermuda, BDA. She graduated with a BFA in Dance from Valdosta State University and is currently obtaining her MAT in Pedagogy with a concentration in Dance at Shorter University. She grew up as a competition dancer and loves the atmosphere that comes with it, and is extremely excited to be a part of the Ignite team. When she isn't taking care of her two little ones, she is perfecting her craft with classes left and right.