Andrea Woodward is the owner of Hermitage Dance Academy (HDA).  HDA was opened in the fall of 1997, one year into Andrea’s college studies at Cumberland University.  HDA has gone from a one room studio with about 50 students, where Andrea taught every class to a 5 room studio with a dancewear store, a hugely successful competition team, and recently the addition of the School’s Out Program and the Parent’s Day Out Program, complete with an amazing staff of over 15 passionate teachers. Andrea’s teaching and choreography are in demand throughout the country and she travels often to teach master classes and create choreography for other studios. She also is on staff for the popular KAR Convention National Tour, where she teaches lyrical and jazz. HDA was in the FDC’s top 50 in 2008 and in 2009 her studio was ranked number 8 among the FDC studios. In 2010 her studio was ranked #1 in the Southeast region and #10 in the nation. Andrea’s students have won many awards and scholarships from different organizations around the country, and some have gone on to be members of college dance teams, professional sports team dancers (Grizz girls), dancers on cruise ships and appeared in music videos, commercials and toured with numerous production companies and recording artists including being in the top 10 of “So You Think You Can Dance” season 15.  Andrea has won countless awards for her stylistic choreography and for her students’ technical ability, including both Teacher of the Year and Choreographer of the Year every year from 2008 - 2018 at KAR Nationals. Andrea is certified by Dance Masters of America and holds a B.S. in Psychology from Cumberland University in Nashville, TN.

What's your favorite thing about HDA?
My favorite thing about HDA is the welcoming family atmosphere that is given to everyone that walks through the HDA doors.

What do you hope students get out of your class?
I hope every student leaves the studio feeling empowered to purse their dreams in their everyday life. I love to see every student succeed and grow through the Art of Dance.

What do you do when you're not at dance?
When not at the studio, you can find me watching Disney Movies and listening to Country Music.

What's been the highlight of your career so far?
The highlight of my career has been to share the passion of Dance with every student and to see them grow as a person through Dance.

What's your favorite thing about HDA?
My favorite thing about HDA is the students & their families. I feel honored that they trust me with the well being of their kiddos.

What do you hope students get out of your class?
I hope that each student feels safe & loved. We work hard to provide consistency & fun experience everyday.

What do you do when you're not at HDA?
When I am not at the studio, I am spending time with my own 3 kiddos. I have a great life!

What's been the highlight of your teaching career so far?
The highlight of my time at the studio so far has been the opportunities to turn a negative into a positive. That moment when a kid has had a tough day at school, but now they are at HDA. After a hug & a smile, they know their day is going to get better.

What's your favorite thing about HDA?
My favorite thing about HDA is the students I get to teach. I may be the teacher to them but I learn more from the students then what they could learn from me. They remind me of why I love what I do everyday!

What do you hope students get out of your class?
Every student I encounter, what I hope they take from my class is that they don’t need to strive for perfection but strive for a better version of themselves every time they step into class.

What do you do when you're not at dance?
Honestly, there is not a day that goes by where I’m not dancing. When I’m not teaching, I dance with a contemporary based company called Found Movement Group or you can find me taking dance classes around Nashville.

What's been the highlight of your teaching career so far?
The highlight of my teaching career has to be getting to teach an open class at Millennium Dance Complex here in Nashville,TN.

Kimberly is very happy to be back for another year as part of the HDA staff. A few credits include: Walt Disney World, Celebrity Cruise Line, Lady Gaga-Monster Ball Tour, Worlds of Fun, Starlight Theatre, Shawnee Mission Theatre in the Park, broadcast acting, and published voice over work.

What's your favorite thing about HDA?
My favorite thing about HDA is the family atmosphere where everyone is welcome and loved.

What do you hope students get out of your class?
Kimberly aims to fill class with laughter and FUN, but also hopes that her students walk away feeling challenged.

What do you do when you're not at dance?
When not at Dance you can find her with her fiancé Andrew, 2 dogs, and hustling in medical sales.

What's been the highlight of your teaching career so far?
Seeing her students follow their dreams of dance and theatre is the best reward and the highlight of her teaching career; knowing you have inspired dancers to take their talent to the next level is the best reward.

Kristin Lindsay studied as a student of Marin Dance Theatre under Margaret Swarthout former soloist of the Royal Ballet. She held a professional career for eight years touring and performing with both Ballet Florida and Company C Contemporary Ballet. In 2015 Kristin joined the faculty of the Rock School for Dance Education as a teaching artist and upon moving to Tennessee she served on the faculty of Nashville Ballet for one year in both the upper and lower division. Kristin now takes her educational training, professional career, and all teaching experiences to help develop and grow young dancers.

What's your favorite thing about HDA?
The super loud speakers! Blasting piano seems a bizarre concept but so satisfying when you see students feeling movement!

What do you hope students get out of your class?
I want everyone to leave with a stronger work ethic than they came in with. Pushing standards always in all ways!

What do you do when you're not at dance?
Honest answer, nothing better than after a full day of teaching having a little brie and crackers before dinner 😉

What's been the highlight of your teaching career so far?
To see success in others is what teaching is all about. There have been many moments but as one of my students was selected for the Paris Opera Ballet School summer program and then invited to stay for the year I could not have been more proud.

What's your favorite thing about HDA?
The awesome mix of teachers we have to collaborate with and learn and grow with is so rewarding. It's great to work in an environment that is always growing and changing for our students 🙂

What do you hope students get out of your class?
I hope that students take away not only the important technical skills they will learn in my class, but also how powerful and capable each one of them is and can be! I hope they all learn that there is no "can't" that there is always an "I will try"! It's amazing how they can surprise themselves.

What do you do when you're not at dance?
I am ALWAYS at Orangetheory Fitness either taking class or running a studio! I love working out. If I am not doing that I am snuggled up with my dog Bentley eating snacks and watching Netflix.

What's been the highlight of your teaching career so far?
The highlight would be watching one of my teams become state champions and national finalist with my choreography and coaching! It was awesome to watch them push and succeed! Some of them are now members of collegiate dance teams and it's been so fulfilling seeing how much they've grown as individuals and dancers!

Credits include Jessie James Decker- Whip My Hair, Music City Christmas Parade, 20+ years of dance experience, certified group fitness and yoga instructor.

What's your favorite thing about HDA?
My favorite thing about HDA is that it feels like home! I grew up dancing at HDA for 13 years, and I love being back in the place where my love of dance started.

What do you hope students get out of your class?
My hope for my students is that they will leave my class feeling more confident than when they started. Over the years dance really helped me to come out of my shell, and it is so rewarding to see that same transformation in my students!

What do you do when you're not at dance?
When I’m not at dance I love to read, kayak and spend time with my friends and family- especially if it involves tacos!

What's been the highlight of your teaching career so far?
It’s hard for me to pick just one highlight of my teaching career, but one thing that I always love is seeing my students so excited to come to class each week and watching their growth from the beginning of the year to the end of the year at recital. They always make me proud!

B.F.A in Dance Performance from Cincinnati Conservatory of Music
Danced professionally with Dayton Ballet, Ballet Pensacola and Dance Theatre of Tennessee.

What's your favorite thing about HDA?
My favorite thing about HDA is the family atmosphere. We really care for our students like our own while they are with us.

What do you hope students get out of your class?
When my students leave my class, I hope that they have learned something new and fallen a little bit more in love with dance! I also hope they have fun while learning the foundations of ballet. 

What do you do when you're not at dance?
When I am not dancing, I get to be a mommy to my 2 little loves Ansley and Jack. They keep me on my toes even when I am not in the studio.

What's been the highlight of your teaching career so far?
Last dance season was my first recital in a few years after having my babies... and I was really proud of all of my classes. The highlight for me was teaching the Without Limits class. My students taught me so much and we made our big goal of getting a recital dance to the stage! So much joy!

What's your favorite thing about HDA?
I love that HDA gives children of all ages the ability and creativity to explore multiple styles on many different levels.

What do you hope students get out of your class?
I hope my students gain a sense of accomplishment as they grow from week to week or year to year. Getting to experience their journey brings joy to the overall process.

What do you do when you're not at dance?
I teach when I'm not teaching and I spend time with my family as much as possible.

What's been the highlight of your teaching career so far?
I've enjoyed watching students graduate and move on to continue living their dancing dream. It's a passion and a career combined that I'm blessed enough to live as well.