Our 2022-2023 Teachers

Grace Coles - Grace has been taking dance for 17 years - taking it all: tap, ballet, jazz, hip hop, lyrical, and pointe. After student teaching a couple years, she co-taught and has now been teaching at Jump for Joy for 4 years. A 2019 Gallatin High School graduate, Grace is now attending Cumberland University.

Christina Lee - Christina has been dancing for 10 years. Her daughter actually got her involved in dance. Her first dance class was the mother/daughter combo class offered here at Jump For Joy. After that class, she was hooked! Since that first year, she has continued taking mother/daughter, but also dances in the adult tap, ballet, and jazz classes. This is her 5th year teaching, but she student taught for 2 years prior. She is very excited to be a part of the teaching staff again this year!

Zoe Lee - Zoe began her dancing career 11 years ago. While she has taken many classes here at Jump for Joy, she was a member of her middle school cheerleading squad and more recently, is a member of her high school dance team. This is Zoe's 1st year teaching at Jump for Joy after having student taught for a few years.

Joy Mehorczyk - Joy was born with tap shoes on her feet! Starting her dancing career at the age of 3, Joy danced at Dance Plus Studio in Gallatin just over 15 years. During her time there, she competed at numerous dance competitions. She also taught combo classes 2 years before taking a break to focus on her schooling and family. She is glad to be back doing what she loves!

Amanda Olin - Amanda started dancing at the age of 3 in her hometown of Kirkland, WA and has now been dancing for 28 years. She took tap, ballet, jazz, lyrical, modern, hip hop, and pointe. She was on her studio's competition team for 9 years and her high school dance and cheer team. After high school, she continued taking dance classes in college. After college, she taught tap at her old dance studio. When that studio closed, she taught tap at another nearby studio. Tap is her favorite, but she truly loves all forms of dance! She loves to teach and loves to dance! She is so happy to call Jump for Joy her new dance home! In addition to teaching dance, she also teaches workout classes for moms and their babies (FIT4MOM). Amanda has been married for 9 years to her husband, Ben. She is a full time mom to 3 boys - Cooper (10), Maddox (8), and Beckham (2). They also have a French Bulldog named Rudy! Amanda can't wait to meet your kids and/or see them again! It's going to be a great year!

Reign Parker - Reign has been dancing for 11 years. She has taken all subjects: tap, ballet, jazz, hip hop, lyrical, and pointe. After student teaching a couple of years, she has now taught 3 years at Jump for Joy!

Kathryn Russell- Kathryn has been taking dance since she was 3 years old. This is her second year teaching, but she student taught for 5 years prior. She has taken ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop and lyrical. She fell in love with dance and now she loves teaching students her passion.

Sondi Trenkler - Dr. Sondi Trenkler is a dancer, actress, choreographer, author, and educator of dance for over 30 years. She received a Bachelors degree in Dance from the University of South Florida, and a Masters degree in Communication through Dance from Florida State University. She received a Doctorate in Physical Education with an emphasis in Dance Curriculum from Auburn University. Dr. Trenkler taught at Auburn University and was Head of the Dance Department at Huntingdon College in Montgomery, Alabama. Most recently, she has been choreographing musicals for the Steeple Players, a drama ministry of the First United Methodist Church in Hendersonville, Tn. Dr. Trenkler has attended numerous dance workshops in the U.S., Africa, the Orient, Hawaii, Europe, and the West Indies.

Jamie Westerhoff - Jamie has been dancing for 35+ years and is in her 16th year of teaching children. She studied choreography and dance at Middle Tennessee State University where she majored in music. She previously taught ballet, tap, jazz and theatre dance at St. Edward's School in Nashville and is so excited to be teaching at Jump for Joy!

Sylvie Wingert - Sylvie has been dancing for over 25 years, and has been teaching over 15 years. She is certified through Southern Association of Dance Masters, and has trained under numerous dance professionals. She uses a variety of teaching styles in her classes. She likes to keep her classes fun, energetic and upbeat. While she believes basic dance technique is a staple for all styles of dance, she wants to make sure all of her students have fun. "Dancing faces you towards Heaven, whichever direction you turn." -Sweetpea Tyler