Our Staff - Ann Carroll School of Dance | Franklin, TN dance studio offering ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop and lyrical classesAnn Carroll School of Dance | Franklin, TN dance studio offering ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop and lyrical classes

ACSD is a school where both the serious and recreational dancer can study, enjoy, and develop a love for the art of dance while preparing for life’s challenges in a faith-based environment.

Ann has been teaching dance for over 48 years, 40 of which have been spent here in Franklin. She served as the president of Southern Association of Dance Masters for 3 years and conducted 3 dance conventions a year during her term. She is a member of Dance Educators of America, was project Co-coordinator in dance for the Tennessee Governor’s School of the Arts and a board member of Williamson County Arts Council. Ann has choreographed many award winning dances and been a judge for competitions across the United States. The long list of awards she has received include the “Helping Hand Award” awarded by the Williamson County Chamber of Commerce, the “Small Business Award” for Williamson County, and “Top Dance Studio” for the past 11 years awarded by Parents Magazine.

Ann has written two books, Together We Dance and On the Right Track. New York University adopted Together We Dance as required reading for the dance-teaching department. Her students have been invited to perform in Russia, The White House, Disney World, Disneyland, The Big Red Boat, the Olympics and to New York City to perform in the “Frank Hatchett Showcase”. She has taken her students to New York City 5 times, Washington, Myrtle Beach, Dallas, Florida, The Bahamas, Canada and Los Angeles to compete and/or study. Radio City Rockettes Christmas Spectacular, Celebrity Cruise Lines, Gus Giordano, Twyla Tharp and many professional ballet companies have hired former A.C.S.D students. Ann is also very proud to have inspired at least 100 of her students to become dance teachers across the United States.

Laura, a native of Canada is the owner/director of Ann Carroll School of Dance. She received her B.F.A from York University with honors in Dance and her Masters degree in Communications from Austin Peay State University. Laura was a dancer for 2 professional dance teams, the Toronto Argonauts football team and the Toronto Raptors basketball team. She performed and directed for Norwegian Cruise Lines for 6 years. She was on the production team for Cameron Mackintosh’s “Hey, Mister Producer” and has been an assistant choreographer to Michael Kubala and Mic Thompson. Laura has had the honor to perform with two New York City dance companies, Alice Farley and Co. and Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company. She lived on the island of St.Martin for a year to perform at the Maho Beach Resort and Casino. Performing in Sesame Street Live gave Laura the opportunity to travel across the United States and entertain children of all ages. Some of her favorite roles include Any Time Annie in 42nd Street, Patty Simcox in Grease and Agnes Nolan in George M. Laura’s dance teaching experience includes the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board, North York Parks and Recreation and she founded the dance program at the University Settlement Recreation Center in Toronto. Laura choreographed the Pam Tillis Christmas Dinner Party at the Opryland Hotel. In addition to her position at A.C.S.D, she also teaches and choreographs for Columbia State Community Colleges’ Commercial Entertainment Program. Laura’s students have gone on to many university dance programs as well as performing professionally on Cruise Lines, at Disney World, on National Tours and for professional sports teams.

Jeanne graduated with a B.A in Vocal Performance from University of Arkansas. She performed for 4 years with the dancing and singing show choir “The Uarkettes”while attending university. Prior to going to school, Jeanne trained at Dixie Splawn School of Dance in ballet, tap and jazz for fifteen years. She spent 15 years performing professionally. Her stage experience includes the national tour of “A Christmas Carol”, Ado Annie in Oklahoma, Six Flags over Texas, and Gaslight Dinner Theater in Tulsa where she performed the roles of Giacenta in”Scarpetta”, Rachel in “Two by Two”, Little Mermaid in “The Littlest Mermaid” and Bobby Michelle in “The Last of the Red Hot Lovers”. Her choreography was featured in the Billy Graham Crusade Kids Gig. Jeanne traveled with George King and the Fellowship as a singer/dancer and has done many industrials for Gary Musik Productions including acts opening for George Burns, Bob Hope, Ray Charles and George Bush Sr. Jeanne was the director for the Children’s Choir Musicals for 5 years and is still a very active member of the Vocal Ensemble at Clearview Baptist Church. She has been sharing her talents with Ann Carroll School of Dance since 1997.

Niki heads up the lyrical program here at the studio, she also teaches ballet, tap, and jazz. Her passion for dance came at the age of three, when her mom enrolled her in her first ballet class. She then continued her studies at Tammy Jo’s Studio in Greenup, KY, where she performed in “The Nutcracker”, and competed in jazz, tap, ballet, and lyrical on a regional and national level. Niki received her Associate Degree in Commercial Entertainment from Columbia State, where she performed in such shows as “Fame” and “Working”. This is where she met Ann Carroll and was added to the teaching staff in 1999. Niki’s dance influences include Tammy Jo Edge, Leah Copley, Troy Steiner, and Susie Miller Fuentes. She also thanks her parents for realizing that dance was more than just an expensive hobby, that it was and is a true passion. Niki also teaches dance at Battle Ground Academy Middle School, and coaches the Page high Dance Team. She also enjoys doing freelance choreography, and has choreographed locally for The Heritage Ball of Franklin, Commercial Entertainment Department at Columbia State, Hillsboro Middle School’s Theatre Department and most recently Belmont University’s Dance Team. She looks forward to helping students learn to express themselves through the art of dance.

Maggie Howard born and raised in Nashville TN began her dancing carrier like most little girls do entering her first dance class at age 3. Studying all over the Nashville area growing up taking all styles. Competing at age 9 she has won countless awards through the years her favorite was a Judge’s award for “passionate performance”. Dancing has always been Maggie’s love but Maggie’s true love is for teaching as she was inspired by her teachers she wants to be the one to inspire. Maggie started teaching in 2005 at The Dance Centre of Hermitage where she choreographed for the competition team and won choreography, high score and judges awards. Maggie taught as well for American Tuxedo and Bridal in Hermitage where she choreographed the Fashion Shows for the surrounding schools incorporating modeling and dances for the girls and the guys, she would put together the whole show. Maggie has guest taught for Wilson Central High School’s dance program and taught Hip Hop for Glenncliff High School’s P.E classes. Maggie took a year off from teaching to train and study at Vanderbilt in the dance program where she took from well known choreographers around the Nashville area such as Keith Fitzpatrick and Stacie Flood-Popp. Maggie was asked to join a dance company called Found Movement Group with director Stacie Flood-Popp where she still dances every week and is still learning to better her skills in dance and to better her teaching. She also teaches Ballet, Tap and Jazz. She loves being at Ann Carroll School of Dance and couldn’t ask for a better group of kids and parents. She loves her Ann Carroll Family.

Katey is a proud Ann Carroll School of Dance alumna, taking dance since the age of 4 at the Grassland location. While at ACSD she was a competitive dancer for 10 years and an original member of Platinum, our pre-professional track. She completed her Bachelor of Business Administration from Middle Tennessee State University in 2015. She has trained at Broadway Dance Center, Hubbard Street, Randolph Performing Arts Center in Canada, Alvin Ailey and at many conventions and workshops. As a teacher Katey has further developed the tap syllabus that has been a long standing, proud tradition at Ann Carroll School of Dance. She has created her own unique style of tap and has won many awards and accolades for her choreography. Katey has experience working with all ages and prides herself on being well versed in all styles of dance. A life long learner, Katey is always continuing her dance education and training. She is continually looking for new ways to help her students achieve their dreams.