Studio 1 Faculty
Kim Haight (Owner/Director)
Kim Haight began teaching dance in 1985 with the Blue Ridge Mountain Arts Association. 1986-1990, Kim joined the Gilmer Arts Council and Towns County Recreation Department and opened studios in Blairsville, Ellijay, Hiawassee, and Blue Ridge. By 1991 , the multiple studios were too large so all were consolidated into one studio in Blue Ridge, Ga which became known as "Studio 1". Kim is a former Atlanta Hawks Dancer, a choreographer, competition judge, and instructor . Her students have performed for Disney, Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, 1996 Summer Olympics, television, and videos. Many have gone on to professional careers in dance. Kim's students have held multiple National and Regional titles in dance over the last 30 years.
Kennedi Head (Assistant Director)
Kennedi began dancing at age 2 1/2 and has trained with her Mom and Studio 1 in all dance forms. She was a Star South Dance Company member from age 5-18. Kennedi was an Atlanta Falcons Junior Cheerleader for 2 seasons and has danced multiple times for the Atlanta Hawks through Clinics and as part of her Studio 1 Dance Company. Kennedi has taken classes at Broadway Dance Center and Steps on Broadway in New York several summers as well as Gotta Dance Studio in Atlanta. She has attended many master classes and workshops with Dancers from "So You Think You Can Dance" including Twitch, Travis Wall, Sonya Tayeh, Kathryn McCormick, Jaimie Goodwin, and more. In 2018, Kennedi joined the National Champion Valdosta State University Red Hots Dance Team. In 2019, the team was awarded as NDA DII Jazz National Champions. The following year, Kennedi moved to Tallahassee, Florida where she was a choreographer and instructor at Dance Fusion Studios for three seasons. While in Tallahassee, she had the privilege of being Choreographer and Assistant Director of a musical theater production, Moana Jr., at Holy Comforter Episcopal School. She also taught dance cardio classes for adults at Drip Drop Fitness! Kennedi is very excited to reunite with her home studio and continue to do what she loves by coaching dancers in the art of dance!
Piper Faulk
(Ballet Instructor)
Piper Faulk is a professionally trained choreographer, teacher, and all around dance enthusiast! In her early dance career she was able to learn many varieties of dance styles as well as compete in solo, group, and team competition pieces. As her knowledge and passion for technique grew, Piper trained at San Francisco Ballet School into her teen years. There she worked with professional choreographers, dancers, and directors to hone her technical ballet skills. She was afforded the opportunity to perform with the School and Company, while a student at San Francisco Ballet School. As she evolved and grew as a dancer Piper continued to dance in ballet, modern, jazz, and tap dance at several studios/schools with a wide variety of teachers and had multiple performance opportunities. She joined CoTerie Dance Company where she took company classes and performed with an Alvin Ailey trained director. She has rounded out her dance education by completing a degree from University of Davis in Dramatic Arts with a Dance Emphasis.
Teaching and choreography has been the focus of her dance career for the past 8 years, while she has experience teaching and choreographing for over 15 years. Her students have been accepted into many notable dance schools such as: American Ballet Theater, Ballet West, Alonzo King Lines program at Domenican University, Joffrey Ballet, and Boston Ballet to name a few. The verve and joy she brings with her to the classroom inspires a love for all things dance, while her focus on technique and creativity inspires a new generation of professionally trained dance artists to blossom.
Beth Leopard (Guest Acro Instructor)
Beth Leopard began teaching her own dance classes at the age of 16. After high school, Beth attended Berry College, where she took classes in classical ballet and modern dance. Later, she continued her education at Brenau College where she participated in local theatre, wrote and produced voice-overs for radio, and choreographed for high school musical productions. After graduating from Brenau with a B.A. in Journalism and Broadcasting, Beth pursued further dance training with Ruth Mitchell, the Atlanta Ballet, and Rotaru Ballet. She won the title of “Miss Dance” for Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee and earned scholarships to New York through Dance Masters and Dance Educators of America. Mrs. Leopard was tested in ballet, tap, jazz and acrobatics and became a certified member of Dance Masters of America, Carolina Dance Masters, and Dance Educators of America and has taught master classes and judged for dance organizations and competitions throughout the southeast. Her skills put her on the team of the Atlanta Workshop Players as a choreographer and camp instructor. Beth’s love for acrobatics drew her to study the art of contortion. She formed a troupe, “Dancers with a Twist,” which competed and toured professionally. They appeared as featured guests on “Noonday T.V. “and performed for the athletes in the 1996 Olympic Village.
Natalie Hicks
(Guest Instructor)
Natalie danced at Studio 1 for 13 years. She graduated from Fannin County High School in 2017.She was able to continue dancing in college at the University of Georgia by becoming a UGA Georgette, the dance team of the Redcoat Band. Being a Georgette has allowed her to perform at the collegiate level at all UGA football home games, the Rose Bowl, two Sugar Bowls, three SEC Championships, and the National Championship. Another highlight of her college dance experience was dancing in the legendary Rose Bowl Parade. She has been given the opportunity to teach at various dance clinics, UGA Bands Junior Auxiliary Program, and perform at charitable events.
McKenzie Fink
(Guest Tap Instructor)
McKenzie began dancing at the age of 5 while living in Naples, Florida. She danced at Backstage Dance Academy and Elite Dance Center in Southwest Florida where her love for dance took off. McKenzie has been competing since she was 10. She has performed in countless Christmas performances, dance competitions and conventions. McKenzie has taken multiple classes from Lacey Schwimmer, Tiffany Maher, Meghan Sanett, Marty Dew, Derrick Schrader and many more. She has trained in all styles of dance, but tap has always been one of her favorites. McKenzie has competed tap solos and duets, all taking home multiple awards. She has danced in the Miami City Ballet Nutcracker as one of the soldiers in 2013 and in Studio 1’s Nutcracker as the Dew Drop Fairy in 2018. McKenzie also studied the Cecchetti method of Ballet and participated in Cecchetti intensives for 6 years. In 2018, McKenzie moved to Georiga and began taking classes at Studio 1. She is excited to continue her journey in fulfilling her love for dance and being part of the Studio 1 family.