CenterStage Performing Arts Academy has been a staple dance studio in Gallatin for over fifteen years. The partners, Natalie and Daniel Hudson and David and Laurie Klein, are the fourth owners (2015 to present). They had a dream of expanding CenterStage to provide more than just dance, but a full fine arts education in dance, theatre, productions, and instruments.
CenterStage desires to create a culture of encouragement, fun, and challenge for each and every student. It is important to us that each family knows they are loved and believed in, and that we embrace and celebrate individuals and encourage teamwork. We strive to greet everyone when they walk in the door and look every person in the eye. These are the people we have chosen to instruct your students, not only because of their knowledge, but because they embody everything that helps to create CenterStage culture.
CenterStage desires to create a culture of encouragement, fun, and challenge for each and every student. It is important to us that each family knows they are loved and believed in, and that we embrace and celebrate individuals and encourage teamwork. We strive to greet everyone when they walk in the door and look every person in the eye. These are the people we have chosen to instruct your students, not only because of their knowledge, but because they embody everything that helps to create CenterStage culture.
CenterStage Business Director and Office Staff
Natalie Klein Hudson has been teaching dance and fine arts for over 15 years and dancing for 29. She has a Master of Arts degree in Theatre from Regent University in Virginia, and spent three years traveling and teaching around the world with the Young Americans. When she isn't in the CenterStage classroom, she is a Professor of Theatre at Volunteer State Community College. In her spare time, Natalie loves to perform, cheer on the Volunteers, and spend time with her husband Daniel, and dog Molly.
Michelle Foster serves as CenterStage's Office Manager and is proud to call Gallatin Tennessee home for 20 years now. She moved to Nashville originally to pursue a career as a song plugger for country music. She has worked for Reba McEntire and was also a make up artist for various country music artists during that time. As a mother of a child who loves to perform, she has seen the growth and encouragement her daughter has received from the students and teachers here at Centerstage and is so grateful for the opportunity to now help share the goodness that comes from being a part of this wonderful family!
Brendan Tramel will be serving as CenterStage's Office Manager beginning in July! Brendan was born and raised in Middle Tennessee. Active in theatre since age ten, she graduated from Cumberland University in Lebanon with a Bachelor and Master of Arts. While in graduate school she worked as the director for the Cumberland Arts Academy, an after school fine arts program for students of all ages in Wilson County. She also founded and co-directed the Phoenix Playhouse and Rising Phoenix Production drama programs through the Academy at the University for a decade until the program was retired this past year. Currently she teaches in the theater department at Vol-State Community College, and directs community theater productions throughout the Middle TN area. No stranger to Centerstage and its wonderful programs and instructors, she can't wait to join the CS Family this fall!
CenterStage Dance Faculty
Joyce Kacar's teaching and choreography career began at age 15 in Youngstown, Ohio. Classically trained in ballet, pointe, tap and jazz as well as tumbling, Joyce is a certified Cecchetti classical ballet instructor. She is passionate about sharing her love of dance teaching students of all ages at CenterStage including her 4 (and counting) granddaughters!
Kyre Phillips is a small town hip-hop teacher out of Franklin, KY. He has been dancing and teaching for quite some time locally and is overjoyed to share his talents with the community of Gallatin through Centerstage Peforming Arts Academy.
Aubrey Iwan - is a local choreographer, a preschool teacher in Hendersonville, and
music coordinator for her preschool. She loves to perform! You can see her often on the stage at Hendersonville Performing Arts Company! Her biggest joy is raising her witty 14-year-old son, Michael.
music coordinator for her preschool. She loves to perform! You can see her often on the stage at Hendersonville Performing Arts Company! Her biggest joy is raising her witty 14-year-old son, Michael.
Ella Vernali is a graduate of Nashville School of the Arts where she majored in Dance and Choreography. Ella teaches Ballet, Jazz, Lyrical, and Musical Theater technique classes and choreographs dance performances for a wide range of dancers. She has choreographed multiple full-length musicals including Little Shop of Horrors and Hairspray . Ella has worked on several variety shows with Centerstage, and is very excited for the year to come!
Megan Lange started dancing at the age of four at the Academy of Dance Arts in Lenoir City, TN. Although she experimented with several different dance styles, she found her true home in tap dancing and continued to take tap until she graduated high school. After graduating college, Megan rediscovered her love of dance when she stumbled into the Lindy Hop community. Currently, Ms. Megan teaches tap, piano, and voice at CenterStage.
McKenna Driver has been dancing for as long as she can remember. She began at age 2 and hasn't stopped since! She has trained in the styles of Jazz, Tap, Modern, Ballet, Lyrical, Hip Hop and even ATS belly dance! McKenna has performed professionally with companies such as Dreamworks, Big Idea, and Gaylord Entertainment. She has performed all over the US and abroad! When she wasn't performing, McKenna taught for over 5 years at a local preschool specializing in the development of typically developing and special needs children. McKenna can also be found singing and dancing on the stages of theatres all around middle TN. McKenna is very excited to begin a new chapter with Center Stage!
Emma Peasall Perkins is a nineteen year old singer, dancer, and actress who has dedicated her whole life to story telling and building community through musical theatre. After over ten years of training in the arts, she is beyond excited to be fusing her ambitions with the wonderful mission of CenterStage!
Sarina Kurrimbukus is a recent graduate of The University of North Carolina at Greensboro School of Dance with a BFA in Dance Performance and Choreography. She has performed in numerous works at UNCG choreographed by B.J. Sullivan, Ronald K. Brown, Kara Jenelle, and more. Sarina began choreographing six years ago and her work has received multiple awards including first overall at Kids Artistic Revue Competition. For nine years she has taught ballet, jazz, contemporary, hip-hop, and tap. Sarina is currently teaching and choreographing in Tennessee with hopes to work in the field of competition dance.
Michelle McIntosh is originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She started clogging at the age of nine in a school dance program. At the age of eleven she was headlining several musicians like Crystal Galye, Roy Clark, and Exhile at their concerts. She danced for many political campaigns which include Jack Daniels and several promotional events like NBC'S Fallen Soldier. At the age of eighteen, she moved to Nashville to get more involved in the clogging world. She has danced on several clogging teams and performed on television with several celebrities. She has four children that clog also. Michelle's youngest two daughters (Ashley and Alyssa) help her with classes today. They have won multiple competitions, clogged for 21 Pilots and are the cloggers on the Quaver's music dance videos, which schools throughout the world use to teach their music class. Michelle also teaches clogging in Mt Juliet.
Jeff Strichertz was born in South Dakota, and started clogging on an exhibition team at age 7. He moved to California at the age of 10 and continued to pursue his love for clogging. Jeff started teaching and choreographing at about age 20, and has been on 3 exhibition teams. He has taught at more than 100 workshops and conventions nationwide. Jeff has also competed in competitions in the Hoedown, Individual, Duet, Show and Acapella categories. He also started and produced with two other cloggers the Lone Star Shootout National Clogging Competition in Texas for 2 years. Jeff has lived in South Dakota, California, Switzerland, Texas, Illinois, and now in Tennessee. He has been married to his wife Sherry for many years, and they have 3 daughters.
Jordon Rubel Perkins (substitute instructor) is a Nashville native and attended mainly The Dancer's Studio in Lebanon growing up pursuing her love for Ballet. She received her Associates degree in Fashion Design and Merchandising from the International Academy of Design and Technology Nashville. She currently is overjoyed to be a teacher of Ballet/Tap/Jazz/Pre-Pointe at Centerstage where all the arts are taught and encouraged.
Patrick Pride Jr., (substitute instructor) born and raised in Richmond, VA, recently graduated from Austin Peay State University among the the top of his class. During his time at APSU, he has rigorously been involved in the Theatre and Dance Department from auditioning for shows to volunteering a helping hand. He has also been a prominent member of Alpha Psi Omega (APO), National Honor Society of Theatre, and rose to the position of Vice President his junior year and later President as a senior. He has also attended and performed at the American College Dance Association (ACDA) four times, and even presented his own choreography, Boundaries, his junior year. Patrick Pride Jr. is so excited to working with CenterStage this year!
Joslyn Evans (substitute instructor) has trained in Modern, Ballet, Tap, and Jazz dance, with a passion for Modern dance. In 2018, Joslyn graduated from The University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a BA in Modern Dance. While attending The University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Joslyn participated in many guest artist residencies and cast in choreography, including but not limited to Jenna Riegel from Bill T. Jones Arnie Zane Dance Company, Julie Mayo, and Laurel Jenkins. Joslyn also performed with The Moving Company of Omaha, Nebraska. Joslyn has a huge love of choreographing and teaching dance, and believes that dance is established by learning the fundamentals of technique, and correct body alignment, while still having fun. She especially enjoys helping students find their own dance “voice,” and expression through movement. She believes dance is an empowering tool, and hopes to use dance to inspire, empower, and motivate children and adults across the globe. She also believes that dance is for everyone, and commonly states, “If one finds joy in dancing, then they are indeed a dancer.”
Meredith Combs (substitute instructor) moved to Nashville in January, 2017 and immediately fell in love with the city. She has trained in ballet, jazz, tap, hip hop, modern, contemporary, lyrical, partnering, and pointe. Along with performing, she enjoys training the next generation of dancers and sharing all she has learned in her career.
Chelsea Rickman (substitute instructor) was born and raised in Buffalo, NY; she started taking dance lessons at Sam Smith School of Dance at the age of two. Trained in ballet, jazz, lyrical, hip-hop, and musical; she started being the teacher assistant at the age of fifteen and found her passion for teaching others dance. Now, she resides in White House, TN with her husband and two children. Continuing her education in dance, she has recently taken master classes from Brian Friedman, Nike Kljun, and Blake McGrath! Chelsea has a heart and passion for loving others and teaching them everything she knows. After twenty two years of dance background, Chelsea has learned that dance will always be a part of her life.
CenterStage Music and Theatre Faculty
Jerry Klein grew up in Southern California where he started playing the guitar at about 10 years of age. He graduated college with a Bachelor of Arts in Music, has played in a variety of bands and music settings, church and secular over the years. He and his family moved to Gallatin in 2014. After a sabbatical from teaching of quite a few years, Jerry is happy to have the opportunity at Center Stage to share the gift of music through guitar or piano lessons.
Amanda McReynolds has been performing since an early age in various school, church, college, and community productions. She earned an Associate of Science Degree in Music from Volunteer State Community College in 2005 and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Fine Arts with a Theatre Emphasis from Cumberland University in 2007. After college, she toured for several years with her grandfather, Grand Ole Opry member and bluegrass legend Jesse McReynolds. She currently lives in Gallatin with her husband Chris and intends to pursue a Masters Degree in Music.
Matthew Kennedy has been teaching music and dance for 15 years, and performing for 25. Born and raised in Fairbanks, Alaska, Matt studied classical voice, violin and piano, as well as Ballroom, Latin and Swing dance. His passion for dance and music brought him to California, where he joined the Young Americans. Matt performed, taught, managed and directed on tours in 3 continents, 15 countries, and 24 states, but is now proud to call Tennessee home!
Christian Bare has been performing in the theatre for over a decade in many different capacities from acting to stage managing and everything in between! He has performed with several theatres across middle Tennessee, learning from a number of teachers with different backgrounds. He is also a member of The Young Americans, a non-profit performing arts organization, where he has performed in Southern California as well as all over Eastern Japan. After graduating from Tennessee Technological University, he relocated to Nashville where he spends most of his time acting, dancing, and singing.
Christian Wilken, a born and raised small town Nebraska boy, had a passion for music since he was very young. Listening to the radio and finding new songs was a regular past time for him as a child, as well as acting out every battle scene in the Star Wars saga. As he grew up he began to develop a passion for working with and teaching children. He, like many of the CenterStage staff, went on to become a Young American. While in the group he traveled, performed, and taught in Japan, Germany, Poland, Estonia, Netherlands, Lithuania, Canada, and all over the US. Now that he has finished his career in the Young Americans he is so ready and so excited to begin a new adventure with his new CenterStage family.