The Dance Company was built in June 2001 by Carole Matthews and Ashley Nutt. They taught dance there for 13 years.
Samantha Boggs, Owner
My name is Samantha (Burfitt) Boggs and I became the owner of The Dance Company in June 2014. I was raised and learned to love dance in Tullahoma where I now live my husband D.J. and daughter Sadie. I am the Tullahoma High School AristoCATS Show Choir choreographer. I graduated from MTSU with a degree in Elementary Education and I decided to stop teaching and coaching cheerleading. I enjoyed my career as a teacher, but when Carole and Ashley presented the opportunity to take over TDC, I couldn't turn them down! I have over 20 years of dance experience, 10 of those years under Carole and Ashley. I am so honored that I get to carry on Carole and Ashley's dream of inspiriting students to love dance, just like they inspired me and hundreds of other students.
Samantha Boggs, Owner
My name is Samantha (Burfitt) Boggs and I became the owner of The Dance Company in June 2014. I was raised and learned to love dance in Tullahoma where I now live my husband D.J. and daughter Sadie. I am the Tullahoma High School AristoCATS Show Choir choreographer. I graduated from MTSU with a degree in Elementary Education and I decided to stop teaching and coaching cheerleading. I enjoyed my career as a teacher, but when Carole and Ashley presented the opportunity to take over TDC, I couldn't turn them down! I have over 20 years of dance experience, 10 of those years under Carole and Ashley. I am so honored that I get to carry on Carole and Ashley's dream of inspiriting students to love dance, just like they inspired me and hundreds of other students.
Kenny Alika Keawekane (Hip Hop Instructor):
Kenny was born in Hawaii and raised in Pennsylvania. He comes from a long line of musicians and performers. He was a "closet" dancer from age 10-19 learning everything from dance movies, music videos, and YouTube. He was eventually noticed by a dance crew, House of Gotti, before he moved to Tennessee. After moving, he decided take dance a little bit further. He went to a Jr. Teacher Workshop Program to become a dance assistant and the dance studio made him the Hip Hop Teacher instead. Since then, he has taught at numerous facilities in Winchester, Tullahoma, Manchester, and Murfreesboro. He started doing community theater as well to build his talent. He has performed and assisted choreography in numerous shows including Hairspray, All Shook Up, and Gypsy. He is the choreographer of "History Told By Her" a Michael Jackson tribute which picks a charity every show to donate all the proceeds to. He donates his time to many charities and community projects teaching dance and/or performing. Some of those charities include Chattanooga Cares, American Cancer Society, and United Way. He has won 1st place in Lincoln County's Got Talent and 2nd place in Coffee County's So You Think You've Got Talent. After performing with Barking Legs' (Chattanooga) "Wide Open Floor," he was connected to WEAVE: Conceptual Dance Company. Since joining with WEAVE, he has performed in the halftime show for the Chattanooga Roller Derby, Palate to Palette, and many other events. His goals are to perform in a dance movie, music video, go on tour, and to travel the world teaching dance and competing.
Kenny was born in Hawaii and raised in Pennsylvania. He comes from a long line of musicians and performers. He was a "closet" dancer from age 10-19 learning everything from dance movies, music videos, and YouTube. He was eventually noticed by a dance crew, House of Gotti, before he moved to Tennessee. After moving, he decided take dance a little bit further. He went to a Jr. Teacher Workshop Program to become a dance assistant and the dance studio made him the Hip Hop Teacher instead. Since then, he has taught at numerous facilities in Winchester, Tullahoma, Manchester, and Murfreesboro. He started doing community theater as well to build his talent. He has performed and assisted choreography in numerous shows including Hairspray, All Shook Up, and Gypsy. He is the choreographer of "History Told By Her" a Michael Jackson tribute which picks a charity every show to donate all the proceeds to. He donates his time to many charities and community projects teaching dance and/or performing. Some of those charities include Chattanooga Cares, American Cancer Society, and United Way. He has won 1st place in Lincoln County's Got Talent and 2nd place in Coffee County's So You Think You've Got Talent. After performing with Barking Legs' (Chattanooga) "Wide Open Floor," he was connected to WEAVE: Conceptual Dance Company. Since joining with WEAVE, he has performed in the halftime show for the Chattanooga Roller Derby, Palate to Palette, and many other events. His goals are to perform in a dance movie, music video, go on tour, and to travel the world teaching dance and competing.
Deanna Barton Bratcher
My name is Deanna Barton Bratcher and I will be assisting with dance classes. I am so excited to be able to help TDC and to get the opportunity to do something that I love, dance! The Dance Company is very near to my heart. I was one of Carole's first students when she first opened the studio here in Tullahoma. She supported me in life, not just in dance. Ashley is a close family friend and they both taught my daughter, Katelyn. After I graduated from Tullahoma High School, I attended The University of Tennessee Knoxville where I was a member of The Dance Team. I have over 20 years of dance experience and stage performance. I am so honored and excited to teach your children.
My name is Deanna Barton Bratcher and I will be assisting with dance classes. I am so excited to be able to help TDC and to get the opportunity to do something that I love, dance! The Dance Company is very near to my heart. I was one of Carole's first students when she first opened the studio here in Tullahoma. She supported me in life, not just in dance. Ashley is a close family friend and they both taught my daughter, Katelyn. After I graduated from Tullahoma High School, I attended The University of Tennessee Knoxville where I was a member of The Dance Team. I have over 20 years of dance experience and stage performance. I am so honored and excited to teach your children.
Kelsey Brassfield
My name is Kelsey Brassfield. I was born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. I started dancing when I was three years old and started competing when I was six. By age nine, I decided I wanted to go to a different studio for more challenging choreography and intense training. I competed around the country and had the opportunity to perform in New York City at Nationals. I was blessed with first place overall! When I was twelve, my family and I moved to Tullahoma, Tennessee and the first thing we had to find was a dance studio. I was very pleased when I found The Dance Company and thankful to continue dancing until I graduated high school. After I graduated from Tullahoma High School, I had an awesome opportunity to work with the previous owners, Carole and Ashley. I have over 17 years of dance experience. I'm excited to be working with The Dance Company.
My name is Kelsey Brassfield. I was born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. I started dancing when I was three years old and started competing when I was six. By age nine, I decided I wanted to go to a different studio for more challenging choreography and intense training. I competed around the country and had the opportunity to perform in New York City at Nationals. I was blessed with first place overall! When I was twelve, my family and I moved to Tullahoma, Tennessee and the first thing we had to find was a dance studio. I was very pleased when I found The Dance Company and thankful to continue dancing until I graduated high school. After I graduated from Tullahoma High School, I had an awesome opportunity to work with the previous owners, Carole and Ashley. I have over 17 years of dance experience. I'm excited to be working with The Dance Company.
Kristen Carroll
Kristen has been dancing since the age of four, training in ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, contemporary and musical theatre. Kristen lived all over the world as the daughter of an Air Force veteran, but studied extensively in Kentucky where she was a member of a national award winning competitive team and high school dance team. She danced in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade in New York, received a talent scholarship from and represented Autauga County in Alabama as their Distinguished Young Woman and has performed and worked with numerous professionals from all over the industry. Once she began college, Kristen started teaching at a studio and found her true passion, being able to share her love of dance with others and help foster that love in young dancers. Since then, she has been teaching for nine years and has received numerous awards for her jazz, musical theatre and lyrical choreography at both the regional and national level. Kristen graduated Summa Cum Laude with an English degree from Auburn University and has worked as a judge, convention teacher and traveling employee for Platinum National Dance Competitions and Dance Masters of America. Kristen lives in Tullahoma with her husband and daughters and she continues to teach, choreograph, and share her love of dance with studios all over the south.
Kristen has been dancing since the age of four, training in ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, contemporary and musical theatre. Kristen lived all over the world as the daughter of an Air Force veteran, but studied extensively in Kentucky where she was a member of a national award winning competitive team and high school dance team. She danced in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade in New York, received a talent scholarship from and represented Autauga County in Alabama as their Distinguished Young Woman and has performed and worked with numerous professionals from all over the industry. Once she began college, Kristen started teaching at a studio and found her true passion, being able to share her love of dance with others and help foster that love in young dancers. Since then, she has been teaching for nine years and has received numerous awards for her jazz, musical theatre and lyrical choreography at both the regional and national level. Kristen graduated Summa Cum Laude with an English degree from Auburn University and has worked as a judge, convention teacher and traveling employee for Platinum National Dance Competitions and Dance Masters of America. Kristen lives in Tullahoma with her husband and daughters and she continues to teach, choreograph, and share her love of dance with studios all over the south.
Kate Cataldo
Kate has loved dance since the age of five. She has been trained in ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, lyrical, gymnastics, folk, baton, character, and cheerleading. Kate grew up in Meridianville, Alabama and moved to Tullahoma in 2011. She has won national titles in baton and folk. Kate spent most of her teenage years traveling for dance competitions and conventions. As an adult, Kate was a semi-professional cheerleader for the Huntsville Rockets, but her passion is truly instilling a love for dance in younger generations. She has been doing that for the past 10 years. Through that experience and her job at a recovery home for women and their children, Kate has seen the positivity of dance change children’s lives. Kate lives in Tullahoma with her husband.
Kate has loved dance since the age of five. She has been trained in ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, lyrical, gymnastics, folk, baton, character, and cheerleading. Kate grew up in Meridianville, Alabama and moved to Tullahoma in 2011. She has won national titles in baton and folk. Kate spent most of her teenage years traveling for dance competitions and conventions. As an adult, Kate was a semi-professional cheerleader for the Huntsville Rockets, but her passion is truly instilling a love for dance in younger generations. She has been doing that for the past 10 years. Through that experience and her job at a recovery home for women and their children, Kate has seen the positivity of dance change children’s lives. Kate lives in Tullahoma with her husband.
