Join us for Costumes & Bubbly on Tuesday at 5:15-5:45 PM! Our costume show will highlight stunning designs, featuring the latest creations from talented designers and an exclusive sneak peek at our sponsors’ newest collection. As the fashion takes center stage, enjoy a glass of champagne and network with fellow dance professionals in a relaxed, vibrant atmosphere. Connect, share ideas, and celebrate the creativity that drives the dance world forward.
Your team can be your greatest asset—if you know how to lead them well. This breakout session is all about effective employee management tailored to dance studios. Learn how to delegate with confidence, set clear expectations, and build a team culture that supports your studio’s growth. Discover strategies to reduce your day-to-day stress by empowering your staff to step up, so you can step back and focus on the bigger picture.
Give your choreography the soundtrack it deserves! In this breakout session, we’ll break down the basics of music editing with a focus on dance studio needs—clean cuts, smooth transitions, and powerful mashups. Learn how to edit your music like a pro so your routines sound just as polished as they look on stage. Whether you’re prepping solos, group pieces, or recital numbers, this session will help you elevate every beat.
Are you tired of burning the candle at both ends?! Learn how to schedule, organize, and delegate like a pro! Let’s achieve those big goals with time to spare!
Reimagine Pointe Prep with Smarter, Targeted Training!
Many traditional pointe preparation methods emphasize strengthening the toes and calves—with the assumption that this will also build the arch. But what if we’ve been missing a vital piece of the puzzle?
In this groundbreaking session, you’ll discover a powerful approach that focuses specifically on developing true strength in the arch of the foot—something often overlooked, yet essential for making pointe work both safe and joyful.
Whether your students have high arches or flat feet, you’ll learn proven, practical methods that can dramatically improve foot function and reshape what you thought was possible. Feet are far more adaptable than you may believe, and with the right tools, every dancer can progress with greater confidence and reduced risk of injury.
Join us to explore innovative techniques that will forever change how you approach pointe readiness—and empower your dancers with the foundations they need to soar
This “technique-driven” class is designed to safely improve flexibility, strength, control, & range of motion for all dancers
Through a variety of stretching & flexibility exercises, dancers will improve their lines, extensions, leaps, jumps, turns and overall movement quality.
*Proper stretching is also essential for all dancers to help prevent injury*
Your dance studio has the passion and the moves — now it’s time to make the money match the energy. 💼💃 In “Studio slay: More Streams, More Dreams,” we’ll dive into real, practical ways to diversify your income and keep your studio thriving beyond your class offerings. This session is packed with fresh ideas and actionable strategies. Whether you’re chasing quick wins or dreaming of a total studio glow-up, you’ll leave feeling inspired, empowered, and ready to go from idea to execution — one brilliant move at a time. ✨
Dr. Cindy Foley is a B-Girl, combat veteran, and visionary educator committed to empowering youth and communities through the culture and values of Hip Hop. With over 20 years of experience as a breaker, judge, teacher, and coach, she serves as Executive Director of Child of This Culture Foundation (COTC). This national nonprofit has impacted over 6,000 youth and adults through dance-based programs, education, and cultural empowerment.
Dr. Foley is a decorated U.S. Air Force Major (separated) who has led complex operations, including overseeing a $385 million flight training program. After transitioning from active duty, she co-founded COTC and pioneered groundbreaking programs for military-connected youth across the U.S., Germany, and South Korea.
As a scholar-practioner, she blends movement and academic inquiry. Her published works include “From B-Girl to B-Baby: Constructing a Breakin’ Pedagogy” (Journal of Dance Education), the children’s book I Am Hip Hop, and the co-authored article “Breaking for Gold: Who Can Judge Me?” (Global Hip Hop Studies). Her recent doctoral dissertation, Cultural Diversity of Dance in Higher Education: The Hip Hop Remix (University of Southern California), explores culturally resilient models for integrating Hip Hop into academia.
Dr. Foley holds a Doctor of Education in Organizational Change and Leadership from USC, a Master of Human Relations from the University of Oklahoma, and a B.A. in Liberal Studies from the University of Central Florida. She currently resides in Sumter, South Carolina with her active-duty husband and three children.
Kayden Bell discovered his passion for sound engineering at the age of ten and has spent a decade refining his skills in both audio and lighting. His career has taken him through a wide range of venues—from theaters and churches to festivals where he’s worked with nationally recognized acts including Tiffany, Lorrie Morgan, the Boxmasters, and Lonestar. In addition to live production, Kayden is an experienced music producer currently developing two studio albums. For the past year, he has brought that same level of precision and creativity to Inspire National Dance Competition, where he leads and mentors a team of audio engineers, overseeing all audio systems to deliver flawless sound and elevate the experience of every show.
Cyndi “Ms. G” Garguilo has 4 decades of experience in Acro-Tumbling as well as ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, musical theatre, flexibility, and gymnastics. She has owned 2 dance studios, directed and choreographed years of recitals. Her students have gone on to perform on Broadway, Cruise Ships, and Nat’l Team Cheerleaders, and more. She enjoys teaching her curriculum and master guest teaching.
Discover how to create an effective learning environment rooted in brain science. This session explores the four brain states that impact students’ ability to both learn and perform. Participants will learn to identify integrated vs. unintegrated brain states and gain strategies to shift students into a learning-ready state before class begins—boosting focus, reducing burnout, and making teaching more effective. Addressing the brain state first is key to smarter, sustainable dance education.
During this session, my goals are to lay a foundation for fascial lines, discuss injury patterns seen in practice, overview injury patterns from the research, and give some practical solutions for dancers to do on their own. These solutions will not substitute when a dancer needs to be seen by a qualified healthcare professional for an injury. I will at the end of the session lay a framework of when a dancer can work these solutions into their everyday practice and when a dancer should see a qualified healthcare provider
Dr. Lacey Dennis Bracken is a Clinical Assistant Professor at Jacksonville University with extensive experience in athletic training education and clinical practice. With a Doctor of Athletic Training from Florida International University (2022), her career blends academic excellence with hands-on athletic training expertise. Since Fall 2023, Dr. Bracken has served as Clinical Assistant Professor at Jacksonville University’s Brooks Rehabilitation College of Healthcare Science and Department of Dance. Her teaching experience spans multiple institutions, including remote adjunct professorships at Wilmington College and The College of St. Scholastica, where she taught evidence-based practice, professional development, and research methods. Dr. Bracken’s clinical expertise is particularly notable in dance medicine. As Head Athletic Trainer for Jacksonville University Dance Fine Arts (2017-2019, 2022-present), she provides comprehensive preventative care, injury evaluation, and rehabilitation services. Through Bracken Consulting Services, LLC, she extends her expertise to various settings, including Duval County Public Schools and Jacksonville University Department of Dance. Dr. Bracken’s scholarship includes publications in the Journal of Sports Medicine and Allied Health Science and presentations at professional conferences. Articles that Dr. Brackens has published include “Non-Native English Speaking Patients: Emergent Themes to Patient Care in Athletic Training” and “The Intercollegiate Artistic Athlete Research Assessment (TIARRA) Study: Building the Collegiate Dancer health and performance profile.” Her research interests include athletic training care for non-native English speakers, dance medicine, and prevention strategies for secondary school athletes. Active in professional service, Dr. Bracken serves on the National Athletic Trainers’ Association Council on Practice Advancement’s Performing Arts Committee and the Education Committee of the Athletic Trainer’s Association of Florida. Her commitment to community service extends to international mission work in Peru and Honduras. Licensed in Florida and nationally certified, Dr. Bracken combines academic rigor, clinical excellence, and community engagement to advance the field of athletic training, particularly for performing artists.
Mariah-Jane Thies is a sought-after international speaker, award-winning dance educator, and movement specialist with nearly 40 years of experience. Known for pushing the boundaries of traditional dance education, she has presented at leading global conferences including IADMS, NDEO, RAD, Body-Mind Centering, and the World Congress of Dance. Her work blends classical training with brain science, somatics, and developmental movement to create more integrated, intelligent, and expressive dancers. A registered Royal Academy of Dance teacher, mentor, and supervisor since 1997, Mariah-Jane holds a dance teaching degree from GMCC and is a certified Evans Laban-based Modern teacher. Her additional certifications in Brain Gym® and Rhythmic Movement Training inform her specialized focus on movement and brain integration—what she calls the “missing link” in dance training. Mariah-Jane is the founder of The Radiant Dance Teacher, an online community of over 3,000 educators, where she offers courses such as Creating Effective Imagery, Return to Radiance, Recital Readiness Secrets, and the widely used comprehensive pre-pointe program To the Pointe: Beyond Exercises. Her philosophy centers around three essential pillars: dancers must first be Integrated, then Embodied, to be truly Expressive. In 2024, she received the RAD (Royal Academy of Dance) Innovation in Dance Teaching Award for her groundbreaking work on learning readiness and creating optimal brain states for performance. She is thrilled to be sharing her content on groundbreaking dance teacher platforms and helping to spread the information, especially to largely underserved populations. A TEDx speaker (“Your Movement Habits Create Your Life) and best-selling author, Mariah-Jane continues to influence the dance world through her thoughtful, paradigm-shifting approach. When not teaching, she’s traveling, connecting with fellow educators, and cuddling foster cats and dogs
Natalie Perkins is the founder and CEO of Bella Ballerina, a boutique dance studio franchise that has brought the magic of dance to young children across the U.S. When she noticed a lack of fun, imaginative dance classes for toddlers, Natalie opened her first studio in 2011 in Brambleton, Virginia — a place where kids could twirl into the world of dance through storybook adventures. Her vision quickly caught on, leading to a growing network of studios and a thriving franchise program that empowers women to build businesses with flexibility and heart. Today, Bella Ballerina is a beloved brand that supports franchisees with top-notch training, a proven curriculum, and strong community values. Extending her creative spark, Natalie also launched Bella Ballerina Dancewear, offering custom-designed leotards, shoes, and accessories created specifically for the youngest dancers as well as Vibe Threads, a custom costume and team wear company for dance and sports teams who want to stand out. A Jamestown, New York native, Natalie earned her degree from Mercyhurst University and honed her leadership skills by scaling service businesses before launching her own. She now lives in Lake Wylie, SC with her husband and daughter, balancing family life with a passion for building brands that inspire.
Keep your little dancers engaged and excited about dance! Learn new ideas and strategies for classroom management, engaging new exercises and ideas!
Ever wonder what the future of the digital age of dance looks like? Well, Adam Boreland believes the vision of the future of dance is bright and exciting!
Learn how to enter an accepting atmosphere of dance while enhancing the dreams & desires of ALL dancers. Take note of tips of how to extend reach on social media platforms. Help the vision of your studio bring in more students of all ages. Be encouraged & challenged to continue to improve your skills, teaching and leading of many people regardless of talent level, age, size, gender or genre! Ultimately, learn how to love through the art of dance.
This jazz progressions class is designed to challenge dancers of all ages with dynamic across-the-floor combinations that build technique, musicality, and confidence. We will discuss the importance of clean lines, strong execution, and stylistic flair while progressing through a range of directional changes, turns, leaps, and footwork. This class offers something for everyone. Come ready to strut & shimmy!
In this session, we’ll explore the intersection of faith and dance within the dance and entertainment industries. This conversation invites you to reflect on how your personal faith can influence your leadership, teaching style, and studio culture. Whether you’re navigating how to integrate faith in a subtle or more intentional way, or simply seeking encouragement as a believer in the arts world, this is a space for honest dialogue, shared experiences, and inspiration. Together, we’ll look at how faith can not only coexist with creativity—but fuel it.
In this workshop, I will lead you in a variety of exercises that you can add to your toolbox. These activities will help you introduce your students to basic acting skills that can lead them to be more expressive and engaging on stage. Acting will enhance their Storytelling, convey emotions, and embody characters more deeply while adding depth and authenticity to their performances. Additionally, acting skills can open doors for dancers to explore different performance avenues, such as musical theater or on-camera acting. I will provide information and resources for those of you who wish to explore acting more in-depth for yourself or to offer your students
In this class I will lead you in an array of guided improv exercises for you to take back to your classroom. Improv in an excellent way to develop quality of movement, creativity, performing skills, emotional connection added interest to choreography focus and concentration, musicality, and of course those dreaded moments on stage where the mind draws a disconnect. I will include exercises and games for all ages so you can implement improv in each level you offer, tips and tricks to assist your most reluctant student and ways to utilize props
Bio Coming Soon
In a world dominated by seemingly endless demands for MORE (more turnout, more flexibility, more height, more turns, more arched, more long, more sculpted…), it is far too easy to get lost in the never-ending cycle that is the pursuit of perfection. While this quest for self-improvement is a valuable journey, it is also a notoriously fine line to walk– or dance. When does the ability to self-assess and self-critique morph into negative self-talk and distorted body image? When does rehearsal become redundancy, drilling dancers to exhaustion for the sake of running their choreography again? When does camaraderie turn cold, with dancers feeling obligated to compete against each other in order to gain favor with their director or teacher? On the flip side, holding students and professionals to such high standards has pushed the boundaries of human movement and artistry to incredible lengths. For a student to land a job in a typical professional dance setting, there is an ever-increasing baseline of training, technique, and skills required. How, then, do we ask students to push themselves to their limits and beyond without falling victim to the trap of perfectionism? Enter the concept of EXCELLENCE. Unlike perfection, which by definition is unattainable for many, if not all, excellence is something everyone can achieve. Being a fluid concept rather than a rigid checklist of do’s and do-not’s, excellence looks different on every person and can be different from day to day. By holding dancers accountable for achieving their personal best, we are still asking for the most they can give. But we are also not shaming them for the things they cannot give us yet, and this is what makes all the difference in the world. Excellence is the ability to make mistakes and learn from them. Excellence is seeing someone else’s success and being able to be supportive and inspired by them. Excellence is celebrating your individual strengths while acknowledging, accepting, and working on the places where you do not feel as strong. By asking our students for excellence rather than perfection, we are equipping them with a resilient and functional mindset that can be applied to all aspects of their lives. Nobody can be perfect. But we can all be excellent.
In her keynote, Professor Jasmine Powell will inspire educators to reimagine dance training as a holistic journey that nurtures both artistry and academic growth. Drawing from her extensive experience in both the Professional and academic worlds, Powell will explore how we can cultivate not only technical excellence but also creativity, resilience, and emotional depth in young dancers. By emphasizing a diverse range of styles, fostering leadership, and preparing students for the demands of college auditions, she will highlight how dance education can shape well-rounded artists who are ready to thrive in the collegiate environment and beyond. This session will empower educators to inspire their students to embrace the full spectrum of their potential, both as dancers and as individuals.
Anne-Marie graduated with her Specialist degree in Educational Administration from Georgia Southern University. She has worked in a variety of roles over the past 20 years for the Glynn County School System. Since the growth and expansion of Inspire, she continues her work in the field of education as a consultant and MindSet master trainer during the off-season. Her administrative background allows her to facilitate and oversee the intricacies of running a successful dance competition and convention. She loves welcoming new studios to the Inspire Family and reuniting each year with returning studio owners and dancers. She feels so rewarded to see the dancers develop and grow each season.
Anne-Marie loves to spend time with their family. One of the most amazing things about owning Inspire National Dance Competition is that it allows the family an opportunity to enjoy time with one another at the events.
McKenzie Doran is the Marketing Coordinator at Inspire NDC. She has been dancing since she was 5 years old and has loved it ever since. She originally began with Inspire NDC in 2017 as an event staff member. She has since graduated from Columbus State University with a degree in Marketing as well as her MBA. Since graduation, McKenzie has taken on a new role as the Marketing Coordinator. She is excited to share her expertise and to experience new adventures with the company!
You will often find McKenzie at events backstage interacting with dancers and our CREW members. She can also be seen posting fun things from the weekend on our social media platforms, so make sure to say hey when you see her!
In her off time, McKenzie still loves to dance and choreograph. She has found dance to be a good way to express emotions and be able to find the good in the day. She also enjoys sitting with a cup of coffee and reading a good novel to relax.
With over 25 years of experience as a creative expressionist, Jasmine Powell is a dancer, choreographer, and educator who moves beyond the traditional boundaries of dance. Known for her ability to evoke deep emotional connections, Powell’s work explores the intersection of storytelling, embodiment, and the untold narratives that reside within every dancer.
A native of Hillsborough, NC, Powell’s artistic journey began with local training and blossomed into an international career. She earned a BA in Dance from Oberlin College and an MFA in Dance Performance and Choreography from Hollins University, in collaboration with the American Dance Festival and Frankfurt University of Music and Performing Arts in Germany, furthering her studies across Africa, Europe, Central America, South America and the U.S. Powell has performed with distinguished companies and celebrated choreographers such as Philadanco, Dance Diaspora, Dianne McIntyre, Milton Myers, Ronald K. Brown/ Evidence, Bill T. Jones, Okwui Okpokwasili, Justin Tornow, Kristin Taylor Duncan, Culture Mill, Princess Johnson/Hair Journey Ballet, Moving Spirits Inc., and Suah African Dance Company.
Her work explores how opposite embodied features coexist within the dancer’s body, turning personal and ancestral histories into universally resonant performances. Powell’s research in dance science, combined with her expertise in African diaspora traditions and somatic practices, informs both her choreographic work and teaching. Her choreographic premieres including Approximation of a Woman, Iridescence, Flightless Doves and Self Un/En Titled with the latter performed at the UNC-Chapel Hill – Carolina Performing Arts, have been featured in national and international performance venues, dance festivals, award-winning dance films, and music videos, where she merges dance with powerful visual storytelling.
As a professor at Elon University, Powell blends her Ailey Certified Horton Teaching Technique, contemporary and modern dance, Pilates certification, and certified Life Coaching practices to foster both physical technique and emotional depth. She has also directed and choreographed for the Durham District-wide “Evening to Shine” event at the Durham Performing Arts Center and co-directed the Carolina Performing Arts/Southern Futures – Commons Festival.
Whether as a performer, choreographer, or educator, Powell’s work transcends cultural and geographical boundaries, consistently exploring the untold stories of the body through creative expression. Her journey is rooted in honoring the cultural histories embedded in our personal narratives, a philosophy that continues to guide her impactful contributions to the dance world through a creative expressionist lens.
Janis A. Sherwood, originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, received her early dance and theater training, performing, and teaching experience on the West Coast. She studied at East Bay Music Center, Richmond Ballet, Contra Costa College, and private studios. She relocated to the Southeast in the mid-1980s to further her education with the Montgomery School of Fine Arts and the University of Alabama in Birmingham. During this time, she studied Ballet, Modern, Jazz, and tap with many notable teachers and choreographers, including the renowned Stephan Grebel, Edith Barnes, Melanie Grebel, Fred Sieretta, Martin Freedman, and Marcus Alford. During that time, Janis was awarded a fellowship for the UAB master’s program. During that time, she performed with Ballet UAB and taught the UAB youth program. She continued her training in Jazz, Hip Hop, modern, and contemporary both on the west coast and east coast with notable teachers such as Tyce Diorio, Brian Freidman, Eddie Garcia, Sheila Barker, Chabar Williams, Liz Imperio, Desmond Richardson, twitch, Barry Youngblood, Gustavo Vargas, and many more. She has also taken master classes in Brazilian, African, Afro-Haitian, and Cuban salsa to her repertoire at the World Dance Center in the San Francisco Bay Area. Janis’s credits include a studio owner, performer, award-winning choreographer, and master teacher for over 47 years. Janis has recently returned to acting and is also a visual artist. Janis and her husband currently reside outside of Birmingham, AL, and have 5 children and 7 grandchildren
Jamie Howard serves as Inspire and Empire NDC’s Judge Coordinator and a Regional Director and has thirty -five years of dance training and has been a dance instructor for the twenty-two years. As a child, she trained under Angela Franko-Burns at Dancer’s Pointe. From there she went on to train at many other studios across Georgia including the prestigious Georgia Ballet, Atlanta Ballet, and Ruth Mitchell.
Jamie has performed many leading roles such as Cinderella, Roxie in Chicago, Christine in Phantom of the Opera, and Alice in Alice in Wonderland. She has owned and operated her own studio, Steps Dance Center in North Georgia, for over 16 years. Her competitive dancers have won numerous awards at both regional and national dance competitions, and she also won numerous “Best Choreography” awards.
She also choreographs and guest teaches for many studios across the East Coast. Jamie choreographed scenes in the movie “The Change Up” starring Ryan Reynolds & Jason Bateman. Jamie has produced an in-house studio convention called Elev8 for the past four years. She has brought in numerous choreographers and instructors spanning from the artists of So You Think You Can Dance to up-and-coming professionals working in the dance industry. Jamie is extremely dedicated to the art of dance and considers herself blessed to have a career encompassing her passion for dance and love for children.
Adam Boreland has been a part of the professional ballet world for over 15 years. The proud first student of Sell’s Broadway Dance Company. Adam trained at the San Francisco Ballet School & Orlando Ballet School. He held professional contracts at Texas Ballet Theater & Orlando Ballet along with guesting around the United States.
He has been blessed with dancing principal roles in ballets such as Swan Lake, Cinderella, Val Caniparoli’s Lambarena, Glenn Tetley’s Voluntaries, The Nutcracker, The Sleeping Beauty, Jorden Morris Productions Moulin Rouge & Peter Pan. Adam was also recently on the NBC show “Dancing with Myself” with Shakira, Liza Koshy, & Nick Jonas.
Adam is proud to be the Creator and Founder of Facebook’s Largest Dance Group in the World: Dance Accepts Everyone Facebook Group – a safe, non-judgmental place for all dancers seeking to connect, inspire, and love through dance. With over 400,000 dancers in our Worldwide Community, we are able to dance, love, & reach over 300+ million people around the globe.
Ms. Carolyn started her training under Royal Academy of Dance-certified teacher Barbara Mullen in Londonderry, NH. Ms Carolyn studied the Royal Academy of Dance syllabus for twelve years, passing her first exam at six and completing her Vocational Exams at eighteen. She performed with New England Dance Ensemble and twice earned a gold medal with distinction in the American Academy of Ballet Performance Awards. She attended The Yorkshire Ballet Seminar in England, Ballet Hawaii’s Summer Intensive, the American College Dance Festival in California, the Ballet and Dance Workshop Ostrava in the Czech Republic, and the National Dance Institute Teacher Training Program in New York City. In December 2024, she completed the Applied Science of Dancer Health & Injury Prevention course with the Harkness Center for Dance Injuries. Since moving to Hawaii in 2005, Ms Carolyn has enjoyed performing professionally with Hawaii Ballet Theatre, the Onium Ballet Project, Divino Ritmo Dance, and Hawaii Opera Theatre. She taught at Punahou Dance School, Honolulu Classical Ballet, Hawaii Academy, The Dance Space, and The Movement Center before opening Kailua Dance Academy in 2017. Ms. Carolyn is also a Lecturer at the University of Hawaii Manoa, teaching intermediate and advanced ballet classes. Ms Carolyn graduated from the University of Hawaii at Manoa in 2010 with a BFA in Dance Theatre and a BBA in Marketing. She is a chapter sponsor of the National Honor Society for Dance Arts, and is a member of the Royal Academy of Dance, the National Dance Education Organization, the National Association of Schools of Dance, and is a National Dance Institute certified teacher
Bailee Eurey is a Carolina native who currently resides in the Charlotte, NC, area. She is a graduate of Appalachian State University, where she was a member of the Appalachian State Dance Team for 4 years and an active sister of Alpha Delta Pi. During her time at Appalachian State, she was featured on College Football News as a dance team member. With over 20 years of experience, Bailee currently assists others with dance choreography and acrobatics training. She is trained in tap, jazz, musical theatre, hip-hop, contemporary, lyrical, and ballet. She has been an instructor and choreographer for 7 years and has won numerous national and regional choreography awards. Bailee is a judge for multiple national dance companies and has been a master class instructor for several organizations. Aside from her involvement in the professional dance world, Bailee is a licensed real estate agent, owns her own pageantry and photography business (Queen City Productions), enjoys being heavily present in both the fashion and film industries, and loves to travel when she is able.