Jennifer Fehder Viers - Studio Owner
Artistic & Creative Director: Dance Team Coach & Choreographer

At the age of 3 Jennifer took her first Creative Movement dance class and that ignited a lifelong passion for dance!! Jennifer has studied various forms of dance including Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Pointe, Lyrical, Modern, Hip-hop, and Musical Theatre. As a member of a competitive dance team for over 14 years, Jennifer danced her way onto a number of competitive stages winning many different awards and titles for both dance and voice, and enjoyed the opportunity to travel to and perform in various competitions, shows, and events around the region.

She received her dance training at The Preparatory Dance Program at U of L, The Louisville Ballet School, and several local dance studios in Louisville and Indiana. Jennifer was a member of the Assumption Dance Team and Planet Dance Senior Dance Team.

During her years of training she was fortunate enough to train under a variety of notable teachers and choreographers through master classes, workshops, and summer intensives which instilled in her a passion for many different styles of dance. Jennifer has attended classes at the Broadway Dance Center, Steps on Broadway and The Pulse Teacher’s workshop where she had the chance to study with some of dance industry’s finest, such as Mia Michaels, Tyce Diorio, Jason Parsons, Sheila Barker, Brian Friedman, Frank Hatchett, and Dan Cooney to name just a few.

Jennifer was one of several back-up dancers for Martha Reeves (Singer of "Dance'n in The Streets) during the Pegasus Parade when Martha Reeve's was the Celebrity Mistress of Ceremonies. In addition to performing five years in the Louisville Ballet's "Nutcracker," Jennifer has also performed in more than 35 musicals, dramas, and comedies at many local theaters including Derby Dinner Playhouse, Stage One, Music Theatre of Louisville, Center Stage, Bunbury Theatre, Clarksville Little Theatre and the Bomhard. Jennifer has also been in commercials and print ads (newspaper). While attending the University of Louisville she studied Elementary Education and Child Psychology and took classes in theater and voice.

Jennifer has been teaching dance and theater for over sixteen years. She worked with Music Theater of Louisville during their summer camps and their community outreach program at area elementary schools. She has been a guest instructor for several dance schools and was the Director of the dance program at a local children’s sports and recreation facility for 2 years. Jennifer is a passionate and accomplished performer and choreographer and with her strong teaching background, as she has gotten older, teaching has become the greater of her two passions!

In 2006 Jennifer achieved her childhood dream and opened her own dance studio. She has enjoyed watching her student’s abilities grow from year to year as they develop their own skills and passions for dance. She hopes to be able to share her passion for dance and performing with her students for many years to come, so that they too, can know the joy that dance and the performing arts can bring.

Amethyst Ramsey  - Instructor: Ballet/Tap/Jazz/Technique

Miss Amethyst is a Louisville native and University of Louisville graduate. She started her ballet training at the age of 4 and her passion for dance has continued to grow ever since. She danced competitively for 12 years in groups both large and small and as a soloist, winning a variety of individual and group awards. She has trained in many styles of dance, but specializes in and actively teaches Ballet, Tap, and Jazz. ?She has choreographed more than 50 performance pieces in her 5 years as an instructor and has experience working with students of all ages, both recreational and competitive. She endeavors to instill proper technique in every style and inspire every student.

Hannah Nelms - Instructor: Ballet/Tap/Jazz/Technique. Contemporary Dance Team Coach

Hannah Nelms has had over 18 years of dance training in the genres of ballet, jazz, hip hop, lyrical, contemporary, and tap. She graduated from the Youth Performing Arts School a dance major in 2016, where her love for choreography and pedagogy flourished. She has choreographed over 20 fully produced works, as well as 5 musical productions. Hannah as been teaching dance since 2012 and has been teaching at Elite Academy of Dance and Performing Arts since 2015. She also worked for the National Dance Alliance from 2017-2019 as an instructor that traveled the region to coach multiple middle and high school dance teams. Hannah is a 2020 graduate of Bellarmine University where she earned her Bachelor’s in Health Science with a minor in Theatre. During her time in Bellarmine’s undergraduate program she held leadership roles in multiple student organizations. Hannah also founded Bellarmine University Dance Company (BUDC) which aims to foster student choreography, student teaching, and community outreach. BUDC currently has over 30 members, their experience levels range from beginner to experienced. Hannah is currently studying in Bellarmine’s Doctorate of Physical Therapy program. Upon graduation, she plans to continue as a dance teacher in the evening while practicing physical therapy during business hours. 

Kathleen Anderson~ Ballet Instructor

Kathleen cannot remember a time when she did not want to be a ballet dancer. Her dance career began at age seven with ballet classes.  She has an extensive background in dance, especially in classical ballet. Her training includes a summer in France at the Nice Opera Ballet School, University of Louisville Dance Academy, Louisville Civic Ballet Company, 2 years at American Ballet Theatre School, and the University Of Cincinnati Conservatory Of Music where she earned both a BFA and MA in Dance.  Her professional career includes dancing and teaching with Cincinnati Ballet, Louisville Civic Ballet, and New Orleans Ballet and New Orleans Contemporary Dance Company. Kathleen has many years of experience teaching all levels of ballet, and has been teaching both Children and Adult Ballet classes, including professional dancers in the Louisville Area for many years.

Her goal for all her students is to pass on a sense of self-discipline and confidence and to teach solid technique while instilling in her students her joy and love of dance.  We are very fortunate to have Kathleen on our Staff at Elite Academy! She is a gifted Ballet Instructor and both Children and Adults love her classes!!!

Sarah Fain  - Instructor: Ballet/Tap/Jazz/Technique. Tap Team Coach

Ms. Sarah is a native of Louisville and graduate of Western Kentucky University. She began studying dance at the age of 3 and has been dancing ever since.  With over 20 years of teaching experience she is thrilled to be teaching at Elite! She was the Dance Captain and Assistant Show Director for Capone's Dinner and Show in Orlando, FL as well as the director and choreographer for their Lunchbox Theatre Children's Series. 

She has performed with Allenberry Playhouse ( Crazy For You, Sugar Babies), The Grand Palace with Dino Kartsonakis in Branson, MO,  Tokyo Disneyland, Holland America Cruise Line, Celtic Pulse Irish Dance Troupe, Neil Goldburg's Cirque and Poet Productions as a dancer and aerialist.  Sarah has also been a judge for many regional and national dance competitions in the midwest and southern regions.  In addition to teaching at Elite, Sarah also teaches Creative Movement to preschoolers and works with Ballard High School's Theatre department as choreographer for their spring musical.

Crystal Quire - Instructor: Hip Hop/Jazz.  Hip Hop Team Coach