Our Faculty

Brittany Hall’s journey in dance began at the age of 2.  Growing up in Southern California, she has trained and competed in/with some of the Nation’s strongest studios, conventions, and training facilities. Brittany is an accomplished dancer, choreographer, and teacher.   Represented by Go2Talent Agency and a Collective Uth alumni, Brittany enjoyed dancing and working on projects such as IM5 music videos, HeyDay Footwear, IVIVAA Athletic, Disney and The Fast Lane Movie Pilot.    Brittany is also a proud alumni of the GRV Family/GRaVy Babies and an original member of MAKER EMPIRE’s Trouble Makers winning World of Dance San Diego 2012 and ranked 4th in the United States at Hip Hop International.   Inspired by some of the most respected professionals in the dance industry, Brittany’s focus shifted to teaching, inspiring and empowering the next generation of dancers.

Brittany’s love for dance is rooted in her love of high-quality training, growth, and inspiration of the next generation.   She understands the responsibility and impact of providing a nurturing, inspiring and healthy environment for all dancers to thrive.

Now in her 12th year of teaching, Brittany’s professionalism and artistry has led her to working for/with studios and dancers in California, Arizona, Nevada, and Tennessee.    Her work has received numerous regional and national Performance, Choreography, and Judge’s Choice awards.

Brittany’s passion for inspiring young dancers led her to establish EVOLVE DANCE PLEX.  EVOLVE is East Tennessee’s new ELITE TRAINING FACILITY based in Knoxville, TN.

Through EVOLVE, Brittany is committed to sharing her love of dance and commitment to nurturing talent and creating a supportive environment where all dancers can thrive and EVOLVE into the best versions of themselves.    COME EVOLVE with US! 

Bio Coming Soon

Stacy Pierce is an entrepreneur and marketing strategist who relocated from San Diego to Knoxville, bringing a diverse background in retail, branding, and community engagement. She continues to be an active partner with Dressed 2 Dance, a San Diego dancewear boutique, while managing Work It Towels- a premium towel business she co-founded with her teenagers that supports nonprofits, has been showcased on The List TV “Kindness Wins” segment, and was a featured brand for the March 2022 Oscar gifting suite in Beverly Hills.

A dance mom for more than 14 years, Stacy is passionate about fostering growth, creativity, and community within the studio and is excited to help build a supportive dance environment with a lil’ SoCal vibe.

Born and raised in East Tennessee, Sydney always knew she wanted to attend and dance at the University of Tennessee.

Dancing by the age of 2, Sydney grew up training and competing in Knoxville.

Remaining focused on her collegiate goals, Sydney graduated from the University of Tennessee with a Bachelors in Communication.

Also staying focused on her dance goals, Sydney is a proud 4 year alumni of the UT Dance Team, winning 2 National Championships. Rounding out her senior year, Sydney was chosen to receive the prestigious E. Lynn Harris, All Sec Spirit award!

Sydney is a 6-Year staff member for UDA and loves the opportunity to work with UDA dancers throughout the country.

Sydney currently teaches and sets choreography for several studios and dance teams across the country. She loves to inspire, teach and empower the next generation of dancers to new heights.

She is excited to join the EVOLVE team and looks forward to seeing you in class!

Addie Griffin was an accomplished gymnast before transitioning her main focus to competitive dance at the age of 10. Her love for training and beautiful movement led her to numerous awards, accomplishments, and accolades throughout her 8 year competition dance journey. Addie’s leadership skills and desire to impact others led her into the role of teaching assistant at the age of 14, then teaching her own classes by the age of 18. Addie’s structured yet fun teaching style inspires her students while pushing them to be their very best.

Addie is currently dancing on the University of Tennessee Dance Company – BOSS, while studying in the field of Public Relations. Addie’s passion for inspiring others combined with her love of building relationships will be a driving force in her new position as EVOLVE’s Assistant Director.

In this role, Addie will be teaching classes as well as assisting with day-to-day studio operations.

Addie is thrilled to be joining our EVOLVE staff and looks forward to meeting you.

Alyssa began dancing at the age of 4 and grew up as a competitive dancer in Northern California, with a strong love for fast tap and sassy jazz! She won many scholarships at conventions around the country and held multiple national titles at dance competitions during her teen years. She spent a few summers in New York training in tap and enjoyed taking classes in Los Angeles whenever possible as a kid! Alyssa was the captain of her High School Dance Team where she grew to love choreographing, and has taught several routines as an alumni. At 16, she was the captain of Dance USA’s American Team that competed at the Grand Prix in Italy. She went on to dance in college at San Jose State University and performed often with her sorority, Alpha Phi. One of her favorite things on her dance resume is her time with Walt Disney World, where she performed as different characters in parades and meet and greets during her college internship in Orlando! After graduating, she was able to return to her hometown studio and choreograph for competitive teams until her family made the move to Tennessee. Alyssa is so excited to share her first love with her two greatest loves – her daughters, Savvy and Charlie – as they begin their own dance journey with Evolve!

Natalie Adkins is a recent graduate from the University of Tennessee and now works at Webb School of Knoxville as the Coordinator of Athletic Operations! She grew up in Knoxville as a member of the West Valley and Bearden Dance Team. In her time there, she was able to earn six national championships. In college, she went back to those two programs as an assistant coach.

She has been a UDA staff member for the past three years and, within the company, has helped choreograph routines taught all over the country. During her college years, she was a part of BOSS dance company where she was not only a member but a choreographer and the company’s treasurer. Nat is super excited to continue inspiring and teaching the next generations of dance and share her 20 years of knowledge at Evolve!

Gavin Baker spent his early years playing a plethora of sports before falling in love with dance at age 10. Gavin grew up training at a prestigious studio in Northern Virginia. His athleticism, artistry and work ethic earned him numerous advanced regional and national titles throughout his 9 years of competitive dance. These formative years taught him discipline, creativity, and resilience which have shaped his teaching style tremendously. Gavin is currently a member of the University of Tennessee’s Boss Dance Company and studies Supply Chain Management in the school’s Haslam College of Business. Between his education and extracurriculars, he has learned to face challenges with patience and empathy and hopes to instill a similar mindset within his students. Gavin is dedicated to creating a nourishing environment for his students to prosper as individuals inside and outside the studio. Gavin is so excited to be joining the EVOLVE staff and looks forward to meeting you soon!

Born and raised in San Diego, California, Abby was immersed in the competitive dance world from a young age, training extensively and performing across the Southern California competition and convention circuit. Throughout her elementary, middle, and high school years, her commitment and drive earned her numerous scholarships, allowing her to train at prestigious regional and national dance events and intensives.

Abby always knew she wanted to continue dancing at the collegiate level. After graduating high school, she attended Wake Forest University, where she was recruited and danced on their D1A Dance Team for three years. Recently, she transferred to Vanderbilt University to pursue more rigorous academic opportunities and was also recruited to dance on their D1A Dance Team. Across both teams, she has taken the stage at UDA and NDA Nationals, competing in D1A Jazz, Gameday, and Spirit Rally.

In addition to her performance career, Abby has a deep passion for education and mentorship. She is double-majoring in Elementary Education and Child Studies with plans to become an elementary school teacher. Her love for teaching dance began early as she started assisting dance classes at age 12 and taught her own classes by 17. Since then, she has choreographed a range of works for dancers in San Diego and is eager to bring her knowledge, creativity, and enthusiasm to Evolve Dance Plex in Knoxville!

Abby is excited to join the EVOLVE team and looks forward to inspiring, challenging, and supporting the next generation of dancers!

Olivia was born and raised in Oregon City, Oregon and began dancing at the age of 2. Her training ranges from her home studio in Oregon City to years training summers in Jackson, Mississippi with BalletMagnificat! While still in school she became a trainee with Instruments Ballet Company (2020-2021). At age 17 she was offered a position to build Enoch Contemporary Ballet (ECB) based in Athens, TN from 2021 to winter 2023 when she retired.

Olivia spent her time with ECB touring the US and teaching classes at various studios and partnering with other companies in the US. Olivia is passionate about using dance to share about the incredible things the Lord has done in her life and turning others to his Kingdom. She wants to build an atmosphere that allows kids to grow in their ability and character daily.

Born and raised in Knoxville, TN, Alina discovered her love for dance at just two years old. With a strong foundation in ballet and modern styles, she trained extensively and attended several intensives with Joffrey Ballet. In middle school, she joined the West Valley Dance Team and expanded her versatility through pom, jazz, hip hop, and more.

Throughout high school, Alina earned numerous awards and scholarships at multiple conventions and competitions. She also won several state and national championship titles with the Bearden High School Dance Team.

She went on to dance for four years with The Ohio State University Dance Team, earning seven National Championshipswhile pursuing a degree in medicine. She also had the opportunity to represent Team USA, where her team won two World Championships, competing against teams from around the world. During her time at Ohio State, she had the privilege of working with and learning from renowned choreographers such as Travis Wall, Shannon Mather, Ricky Ubeda, and Rudy Abreu.

After graduation, Alina remained in Columbus to teach and mentor dancers while working in the medical field. Now back home in Knoxville, she will begin a Physician Assistant program next fall. Alina is thrilled to share her 20+ years of dance experience, passion, and artistry with the students at EVOLVE, inspiring them to grow as both dancers and individuals!

Bio Coming Soon!

Julien is a multidisciplinary artist—creator, director, and choreographer—driven by curiosity and growth. By integrating his personal, cultural, and refined perspectives to create impactful, innovative artistry into a brand, he pushes boundaries, crafting unique, forward-thinking approaches that leave consumers wanting more. His work is rooted in timeless principles of authenticity, storytelling, and transformative experiences, with a commitment to excellence and collaboration.

Reflecting on his work with industry giants like Kanye West, Benny Blanco, Justin Bieber, T-Pain, Kid Cudi, Busta Rhymes, Balenciaga, GAP, Nissan, and Reebok, Julien looks ahead to further progress in his career. He remains dedicated to pushing creative boundaries and continually seeking new opportunities for innovation and collaboration.

With over 10 years of dance experience and training, Cameron has established himself as an innovative dancer who strives to master the artistry of dance. Cameron is a Birmingham, Alabama, native with a passion for dance. He has had numerous first-place competition wins, choreography awards, and has placed nationally over the past couple of years in prestigious competitions such as The Dance Awards (TDA) and New York City Dance Alliance (NYCDA). In 2023, he was awarded an opportunity to train at the prestigious Juilliard for a summer intensive that enhanced his passion for contemporary dance and ballet.

Cameron has a unique ability to blend technique with expression and is known for his creativity and style. He is trained in contemporary, ballet, jazz, hip hop, tap, and ballroom. Cameron has honed his abilities both on and off the stage. He has traveled internationally on Broadway as he performed the role of “Young Lola” in the Broadway musical Kinky Boots for the Asian Tour. In 2024, Cameron was also featured in the Spring Edition of Mountain Brook Magazine, where they highlighted his ability to command the stage with his storytelling while dancing. Cameron can be seen in several commercial campaigns such as Duracell, Target, Nickelodeon, and TigerFriday as a current model ambassador and can be seen in fashion shows and social media campaign ads. Cameron plans to continue his dance training at the Kaufman School of Dance at the University of Southern California (USC) this fall in Los Angeles, California.

Alessandra Brown is from Peoria, Arizona and is a current member of the National Champion Tiger Girls at Louisiana State University. LSU recently earned 1st place in D1A Hip Hop and 3rd place in D1A Jazz at UDA Nationals. She has been dancing since the age of 3, and trained competitively at Gotta Dance Company in all styles of dance including hip hop, jazz, contemporary/lyrical, and ballet. She’s currently a faculty member on Tribe 99’s Summer Tour. Alessandra was a four year member of the varsity pom team at Mountain Ridge High School, and as captain she helped lead her team to a State and National Championship. She has won numerous scholarships and awards at conventions such as Dancer of the Year, Maximum Velocity Artist, and Non Stop Dancer Winner. Alessandra has been a member of Hollywood Vibe Dance Convention’s Company for 7 years, traveling and assisting their all star faculty. At 10 years old she signed with the Movement Talent Agency in Los Angeles and has done music videos, live shows, several commercials, and print work. A couple of her credits include Disney and Nickelodeon. Alessandra looks forward to training with you and sharing her passion for dance!

Born and raised in Knoxville, TN, Ashlynn Mason received her foundational training locally at Studio Arts for Dancers and GO! Contemporary Dance Works for 10 years under director Lisa Hall Mckee, cultivating a deep love for dancing, teaching, and choreographing. She has training in multiple styles of modern, ballet, jazz, tap, and foundational knowledge of aerial arts skills.

Upon graduating high school Ashlynn was entrusted with running a dance studio in Jefferson City, TN, and developed and implemented a core ballet and modern curriculum as the studio director.

As an involved member of the community in that area, she wrote and produced an original contemporary ballet titled “The Gift of Athens” and partnered with local leaders and businesses for proceeds to be donated to a local veterans group. After 3 years of studio director role, she was motivated to continue her training in dance, teaching, and choreography so she moved to New York City after being accepted into the Ailey School and completed the 3 year Certificate Program under the direction of Freddie Moore. She studied under teachers Ana Marie Forsythe, Kevin Predmore, Jacqulyn Buglisi, Graciela Lebow Kozak, Renee Robinson and other Ailey School faculty members. During her time there, her graduating class learned and performed repertoire pieces from the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and worked with choreographers Darrel Moultire and Norbert De La Cruz. Ashlynn’s original piece titled “Knock on Wood” was accepted into the school’s annual choreography show that showcased Ailey School student’s skills and knowledge of choreography, and she was 1 of 10 students chosen out of the entire program to present original work.

After graduating from the Ailey School, Ashlynn returned to Knoxville and began teaching at her home studio for 3 years and continued cultivating her passion for teaching and choreography. She taught ballet, modern, jazz, and horton and also choreographed original pieces for GO! Contemporary Dance Works as well as continued to perform with the company. She recently began teaching for Fuzion School of the Arts in Jefferson City, TN, and was the company director for Fuzion Dance Company’s full length spring show “The Prince of Egypt.”

Ashlynn is currently residing in the Knoxville area with her husband and two dogs, and holds a BA in History from University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and an MBA with a focus in Data Analytics from LSU. Outside of teaching dance she works full time as a data analyst and calls that her “side job” as dancing, teaching, and choreography are her true passions. As a teacher, she loves to instill confidence in young dancers as they develop strength and understanding of their bodies and dance techniques. She aims to connect with each student and create a safe and respectful classroom environment that is engaging and promotes hard work, focus, and fun in the process.

Tessa Bella DeFries has 10+ years of experience working in the television, commercial and live performance industry.  She grew up training in all styles of dance and is currently working as an NBA Dancer in Los Angeles, CA. Tessa’s extensive dance training includes west coast competitive programs, Pulse on Tour, and LA based Hip Hop Crews. Her professional credits include LA Clippers Spirit, Justin Bieber, Lil Mama, Pharell Williams, ABC Mouse, Nickelodeon, Disney, Mattel, Sea World, ABC, KCA, KCSA and BET!

Tessa is respected throughout the entertainment industry and known for her work ethic, professionalism, and positive mindset.   She enjoys teaching and is an inspiration to all. 

Tessa looks forward to sharing her passion for dance and life with you all soon!      

Michelle Carr has been a Knoxville resident since 2008. She has thirty-five years of experience in ballet as both a professional dancer, instructor, and choreographer spanning Georgia, Colorado, and Tennessee. She has been teaching, dancing, and choreographing with Go! Contemporary Dance Works for 15 years. Recently she has stepped back from teaching weekly and teaching intermittently with Studio Arts for Dancers, teaching Master classes for Columbia County Ballet and ORCBA, and serving on the board for Go! Contemporary Dance Works. She has used her knowledge of dance to begin a business capturing images of dancers and has been featured in multiple galleries in town as well as local news stations WBIR and WATE in the attempt to bring more awareness of dance in Knoxville. Michelle is currently a hand therapist at Ortho Tennessee, mom of three, and a grandmother of all girls.

Michelle started her dance Career in Augusta, GA with Augusta Ballet and then with Columbia County ballet under the direction of Ron Jones, learning with the Cecchetti method. While in Augusta she participated in SERBA (now RAD) and performed in core de ballet, soloist, and principal roles with Columbia County Ballet (now Augusta Ballet) in many original choreographed pieces by Helen Starr of Louisville Ballet, Andrew Kuharsky of Greenville Ballet, Renee Toole of Augusta Ballet, Mary Geiger of Geiger Elite Ballet, along with a multitude of guest artists. She moved to Savannah, GA and began teaching and dancing with Savannah Danse Theatre, under the direction of Sue Braddy. Michelle performed in core de ballet, soloist, and principal roles in The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Giselle, Sleeping Beauty, The Lion the Witch and The Wardrobe, along with many original pieces choreographed by Sue Braddy and guest artists. Following her time in Savannah, she moved to Vail, Colorado where she taught and assisted the director Anne Powell with staging and rehearsing the Bi-Annual Nutcracker performed by The Vail Valley Academy of Dance. There she learned to teach ballet with Vaganova technique. She grew as a choreographer and teacher, bringing her knowledge base and career with her to Knoxville when she began teaching with Studio Arts for Dancers and choreographing/guest artist with Go! Contemporary Dance Works. She has loved teaching and mentoring young dancers for decades and finds it one of her greatest accomplishments.