The instructors at Hot Shots Dance & Cheer bring a wide range of professional training, performance experience, and teaching expertise to every class. Each member of our faculty is committed to providing high-quality instruction in a positive, structured, and supportive environment where students can thrive. With backgrounds spanning dance, cheer, tumbling, choreography, and competitive coaching, our instructors focus on developing strong technical skills while also encouraging confidence, discipline, and a lifelong appreciation for the performing arts. This page introduces the dedicated team behind our programs and the experience they bring to every student’s journey.

HSDC Instructors

Owner/Director

Suzanne Krause

Suzanne Krause, began her formal training in Germany at the age of 5 and continued with the Dance Arts Centre Performing Arts Company in Duluth, Georgia.

She has performed throughout the Southeast, taking part in many regional and national dance competitions before accepting a scholarship to attend Brenau University, having earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Dance Pedagogy.

Suzanne studied under the professional training of Carol Smiarowski, Vincas Greene, Jolie Long, and Diane Callahan. She also performed with the Brenau Dance Ensemble and the Gainesville Ballet Company. After graduation, she accepted an invitation to attend the Summer Dance Institute at Binghamton University in New York, where she studied under the direction of Danita Emma and Anthony Salatino.

Suzanne was also a faculty artist/instructor with Arts Connect, a federally funded program through the Atlanta Ballet, which is designed to incorporate the arts into early and middle grades education.

Suzanne performed as a member of BigHouse Dance Theater, an auditioned company specializing in contemporary dance.

Dance and Company Instructor

Allison Fleming

Allison began dancing at Hot Shots at the age of 4 years old and continued her lessons in Dance, Baton, Cheer and Flag for 15 years.

Allison competed regionally and nationally as a member of HSDC's Competition Dance Team throughout middle school and high school. She also worked as an Assistant Dance Instructor at HSDC for several years while attending high school.

While in middle school and high school, Allison participated in Cheerleading and was a member of Competition Flag Team, serving as a Captain of the team during her senior year.

Ballet and Jazz Instructor

Amanda Huges

Amanda began dancing at Hot Shots at the age of 5 years old and continued her lessons in Dance, Baton, and Flag until ultimately choosing to focus on Dance.

Amanda competed regionally and nationally as a member of HSDC's Competition Dance Team throughout high school and college.

She also worked as an Assistant Dance Instructor at HSDC for several years while in high school.

Amanda’s favorite genres of dance are Jazz, Musical Theatre, and Contemporary/Lyrical. She has a daughter on HSDC’s competition team.

Aside from Dance, Amanda is a current High School English Language Arts Teacher. She holds 4 degrees in Education, in which she has used to teach in Elementary, Middle, and High School.

Cheer Team Stunt Coordinator

Amber Ownesby

Amber began cheerleading in the 3rd grade with recreational cheerleading.

While in middle school, Amber participated in All-Star cheer in Anderson, SC, continuing with Palmetto All-Stars during high school.

Amber continued cheerleading at Reinhardt University doing Sidelines, and was a member of the competition team, competing in cheerleading nationals at Daytona Beach.

Amber has worked numerous Varsity Cheerleading programs and cheer camps for both middle school and high school level teams.

HSDC is thrilled to welcome Amber as she shares her experience and passion for cheerleading with our cheer teams.

Baton Instructor

Anna Richardson

Anna has been twirling for 18 years and has been a Baton instructor at Hot Shots Dance & Cheer during her summer high school and college breaks from 2018 - 2022.

Anna has competed at both the regional and national level. She was a majorette at Hart County High School and was feature twirler her junior and senior year.

Currently, Anna is the feature twirler at Furman University going on the 4th year!

Hot Shots is excited to have Anna as a member of our HSDC family.

Dance Instructor & Dance Company Director

Baylee Davenport

Baylee Davenport graduated from the University of Georgia with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance and a minor in Human Development and Family Science. She received dance training across the East Coast in various styles and techniques, such as ballet, tap, jazz, musical theater, modern, and contemporary.

While at the University of Georgia, Baylee appeared as a performer in several shows, including the Spring Dance Concert (2018-2020), Young Choreographers Series (2017-2020), and CORE: Contemporary and Aerial Company Concert (2019). She has also appeared in works from guest choreographers, such as “Stair, Chairs, and Squares” by Ellen Cornfield.

Baylee showcased her own choreographic works in the Young Choreographers Series Concert (2018-2020) and served as President of the UGA’s Young Choreographer Series in 2019.

Now, Baylee is exploring her career as a dancer and choreographer by teaching and choreographing works in Northeast Georgia, and she hopes to continue her education and passion in dance for years to come.

Tumble Instructor

Julia Johnson

Hot Shots Dance & Cheer is excited to welcome Julia Johnson to our team as our new Tumbling Instructor.

Julia began her cheerleading journey at Habersham Central High School, where she spent two years competing on the school's competitive cheer team as a main base and backspot. After graduating, she continued her cheer career at Emmanuel University, where she started as a main base before transitioning into a flyer.

Julia is currently entering her junior year at Emmanuel and has loved growing as an athlete while experiencing different aspects of the sport.

As a flyer, Julia performs most body positions and has experience working in multiple stunt positions. Her tumbling skills include all tumbling through a round-off back handspring tuck as well as a standing tuck.

Julia is passionate about cheerleading and loves helping athletes build confidence, improve their skills, and achieve their goals. HSDC is thrilled to have Julia share her knowledge and experience with the athletes at Hot Shots and helping them grow both on and off the mat!

Assistant Cheer Coach

Lyndsey Parham

Lyndsey first joined Hot Shots Dance Company at the age of 11, starting with Cheer/Tumbling classes and quickly falling in love with the energy and teamwork.

In 2022, she earned a spot on the Level 2 competition team and competed with Hot Shot Dance & Cheer's Bulldawg Elite Allstars through 2024.

Now Lyndsey is excited to return to the studio in a new role — as a Coach’s Assistant!

She brings enthusiasm, experience, and a big heart to everything she does, whether it’s helping younger dancers or caring for her two regular dog-sitting clients. Lyndsey is thrilled to keep growing with the Hot Shots family.

Cheer Director & Instructor

Tara Bowers

Tara began taking gymnastics at the age of 3 and completed her training through level 8. In addition to gymnastics Tara was also a cheerleader in both middle and high school.

At the age of 16, Tara began coaching gymnastics. She spent 4 years at the YMCA and was promoted to Head Coach and Director of the YMCA Gymnastics program, followed by 2 years coaching at Georgia Elite Gymnastics while cheering with the UGA Competition Cheerleading Squad.

After college, Tara spent time in New Jersey coaching at gymnastics camps and led her team to a First Place finish at the Northern Division Championship.

Tara returned to Hartwell taking the position of Head Coach & Director of the YMCA. She led her teams to many State and Regional Championships, as well as National 1st place championships on all individual events and All Around placing. Two of Tara’s students scored perfect 10s at Nationals and two gymnasts qualified for The Junior Olympics, finishing in the top 3 for their age division.

After taking a job offer from Charlotte, NC , Tara became Gymnastics Director and Head Coach at Lake Norman YMCA. During her 5 years there, she coached gymnastic teams that qualified and competed in State and National Championships.

Assistant Dance Teachers

Hot Shots Dance Company offers an Assistant Dance Instructor Program that gives current students a hands-on experience towards becoming trained dance instructors.

Each year a limited number of HSDC students are selected to participate in the program based on technical ability, level of efficiency in their own dance training, and maturity.

Our assistant dance instructors are held to high standards of dance training and are involved in Company and Dance Competition programs.

Assistants work side by side with a teacher and are in the classroom to help the teacher, help the students, and be an extra pair of eyes.

The HSDC Assistant Dance Instructor Program strives to ensure that our assistants gain leadership experience, learn valuable teaching skills and receive instruction on developing choreography.

Claire

Grace

Jurnee

Paige