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 Hughes
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 Owensby
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
Gre'Nisha Jones
Gre’Nisha found her love of Dance at Hot Shots Dance, where she began lessons at the age of 6. While at Hot Shots, Gre’Nisha participated in the Competition Dance Team, earning 1st Place awards.
She also enjoyed working with Kim Carter as an Assistant Tumble Instructor during her junior and senior years of high school, as well as continuing to assist in classes during her college breaks.
Gre’Nisha, a Hart County High School 2013 Honor Graduate, participated in cheerleading while attending Hart County High Middle School, Hart County High School and Fort Valley State University, as well as spending two years as part of the Hart County High School Flag Team.
Gre’Nisha attended Fort Valley State University from 2012-2017, graduating with a Plant Science major with a concentration in Environmental Soil Science. In 2014, she was recognized for receiving a prestigious scholarship through the U.S Department of Agriculture’s 1890 National Scholars Program.
HSDC is excited to have Ms. G as part of our Team..
Tumble Instructor
Kim Carter
Kimberly Carter started gymnastics at the age of 9 with Tina Washington at Bishop Park in Athens, Georgia.
Shortly after, she began competing in USA Level 5 gymnastics under Coach Jay Clark, the former Assistant Head Coach for the University of Georgia Gym Dawgs.
In 2008, Kim started working at Hot Shots Dance Company and is now in her 18th year coaching.
Kim was also the team coach for the YMCA Hartwell Twisters in 2013. Kim is certified in AAU and USA certified. She has coached students in levels 1-5.
Many of her students have competed all over Georgia, Florida, and Michigan. Kim is excited to be teaching at Hot Shots Dance Company and looks forward to many more years.
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
Kyler
Paige