Studio 1 Faculty
Kim Haight (Owner/Director)
Kim Haight began teaching dance in 1985 with the Blue Ridge Mountain Arts Association. 1986-1990, Kim joined the Gilmer Arts Council and Towns County Recreation Department and opened studios in Blairsville, Ellijay, Hiawassee, and Blue Ridge. By 1991 , the multiple studios were too large so all were consolidated into one studio in Blue Ridge, Ga which became known as "Studio 1". Kim is a former Atlanta Hawks Dancer, a choreographer, competition judge, and instructor . Her students have performed for Disney, Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, 1996 Summer Olympics, television, and videos. Many have gone on to professional careers in dance. Kim's students have held multiple National and Regional titles in dance over the last 30 years.
Kennedi Head (Co-Director)
Kennedi began dancing at age 2 1/2 and has trained with her Mom and Studio 1 in all dance forms. She was a Star South Dance Company member from age 5-18. Kennedi was an Atlanta Falcons Junior Cheerleader for 2 seasons and has danced multiple times for the Atlanta Hawks through Clinics and as part of her Studio 1 Dance Company. Kennedi has taken classes at Broadway Dance Center and Steps on Broadway in New York several summers as well as Gotta Dance Studio in Atlanta. She has attended many master classes and workshops with Dancers from "So You Think You Can Dance" including Twitch, Travis Wall, Sonya Tayeh, Kathryn McCormick, Jaimie Goodwin, and more. In 2018, Kennedi joined the National Champion Valdosta State University Red Hots Dance Team. In 2019, the team was awarded as NDA DII Jazz National Champions. The following year, Kennedi moved to Tallahassee, Florida where she was a choreographer and instructor at Dance Fusion Studios for three seasons. While in Tallahassee, she had the privilege of being Choreographer and Assistant Director of a musical theater production, Moana Jr., at Holy Comforter Episcopal School. She also taught dance cardio classes for adults at Drip Drop Fitness! Kennedi is very excited to reunite with her home studio and continue to do what she loves by coaching dancers in the art of dance!
Grace Renner
(Ballet Instructor)
Grace Renner grew up in the Jacksonville, FL area, mentored as a youth by Megan Knickerbocker, a former company artist with American Ballet Theatre. She then ventured into the competition world with instruction from Javier Fernandez, traveling and competing for several years, gaining many awards and scholarships. Grace’s primary source of training was with The Florida Ballet, under the leadership of Laurie Picinich-Byrd and Linda Jenkins. During her years there, she had many performance opportunities and participated in annual ABT exams, becoming certified on several levels. She also performed with Coy Ballet, a ministry company based in Middleburg, FL. Grace broadened her dance education with summer intensives at notable schools such as Joffrey Ballet, Orlando Ballet, Atlanta Ballet, Alabama Ballet, Nashville Ballet, Perla Ballet and Ballet Magnificat. In 2017 Grace moved to Blue Ridge, GA with her family and began teaching and competing with Studio 1 Performing Arts, under direction of Kim Haight. Grace is a former principal dancer with the ministry company, Unity Dance Troupe in Cleveland, TN and continues to teach and choreograph there. She is also on staff at Woodstock School of Ballet. Currently, she is a company dancer with The Georgia Ballet in Marrietta, GA.
Beth Leopard (Private Lesson Instructor)
Beth Leopard began teaching her own dance classes at the age of 16. After high school, Beth attended Berry College, where she took classes in classical ballet and modern dance. Later, she continued her education at Brenau College where she participated in local theatre, wrote and produced voice-overs for radio, and choreographed for high school musical productions. After graduating from Brenau with a B.A. in Journalism and Broadcasting, Beth pursued further dance training with Ruth Mitchell, the Atlanta Ballet, and Rotaru Ballet. She won the title of “Miss Dance” for Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee and earned scholarships to New York through Dance Masters and Dance Educators of America. Mrs. Leopard was tested in ballet, tap, jazz and acrobatics and became a certified member of Dance Masters of America, Carolina Dance Masters, and Dance Educators of America and has taught master classes and judged for dance organizations and competitions throughout the southeast. Her skills put her on the team of the Atlanta Workshop Players as a choreographer and camp instructor. Beth’s love for acrobatics drew her to study the art of contortion. She formed a troupe, “Dancers with a Twist,” which competed and toured professionally. They appeared as featured guests on “Noonday T.V. “and performed for the athletes in the 1996 Olympic Village.
McKenzie Fink
(Tap Instructor)
McKenzie began dancing at the age of 5 while living in Naples, Florida. She danced at Backstage Dance Academy and Elite Dance Center in Southwest Florida where her love for dance took off. McKenzie has been competing since she was 10. She has performed in countless Christmas performances, dance competitions and conventions. McKenzie has taken multiple classes from Lacey Schwimmer, Tiffany Maher, Meghan Sanett, Marty Dew, Derrick Schrader and many more. She has trained in all styles of dance, but tap has always been one of her favorites. McKenzie has competed tap solos and duets, all taking home multiple awards. She has danced in the Miami City Ballet Nutcracker as one of the soldiers in 2013 and in Studio 1’s Nutcracker as the Dew Drop Fairy in 2018. McKenzie also studied the Cecchetti method of Ballet and participated in Cecchetti intensives for 6 years. In 2018, McKenzie moved to Georiga and began taking classes at Studio 1. She is excited to continue her journey in fulfilling her love for dance and being part of the Studio 1 family.