STAFF

Jen Hurd founded the studio (formerly known as Turning Point) in 2008. She has danced since she could walk and has taught dance to both competitive and recreational teams for the past 15 years. With one degree in Broadcast Journalism and another degree in Elementary Education, Jen has experience in producing and teaching, which help her in her responsibilities in the studio. Jen has won many choreography and studio awards over the years, her favorite being her studio receiving the Best of Brigham City Award for the past two years in a row! She has an incredible staff that has helped her achieve this. Being in the dance world has brought her many life lessons and life-long friendships. Jen feels very blessed to know she is part of these dancer’s childhoods and considers herself fortunate to have this as her career. Apart from directing the studio, Jen is a wife and mother and considers the studio a part of the family!

Joanna Howard has been dancing for 20 years. From the second her feet hit the dance floor, she has had an undeniable love for all kinds of dance. She has competed in everything from Hip Hop to Contemporary, Lyrical to Character. She was a member of her High School Drill and Cheer Teams. She has been teaching for the last six years and loved creating a story with her choreography. Miss Jo loves her students! There is no greater reward than seeing their confidence and passion grow. Whether it be on or off the dance floor, she is continually trying to help them find love for themselves and those around them. She hopes to be a positive influence in their lives as they always better hers. Apart from her teaching career, she is a wife and a proud mother to three amazing children. She is so excited for this upcoming season with her Diversity family and can't wait for all of the amazing things they will accomplish together.

Ellie has been dancing for over 20 years. She began her dance education in classical ballet at the age of 6 in Madison, Wisconsin. At age 8 she joined the studio company and competed throughout Wisconsin and Illinois. She was a scholarship finalist for New York City Dance Alliance's youth program in Chicago and had the opportunity to attend workshops taught by well known choreographers and dancers, including Mia Michaels and Joe Lanteri. She has performed with the Wisconsin Dance Ensemble and the Madison Ballet in many professional ballet productions such as, Winter Fantasy, The Nutcracker, A Midsummer Night's Dream and Cinderella. Elizabeth began student teaching in 2001 and went on to teach her own regular classes in 2003. She also continued her own dance education in Jazz, Tap, Lyrical and Contemporary. In 2004 Elizabeth was introduced to musical theatre and choreographed pieces for the Beaver Dam Area Community Theatre's production of "Oklahoma!". Since then, she has gone on to choreograph and perform in many musicals and still has a great love for the theatre today. In 2013 Elizabeth became a member of Dance Masters of Wisconsin and is certified in teaching both Ballet and Jazz. To date, she has enjoyed teaching many forms of dance for over 11 years and is so excited to be bringing ballet to Diversity Dance!

Kortnee Balls has danced since before she can remember and considers dance her greatest passion. She trained with a local studio for 10 years in all forms of dance including ballet, jazz, lyrical, hip hop, contemporary, and tap. She then went on to become a member of her high school Drill Team where she served as team Secretary and made the All-Region Drill team. After graduation, Kortnee then went on to dance at Snow College on their recreational team and helped teach at a few local studios. She has always considered dancing an escape and a place for her to express herself and hopes to be able to share that with her students. She has helped teach and choreograph many dances over the years and is excited to make Diversity Dance Utah her dance home.

Sarah Lawrence started dancing at age 13 and immediately feel in love!She danced with her high school drill team all through high school and served as the president her senior year as well as being an All-State dancer, and won the drill down at the State competition. She then went on to Dixie State University and danced with their competition dance team and helped teach at a studio in St. George. Sarah is most passionate about lyrical and jazz. She loves and is so grateful for the opportunities and confidence dance has given her and hopes to be able to share that with her dancers and is so excited to be a part of Diversity Dance!

Shauntay Olson started taking tumbling and dance at the age of 3. By the age of 9 she was taking power tumbling and gymnastics from USA in Ogden. Shauntay enjoyed going to many competitions for tumbling, including State and Nationals. She was ranked 2nd in the Nation for her level, placing just behind a team member by only 1/10th of a point. Her favorite passes included full twists and back fronts. She was also a Cheerleader in High School where she loved all aspects of the sport. With Shauntay having a background in dance as well, she is able to teach the importance of technique into tumbling. She can spot anything from a cartwheel to a full twist. Shauntay has a love for children and is looking forward to being able to teach and assist them this year. Shauntay is married and a mother of three.

Cherry Burnett gets to be the grandmother of the studio as she is Jen’s mom! Cherry was born and raised in the big city of Ogden,Utah. She spent her whole childhood tumbling and dancing. After marrying her high school sweetheart, she wanted a big family. Her wish came true with four wonderful children who grew up way too fast. Cherry also runs “The Cherry On Top”, which is workout classes in the studio weekday mornings at 5:00 AM! Besides Cherry’s tumbling background, her other credential that best qualifies her to be a tumbling coach is the fact that she loves working with children and she has 50 years of experience

in gathering kids together, teaching them to learn and grow, and to have fun together. Cherry’s goal in life is to be an example of kindness and to help others see the good in themselves by doing their very best. Cherry is excited to work with your children and to assist the parents in building great kids with high self-esteem and a bright future!

Angie Strand is so excited to be part of the Diversity Dance family! Angie has danced for a great part of her life and loves dance, cheer, and anything to do with music! She was a cheerleader in high school and choreographer for her team. She taught dance and cheer with Miss Jen at the beginning of her career and is excited to be back working with her again. She loves the confidence that dance can bring into a child's life and wants to help bring those little personalities out of their shells! She graduated from Weber State University and worked at the Standard Examiner for 12 years but is now enjoying her first time being a stay-at-home mom after having her 4th daughter. There's a lot of glitter and makeup and costumes worn daily at her house with all girls, so she'll fit right into the dance world!

Courtney Thompson is from Bonham, Texas. She has been cheering her entire life! She moved to Utah when she was a teenager because her father was in the Air Force. She was a cheerleader for Ben Lomond High and lettered in it as well. She graduated high school early and was in college when she was 17 and quickly earned her Associates degree in Criminal Justice. She has always loved cheerleading and has wanted to be a coach. She loves the spirit and it gives her an excuse to be loud!! Courtney is a proud mom of a handsome football player. She also owns a successful business called Confetti Cupcakes. Courtney feels blessed to be able to be a cheer coach and bake cupcakes all day!! She feels she is the luckiest woman ever and can finally say she is the wife to a handsome and wonderful fireman after 6 years together. Courtney is excited to teach cheer and be apart of this amazing dance/cheer family!!!