Isabella Kearney – Artistic Director and Founder
I have been dancing since I could walk and teaching since I could talk. Starting formal lessons at 2 and a half, I have been dancing for 27 years. Studying classical ballet for 24 years, I believe it is the core of all dance. About 20 years ago I fell in love with contemporary ballet and modern dance and have continued to explore the creativity of movement ever since. I believe we dance to tell a story and share something that words cannot express.
Following a legacy of teachers in my family I have been teaching kids since I was a kid as a Children’s Ministry Staff member at The Village Chapel and choreographer for Center for the Arts, Springhouse Theater Group, Smyrna High School, Lifesong Theater Group, Nashville Youth Theater, The Academy Musical Theater Class, and teaching at my former studio. I am also an avid performer myself and regularly perform with theater groups around town. I am also proud of be leading and dancing in Studio LLL company.
I received my Masters of Science in Speech Language Pathology in May 2018. I now work with adults post stroke and brain injury to improve communication and life reintegration. I also have a lovely pup named L’engle who is training to be a Therapy Dog and occasionally visits the studio as well!
Shane Garcia – Studio Coordinator and Studio Teacher
I began dancing at five years old, completely self-taught, driven by instinct, curiosity, and a deep love for movement. After moving to South Florida, I was immersed in a vibrant street dance community where I explored hip hop, popping, waving, animation, and freestyle. I began teaching at 17 throughout Florida, discovering early on that sharing movement was just as meaningful to me as performing it. At 19, I took my first ballet, modern, and contemporary classes at Broward College and immediately fell in love with the fluidity and emotional depth of those forms. From there, I began blending street styles with modern, contemporary, Afro movement, and animation to develop a movement language uniquely my own.
In 2013, I was featured worldwide on So You Think You Can Dance Season 10, which led to national and local performance opportunities including television and award shows. I have performed live on national and local networks such as Telemundo, venues including the Hard Rock Cafe and The Kaseya Center (Formerly known as, The American Airlines Arena) and was a featured performer and pianist in a STOMP-style production called The Body Shop Experience. I have also choreographed and performed solo works for Broward College’s Fall and Spring concerts and later taught consistent master classes there.
At the heart of my teaching is a simple but powerful goal: to help people find freedom in their mind, body, soul, and spirit through movement. This vision eventually grew into a movement ministry called Release. After relocating to Franklin, I am deeply honored to be part of Studio LLL and grateful for the opportunity to share my experience, movement, and heart with the students.
Jenna Phipps – Studio Administrator
Hi, I’m Jenna, and I’m delighted to be on staff at Studio LLL! I took ballet and gymnastics briefly as a child, and during college, I stepped back into dance. I fell in love with contemporary and modern dance in college, and I studied ballet, modern, and jazz at my university and joined the dance company there.
I’ve enjoyed getting back into dance as a working professional, particularly taking the adult class here at the studio. I’ve also led a dance workshop at a summer arts camp twice, which was a challenging and rewarding learning experience. I’m so excited for what the future holds at Studio LLL!
Sophia Hearn – Studio Teacher
Hi there! My name is Sophia and I am a Studio Teacher here at LLL! I started dancing at LLL in 2018 and have been a part of the studio ever since! I started dancing when I was 3 years old and have always pursued it. I did a majority of my skill training at Fellowship School of Dance but have also branched out and have trained with the Joffrey Ballet, Nashville Ballet, Sadlers Well, Ballet Adora, and many more for a time or two! I have had the experience to learn Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Lyrical, Contemporary and Hip Hop! In my recent years, I have had the opportunity to be on the Dance Team at Cumberland University, teach all levels in Ballet, Lyrical, Jazz, and Physical Education at Ballet Adora and Montessori Academy. From taking classes as a Teen, to being a substitute teacher, being in the Adult Class, being a member in Company, to being the Studio Manager, I have seen and experienced a lot here at the Studio and in Nashville as a dancer, and I am excited to be able to support the Studio in its growth and all of the new experiences to come! Yes–I am married to William Hearn!
Charlotte Hall – Teacher Assistant
Hello! My name is Charlotte Hall, and I am eightteen years old. I have been dancing with Studio Laugh Love Leap for about six years now, and I have loved every moment of it! Joining the Studio was my first experience in the actual dance world, and I have learned so much, moves, techniques, how to choreograph and how to tell a story. When I was little, I always used to choreograph my own dances to songs and then perform it for my family. So when I was finally able to actually channel that passion somewhere, I was ecstatic! Dancing has always been a huge passion of mine, ever since I can remember. It has always been a way for me to express myself, create art, and most importantly worship the Lord. I am so honored and excited to be student teaching here at this studio. Getting to pour into these kids by teaching, encouraging, and cheering them on has blessed me so much! I look forward to it every week, and I cannot wait for this season to begin.
My favorite dance that I have been in is “The Search” by NF. My friend Ember (who is also an amazing student teacher!) and I actually choreographed it ourselves as a duet to perform in our annual Spring Showcase in 2025. I was so very thankful and excited for the opportunity to be able to not only work with one of my dear friends to create a piece of our own, but also to be able to display and showcase it to all of our family and friends! That is such a special memory and dance for me.
My favorite dance move to teach is any kind of floor work! I love being able to use our bodies in different ways and being able to use the room around us and the ground has always been fascinating to me, as well as learning how to navigate it without hurting yourself!
Photo by Life Is Joy Photography
Paylin Anderson – Teacher Assistant
Hi! My name is Paylin Anderson and I am fifteen years old! I’ve been in and out of studio since I was 4 but officially joined at 8. I’ve always had a passion for dance and it has continued to grow throughout the years I’ve been here. Dance, for me, is a safe space to express my emotions and just have fun! Something I especially love about the studio is the energetic, non-judgmental environment Isabella has created. It is a place I call home and so many others do! I am so honored to have the opportunity to work with all these amazing kids, and I can’t wait to see what God does in this next season!
One of my favorite moves to teach is a cartwheel! I love helping the younger kids learn how to align their bodies while they’re upside down and helping them find momentum. And I love watching the older kids understand the basics and helping them on control, straitening their legs, and pointing their toes! It always makes me smile to see each student reach their goal and achieve new ones!
Photo by Life Is Joy Photography
Emilia Dorn – Teacher Assistant
Hello! I’m Emilia Dorn, and I am sixteen years old. I have been dancing at StudioLLL since I was three years old. I have had a love and a passion for dance for as long as I can remember! It is such a beautiful and unique form of art and storytelling that I love to be part of. I will always be so grateful to the Studio Laugh Love Leap community for being such a welcoming and positive environment to dance and be creative in. It’s always been a steady place that I can return to, no matter what stage of life I am in. Some of my favorite memories have been in the studio with my friends or performing alongside them! I cannot wait to help create those memories with younger dancers this year, and be a part of spreading the joy of dance!
My favorite dance move to teach is probably pas de bourrée. It’s super cool to see young dancers have the moment when they finally understand how to do a step, and pas de bourrée is particularly tricky because of all of the weight shifting and foot crossing, so it’s super fun to watch someone finally understand it!
Photo by Life Is Joy Photography
