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!
Sophia Hearn – Studio Manager/Substitute Teacher
Hi there! My name is Sophia and I am the Studio Manager 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 finally 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! ^
Shane Garcia – 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!
Charlotte Hall – Teacher Assistant
Hello! My name is Charlotte Hall, and I am seventeen years old. I have been dancing with Studio Laugh Love Leap for about five 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, from moves to technique, to learning how to display my emotions as I dance. I’ve also learned how to be patient with myself, which is something I am so thankful for. 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 have also always had a passion for teaching and loved being able to support and love on kids. 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. I am incredibly grateful for this studio and community, for getting to take part in helping build that atmosphere, and for working with such an amazing staff and team! 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.
Photo by Sophia Hearn
Ember Cope – Teacher Assistant
Hi! I’m Ember Cope, and I’m eighteen years old. I’ve been with Studio Laugh Love Leap since I was five, and I started student teaching when I was twelve! Dance has always been a passion of mine and a great way for me to express myself through creative movement. I’m so grateful for the community I have at LLL. It has been a place I can call home for so long, and I’m so grateful for the friendships and mentors I have made at the studio! I can’t wait to see what God has in store for us this season!
My two favorite dances I’ve done are Breath of Life and Lost in New York! My first year in advanced, I was a swing, and Bella surprised me and one of my friends with the news that we would actually be performing with the advanced class! I was scared for my life because it was the week before the recital, but it was such an honor and so fun to perform!
Photo by Sophia Hearn
Paylin Anderson – Teacher Assistant
Hi! My name is Paylin Anderson and I am 14 years old! I’ve been in and out of studio since I was four, but officially started at age eight. I went to another studio when I was about seven, but nothing compared to dancing at Studio LLL! I’ve loved dancing for as long as I can remember. Dance, for me, has always been a safe space to express my emotions no matter what they are. It has helped me get through some really tough times and really amazing times. Ms. Isabella has made such a safe and fun environment for me and I’m so grateful for the opportunity to teach and dance here! It is such an honor to work with all these amazing kids, and the incredible StudioLLL team.
My favorite dance that I’ve done with StudioLLL was at my last 8&Up Dance Camp! It was a scarf dance to the song “Float” by KT Tunstall. The scarf dances have always been my favorite, but this one was particularly special to me because it was my first camp with my younger sister!
Photo by Sophia Hearn