Instructors

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!

Photo by Ashleigh Newnes Photography

William Hearn – Studio Teacher

I have been dancing for the past 12 years. As an alumnus of Studio LLL, I have loved dancing with this studio for the past 10 years. Music, theatre, and dance are some of my longest lasting and most influential passions. Over the past 5 years I have been exploring the less technical, but equally important side of dance, conditioning. Just like any physical activity, dance takes coordination and strength in order to execute difficult moves with grace. I love teaching and helping others to be strong and and confident in their movements. It is amazing to see the improvement each student makes throughout the year not only in strength, but in capability as the strength increases.  While the past few years have changed in so many ways from getting married to Miss Sophia, to running a local sawmill, dance has and will remain in my life until I no longer can!

My first dance recital, while not my first performance, was a unique experience. We had a boys dance to the song Step in Time from Mary Poppins. Even though we cut half of the song out – it’s about 9 minutes long in its entirety – I remember feeling like I was going to die at the end! I suppose my dance conditioning journey started at that moment and I didn’t even realize!

Photo by Kristy Cope

Sophia Hearn – Studio Manager

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! ^

My first recital experience was when I was in Pre-K at Montessori Academy. I accidentally wore my leotard backwards for the entirety of the performance… I also had a habit of doing all of my movement quickly so everyone in my audience would know that I knew my dance! You’ll be pleased to know that I have indeed grown out of this habit 😉

Ellie Moore – Teacher Assistant

Hey! My name is Ellie Moore and I am a student teacher here at studio Laugh Love Leap! I started dancing when I was four years old and immediately fell in love with it. After being at a ballet studio for about four years, I was lucky enough to find this studio when I was around eight and I have grown so much as a person and have met the most incredible people! Being able to explore more styles of dance has been so much fun and I have learned so much! Dance has become a safe space for me to express my emotions and be with my amazing friends at this studio!

Although I had many parent observation days when I was little, my first real recital was not until I came to this studio when I was eight and I remember being so excited, but also nervous because I had never performed a dance for anyone before. Once I got on stage, all of my nerves went away and I danced my little heart out. I will never forget how happy I felt performing that dance. To this day it is still one of my favorites!

Photo by Ed Houk

Maggie Sharn – Teacher Assistant

Hello! My name is Maggie Sharn and I’m 17 years old. I’ve loved dancing and acrobatics for as long as I can remember! I joined studio LLL five years ago as an incredibly shy and insecure 12-year-old. That quickly changed as I began to learn how to express myself through dancing. I learned to be confident in myself and my dancing by observing the older dancers and through Ms. Bella’s guidance. I’m so grateful for this studio being such a positive influence for me growing up and I strive to do the same for our younger dancers! I feel so blessed to be able to spend my time in this studio as a dancer and a student teacher! I cannot wait for all the fun things we will do this year at laugh love leap!! 

My first ever dance recital was when I was 3 years old! Well, it was actually my older sister’s recital but I wanted to dance so badly that I went up on stage during intermission and improvised my own little show!! My mom signed me up for the next season right after that!

Photo by Ed Houk

Ember Cope – Teacher Assistant

Hi! My name is Ember Cope and I’m 15 years old. I’ve been dancing since I was 3 but I joined the studio Laugh Love Leap when I was 5 and have loved it since! Isabella has created such an incredible environment for her students and I cannot express how grateful I am for this amazing studio! Isabella takes the time to get to know each dancer she meets! I look forward to all my classes but I especially look forward to teaching these amazing little dancers every week! I have learned so much at this studio and will forever be grateful! Being able to teach has been such a blessing in my life! The kids bring me so much joy and I can’t wait for this upcoming semester!

My first dance recital before I joined Laugh Love Leap was when I was 3 and there was a section when we were all sheep’s and only one of us got to be a black sheep and my instructor picked a different girl and I was really mad about it cause I didn’t get to be the black sheep!

Photo by Ed Houk

Chloe Anderson – Content Creator

Hi there! My name is Chloe Anderson and I’m the Content Creator for Studio Laugh Love Leap! Ever since I was little, dance has been my safe space, but I struggled to find a studio I loved. When I was about 9 years old I was so blessed to find Laugh Love Leap where I felt safe to explore and grow in my dance skills and be my true self. I am very passionate about creating things including: art, choreography, music, and graphic design. Here at LLL I get to create in the form of dance, and in the form of content and social media! I am so grateful to be a part of this community where I can grow in my creative skills in the best company!

My first dance recital was when I was 5! I remember watching the older students dance and feeling that nervous energy for the first time. The thing I’ll always remember and look back on is the pure joy I had on stage. I was having fun doing what I loved, and it made me feel free! 🙂

Photo by Kristy Cope