Meet Our Instructors
Spring Joy Christensen
Spring Joy Christensen grew up in Nashville, TN. She found her passion for the performing arts at a very young age. Growing up in Music City offered her lots of performance opportunities such as dancing in a music video for contemporary christian artist, Pam Thum. She received arts scholarships to attend Green Hills School of Dance, Franklin School of Performing Arts, and Harpeth Hall. She was very active in her high school's dance and theater programs as well as her dance studio's award winning competition teams. She went on to receive academic and dance scholarships to attend Point Park University in Pittsburgh, PA. There she trained under Ron Tassone, Judith Leifer-Bentz, Kiesha Lalama, Marion Petrov, and Nicolas Petrov. During her time in Pittsburgh, Spring performed in several Student Choreography Showcases, Faculty Choreography Showcases, student films, as well as outside performances with Giant Jerk Productions. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Dance, concentration in Jazz, with a minor in Psychology.
After college, Spring relocated to warmer weather in Georgia. She performed with Brent Smith's dance company, Ready for Action in Macon and Atlanta. She also worked on several film sets in Atlanta, credits include: music videos, Let It Shine, The Game, Tyler Perry's House of Payne.
From 2013-2016, Spring was the artistic director for Breaking Walls Dance Company. Breaking Walls provided performance, training, and choreography opportunities for young adults in the middle Georgia area. The focus was on collaborations between classically trained dancers and hip hop freestylers.
Spring has been teaching dance for 20 years. She is certified through Southern Association of Dance Masters in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, and Acrobatics. Spring also has Level 1 certification through Dance Educators of America in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Acrobatics, and Modern. She has won several Choreography Awards, Top overalls, and Judge's Awards at dance competitions. She likes to stay fresh in her choreography by attending dance conventions, online dance classes, as well as professional dance performances in Atlanta.
Monica Harker
Growing up in Baltimore, Maryland, Monica Harker realized her love for the arts at a very early age. She entered talent shows, trained professionally, won awards in multiple dance genres for a grueling 12 years and joined every choir she could in school. She never gave up on her talents and because of that this 22-year-old, singer, dancer, choreographer and artist proves to be one of the most determined and gifted up-and-coming performers of today.
This creative, beautiful performer is a captivating powerhouse on the stage. Her childhood upbringing taught her to appreciate many different styles of art and this shows when she performs. There is never a dull moment, whether she is singing a rock song with ballet movements or staying true to her first love of country music, her aim and main focus is to entertain the audience and make them believe in the message being portrayed. Touring as a backup dancer, background vocalist, earning a spot on Broadway or teaching others dance and voice lessons are all ways that Monica would fulfill her life-long dreams and benefit the Entertainment Industry through her success.
In late August of the year 2013, Monica Harker moved to Nashville, Tennessee to pursue a collegiate career at Belmont University. There she studied Commercial Voice with an emphasis in Music Business. It was during her four years at Belmont that her passion for the world of entertainment and her talents developed immensely. She knew that she was born to perform. Studying techniques of singing and the voice, continuing her dance education, and learning the ins and outs of the music business she gained the knowledge, experience and connections needed to succeed in this dog-eat-dog industry. Monica has been involved with many shows at Belmont University such as singing background vocals for recitals, enhancing others' performances with her choreography and dancing, taking part as a member in Pops 2014-2016 and Company 2016-2017 where she had the honor of being music director, dance captain, and choreographer, as well as producing her own show, "Monica Harker's Senior Recital," where she debuted her original pop song, "Control." Sandra Dudley, professor and sultry-jazz vocalist remarked that Monica's show was "one of the top ten recitals witnessed in 30 years." This singer-dancer is not only adroit in the spotlight, she is skillful behind the scenes, too. Receiving an internship with the booking agency Agency for the Performing Arts under the leadership of Steve Lassiter and a sponsorship internship for the well-known and well-respected Country Radio Seminar under the supervision of Brooke Sanders and Bill Mayne, Monica has gained insight as to how the industry runs. She is an employee and confidant that has a reputation of being easy to work with and always get the job finished.
Monica Harker is a triple threat that shows much promise for the future. Her voice, dancing, passion and business knowledge are proving to make her a success in the entertainment industry and she's excited to share her knowledge and talents at Studio Powers.
Kali Phelps
Kaliahna Phelps was born in Atlanta, Georgia. When she was two her family moved to Warner Robins and by the age of three Kaliahna, better known as Kali, began attending weekly dance classes. As Kali got older she began studying various styles of dance including Ballet, Pointe, Tap, Jazz, Modern, Lyrical, Contemporary, Hip Hop, various forms of Middle Eastern, and Ballroom. In 2007 Kali started taking master classes and competing, attending conventions, and participating in summer intensives such as New York City Dance Alliance (NYCDA), Dance Educators of America (DEA), Nuvo, Northwest Florida Ballet, and Atlanta Ballet's Advanced summer intensive to name a few. Through all this training Kali has studied under numerous masters teachers in a verity of styles.
Having attended so many training programs Kali received a well-rounded education in dance that earned her many awards, scholarships and opportunities to dance abroad. While completing all this training, Kali began an in-depth teacher apprenticeship at the young age of nine where she was trained by highly experienced instructors and received hands-on teaching experience. When Kali was fourteen, she became a junior instructor and was teaching her own classes with supervision from a mentor. Once her teacher training was complete, she went on to teach at multiple studios and choreograph top-overall-winning competition routines. Kali continues to further her education through certifications and attendance of conventions as she believes a dancer never stops learning.
In total, Kali has received over a decade of teacher training from several dance educators, has even more years of teaching experience, is a Progressing Ballet Technique certified instructor, all with over two decades of dancing behind her. Her favorite part of teaching is watching her students succeed and helping them use their creativity as an outlet. All while aspiring to not only continue her education as an instructor, she desires to educate dancers while helping them develop a passion and respect for the performing arts.
Peyton Bell
Peyton is very passionate about dance, the performing arts, and helping dancers reach their full potential. She was born in Milledgeville, Georgia. She began taking dance classes at the age of 3. When she was 9, she joined a local dance studio’s company team where she began training in numerous styles of dance: Contemporary, Lyrical, Modern, Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Pointe, Musical Theater, and Hip-hop. She and her team won numerous awards while traveling to competitions, conventions, and summer intensives. She became an assistant teacher at the age of 13. After she graduated high school, she attended college in Milledgeville where she taught dance at her home studio. She was also a substitute dance instructor and taught at summer intensive programs while continuing to travel with the team to take master classes at conventions. With almost 2 decades of dancing, and 6 years of teaching experience, she finds immense joy in helping other dancers to establish/accomplish their goals and do things they never dreamt possible!
Kahly McCurdy
Kahly McCurdy Is a talented young man who hails from Philadelphia Pennsylvania. Kahly began dancing over a decade ago when he first found an interest in Hip Hop. After joining his first studio in Philadelpia, he discovered a love for African dance. His interest in other dance styles grew almost as fast as his talent.
When Kahly’s family relocated to Georgia, it didn’t take long for him to find a dancing home right here at Studio Powers. By his sophomore year Kahly was not only taking acting classes, but he was a member of the Studio Powers Dance Company. Kahly has participated in countless dance conventions and master classes in styles such as: Hip Hop, Tap, Ballet, Lyrical, Contemporary, African, Ballroom, Jazz, Modern, Partnering, and more. Kahly has also competed in countless national dance competition across the country over his many years of dance.
Next year Kahly plans to major in Dance at the University of the Arts in Pennsylvania. After graduation, he aspires to fulfill the long-time dream of being a performer at Disney. Kahly’s main goal is to continue to inspire other dancers by advancing his career in the art he loves through both performing and teaching.