Newport Dance & Cheer Academy, Inc
We have something for everyone at Newport Arts & Athletics
About Us
Our school believes that every student should have the opportunity to excel in some way. We provide quality instruction from staff members who have a passion for what they teach! It is our honor to teach and assist you in any way we can!
Meet Our Instructors...
Artistic Director/Head Instructor of Dance, Gymnastics, Cheerleading & Fitness and STARZ Team, Susan McMahan
Susan has been dancing since she was a toddler, and first took classes in clogging, baton, modeling, and pom. She then studied ballet, tap, jazz, and gymnastics with Beverly Serral School of Dance, The Dance Experience, Studio Arts for the Dancer, and the TN Conservatory of Fine Arts. Susan also cheered for seven years while in school. She studied ballet, jazz, and Martha Graham Modern at the collegiate level with Virginia Intermont College and the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. She is a former Carson-Newman Eaglette and was also a teacher for the University of Tennessee Dance Department in Knoxville where she taught Ballet and Jazz classes.
Susan has trained with Savion Glover, Frank Hatchett, Janice Barringer, Dena Rizzo, Alex Wong, the late Stephen "Twitch" Boss, Allison Holker & the late Steven Boyd. She has been a successful teacher of dance and gymnastics for over twenty years now. She is a certified member of Dance Educators of America and a certified K-6 Elementary School Teacher.
Susan has also been very successful as a choreographer for numerous performances and community events, such as: Newport Christmas parades, Newport Harvest Festivals and the Moon Pie Festival. She has coached and choreographed for competitive cheerleading teams and dance teams. Her award-winning teams have continued to reach top honors for "Showstopping, Superstar" performances. She has also been recognized with Choreography Awards for her competitive dance routines "Mony Mony,” "Get Funky-Go Country,” “Be Our Guest,” "Pom Rock" and “Aladdin’s Arabian Princesses!”
Most recently, Mrs. Susan choreographed for the Newport Theatre Guild's productions of "Love, Loss, and What I Wore," "The Sound of Music," "Annie," "The Secret Garden," "River Song," and "A Christmas Carol." She also acted in both the productions of "Love, Loss and What I Wore" and "The Sound of Music."
After having her two children, Susan became increasingly aware of the changes that the body goes through with age, hormones, and physical challenges like surgery or giving birth. She realized as she worked to get her body back in shape that she had a passion for helping others to achieve their own personal best in health and fitness as well.
Susan is a licensed Zumba Fitness instructor, and a certified Personal Training and Yoga Instructor.
Susan is known for her ability to empower and encourage student of ALL ages to be the best they can be.
"I am of able mind, body, and spirit; therefore, I dance!" -Susan McMahan
Assistant Director, Cheerleading Instructor, and Gymnastics Instructor, Avery Hensley
Avery is the assistant director, cheerleading instructor and gymnastics instructor for NDCA. She was a cheerleader for 12 years, cheering during elementary middle and high school. Avery was chosen captain her eighth and twelfth grade years. Her leadership abilities were recognized by her coaches when she received the Leadership Award while in middle school and MVP award three years in high school. COVID cancelled her sophomore year which was the only reason it wasn't four years! Her mom was a cheer coach for an elementary school and actually cheered with Miss Susan at NGS!
Avery says, "I have learned so much about myself while teaching at NDCA. One thing is that it's okay to take time learning to do new things! Just keep practicing!"
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