Hannah Harris

Owner, Artistic Director, Instructor, Choreographer, Certified Yoga Instructor; Fitour Adult, Youth, and Infant CPR certification
B.A. in Worship and Arts with an emphasis in Dance
Pre-School Division Ballet and Tap, Performing Arts

Originally from Macon, Georgia, Hannah Harris has danced since she was three years old. She began teaching at the age of twelve. In high school, she was a principal dancer with the Macon Ballet Company. She attended Brenau University in Gainesville, GA, where she was a principal dancer with the Gainesville Ballet Company for two years. In 1986, she became involved in a church in Atlanta where she ran the dance department for seventeen years. During her time there, she helped set up the original dance department in the church’s K2-12th grade school and choreographed over thirty original pieces to be used in weekly church services. She also collaborated in writing, directing and producing, as well as designed lighting, sets and costumes in many major dramatic and dance productions. In 2004, Hannah and her family relocated to the Druid Hills area and opened Dance South. In spring 2004, she choreographed the annual year end school production at the former Westchester Elementary School in the city of Decatur. Since opening Dance South in May, 2004, Hannah has taught all levels of dance to students ages two years through adult. She choreographed three original pieces for Synergy, Dance South’s 2005 spring concert, directed an adaptation of Cinderella, Dance South’s 2005 dance recital, and choreographed over ten pieces for the 2006 dance recital, "A Tribute to Broadway." She has designed not only regular afternoon and evening dance and yoga classes, but a thriving daytime Pre-School Creative Movement program for students ages 2-4 years old at Dance South. Hannah has studied all forms of dance with Macon Ballet, Atlanta Ballet, Gainesville Ballet, Ruth Mitchell Dance Studio, Rotaru International School of Ballet and Ballet Magnificat. Her many classical dance roles have included Spanish, Dew Drop Fairy, Sugar Plum Fairy, Flowers, Reindeer, Candy Canes, and Snow Queen in the Nutcracker; a Shade in La Bayadere; Four Little Swans in Swan Lake, and Marie Taglioni in Pas de Quatres. Most recently, she obtained her yoga instructor certification from Fitour. Hannah enjoys working out and also does personal in-home training in yoga and basic Pilates mat classes. She is currently pursuing her group fitness instructor certification through International Fitness Professionals Association.

Morgan Eisenhauer

Instructor, Choreographer
B.F.A. in Dance, Brenau University
Performing Arts Division Ballet and Pointe, Pre School Division Ballet and Tap

Morgan Joines began her training 19 years ago at the Augusta Dance Theater under the direction of Ron Jones. During her time at ADT, Morgan served as a full company member and performed in ballets such as the Nutcracker, Roar of Love, Pied Piper, Cinderella, and Sleeping Beauty. She then moved to the Augusta Ballet for more intensive training under the direction of Zanne Colton and Bonnie Ellis where she served as an Apprentice. Morgan also attended numerous ballet conservatories for her pre-professional training including Columbia City Ballet in Columbia, South Carolina, and the American Ballet Theater, Broadway Dance Centre, and Centre for Ballet Arts in New York City. Morgan also danced in college at Brenau University where she graduated with a Bachelor in Fine Arts in Dance. While at Brenau she danced with the Brenau Dance Ensemble under the direction of Jolie Long and the Gainesville Ballet where she served as a full company member. Morgan wishes to continue her career in dance performance, education and choreography by receiving her Masters in Fine Arts in hopes to one day own her own company. She is currently training with the Atlanta Ballet.

Jennifer Evans

Kids Yoga Director/Instructor
Instructor, Creative Movement and Dance, Preschool Division
Adult, Child, and Infant CPR Certification

Jennifer has been practicing yoga for over five years. She has taught kids yoga on and off for the past four years and has been a preschool teacher teaching 3-5 year old classes in which she has incorporated kids yoga into her curriculum. She has also done some yoga classes for Clairmont Hills Preschool, Metamorphosis, for older kids (4-6th grade) at Kittredge Magnet School for their "Club Days", and with her own children and various Brownie troops in her community. Jennifer is also very talented in visual arts working with the children at Dance South teaching arts and crafts during the summer arts camps. She currently teaches Creative Movement and dance to children at Crème de la Crème daycare in Buckhead as part of Dance South’s satellite program. Jennifer is wonderful with children with her enthusiastic spirit and brings a warmth and joy into the classroom that makes students feel welcome and loved. Her gentle guidance encourages children to explore and find their own inner peace.

Jennifer Geck

Instructor, Open Division Ballet and Adult Ballet

Jennifer Geck is pleased to be on the faculty of Dance South Studios since its inception in 2004. Having studied dance for over 20 years, Jennifer brings with her an extensive background in classical ballet as well modern and character dance. Jennifer has trained at such places as the Atlanta Ballet, Griffin Ballet Theatre, Dance Arts Studio, Ballet Met, International Ballet Rotaru, and the Juilliard School. She has performed such roles as Clara and the Dewdrop fairy in the Nutcracker, and other leading roles in Graduation Ball, Swan Lake, Don Quixote, Coppelia, Red Hot, White & Blues, and various original pieces. Having taught ballet for nearly 5 years, Jennifer also has experience in developing choreography for students with any level of dance training. In addition to her work at Dance South Studios, Jennifer enjoys working full-time as Manager of Allied Industry Relations at the USA Poultry & Egg Export Council in Stone Mountain, GA.

Candess Giyan

Co-Artistic Director - Zoetic Dance Ensemble

Candess is the Co-Founder and Co-Artistic Director of Zoetic Dance Ensemble. She is originally from Colorado, where she trained and danced professionally with the Denver Contemporary Dance Theater. Locally, Candess has danced with the Kris Cangelosi Dance Project and Gathering Wild Dance Company. Candess recently received her 200-hour yoga certification at Kashi Atlanta through the National Yoga Alliance, and was the recipient of a 2006 Individual Artist Grant from the Dekalb County Office of Arts Culture and Entertainment. As Co-Director of Zoetic Dance Ensemble, Candess has developed educational programming for children and professionals alike. She currently teaches at the Georgia Dance Conservatory, Dance South Studios, and coordinates the Zoetic Creative Movement Program for Children as well as modern dance classes for professionals at The Gym at Peachtree Presbyterian Church in Buckhead. Candess' choreographic credits include Westside Story Gordeville for TBS, numerous musicals for Dad's Garage Theater, and a variety of pieces for Theatrical Outfit, the Midtown Music Festival, Modern Atlanta Dance Festival, Inman Park Festival, Brookwood High School, and North Atlanta High School. She is also honored to have received an invitation to choreograph for Spelman College and Kennesaw State University.

Elizabeth Harris

Assistant Instructor
Certified in Babysitter Training and Basic Infant and Child CPR and First Aid

Elizabeth Harris, affectionately called, "Miss Lizzie", is the daughter of Hannah Harris. Due to her home school schedule, she assists in teaching classes at Dance South and teaches Creative Movement with Ms. Hannah at Dance South’s satellite program at Wieuca Road Baptist Church Day School. Elizabeth started her dance training at two years old and has performed in various church and community dance and drama productions. She was a junior member of the Atlanta Festival Ballet Company under the direction of Gregory Aaron and Nicolas Pacana, during the 2003-2004 season and performed with them in The Nutcracker, Beauty and the Beast, and "An Artist’s Life 2004." Lizzie is a Senior member of the Performing Arts Company at Dance South and performed in "Synergy", our 2005 Spring Concert, in the 2005 recital, and also choreographed, performed, and assisted backstage at the 2006 recital, "A Tribute to Broadway." She debuted her first piece of choreography at Dance South’s 2007 Spring Concert and performed in various pieces in "A Tribute to Disney," Dance South’s recital 2007. Summer 2007 she attended classes at Georgia Dance Conservatory. She regularly attends classes each week in Ballet, Pointe, Contemporary, and Yoga and also takes guitar lessons. Lizzie enjoys working with children and is a vital part of the faculty at Dance South.

Carol Szkutek

Instructor, Senior and Junior Company, Performing Arts Division

Ms. Carol began her training in New Orleans at the Giacobbee Academy. She was a charter member of Delta Festival Ballet, dancing soloist and principal roles. At 17, she was invited to join the Joffrey II and was promoted to the main company working with choreographers Sir Fredrick Ashton, Jerome Robbin, Twyla Tharp, Agnes de Mille, Gerald Arpino and others. Five years with Joffrey were followed by a year’s international tour with Alexander Godunonov in the Pavlova Celebration. After that, she was artist in residence with Lexington Ballet. She presently resides in Atlanta and has performed with Ballet Rotaru and Roswell Dance Theatre. Ms. Carol taught for the Georgia State University dance department and company, "Movement Force." She also taught at Spelman College. She has taught and performed with Emory University for 3 seasons, and is currently teaching at Atlanta Ballet.

Amber Thompson

Amber is a native of Atlanta who has been dancing all her life. She most recently studied at Point Park College where she trained in the technique and repertory of Hubbard St. Jazz Dance Chicago and worked with several choreographers such as Doug Bentz, David Storey, Margo Sappington and Kevin O'Day. Amber is currently teaching at Dance South Studios, Atlanta Ballet, and for Zoetic's Children's program. She has also choreographed for Brookwood High School, were her work has been performed at the National High School Dance Conference in Baltimore.