Summer Intensive
Summer Intensive
Summer Intensive Summer Intensive
Join the Intensive
Dancers Studio and Ignite! are partnering together to bring world renowned artists, teachers, and choreographers to Knoxville, TN for those that are looking to continue their training through the summer to really cultivate and elevate their training.
Join us during our Summer Course running, Monday, June 8th to Friday, July 24th.
For more information, email ignite@dancersstudioknox.com or call Dancers Studio at (865) 584 - 9636.
Ashley VolneR
Ashley grew up as a competitive dancer both at a local studio and ballet academy and eventually received her degree in Dance from University of Alabama. As a professional dancer she posed for Nike, performed on cruise ships around Europe, and even featured in music videos. She is presently a full-time Dance Adjudicator for multiple national dance competitions, like EnerGy National Dance Competition and all the sectors for Varsity Spirit, including UDA nationals in Orlando, Florida. Ashley also teaches Master classes around the United States for Varsity Spirit. She is a free-lance award winning choreographer for multiple studios around the states. On a weekly basis, she not only teaches competitive dancers, but also highly competitive gymnasts who have gone on to be on collegiate teams as well as local ballet programs. Her past students have graduated and attended Pace University and NYU Tish. She is the contemporary faculty for the dance company New Ballet Ensemble and recently started teaching through the school as well. Ashley was voted ‘Memphis’ Best Contemporary Dancer. She is on the board for Southern Association of Dance Masters where she contracts educators all around the United States to teach at twice a year. Ashley is excited to not only teach but meet all the wonderful artists at Ignite Dance Company and create some beautiful art!
June 8th — 12th
Christopher Huggins
CHRISTOPHER L. HUGGINS is a visionary, dance innovator. He is an Alvin Ailey disciple, and historian, developing multilayered storytelling through dance. Christopher attended Purchase College, the Juilliard School and was a merit scholar at the Ailey School. He’s a former soloist of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and ATERBALLETTO of Reggio Emilia, Italy.
His worked is rooted in research that memorialize some of our darkest history. This can be found in his ballet ‘THE LIST,’ a story about the systematic genocide of a Jewish Family and those in concentration camps. His ballet ‘NEW FRUIT’ documents the terror of lynchings.
Through his dance initiatives, he provides access and opportunities to dancers and choreographers to study abroad with him. He works around the globe and has held residencies at over 30 universities, colleges, and high schools.
Christopher is a multi-award winner including: two Alvin Ailey Awards from the Black Theater Alliance in Chicago, a Walt Disney Diversity Award, a Critics Choice Award for ‘The Wiz’ in Dallas, Texas, a silver medalist of the South Korean International Contemporary Dance Competition, and most recently, a 2021 Guggenheim Fellowship.
He holds the distinction of being one of several ‘repetiteur’. of Mr. Ailey’s ballets. As he continues his dance legacy, Christopher wants his work to heal, entertain, and inspire mankind.
June 22nd — 26th
Annakanako Mohri
Annakanako is a Britian born Japanese dancer, puppeteer and choreographer. She began dancing in New York at age 19 and trained at The Ailey School through their certificate program. Anna became a professional dancer at the age of 23 and has performed with several dance companies in Europe, participating in national and international tours. She is currently active as an artist working on the West End in London in critically acclaimed shows as puppeteer.
Major credits: The Lion King (Germany, International Tour), Zoo-Nation Company, Spirited Away (West End Production), My Neighbor Totoro (West End Production).
July 6th — 10th
Michael Jackson Jr.
Michael Jackson Jr. is a multidisciplinary artist working across dance, photography, and teaching. A native of New Orleans and an alumnus of the Duke Ellington School of the Arts, he trained under mentor Charles Augins, developing a foundation in Horton, ballet, and West African techniques. He later joined Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (2012–2024), where he became known for his sincerity of movement and emotional clarity.
His early career includes Dance Theatre of Harlem (2006, Arthur Mitchell), Dallas Black Dance Theatre (2007, Ann Williams), and Philadanco (2009, Joan Myers Brown) — grounding him in the lineage of Black concert dance. Across his career, he has performed works by Alvin Ailey, Judith Jamison, Ronald K. Brown, Rennie Harris, Kyle Abraham, Hope Boykin, Jamar Roberts, and Robert Battle.
He portrayed B.D. in the film B-Boy Blues (2021), directed by Jussie Smollett, and contributed to Disney’s The Little Mermaid (2023) as part of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, providing movement for the “Under the Sea” sequence.
July 13th — 17th