ERIN NANNEY,
Owner & Director
Erin began dancing at just 3 years old and spent 13 years training and competing in ballet, jazz, tap, lyrical, hip hop, clogging, acro, and gymnastics. Her passion for dance continued at Appalachian State University, where she spent countless hours in the studio—taking class, choreographing for student showcases, and pursuing a degree in Communication Studies and Political Science.
Now in her tenth year of ownership, Erin is incredibly proud of the community and legacy she’s built at Above the Barre. Under her leadership, ATB has expanded into multiple locations, and her competitive teams have earned numerous regional and national championships, choreography awards, and special judges’ honors. In 2020, she was named America’s Teacher of the Year by Dance Machine ANDC, and was has been voted McDowell County’s Best Dance Instructor since 2021.
Erin has a true heart for teaching dancers of all ages and abilities. Her favorite part of the job? Watching her students grow in confidence, creativity, and love for the art of dance. When she’s not at the studio, you’ll find her spending time with her husband, dog, and cat or chasing around her super sassy two-year-old daughter, who already runs the show.
EASTON LEONHARDT,
With a lifelong dedication to the art of dance, Easton has proudly served as both an instructor and assistant instructor at Above the Barre for the past decade. Beginning dance at the age of two and competing by age six, dance has always been an integral part of her life. After studying collegiate dance at Appalachian State University, she continued to pursue personal growth and artistic expression through teaching.
As an instructor in both the recreational and competitive programs, Easton brings a dynamic blend of technical expertise, creativity, and passion to the classroom. Over the years, her choreography has received multiple awards, including choreography honors and numerous overall titles at regional and national competitions.
For Easton, dance is not just a career, it’s a calling. Teaching and sharing the joy of movement with students is the ultimate reward, and every class is an opportunity to inspire, uplift, and instill a lasting love for dance. Whether working with beginners or elite competitors, she is committed to fostering an environment built on growth, discipline, and artistic freedom.
Dance has always been- and will always be- a central part of Easton’s life, and there is no greater joy than passing that passion on to the students of Above the Barre.
KELSEY TERRY,
Kelsey has been immersed in the world of dance since the age of three. With over a decade of competitive experience, she earned numerous regional and national overall placements, making her a standout performer and now a passionate educator in the dance community. Kelsey holds a Bachelor of Arts in Dance and a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She is trained in contemporary, modern, jazz, and ballet, and brings both technical excellence and creative artistry into every class she teaches. For the past five years, Kelsey has been a proud instructor at Above the Barre, where she works with dancers of all ages in both recreational and competitive programs. Her teaching style is energetic, encouraging, and focused on developing confident, well-rounded dancers. Outside of the studio, Kelsey teaches 5th grade in Clover, SC, where she continues to inspire and lead with compassion and dedication.
EMERI LEONHARDT,
From the stage to the sidelines, Emeri has done it all! She started dancing and tumbling at just 4 years old and spent years training and competing in jazz, lyrical, tap, musical theatre, hip hop, and contemporary. Her background in acro, tumbling, and cheer brings even more versatility to her teaching.
Emeri racked up tons of wins and high score awards throughout her competitive career, and now she channels that same determination and passion into her students.
She’s also a graduate of the Maiden School of Massage and brings a unique understanding of movement, flexibility, and injury prevention into the classroom where she helps dancers move safely and train smarter.
When she’s not in the studio, you can catch her living her best life— hanging out with her dogs, soaking up the sun at the lake, or giving the best spray tans in town. We love having Emeri’s energy and sparkle on our team!
KRISTI HARMON,
Kristi has been dancing since the age of 4. She has studied many forms of dance, including tap, jazz, and baton. Kristi received training through Drum Majorettes of America and Carolina Dance Masters, and we are so lucky to have her to teach ATB students the art of twirling. She has been teaching baton for 29 years. When she is not at the studio, Kristi is spending time with her husband, daughter, and son in the garden or at the beach.
SKYE REED,
Skye has been dancing for eighteen years, and has trained in ballet, pointe, jazz, tap, lyrical, contemporary, hip hop, and tumbling. She loves to compete in all styles, but especially tap, and has won numerous first place awards, judges awards, scholarships, and more with her tap solos throughout the years. Skye now attends Appalachian State University where she is majoring in psychology, along with furthering her dance education.
CALEB MOSS,
OLIVIA PETERSON,
Olivia brings a strong background in competitive cheer, tumbling, and dance, with years of experience both as an athlete and performer. During her time on Above the Barre’s competitive team, she earned multiple high score awards for both her group routines and solos. Since her time at ATB, Olivia has continued to grow her love for dance, and is now in her second year of coaching the Montreat College Dance Team. She is also working toward her Bachelor’s degree in Business, and will graduate in May 2026. When she’s not in the studio, you’ll probably find her traveling or at a concert. We are proud to have Olivia back to ATB— this time as part of our staff! She excited to inspire the next generation of students, and work alongside the people who made her love dance!
CAROLINE JEWELL,
LACEE CALVERT,
LEIGHANN CRAWFORD,
SALLY COCKLIN,