Director
Nia Michele Andrews
Nia Michele Andrews is an award-winning choreographer, entrepreneur, freelance artist, and Registered Nurse whose career bridges the worlds of science, performance, and leadership. As the newly appointed Director of Balance Dance Center, she brings a vision rooted in excellence, innovation, and community impact. A graduate of West Chester University of Pennsylvania, Nia earned her Bachelor’s degree in Biology with a minor in Dance, where she was recognized as both a Golden Ram and a Board of Governors Scholar. During her time at the university, she was crowned Miss West Chester University 2015, igniting a successful journey in the Miss America Organization. She went on to make history as the first African American Miss Bucks County in 2016 and later served as Miss Philadelphia in 2017. Nia’s dance training spans some of the most prestigious institutions in the Tri-State area and beyond, including the Dance Institute of Philadelphia, Eleone Dance Theatre, Philadanco D3, The Pointe Dance School, Canaan Institute of the Arts, and Broadway Dance Center in New York City. She performed as a principal dancer with Balance Dance Company and toured internationally with the Western Wolves Dance Team, with performances in New York City and Shanghai. While at West Chester University, Nia was a member of the nationally recognized UDA Dance Team and the university’s Dance Company. Her choreographic work earned national recognition through the American College Dance Festival Association (ACDFA), where she was both a two-time featured choreographer and scholarship recipient. Among her most distinguished performance credits, Nia appeared as a featured soloist with the renowned Philly Pops Orchestra in Lenny’s Revolution at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts. In addition to her artistic career, Nia is deeply committed to leadership and community service. She serves as Division President of Legacy of Hope’s Mentoring Minds That Matter, is a board member of the Ivy Legacy Foundation, and contributes her leadership as a Miss Philadelphia Board Member. Nia is also a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated®, Rho Theta Omega Chapter, where she remains dedicated to uplifting and serving the Greater Philadelphia community. A graduate of Central High School (Class 271), Nia continues to lead with purpose, passion, and a deep belief in the transformative power of the arts.
Ballet Instructor
Jeffrey Hankinson
South Carolina native and graduate of the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, Jeffrey also trained at the School of American Ballet, Dance Theater of Harlem, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, The Kiln Dance Academy in Germany, and with esteemed teachers Maggie Black, David Howard, Robert Denvers, Melissa Hayden, and Robert Blankshine. Jefferey was a principal dancer with the Des Moines Ballet and soloist with Ballet D’Angelo directed by Joffrey Ballet’s principal ballerina Ann Marie D’Angelo. He later joined the Alvin Ailey II (Repertory Ensemble) directed by Sylvia Waters. Jeffrey has danced with the Elisa Monte Dance Company, the Joyce Trisler Dance Company, the Lar Lubovitch Dance Company, and has toured throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia. Jeffrey has performed in several Broadway shows and has been a guest teacher at many dance companies, studios, and schools, around the country and abroad. Before relocating to Wilmington, Delaware, Jeffrey taught company classes for Philadanco and the Rock School for Dance Education in Philadelphia and Rock West in West Chester. Jeffery uses dance to build confidence and self-acceptance in his students. He is excited to share his experience, knowledge, and passion for dance with the students of Balance Dance Center.
Hip Hop Instructor, 1 Luv Dance Crew Director
Michael Nguyen
Michael Nguyen is a graduate from Temple University with an MFA in Choreography and Performance. After receiving a bachelor’s degree in Professional Studies with a focus on Health Science and Dance, he began teaching and working on his career as an artist and dancer. He has danced for Rev9, The Academy of Phresh I Am Phresh, MM2 Modern Dance Company, Roger Lee Dance Company, Contempra Dance Theatre, and the Balance Dance Project. Michael is a true student of dance who believes that dancers should learn as many styles of dance as possible to add depth to their vocabulary and choreography. Michael had the opportunity to intern at the Broadway Dance Center in the summer for 2010, where he trained with working artists such as Derek Mitchell, Luam Keflezgy, Future, Sheila Barker, Chio Yamada, Sheryl Murakami, Ejoe Wilson, Dana Foglia, Ginger Cox, and many more. Michael is an advocate for spreading love and happiness through dance when he is performing or teaching and respects all dance artists for their work and inspiration to audiences.
Ballet & Lyrical Instructor
Audrey Hammit
Audrey began her ballet studies at the age of 3, and has been dancing ever since. In addition to ballet, she studied modern, jazz, and hip-hop at the West End Academy of Dance, in Richmond, VA, where she also began to teach and choreograph. Audrey spent her summers at ballet intensives with Richmond Ballet, Carolina Ballet, and Indiana University. Audrey received her BFA in Dance from Belhaven University, and has attended the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet summer intensive while working as a resident advisor. Audrey is currently first soloist with Glorify Dance Theatre and seeks to share her love of performing and community in the studios of West Chester Dance Works as well. When she teaches, Audrey strives to cultivate an enjoyment of dance while pursuing excellence in an atmosphere of encouragement, positivity, and passion.
Adult Jazz Instructor
Janis Bady
Janis L. Bady is a lifelong dancer who believes everyone should get to experience the joy and freedom of movement. She’s trained in West African, Afro-Caribbean, contemporary, jazz, and lyrical styles with inspiring instructors including Michelle Leininger, Danny Hinds, Julie Warder, and Patricia Brown. From the Midwest to the East Coast, Janis has taught dancers of all ages—sharing not just steps, but confidence and creativity along the way. A proud member of the BDC family since its opening, Janis still lights up every time she steps into the studio and loves helping dancers of all levels feel at home in their bodies and bold in their expression.
Jazz, Modern / Lyrical & Tap Instructor, Training Company Director
Anna Pennell
Anna is a dynamic and passionate performer, dancer, and actor with over a decade of experience entertaining audiences of all ages. A graduate from Temple University with a BFA in dance, Anna’s experience includes engaging audiences and working collaboratively across various stages. She is experienced in teaching dance to children, adults, and SE students, managing creative projects backstage, and delivering exceptional audience experiences in high-energy environments like Walt Disney World and SeaWorld. Her diverse dance background includes training in African dance, ballet, jazz, tap, musical theater, and contemporary dance. Skilled in choreography, set design, lighting design, stage management, and improvisation, Anna is excited to join the BDC team.
Tap Instructor
Tweety Klevence
Miss Tweety attended The Shipley School in Bryn Mawr, PA. Then continued her studies at West Chester University graduating with a BSEd in Early Childhood Education. While Miss Tweety was a Tap Dancer with Tap Team Two & Co. (under the direction of: Robert F. Burden Jr.) she had the opportunity to work with Young Audiences of: PA, NJ, NY, MD, VA, and CONN, performing in various schools teaching the history of Tap Dance. Miss Tweety's teachers over the years have been: Joseph Lee, Nini Brown, Lavaughn Robinson, Germaine Ingram, Robert Burden Jr., Nicole Hockenberry, Germaine Salsberg, Jimmy Tate, Buster Brown, Savion Glover, and Jason Samuels Smith; just to name a few.
Miss Tweety had the honor of being the Executive Director of Raw Hoofin' Youth Tap Ensemble for 10 years! Miss Tweety thanks her mom for introducing her to the Arts at a young age, to my fabulously-wonderful students (past, present, and future). I thank you for your Tap Dance Enthusiasm and Dedication to the Arts! , to my two boys - momma’s little tap dancers - many kisses and hugs to you both! Miss Tweety thanks God for always being in control! God is Good All the Time! Psalms 34:19; 1 Peter 4:10.
``What we have or what we do not have should never dictate
the quality of our lives, or our capacity to simply enjoy.``
(Joyce Sequichie Hifler)
Founder
Michelle Leininger
Michelle Leininger toured with Les Ballets Jazz de Montreal, Dancing U.S.A., and Canadian Dance Express among other companies. Michelle’s dance performance experience spans the stages of Montreal, Tokyo, and Haiti to American made TV and film productions. Michelle studied at the Alvin Ailey School of Dance, the Broadway Dance Center, and the University of South Florida where she was a dance major. She has trained with many outstanding artists including Fred Benjamin, Miguel Godreau, Celia Franca, and Jurgen Schneider. Michelle’s teaching experience of more than twenty years includes directorships of dance schools in both Canada and the Caribbean. A graduate of West Chester University and Cabrini College where she earned her Bachelors and Masters degrees respectively in Education, Michelle also holds the Pennsylvania State Certification in Dance and is a member of the National Dance Association. Over the past twenty years, Michelle has taught at several dance schools in the Chester County area and also headed the dance program at Great Valley High School in Malvern, PA for ten years.