Our Instructors
Kristi Hughes, Instructor/Director
Having begun dancing at 3, Kristi has had over 40 years of dance education in Jazz, Ballet, Tap, Contemporary, Lyrical, Modern, Hip-Hop, Pointe, Musical Theatre, Drill, Ballroom, Latin, & Swing. She has trained and studied all genres of dance with the biggest names in the industry today, as well as competed and won countless awards all over the country as a company and drill team member. Kristi continued her dance education while attending Southern Methodist University. In 2002, she graduated cum laude from SMU with a Bachelor of Business Administration, Majoring in Finance with a Minor in History. Having returned to Dallas in 2009 from Austin, where she studied for a Master's in Business Administration at the University of Texas, Kristi fuses her talent with her business skills and is blessed to have been able to return to her first and ultimate passion. In addition to her work behind the scenes, her versatility, creativity, and fierce talent for technical training and dynamic choreography are only a few of the many inspiring instructor qualities she is sought after at Sway Dance Center.
Leanne Schultz, Instructor
As a master teacher, choreographer, and adjudicator, Leanne has traveled nationwide inspiring and sharing her passion and skill for dance. Beginning her dance education at a young age, she has over 25 years of training and knowledge in the dance industry. As a dancer, she received numerous awards for outstanding performances at dance conventions and competitions such as Tremaine, NYCDA, LA Dance Magic, Dance Caravan, and LA Underground. Leanne began instructing and choreographing at age 17 and has been nationally awarded for her accomplishments. Leanne has a comprehensive background in jazz, tap, contemporary, lyrical, hip-hop, drill team, musical theatre, and ballet. Leanne’s choreographic work for the musical theatre industry includes “Footloose”, Gershwin’s “Crazy for You”, and the “Sound of Music.” She is heavily involved in the Dallas and Richardson communities and has had the opportunity to work with organizations such as the Design Industry For Fighting AIDS, The Miss Outstanding Teen Texas, and Miss Texas organizations, many Metroplex school districts, and has been a guest speaker for multiple UIL Chapters. She was also honored as a recipient of the 2012 Woman of Achievement Award for the Miss Texas Organization. As a teacher, Leanne joined the Dance Olympus Faculty and toured seasonally for two years. Traveling to cities such as Boston, Chicago, New York, Las Vegas, Omaha, and Houston, she instructed master classes in jazz, tap, and lyrical to thousands of aspiring dancers. Leanne's commercial work includes a starring role in the Texas State Lottery commercial “Scratch Dance,” and choreography for the Miss Texas Organization, featured on the TLC network. Leanne’s commitment to her craft has launched her career in instruction and choreography which is innovative, exciting, and progressive.
Haley Harries, Instructor
A native of Richardson, Haley began dancing at the age of 3. She danced competitively from the age of 12 and trained in Ballet, Jazz, Hip-Hop, Lyrical, Contemporary, Drill, and Pom. Haley was 1st Lieutenant of the Richardson High School Eaglettes and a founding member of the Richardson Desperados dance team. Upon high school graduation, Haley was a staff member for the National Dance Association (NDA) and had the opportunity to teach young dancers from around the country. Haley attended Colorado State University where she majored in Communications and minored in Sociology. She was a 4-year member of the Colorado State University Golden Poms Dance team, performing at all football and basketball games as well as competing at UDA College Nationals in the Hip-Hop and Pom categories. Following college, Haley moved to Washington, DC for 6 years to pursue a career in marketing, but could not give up on her love for dance! Outside of her career, Haley was a member of Capital Funk, a Hip-Hop dance team in DC. She was the captain for 1 year, leading the team to win 1st place at the Elements competition in Boston. Haley is thrilled to work with and share her love of dance with the talented dancers at Sway!
Breeana Sawyer, Instructor
Breeana found her love for performing arts at the age of 8 when she was cast in the musical “Annie”. From that moment, she knew that the arts will always be a part of her life. From there, she was involved in musical theatre, Cheer, and Dance, and began to focus solely on dance at the age of 13. Breeana has experience training in ballet, hip hop, jazz, contemporary, tap, lyrical, modern, African, Folklorico, and musical theatre. Realizing she begin training later than most, she put her all into gaining as much knowledge and training as she could get. She was accepted into her high school's performing arts academy and was later accepted into the Dance Company. During that time she also was the Dance Captain of her cheer team and attended various intensives including those at Booker T. Washington Performing Arts School and The Dallas Black Dance Theatre. Breeana continued to nurture her love for musical theatre and performed in productions including “FAME! The Musical” through Dallas' very own Junior Players. In college, she was a part of various hip-hop dance teams including UNT ASO, ChoreoBlock, U.N.I.T.Y. and Team Athena. After graduating from UNT, she decided to pursue her dance career full-time, which brought her to Sway!
Quan Powers, originally from Nacogdoches, TX, started his dance training at the age of 13 years old. Mr. Powers attended Tyler Junior College where he majored in Musical Theater. He was a member of the TJC Show Choir group Harmony and Understanding. Mr. Powers also attended Stephen F. Austin State University where he majored in Dance and Hospitality Administration and was a member of the SFA Repertory Dance Company. After graduation in 2005, he moved to Austin, TX where he worked and competed with the Arthur Murray Dance Company. Teaching ballroom to a variety of ages. During this time he also had a chance to teach Jazz, Lyrical, and Hip Hop at The Danceworks in Round Rock, TX. Mr. Powers is currently the dance director of Spruce 6th Position Dance Company and the Silver Wolves Drill Team where he has been teaching for 8 years. This is full circle for him, he worked at Sway 12 years ago and is now returning home.
Quan Powers, Instructor
Sarah Jensen, Instructor
Sarah grew up in Plano, Texas. Sarah began dancing at the age of 4 and has trained in Ballet, Jazz, Contemporary, and Tap. She started assisting a ballet class at age 12 and started teaching classes four years later. She has studied the Cecchetti ballet curriculum and has passed Grades 1-4 as a student and Teacher Grade 1 certification. Sarah has performed as much as possible in dance, choir, and musical theater. Currently, Sarah is attending Collin College to earn a business management degree and is training in the dance program there. Sarah loves getting to know her students and fostering a love for dance while helping them reach their goals.
Adrienne Schrag teaches ballet, prepointe, pointe, modern, contemporary, jazz, improvisation, and creative movement. She has taught dance to all ages across the United States and uses her decades of storytelling experience to engage her youngest students. After receiving her Bachelors of Arts in Dance from Belhaven University, Adrienne graduated Texas Woman’s University with a Masters of Fine Arts in Dance. Adrienne is a skilled performer and choreographer, specializing in collaborative creative processes. Adrienne fosters a student-led learning environment that is as encouraging as it is challenging, supported by teaching methods from brain science, sports psychology, and culturally responsive teaching. She sees dance as a way to develop learning processes, critical thinking, creative problem-solving skills, brain development, social-emotional skills, and sincere self-expression.
Adrienne Schrag, Instructor
Alice White, Instructor
Alice White was born and raised in Dallas, Texas. She began her dance training when she was 3 years old, where she studied Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Contemporary, Hip Hop, and Modern under the instruction of renowned teachers and dancers in North Dallas. She also received extensive ballet, modern, and contemporary training with Ballet Austin, the University of Oklahoma School of Dance, and Alonzo King Lines Ballet. She was a proud member of Dallas Ballet Center’s Tap Connection under the direction of Peggy McCaslin, as well as a member of the Dallas tap group, Rhythmic Souls. In high school, she was a member of the Lake Highlands Highlandettes Drill Team in RISD for 3 years, where she served as Junior Lieutenant her junior year, and later as Captain her senior year. She is currently finishing her education at Southern Methodist University for a degree in Communications, however she spent the first few years of her education studying Vocal performance and Dance in the Meadows School of the Arts. Alice has a passion for teaching and cultivating young minds through music and dance, primarily focused on Tap, Jazz, Contemporary, and Hip Hop. She is ecstatic to be a part of the incredible teaching faculty at Sway!
Dancing from a toddler to now, Anesia, an Arkansas native, has dedicated over 15 years to her passion for dance, cultivating a strong foundation of training and dance education, as well as captivating audiences with her exceptional musical theatre performances. Her journey encompasses a multitude of achievements and experiences that have shaped her into the versatile and dynamic artist she is today. In 2009-2010, Anesia showcased her talent as a member of the esteemed North Little Rock Drill Team, where she honed her skills and fostered a deep sense of discipline and teamwork. Demonstrating her leadership abilities, Anesia took on the role of captain and founder of the first Dance Team at Maumelle High School during the 2011-2012 academic year, leaving a lasting impact on her peers and establishing a platform for future dancers. This dedication to her craft led her to be recognized as a recipient of the National Dance Association award in 2011-2012, a testament to her exceptional talent and commitment. This early exposure to the world of dance propelled her towards further success, as she later became a member of the 2017 Sun Belt Conference Little Rock Dance Team, where her talent shone brightly. Anesia's dance repertoire spans across various styles, showcasing her versatility and artistic range. With a solid foundation in modern and Martha Graham technique, as well as expertise in ballet, jazz, tap, contemporary, lyrical, hip-hop, drill team, and musical theatre, she has cultivated a diverse skill set that enables her to express herself artistically in countless ways. Speaking of her musical theatre background, Anesia has delighted audiences with memorable performances in productions such as "Little Shop of Horrors," "Hairspray," and "As You Like It." Her ability to seamlessly merge dance and theater has allowed her to bring captivating characters to life on stage, earning her accolades and leaving a lasting impression. Continuing her pursuit of excellence, Anesia enrolled in the Bachelor of Fine Arts Theatre and Dance Program at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UALR). During her time at UALR, she took full advantage of numerous workshops and intensives, including the prestigious 2014 American College Dance Association, where she had the opportunity to learn from and collaborate with industry leaders. Anesia's passion for sharing her knowledge and nurturing young talent has led her to take on coaching roles, where she has been instrumental in shaping majorette teams, dance teams, and summer intensives. Through her guidance, she has inspired and mentored aspiring dancers, imparting her wisdom and instilling in them the same dedication and drive that have fueled her own success. Throughout her journey, Anesia has had the privilege of training and studying under the tutelage of some of the industry's most influential figures. From renowned choreographers like Rennie Harris and Todd Flanagan to accomplished dancers such as Deja Carter and Alexis Beauregard, Anesia has embraced every opportunity to expand her horizons and elevate her artistry. Driven by an unwavering determination to evolveher craft, Anesia made the pivotal decision to relocate to the Dallas area. Her vibrant personality, boundless creativity, rigorous technical training, and remarkable versatility make her a standout presence at the esteemed Sway Dance Center, where she continues to push her artistic boundaries and inspire others through her exceptional talent.
Anesia Scott, Instructor
Kacie Gray, Office Assistant Manager
Kacie both cheered and danced growing up, training numerous years in ballet and pointe, as well as tumbling and gymnastics. Kacie has most recently been a teacher specializing in Infant/Toddler education. Growing up in East Texas, Kacie also spent much time working on her dad and grandpa’s commercial cattle ranch. While in high school, Kacie was heavily involved in Future Farmers of America throughout all four years, where she competitively showed goats and sheep. Kacie has been an adjudicator for horse and livestock teams, as well as veterinarian science teams, and radio and quiz teams. Kacie served as a chapter officer for two years. Kacie attended Tarleton State University in 2020, graduating in 2022, with a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science- Animal Production. She was also an adjudicator on the Tarleton Collegiate Horse Judging team for the 2021-2022 year. While an adjudicator here, she judged AQHA, APHA, and Texas A&M Sweepstakes. Kacie was an undergraduate research student for Tarleton Animal Science/Nutrition department, as well as Tarleton Rabbitry Manager Nov 2021-April 2022. Kacie continues to judge for associations and ranches in East Texas, North Texas, and South Texas. Kacie splits her passion between animals and dance, and continues training in both areas. We are so excited to have her in the Sway office this season!