Our Team

---

Laura Hamm founded Balance in 2021 to provide quality dance training for students of all ages. The studio experienced tremendous growth, and in the summer of 2022, it moved to a larger space on Broad Street and added recreational gymnastics and tumbling to the class offerings. In 2024, Laura and staff developed the Elevate program to provide opportunities for gymnasts to compete in Gym Stars meets and dancers to showcase their talents in local dance performances and competitions. Balance Dance + Gymnastics is committed to instilling confidence and perseverance in students of all ages in a safe, supportive environment that is FUN! 

A former professional ballet dancer with The Georgia Ballet, Laura has taught various dance styles at several schools, including Cincinnati Ballet, The Georgia Ballet, and the Atlanta Ballet Centre for Dance Education. For 15 years, Laura worked at Coxe Curry & Associates where she provided strategic fundraising consultation to nonprofit clients including: Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta, Georgia Aquarium, and The Woodruff Arts Center. Prior to joining Coxe Curry, Laura was The Georgia Ballet’s director of marketing and development. 

Laura is a graduate of L.E.A.D. Atlanta and a founding board member of Dance Canvas Inc. She earned an M.B.A, an M.A. in Arts Administration and a B.F.A. in Dance from the University of Cincinnati. She and her husband, Darren, have two children (and a mini poodle) who keep her on her toes.

Rebekah demonstrates exceptional dedication, leadership, and expertise within our gymnastics program. From teaching preschool FUNdamentals classes to guiding the development of Gymnastics Level 3 and Balance's participation in Gym Stars meets, Rebekah’s expertise and supportive coaching style are appreciated by students and staff. Rebekah moved to Atlanta from Los Angeles where she worked as a gymnastics coach and behavioral therapist. She grew up in the gym at Palouse Empire Gymnastics and later coached there while earning a degree in Psychology from the University of Idaho. 

Tiffany, a Connecticut native, joined Balance in the summer of 2022 as Customer Experience Manager.  She was promoted to Director in 2024. She attended Clark University, where she ran a mentorship program for young girls of color. There she learned the importance of building strong connections with families and children to instill confidence, integrity, and safety into their lives. Over the years she has continued to work with children in various settings, as well as other positions in management and customer relations, most recently with State Farm. Her passions include writing, dancing, creative projects, and anything nature and animal related.  

Orian joined Balance in the summer of 2023 as a Marketing Manager. She brings 12 years of agency and corporate marketing experience growing brands across CPG and hospitality industries. Her specialties include communications, graphic design, and brand strategy. A former dancer with Roswell City Dance, Project 7, and University of Georgia Red Hotz, Orian is grateful for the opportunity to combine her passions of dance and marketing. In her spare time, Orian crochets for her Etsy shop, mentors UGA students, and tries to keep up with her 3 young children including identical twin girls - who are Balance members, of course!

An accomplished actor, dancer and educator, Emily joined Balance in the summer of 2023 as a dance instructor.  She attended West Georgia Technical College and studied at various studios, including Atlanta Ballet.  She recently taught classes in ballet, tap, and jazz to children ages 3-12 at Steppin' Out Performing Arts in Newnan.

Jordan joined Balance in the summer of 2024 with a blast of energy and enthusiasm.  He's paired his passion for math with his love of hip hop dancing and tumbling. In addition to coaching Rec 1 classes, Jordan is a lead coach with the FUNdamentals of gymnastics classes and toddlers. He brings experience from the Peach Pit and American Cheer X-Treme Twisters. When he wants to unwind, he'll take a dance class and spend time with friends asking deep questions. Fun fact - he has modeled for Adidas!

Mykal is an avid sports lover from Clayton County, Georgia. She is an experienced gymnastics coach from recreational to Xcel levels as well as Compulsory. Her passion for kids and sports grew while working at RiseATL Sports and InTown Stars Gymnastics.  She graduated from Georgia State University with a bachelor's degree in Sports Administration and has a goal to earn her master's.
 

Throughout her childhood, Marie trained extensively in ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary, lyrical, and acrobatics at Gretchen Greene School of Dance in Savannah, Georgia. She was a member of the competitive dance team and later gained experience teaching at the same studio. She recently graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in human development and family science. While attending UGA, she was a member of the university's competitive club dance team, Red Hotz. Marie is now earning her master's in clinical mental health counseling at Mercer University. Teaching at Balance gives her the opportunity to combine two of her greatest passions: dance and working with children!

Nyah brings her background in cheerleading and gymnastics to Balance's Tumble for Cheer classes, as well as FUNdamentals and Rec. classes for all ages. She did All Star competitive cheer for 6 years before joining her high school cheer squad. When she is not coaching at Balance, she is working towards a degree in elementary education and a minor in social work from Clayton State University.  Her favorite quote is “Be kind, be silly and be honest” - Ralph Emerson.

 

Jada is experienced in gymnastics, competitive cheer, ballet, jazz, modern, and hip hop dance. She is a former Atlanta Hawks Dancer and graduate of Kennesaw State University with a bachelor's degree in dance. Before joining Balance, she worked as a gymnastics coach in Atlanta and taught at a daycare. In addition to teaching classes, Jada choreographs for Balance's Performance Group and dance competition entries. She is excited to be able to encourage her students to believe in themselves and accomplish their goals. 

Hoke brings a wealth of experience to Balance from his background in gymnastics, acrobatics, cheer, and dance. He coached various ages and levels at the Trousdell Gymnastics Center in Tallahassee, FL, as well as at Project S.L.I.D.E and Rhythm Academy in GA. He received his bachelor's degree from Kennesaw State University and since then has worked with various companies such as, The Tallahassee Ballet, Dance AEGIS, and Fly on a Wall. In 2024, he moved into a lead coaching role for FUNdamentals classes. One of his main focuses in teaching and coaching is to make sure his students are only striving to become the best versions of themselves.

Haley grew up in Massachusetts and moved to Georgia in 2019 with her husband and now 3 children. She began taking dance classes at 18 months old and became a competitive dancer at the age of 5.  She won numerous 1st overalls as well as many regional and national titles for her solos, duets/trios, and group dances throughout the years. She has worked as a program director at The Little Gym in Danvers, MA and Snellville, GA. Haley has taught many styles of dance including lyrical, jazz, contemporary, acrobatics/tumbling and is excited to teach at Balance as a gymnastics coach, dance teacher, and choreographer for the Performance Group & competition entries.

A teacher at The Lovett School by day, and a dance instructor at Balance by night, Abigail brings a wealth of experience to her students. She trained at the Georgia Academy of Dance, where she later facilitated over one thousand hours of dance classes as a lead instructor or assistant instructor in ballet, tap, jazz, hip-hop, and modern. She loves mentoring children and worked as the Activities Coordinator at WinShape Camps for several years where she designed and implemented activities to target specific emotional and social milestones of campers. Abigail is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

An accomplished ballerina and choreographer from Colombia, Ginna has more than 32 years of experience teaching dance and creating dance musicals. She danced professionally with the Santander Jazz Ballet Company and performed in international festivals and special events throughout Colombia. She is the founder of Duncan Dance Studio and the creator of "Pure Movement." The five-day festival has been presented since 2008, and it unites more than 100 dancers every year who showcase new dance projects and innovative choreographic technique. Ginna holds a Diploma in Arts Pedagogy and Management from the Universidad Autonoma de Bucaramanga and the Institute of Culture, Colombia as well as a bachelor's degree in systems engineering.

Cheerleading is Emily’s passion. She looks forward to every practice, competition, and tumbling class. That love started in high school when she was the squad captain for three years. Emily finds fulfillment knowing she can pass down her knowledge to the young legacies of the sport. She currently serves as a cheer judge with the Georgia High School Association. Emily brings experience from her work with Mount Vernon High School's cheer squads and with the All Star Cheer program at the Peach Pit. 

Rhetta Weeks joined Balance Dance in 2022 as a ballet and pre-ballet instructor. She grew up dancing under the direction of Lovedy Griner at Rose City Ballet in Thomasville, Georgia where she also began assistant teaching. She is a graduate of Elon University where she earned her degree in Exercise Science and Dance while furthering her dance teaching career under the guidance of early childhood dance educator Kim Black of Miss Kim's Children's Dance and Arts in Burlington, North Carolina. She is currently an occupational therapy doctoral student at GSU. In her free time, Rhetta enjoys grabbing coffee with friends, taking aerial silks classes, and exploring Atlanta.

A graduate of the Savannah College of Art and Design, Naya brings a wealth of knowledge to the studio from her experience teaching tap, musical theatre, ballet and jazz with the Augusta Youth School of Dance and Building Kidz of Roswell, among others. While in college, she spent her summers working in various dance-related jobs/internships, including a summer dance camp for underprivileged children in Augusta, GA. She has also interned at the Alliance Theatre, helping with drama, choreography and video editing classes for ages 3 – 12. In her free time, she loves to go thrift shopping, spend time with friends and family, and work on creative writing.