Our Dance Instructors

Alyssa Barnecut

Alyssa Barnecut has been training since a young age in many forms of dance. She began teaching at the young age of 14 years old. Alyssa attended Ohio University Lancaster majoring in Business and was a part of the Ohio University dance team. After college she opened a dance studio in Central Ohio. Her studio received many awards at the regional, national, and world levels. Alyssa has choreographed for different area high schools in their drama and marching band departments. After selling her studio, Alyssa now instructs students with guest teaching, performance review, critique, and participating in many dance productions.

Emily Thompson

After more than two decades of studio ownership in Knox County, Emily Thompson is excited to be on the team at Village Creative Dance, both inside and out of the studio. Experienced in a variety of styles of ballet, tap and jazz, she enjoys working with students of all ages, from novice to advanced. Out of the studio, "Miss" Emily makes dance accessible, holding class in schools, community centers, libraries, festivals and more. As a certified Rhythm Works Integrated Dance professional, Emily is proud to expand opportunities for those who may struggle in traditional class environments with the "Dance For All"

Kyle Freeman

Kyle has been dancing since he was 4 years old. He has trained in all types of dance which includes Tap, Jazz, Hip Hop, Tumbling, Lyrical, Contemporary and many more. He started competing at 5 years old and has won many different awards over the years. Kyle’s teaching career began at 15 years old, and he continues to attend conventions and workshops such as Monsters of Hip Hop and Kaos to learn and grow and provide a great dance experience for his students.  Kyle has collaborated with many incredibly talented teachers such as George Jones Jr, Lyle Beniga, Nick Bass, Michelle Fortner, Johnny “J Blaze” Erasme and many others.

Kyle has danced for 26 years and what drives him is his love and passion for dance and the ability to share that with his students. His goal is to share his love and passion for dance across the country by teaching the next generation of dancers. Kyle’s training extends from DC Dance Factory Monsters of Hip Hop and Millennium Dance Complex and most recently completed Rhythm Works Integrative Dance (RWID) Assistant Certification.

A woman with long blonde hair, smiling, wearing a black shirt and a black blazer, outdoors with blurred greenery in the background.

Nikki Erlenbach

Nikki began dancing at the age of five and competed throughout middle and high school, developing a lifelong passion for dance. While she enjoys all genres of dance, tap and jazz have always been her favorites. She also teaches dance fitness classes, bringing her love of dance and fitness together in a fun, energetic way. She is certified in Shine Dance Fitness and UPLIFT and holds an Assistant Certification in Rhythm Works Integrative Dance (RWID).

Nikki believes dance is about more than technique—it builds confidence, encourages creativity, and brings joy. She is passionate about helping students grow as dancers while inspiring a lifelong love of movement.

Michelle Wolgamot

With over 25 years of training and 15 years of experience as a passionate dance educator, Michelle Wolgamot is dedicated to inspiring confidence and creativity in her students through the art of dance. Her dynamic teaching style and love for the craft make her a favorite among dancers of all ages.

Michelle has taught an array of dance styles, including contemporary, hip hop, ballet, tap, jazz, and beginner combo classes, at studios like Miss Jennifer’s Dance Studio and The Spotlight. She has also served as a choreographer for numerous theatrical productions, such as Shrek The Musical, The Little Mermaid, Into The Woods, and The Marvelous Wonderettes.

A former competitive dancer with extensive training from leading instructors across the country, Michelle combines technical expertise with a commitment to making dance accessible, empowering, and joyful for her students.

Tayler Miller

With a passion for movement and a commitment to inspiring others. Tayler is a dedicated dance instructor with 18 years of experience teaching students of all ages and skill levels. Specializing in [styles, such as ballet, pointe, jazz, hip-hop, tap, cheer and acro.  She loves to help students develop strong technique and discover the joy of dance. Tayler has studied dance since she was two years old starting in Las Vegas, Nevada at Desert Shores Dance Academy where she studied under the direction of Donna Frias. When she moved to Ohio in 2004 she continued her dance studies in Mount Vernon, Ohio at Carole’s Dance studio under the direction of Emily Thompson. While studying dance Tayler was also a varsity cheerleader all four years of high school. Whether preparing dancers for performances, or simply helping them enjoy the art of movement, Tayler is passionate about helping each student reach their full potential while fostering a lifelong love of dance.

Ava Bishop

Ava Bishop is a Dental Hygiene major at The Ohio State University. She began dancing with The Ballet Academy at around eight years old. She trained in classical ballet until she was exposed to other styles and immediately fell in love with hip-hop. She performed in productions by The Central Ohio Youth Ballet, where she was cast as Clara in the Nutcracker and many other memorable characters. Since graduating high school, she has teacher assisted in many hip-hop and ballet classes and enjoys teaching her own creative ballet classes. Ava has been a dedicated dance teacher for Village creative Dance for over 3 years. She is dedicated to helping students learn new movements and have fun while dancing.