At IN HIS STEPS DANCE MINISTRY, our teachers are all strong in their faith and proficient in their craft. Our desire is to disciple and nurture each student.
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Meet our 2022-2023 faculty and staff below!
FACULTY
AMANDA NEWCOMB - STUDIO OWNER & DIRECTOR
Amanda P. Newcomb began dancing at age 5. Her training took her to Chattanooga, Chicago, New York, and finally to Atlanta where she studied at the Ruth Mitchell Dance Studio. After two years there, she moved to Boone and completed her undergraduate degree at Appalachian State University, with a major in Commercial Art and a minor in Dance. In 1988 she moved to Asheville and taught at Asheville Academy of Ballet and Contemporary Dance and performed with Ann Dunn & Dancers and add dance. Ten years later Amanda attended the Teacher’s Forum at Ballet Magnificat’s Summer Program where God really got ahold of her and began paving the way for In His Steps!
KARALEE DRUMMOND - INSTRUCTOR
Karalee Drummond has been dancing since age 5. She studied at King David Christian Conservatory for many years in Charlotte, NC focusing primarily on ballet and modern. In addition to her training there, she feels blessed to have been able to receive instruction from various teachers in Matthews, NC, Chattanooga, TN, and Greenville, SC. She has been an assistant teacher for two studios and has also led out in two ministries, one for a church in Charlotte, NC and also for a church in Collegedale, TN. Karalee is incredibly passionate about connecting to the Spirit of God through dance and being able to use her whole being to love and worship God through the beauty of movement. After taking a year and a half off to concentrate on starting a family
ALISHA EAR - INSTRUCTOR
Alisha Ear grew up dancing in Asheville, went on to get her BFA in Dance from Ohio State and performed with several small companies in Boston. Amidst marrying her high school sweetheart, having 4 children, and touring the country as a military wife, she has taught ballet and modern dance for over a decade, taught worship movement camps and workshops independently and for churches, and has choreographed for both secular and faith-based groups. She feels honored to invest in the technique and hearts of dancers and to be able to use movement to create beauty and tell stories that soften our hearts to the goodness of God.
BRENDON JOURNEY - INSTRUCTOR
Brendon Journey discovered yoga through her missions work in Cambodia where she had the privilege of travelling, studying, and living for a number of years. Bren began her hobby of studying Sanskrit to develop a better understanding of the Khmer culture, and through this process she furthered her faith in Christ Jesus and The Creator/The Great I Am. Her studies in Public Health soon followed, focusing on obtaining her certification through Core Power Yoga. After many years of study and practice, she began teaching a mixture of Restorative and Power Yoga. She has been “guiding others through” yoga for over seven years.
LISA KEITH - INSTRUCTOR
Lisa Keith began her dance training at Fletcher School of Dance at age 6 where she took ballet, jazz, and tap, eventually dancing with the Land of the Sky Civic Ballet and Fletcher Concert Jazz. Continuing to pursue a love of performance, she earned a degree in Theatre at the University of North Carolina Asheville and danced with a touring company throughout the southeast. While working in film and television in Los Angeles, she met her husband, Andy. They now have two sons, Elvin and Canon. Lisa loves the deep connection with God's divine presence that she feels while dancing and her heart's desire is to be an ambassador of that joy for other dancers and with everyone she comes in contact.
ALICIA KNIGHT - INSTRUCTOR
Alicia Knight began her training at Fletcher School of Dance in 1995. Three years later she joined In His Steps and has been studying and teaching here ever since. Her dance training includes Ballet, Pointe, Irish Step, Modern, Lyrical, Jazz, Tap, and Hip-Hop. Alicia was also in Jessica Grime’s original Irish Step class which began in 2000. In 2011 Alicia started Mission Competition! through IHS with the purpose of showing God’s love in the competitive world of secular dance. Her goal is to demonstrate God’s love to the audience through the art of dance and to help others gain the confidence through proper training to do the same. She is excited to begin her 20th year of teaching!
CAROLINE PRESSLEY - INSTRUCTOR
Caroline Pressley has been a part of In His Steps since she was three years old. Her dance training includes Ballet, Pointe, Irish, Jazz, Modern, Contemporary Ballet, Lyrical, Hip-Hop, Tap, Clogging, and Contemporary. Her favorites are Ballet, Irish, and Contemporary. She was also a part of the Elevate Dance Apprenticeship from 2014-16. Caroline had the privilege of dancing the lead role of Briar Rose in IHS’s 2014 Production “Awake, O Sleeper, Arise” for her senior year and danced the role of the Cowardly Lion in the 2016 Production of “No Place Like Home”. She is married and has a daughter with whom she is excited to share her love of dance. Caroline’s interest in teaching dance began as an assistant in Becky Wilson’s beginning ballet and tap classes where she gained valuable experience in working with young dancers. She is excited once again to see what God has in store for her in this coming year as she combines her love of dance with her love of children.
JULIE RUSHING - INSTRUCTOR
Julie Rushing has had dance as a part of her life as long as she could walk, putting on “shows” for her family with costumes and all the trimmings! She has officially been training for 18 years, the last 14 being at In His Steps. Julie has studied Ballet, Jazz, Irish Step, Lyrical, and Contemporary. During her time here she has been so encouraged by teachers that she wanted to encourage others as well! This will be Julie’s 10th year teaching. A few years ago she felt God calling her to start a new class style focusing on storytelling/emotion in dance and that launched the Dancing From The Inside Out class! She looks forward to another year of dancing, storytelling, and fun with the In His Steps family!
KATE STIREWALT - INSTRUCTOR
Kate Stirewalt and her family moved to Asheville from West Virginia in 2008 and have lived in the area ever since. She began her dancing career five years later at In His Steps. After some convincing from her sister, Julie, she attended the In His Steps’ Summer Dance Camp, and her love for dance and worship sparked from there. Inspired by her mother’s and her sister’s love for dance, she continued to pursue dance and has been blessed to expand her dance studies by taking various classes taught by professional dancers from companies such as Alonzo King Ballet and The Petra Ballet. Her training includes Ballet, Contemporary, Irish Step, Jazz, Pointe, and Tap. After graduating from high school with honors, she is currently working her way through college, navigating the journey God has for her. As she enters her 10th year at In His Steps, she is excited to minister and encourage students through dance.
AVERY BRYANT - STUDENT INSTRUCTOR
Avery Bryant has been dancing since she was three years old and joined In His Steps at age five. She has always loved babysitting and assisting in the nursery and at VBS at her church, Highland Christian, using her gifts to help and care for little ones. Avery is passionate about dance! She has been able to share that passion dancing with her sister, Sadie, at churches and outreaches, where she prays others will see the joy of the Lord through dance. When her mother, Jenny, taught Creative Movement at In His Steps, Avery got a taste for teaching by helping her mom in the classroom. At the young age of 15, she is full of life and excited to teach tap!
VICKI MCCURRY - VOLUNTEER STAFF
Vicki McCurry has been with In His Steps for many years, starting out as a parent and later volunteering her time and talents in helping with the Spring Productions and later assisting in the office. Not only can she manage paper work, but she can design lights and keep small dancers in line as they await their turn at Nursing Homes. Her cheerful attitude and infectious smile brighten up our dance studio office on a daily basis!