The Staff of Legacy

Hayley Justice

Hayley Justice, owner/director of Legacy Dance Center, was a student at Angie’s Dance Academy for 10 years where she studied Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Lyrical, Hip Hop and Modern. At the age of 14, Hayley became Student Teacher for the Academy and has enjoyed working with children since. In 2007, Hayley joined the faculty of ADA and has choreographed routines earning “Best Choreography”, “Champions of Champions”, “Creative Concept” and many “Highest Score of the Day” awards. Hayleys students have danced on numerous college dance teams and some have become dance teachers theirselves. David Ferguson, a long time student of Justice is now currently on Tour with Fiddler on the roof. Her Student Dalli Hensley is the reigning Americas Teen Miss Dance. Hayley is certified to teach through Dance Masters of America, Inc. and has an Entrepreneurship degree from Haywood Community College. She has also worked as a judge for Star Systems National Talent Competition. Hayley Justice, a long time student of Angie Henley, and her husband Heath Justice, are excited for the tremendous honor and duty of carrying on the traditions and excellence of Angie’s Dance Academy by creating a new Legacy to be remembered in our community. Hayley shares her life with her husband Heath & son Holt.

Angie Henley

Angie Henley studied with Beale Fletcher from childhood and began teaching at an early age. She graduated King’s Business College in Charlotte and quickly came home to become the manager of the Fletcher School of Dance in Clyde. With more than seventeen years teaching experience, she opened Angie’s Dance Academy and was it’s Director from 1991-2019. She is certified to teach by test through Dance Masters of America, Inc., an organization comprised of professional dance teachers across the United States and is proud to be a part of the Legacy Dance Center team. Angie has performed both locally and on the national level and has choreographed many award winning routines. Angie’s students have been awarded cash scholarships toward their continued dance education and many have continued to study dance during and after their college years. Her students have been crowned Master Dance of N.C., Petite Miss Dance and Miss Dance of N.C. representing our state in the National Master and Miss Dance of America Scholarship Pageants. Angie’s students grow from a positive classroom experience where they nurtured to express themselves through their dancing. She is married to Matt Henley and they have a son in college, Landon.

Halie Emsheimer

Halie Emsheimer began dancing with Angie’s Dance Academy at the age of 4. She studied jazz, tap, lyrical, hip hop, and ballet for 14 years. Halie was a member of the Aces for 11 years and has been teaching at the studio for 6 years. Halie has choreographed many solo and group routines, which have received many overall awards, judges choice awards, and invitations to national competitions. After graduating from Tuscola High School in 2014, Halie received her Associate’s degree in Human Services from Southwestern Community College in 2017. She then went on to Western Carolina University, where she graduated in May 2019 with a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work. Halie recently married her husband Stefan in August of 2019, and is now a military spouse. Halie works full time as a Family Service Worker for Head Start, while continuing to teach her love and passion for dance to her students.

Will Hutchinson

Bio coming soon

Ciera Cogburn

Ciera Cogburn began dancing at Angie’s Dance Academy when she was 2 years old. She trained in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Lyrical, Hip Hop, and Contemporary for 16 years at the Academy. She joined the Aces Performing Troupe at the age of six and has been dancing ever since! Competing in groups, duets, trios, and solos. Ciera was also a member of the studios liturgical team performing in various churches throughout the county. Ciera carried a role as student teacher for 8 years which she has thoroughly enjoyed. Ciera has performed with the Asheville Ballet Company for the past four years in their annual Nutcracker, along with the summer and fall performances. After graduation, she attended Western Carolina University for the first year and has now chosen to transfer into the Nursing Program at Haywood Community College. Ciera continues to dance today because of the joy and excitement of knowing she is making a child’s love for dance that much stronger. Even as an adult, dance will always be apart of her life. Ciera is for filling this with her roll as teacher for Legacy Dance Academy.

Mary Katherine Conaway

Miss Mary Katherine joined the Legacy Dance Center staff in the fall of 2019. Miss Mary Katherine is a native of Rural Hall, North Carolina. She graduated from Salem College in May of 2019 with degrees in Dance Studies and Business Administration with a concentration in Entrepreneurship. She has had a love for dance since a young age and has had many teachers who fostered and encouraged her exploration and development of her technique and her personal style as both a performer and choreographer. Throughout her dance education she has been fortunate to work with numerous artists such as Helen Simoneau Danse, 10 Hairy Legs and Alex Biegelson, ZviDance, amongst others. During her college education, she also spent two years performing as a member of the Carolina Cobras Venom Dance Team.

Nicole Borges

Nicole Borges began dancing at Angie’s Dance Academy at the age of five and has not stopped since! She studied ballet, tap, jazz, hip-hop, and lyrical at the studio for thirteen years. She competed with the competition teams for ten years and won many prestigious awards at regional and national competitions with her solos, duets, and group dances. Nicole was also a student teacher for five years where she fully discovered her passion for teaching and working with children. Along with her dancing at the studio, Nicole was a part of the Haywood Christian Academy Fine Arts Program where she participated in seven productions, many of which she held lead roles. Nicole graduated as valedictorian from Haywood Christian Academy in 2019 and is now in the honors college at Western Carolina University majoring in Elementary and Special Education with a minor in dance. Nicole is proud to be a part of Legacy Dance Center and cannot wait to continue to share her love for dance with her students!

Danie Johnson

Danie Johnson was born and raised in Wilmington, North Carolina. After dancing competitively through Middle and High school, she went to East Carolina University to receive a BFA in Dance Performance. While completing her undergraduate studies, Danie lived in New York City throughout the Summer’s to work and train with the Joffrey Ballet School. After receiving her BFA, she moved to Chicago to pursue her dream of dancing professionally. While in Chicago, Danie performed with several professional dance companies such as Inaside Dance Chicago, Cocodaco Dance Project, and Moonwater dance project. In 2018, She moved to Asheville, North Carolina to be closer to her family. While in Asheville, Danie has worked with Stewart Owen Dance as well as the Asheville Ballet. In addition to performing, she enjoys teaching at Legacy Dance Center, WNC Dance Academy, and Pure Barre Asheville. Danie is the Founder and Head Coach of the Montreat College Cheer and Dance Team.

Rebecca Holt

Rebecca, mother of owner Hayley Justice, began her journey in the dance industry when she became a “Dance Mom” in 1996. Since then she has traveled to many competitions and dance conventions supporting her daughter on her dancing dream. She is now working as Legacy’s Office Manager. She enjoys each day at Legacy. Her bubbly personality shines through when she gets to see families at the studio each day. Outside of the studio, Rebecca enjoys gardening, spending time with her family, playing with her two puppies and taking her grandson Holt for Ice Cream. Rebecca is proud to be a part of Legacy Dance Center and cannot wait to continue her knowledge as a Dance Mom with all the moms of Legacy.

Josey Waldrop

Tricia Renshaw

Tricia Renshaw has enjoyed dancing, choreographing, and teaching dance for many years. She began dancing at Delaware Dance Center and Delaware Dance Company in her formative years, and continued her training at Shenandoah Conservatory, Temple University, The Professional School, The Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance, Jeanne Ruddy Dance, East Coast Ballet, and Asheville Academy of Ballet and Contemporary Dance. She received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Dance from Skidmore College, and has danced with Underground DanceWorks in Pennsylvania, Next Step Dance Company in New Jersey, East Coast Ballet Dance Contemporary in Florida, and Asheville Ballet Company in North Carolina. Expanding her roles in the field of dance, she served as the Artistic Director for The Professional School’s Modern Company in New Jersey, is currently the Assistant Artistic Director at the Asheville Ballet where she is also a resident choreographer and performer, and joined the faculty at Western Carolina University as a Professor of Dance in 2016. Outside of dance, she earned her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from the University of North Florida in 2011 and opened her own physical therapy clinic (Restorative PT) in Asheville in 2013. In addition to the performing arts, she enjoys traveling, being outdoors, photography, yoga, diving deep into personal growth, geeking out on all things health and wellness, and loves spending time with family, friends, and her love, Andrew.

Maria Lyons

Maria started dancing at the age of 9. Maria was also very active in her high school band where she played the flute and later chose to join the color-guard her 8th-grade year where she was Captain of the team for 3 years and instructor for 4. Maria was also very active in her high school drama department and community theater where she worked on plays like Into the Woods, Guys & Dolls, and South Pacific to name a few. After graduating Maria attended Meredith College where she double majored in dance and theater with a K-12 certification. Using her extensive experience in dance, drama, band, and theater, Maria opened a dance and theater business in two locations. She also ended up partnering with Swain County Schools for 12 years where she taught dance in their Arts Enrichment Program. She was also the theater departments choreographer for musicals like Beauty and the Beast, The Sound of Music, Grease, Annie, and Little Shop of Horrors. She was selected to work on a movie with Kevin Bacon and Timothy Hutton. Around this time, she co-founded a successful outdoor advertising billboard company with her husband.

Maria is no stranger to the ADA dance family from 2006 through 2010 she was a dance mom and faculty member here. However, after 25 years of being in the dance studio business, Maria chose to sell her dance & theater businesses to focus on her newfound passion of public speaking, mentoring, and training with the John Maxwell Team & Compassion International. As an accredited public speaker for Compassion International, she advocates for children in extreme poverty helping children all over the world get sponsorship for food, clothing, education, and healthcare. Maria is a licensed minister and has organized work for mission teams, youth organizations, and churches. She serves on the executive board of a globally recognized leadership equipping organization known as led2serve. led2serve mobilizes groups from all over the world to work hand in hand with different cultures and countries rebuilding communities, schools, & churches by building relationships in different areas. Maria is also a contracted Journey Leader for teams that travel into the Great Smoky Mountains and Costa Rica areas. Maria is moving to the Waynesville area this year with her husband of 19 years and two kids that she has been homeschooling for 6 years. She’s excited to be back with the ADA faculty and has been blessed getting to know all the new families and reconnecting with her old friends. Maria is currently enrolled at the American College of Healthcare Sciences where is working on degree on Herbal Medicine to become a clinical herbalist.