Elite Dance Center Full Time Faculty

Taylor Coil - Competitive

Elite Dance Center

Competition Teacher and Coach

June 2024 - Current

Taylor is a Fort Wayne native. At a very young age, Taylor discovered her love for dance and spent over 10 seasons with the Fort Wayne Ballet, under the direction of Karen Gibbons Brown. Some of her key roles while with the Fort Wayne Ballet include, Cupid in Don Quixote, Clara and Lead Arabian in The Nutcracker, and soloist in a piece choreographed by Jane Lanier. Taylor’s dancing knowledge comes from studying under master teachers David Ingram, Jeremy Blanton, Kim Sagami, and Igor Antonov. She has also attended the LINES Summer Intensive and spent time as a Trainee for the Richmond Ballet. Outside of the studio, you will probably see her with her two dogs and husband Brennan. Taylor is beyond excited to take her love and knowledge of teaching and passion for dance to Elite Dance Center. 

Kerry Coughlin - Competitive

Elite Dance Center

Competition Teacher and Coach

August 2021 - Current (June 2023)

Kerry began her dance education with Fort Wayne Ballet in 1996, studying under Karen Gibbons-Brown as well as other Master Teachers such as Eleonora Pokhitonova Hartung, Jeremy Blanton, Kim Sagami, and Adam Sklute. After growing up in the academy, Kerry became a professional company member and danced for nine seasons with Fort Wayne Ballet. Some of her favorite roles to date have been the Lilac Fairy in The Sleeping Beauty, the Bride in Carmina Burana, Pas de Trois in Swan Lake and several in The Nutcracker including Snow Queen and Sugar Plum Fairy.  She has performed in several Gerald Arpino ballets, including Birthday Variations and Light Rain.  In 2017, Kerry performed the role of Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker with Virginia Regional Ballet as a guest artist. She was also the first graduate to receive a BFA in Dance from the University of Saint Francis. Her teaching credentials include more than 5 years with Fort Wayne Ballet training ages 5 to 17 in tap and classical ballet; as well as professional certification from the American Ballet Theatre National Training Curriculum in Pre-Primary through Level 3. Kerry is so excited to start this new adventure and begin sharing her training and experience with the EDC team!

Allison Hale - Competitive Tap & Recreational Dance

Elite Dance Center

Competition Teacher and Coach

August 2021 - Current (June 2023)

Allison Hale started her dance education at the age of five. She danced competitively through out high school regionally and nationally. After high school, she began teaching recreational and competitive  classes at the Patricia Krus School of Dance. Her dancers competed regionally and nationally winning entertainment and choreography awards through the next fifteen years. She has worked with dancers in the northeast Indiana area for close to 20 years. Allison loves sharing her love of art and movement through dance.

Outside of the studio, Allison loves spending time with her husband, Preston, and three children (Ryan, Evelyn, and Meredith). She also works full time at an area preschool teaching art, music, and fitness. Allison is excited to be joining the Elite Dance Center staff and share her love of dance.

Kelsey Kanatzar - Competitive & Recreational Hip Hop

Elite Dance Center

Kelsey began dancing at 8 years old in her hometown of Colorado Springs. Growing up in a competitive dance studio, Kelsey was trained in all styles of dance, but felt her calling was in Hip Hop. At 17, she moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career as a professional dancer. She was excited to find work as a dancer for various projects including a music video with famous Youtube star, Rosanna Pansino, and a backup dancer for a scene in the video game, “The Last of Us.” However, Kelsey felt she was more suited for choreography and prioritized work where she could help assist other choreographers in their projects. From there, she worked with popular choreographers Nika Kljun, Miguel Zarate, Jojo Gomez, and Liz Imperio on various projects including popular Youtube concept videos, Hollywood Vibe Dance Convention, The Industry Dance Awards, and the Latin American Music Awards. 

After 5 years as a professional dancer and choreographer, Kelsey decided to shift her focus to school where she completed her bachelors in Communication from UC Santa Barbara. Now after having recently graduated, Kelsey has just moved to Fort Wayne to be closer to family and enjoy a change of pace. She is so excited to be joining the Elite Dance Center as a hiphop teacher! 

Holly Johnson – Acrobatics and Tumbling

Holly began gymnastics at the age of 4 and grew up cheering competitively and training specifically in power tumbling. She began coaching competitive cheerleading and tumbling immediately out of high school, then became tumbling and competitive cheer/pom instructor and class assistant at a local dance studio where she taught for 9 years. She and her daughter immediately fell in love with the dance world, thus, Holly passionately began developing her knowledge and love for dance of all styles through assisting in technique, ballet, and jazz classes and purposefully seeking out learning opportunities from professionals in the field. Holly now has several years experience in choreographing and teaching acrobatic dance at the competitive level. She is certified to teach all levels in Acrobatic Arts, preschool through PrePro. She is also certified in mUvmethod and Alixa Flexibility, and has extensive training in mental performance through Complete Performance Coaching. She is also a certified Double Goal Coach through Positive Coaching Alliance and frequently continues her education by attending trainings with professionals such as Levi Nickson (tumvlesmart Athletics) and Lain Lee, III (The Coach Lain Methon). She attended the University of Saint Francis to obtain a Bachelor of Science in Education and is currently licensed in elementary education/mild intervention. Her favoriate part of teaching acro/tumbling is seeing the excitement from dancers when they gain new skills and helping them rise to their potential. Outside of the studio, Holly is mother to Kamzy, Easton, Koda, and Jett, and partner in her husbands many business ventures. She is cofounder and president of a nonprofit organization called Kids Purpose Project, Inc., which focuses on supporting local children living in poverty. Family, faith, and acrodance are her passions!

Jodie Hulburt - Elite Dance Center Office Manager/Teacher/Coach

Elite Dance Center

Competition Teacher and Coachility, and has extensive training in mental performance through complete p

August 2021 - Current (January 2024)

Zach Hudson - Instructor

Zach Hudson is 31 years old originally from Beloit Wisconsin. Currently based in Los Angeles via New York City. Zach started dancing at the age of 12 years old. Then at the age of 19 he moved to NYC. He started training in Broadway Dance Center's first ever Professional Semester program and immersing himself in the NYC culture. After a few years Zach also began to teach at the leading studios in NYC; Broadway Dance Center, Peridance Capezio Center. Getting to assist Brian Friedman, Laurianne Gibson, Gil Duldilao and Ian Eastwood. Zach has also mentored under some of the biggest names while in New York/LA. Through mentors Rhapsody James and Tricia Miranda. He got the opportunity to learn from the best in the industry which gave him the skills necessary to navigate the industry. Most recently Zach has had the chance to perform at the Super Bowl Halftime Show LVI with Eminem, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Kendrick Lamar. Other credits include Zendaya, Nicki Minaj, Jennifer Lopez, Camila Cabello, Meg Thee Stallion, Gwen Stefani, Becky G, Sam Smith, Zedd and Maren Morris. He has also worked with major brands on commercials such as Nike, Tide, Spotify, Target, Walmart, Marshalls, Sketchers, Credit Karma. Zach has been able to build a career from his gift of dance. His goal is to inspire people and dancers around the world to use their own talents to express their own personal voice to their fullest, and use it everyday. Inspiring students to be confident and to push themselves to their limit for positive growth is his goals and focus for his classes!

Jazmin Lakin - Instructor

Jazmin started dancing when she was 2 years old. She dance in a competitive contemporary company called Dancers Edge for 10 years. She also attended ballet school at Project Ballet and Indiana Ballet Conservatory. Jazmin Join Expressenz Dance during her senior year. Jazmin is going into her sophomore year at Marymount Manhattan College for a BFA in dance with a minor in Theater.