Directors
Ken & Teresa Farley
Ken and Teresa both share a love for the arts. Helping start Histown Dance was something they felt strongly about because they have both seen firsthand how dance can be a powerful way of communicating God’s love, healing and grace.
Ken’s background in marketing includes over twenty-five years in the Christian music industry with much of that spent in radio programming and promotions. He was also Director of National Promotions at ForeFront Records where he worked closely with their artists, artist management and radio stations across the country. Ken left the label and started other business ventures that include producing several nationally syndicated countdown shows, running an online music research company, and doing voice-over work. Ken will be the first to admit he can’t dance but that doesn’t stop him from helping oversee a lot of what goes on behind the scenes at the studio.
Teresa has a background in Communication Ed/Theatre. With over twenty years involved in various aspects of dance, theatre and education, Teresa helps oversee the day to day operations of the studio, interacting with parents, students and teachers. As a mother of dancers herself, she knows the importance of making sure that the studio provides a safe, positive environment where students can thrive and grow. Teresa helps keep things at the studio running smoothly and she’s the one you’ll hear laughing in the reception area as she chats with parents and students.
Ken and Teresa have three children, Eric, Elisha and Kayla. Their oldest daughter, Elisha, is Co-Director and helps run the studio as well, spending much of her time as a teacher and choreographer.
Director/Teacher
Elisha Curb
Elisha has been trained in Ballet, for 18 years.
She was taught the Russian Vaganova, and Royal Academy of Dance, (RAD) ballet techniques. She currently teaches the Vaganova technique. At the age of twelve she decided to widen her horizon and try other styles of dance, including Modern, Jazz, Hip Hop and others.
Upon graduating from high school she trained at M.T.S.U. and then was involved in the Certificate Dance Program at Vanderbilt University. Elisha interned with Still Point Dance Company, a modern dance company that travels and performs around the world. She also got the opportunity to work with José Limón’s world renowned modern dance company instructors when they came to Vanderbilt.
Blessed and willing, Elisha started HisTown Dance Studio 6 years ago. Her heart for HisTown is to be a studio that strives for excellence and dances with a strong purpose. HisTown offers classes for all ages and levels.
Elisha has performed in dance companies, productions, conferences, Colleges, Award shows, Schools, Cruises, churches, competitions, and music videos with artists including Rebecca St. James and Chris Tomlin. She has also choreographed for many productions, ministries, churches, recitals and other various performances. Elisha has lead the after-school inner-city dance program at Rocketown. Also, she has taught all ages and levels at dance studios, schools and churches and was even blessed with the opportunity to teach dance in the Nashville projects.
Teachers
Andrea Howat
Andrea began her dance training 20 years ago at a studio in the northern suburbs of Chicago. There she studied jazz, ballet, lyrical, hip hop, and tap with several of Chicago’s finest instructors. Discovering her love for rhythm tap, Andrea pursued her passion for hoofing all the way to Chicago’s South Side. For two years she studied under Idella Reed-Davis at the Sammy Dyer School of the Theatre, one of the oldest known tap schools in the country.
Before leaving for college, Andrea was honored to dance with M.A.D.D. Rhythms, a rhythm tap company comprised of some of the finest tappers in the business including Martin “Tre” Dumas III, Bril Barrett, and Jumaane Taylor. In 2007, Andrea received her Bachelor’s Degree in Musical Theatre & Dance from Palm Beach Atlantic University in South Florida. While there, she was featured in several musicals, and acting as dance captain, Andrea also had the opportunity to reset the original Broadway choreography for “West Side Story”.
Ms. Howat has been brought in as a substitute tap teacher for beginner through advanced levels both at the renown Joel Hall Dance Center and the Lou Conte Dance Studio in Chicago. Relocating to Nashville, Ms. Howat has continued to hand down the tap legacy she has inherited by teaching at area dance studios. Andrea loves to laugh and is known in the studio for her enthusiasm for dance, rhythm, and music. She hopes to inspire others to create art that is excellent and to use their passion and abilities to make an impact beyond themselves.
Demetre Harris
"I've danced at Histown since I was 13 years old. I love dance. I began teaching dance at Histown at the age of 17. Since becoming a teacher, I have found that there isn't any greater joy than sharing my passion with students willing to learn. Ive danced on a Carnival Cruise ship, several churches, the Williamson County Fair, inner-city schools, Rocketown, and most recently Nashville Ballet. I love all forms of dance, however the style that brings me the most joy is Hip Hop. The freedom of movement and creativity, both power and finesse, the perfect mixture of technique and style; I'm crazy about Hip Hop. Most importantly, I love teaching kids just how to move. To break out of thier shell and to discover who they are. To inspire confidence in not only Christ but also in themselves. Thats what dance has taught me. Thats what Histown has shown me. Its the reason why I dance and teach."
Amanda Vickers
Amanda Vickers started dancing at the age of 3. She trained in classical ballet and at the age of 14 expanded her training in learning different styles of dance including modern, jazz, lyrical, and hip hop. She has had many opportunities to use her gift of dance in serving the Lord.
Amanda has performed for several churches and also received the privilege of going on an all girls Christian getaway cruise with HisTown. Last summer she got to go to Florida to help with a dance camp HisTown hosted at a church. She most was recently was able to glorify God by dancing at a church in Belize. Amanda loves both dancing and teaching dance. She is determined to use her abilities to minister to others and to also worship God. Dancing is her passion and something she will continue to do to show Christ to others.
Lizzie Goddard
Lizzie started her dance training at the age of three, at Dance Classique, four years later, she moved to Dance Emmanuel and was trained in classical ballet for six years. Lizzie came to Histown in 2007, and has loved the diversity of styles she has been exposed to.
She has had the opportunity to dance on a Premiere Christian Cruise, teach dance camps in Florida, perform and teach in inner-city schools in Nashville, teach a dance class to the Bantu refugees in Nashville, and also the privilege to hold a dance camp when she traveled to Sulymaniah, Iraq in the Fall of 2010. She has been so grateful to the joy and opportunity dance has given her through the years, and plans to continue dance training through college.
Kay Pardue
Kay is currently a senior in high school and has been dancing for over 14 years. She started taking dance classes at 2 years old and has been in love with it ever since. Kay danced in Florida until she moved to Tennessee at the age of 12. She then continued her training at Dance Emmanuel, until its closing. Afterward she moved to First Light and from there came to Histown. She has been at Histown since 2008 and has grown in her dance more than ever. After arriving at Histown she also discovered her love for teaching. One highlight of her time with HisTown was the opportunity to teach a summer dance camp in her home town of Brandon, FL.
Kay has a love for people and sharing Christ’s love for them. Along with her passion for dance, Kay has a very deep passion for orphans. In the winter of 2010 she started working with a non-profit called Show Hope. When she is not dancing or doing her schoolwork, she is probably at Show Hope volunteering and working on various projects. God has given Kay these many talents and her goal is to use each of them to bring Him glory. Her biggest passion though is her passion for Christ and growing in her relationship with him.