EWSD Faculty

Elizabeth Williams

Elizabeth is the owner and Artistic Director of the Elizabeth Williams School of Dance which she opened in 1980. She teaches ballet, pointe, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, hip hop, and tumbling. She received her training from Anneliese Von Oettingen of Cincinnati, Ohio. Anneliese, originally from Germany, studied under Eugenia Eduardova and Nicolai Legat. Elizabeth has also studied under Frank Hatchett, Roni Mahler, Joe Tremaine, Doug Cauldwell, Joe Lanteri and others. She was the children’s rehearsal coach for the Knoxville/Tulsa Ballet for 10 years and had the opportunity to work with Moscelyn Larkin Jasinski and Marcello Angelini. Elizabeth has also been a singer, dancer, and actress with the “Pop Goes America” show in Gatlinburg, as well as one of the original dinner theaters in Pigeon Forge.

Over the past 40 years, Elizabeth’s students have been selected and attended both summer and year round programs at American Ballet Theatre, Joffrey Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, North Carolina School for the Arts,Nashville Ballet, and Boston Ballet School. After their high school graduation, her students have been accepted to dance programs and dance teams at the following Universities: University of the Arts, Cincinnati, Kentucky, Alabama, South Carolina, Tennessee Knoxville, Tennessee Chattanooga, Auburn, Memphis, Middle Tennessee State, East Tennesse State, Southern Florida, Carson Newman, and Maryville College. Elizabeth has had students on the Tennessee Titans, the Nashville Predators, and most recently “So You Think You Can Dance”, Denver Broncos Cheerleaders, and the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders. Her students have performed in Hershey PA., Dollywood, Smoky Mountain Opry, Country Tonight Theatre,Disney Channel and various other Productions.

Elizabeth is Tremaine’s Teacher of the Year, and has also been awarded the Marjorie Perry Spirit Award from Dance Makers, and The Association of Dance Competion and Conventions Award. Elizabeth also has former students now teaching through out the United States. She directs 8 performing companies which have won numerous 1st place and overall high score awards, both regionally and nationally, for their outstanding performances. She has won several choreography awards for her group production numbers. Several of her students have been named National Title Winners and Overall High Score Winners. Along with the instructing at the EWSD studios, Elizabeth also finds time for many other teaching, choreographing, and judging opportunities. She has been a guest instructor/choreographer for several different companies. She has choreographed for local music theaters, cheer squads and dance teams. She had judged for regional and national dance competitions at different venues across the country. Elizabeth was the dance team coach for the Knoxville Thunderbolts and the Smoky Mountain Jam (American Basketball Association Teams) Elizabeth and her Husband, Ricky, were the owners of the Smoky Mountain Jam. Elizabeth volunteers her time to several local organizations including; Director of the Distinguished Young Woman of Sevier County (formerly Sevier County Jr. Miss, where in 1978 Elizabeth was crowned Sevier County’s Junior Miss and was awarded the talent award and the poise and appearance award), Artistic Director of the Great Smoky Mountain Dance Theater, where students present a full length ballet performed by students in all major and minor roles, choreographer of the Veterans Day Show, and coordinating dance groups from local studios to perform at several local events.

Elizabeth enjoys watching students acquire a love of dance and feels most successful when her students achieve goals they never dreamed possible.

Brittany Williams

Brittany Williams began dancing when she was 2 years old. She was trained under Elizabeth Williams, as well as Elizabeth’s instructor Anneliese Von Ottingen of Germany. Brittany is trained in ballet, pointe, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, hip hop, tumbling, cheer, musical theatre, tap, acting and puppeteering. At the age of 7 she joined the first EWSD petite competition team. Brittany won several awards over the years including scholarships from Tremaine and New York City Dance Alliance, 1st Place Titanium winner and ballet scholarship recipient at Dance Educators of America, overall high score at International Dance Challenge, and preliminary talent winner at Tennessee’s Junior Miss. Brittany was the original Sugar Plum Fairy in the Great Smoky Mountain Dance Theatre’s Nutcracker “Sweet” for 3 years. She also made her vegetable debut as Larry the Cucumber in Dollywood’s production of Veggie Tales Live.

After graduating from Pigeon Forge High School, Brittany became a Universal Dance Association instructor.  She attended MTSU for 2 years where she majored in business and minored in dance. While there, she was a member of the MTSU Dance Team and also assisted with choreography for their nationals routine. Brittany then transferred to King College where she graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration.

Throughout it all, Brittany has been teaching and choreographing for Elizabeth Williams School of Dance and Great Smoky Mountain Dance Theatre. Brittany has choreographed several roles in the GSMDT’s “The Nutcracker” as well as helping create the concept of their hip hop twist “Da Nutcracka.” She has won choreography awards at International Dance Challenge, New York/Los Angeles Dance Alliance, and Epic Dance Showcase to name a few. She has done choreography for the Biblical Times Dinner Show in Pigeon Forge, TN, and despite her busy schedule at the studio, she continues to choreograph for several local high school and middle school dance teams, cheer teams, color guards, and show choirs. 

Hannah Johnson

Hannah Brewer Johnson began dancing at Elizabeth Williams School of Dance at the age of 3. From there she joined the Competition Team at the age of 8 and continued to compete until the age of 18.During her 15 years as a dancer at Elizabeth Williams School of Dance, Hannah was trained in Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Hip Hop, Lyrical, Contemporary, Tumbling, and Acro. In addition to competing, Hannah was involved in the the Great Smoky Mountain Dance Theatre production “The Nutcracker”. She is an original cast member and has performed in every show since 2004. As well as being a performer for GSMDT, Hannah is also a choreographer, rehearsal coach, and stage manager. Hannah has also performed as a member of two different American Basketball Association (ABA) dance teams; the Knoxville Thunder Bolts (2008-2009) and the Smoky Mountain Jam (2009-2010). Along with being a performer, Hannah was also a choreographer for the Lady Bolts and Southern Belles where she contributed to many Pom, Jazz, and Hip Hop routines.

Hannah began teaching for Elizabeth Williams in 2005 and she teaches ages 2 to adult. In 2011, Hannah began teaching and choreographing for the EWSD company. Since Hannah has started teaching for the EWSD Company, her dances have won numerous Choreography Awards, various Judges Awards, and invitations to perform in special showcases from several dance competitions. Hannah’s choreography also holds many Group and Production National Titles as well as several National Dancer of the Year and Runner-Up Dancer of the Year Titles. Along with teaching for the Elizabeth Williams School of Dance, Hannah also helped develop and create the concept behind GSMDT’s hip hop twist on the classical performance of “The Nutcracker” called “Da Nutcracka”. Hannah also spends her time working with many of the local High School and Middle School dance teams providing choreography for half time performances and UDA and NDA competitions.

 Hannah loves working with the kids to help themgrow and progress. Her goal as a teacher is to help instill a strong work ethic, a healthy competitive drive, and the confidence and knowledge to do their absolute best on and off the stage.  

Emily Fain-Lynch

Emily was a student of Elizabeth Williams School of Dance for 15 years, and a member of the company for 10 years. During those years Emily was the Distinguished Young Woman of Sevier County (formerly known as Junior Miss) for the year 2012, and she continues to serve as the choreographer for the scholarship program. During the Distinguished Young Woman local program Emily was also awarded the Talent award and scholarship for her lyrical solo. She began teaching for EWSD In 2011, and is trained in various styles including tumbling, cheer, ballet, jazz, and hip hop. She obtained her bachelors degree from Maryville College; during her four years Emily was both a Maryville College Cheerleader serving as captain her senior year and a member of the Maryville College Dance Ensemble performance company. Emily has coached and choreographed for multiple local middle and high school dance teams and cheer squads throughout the year. She is also actively involved in judging tryouts for many middle school, high school, and college squads and dance teams. In addition to teaching at EWSD Emily is a wife, mom, and school counselor for Knox County Schools.

Jenna Tinajero

Jenna Tinajero began dancing at Elizabeth Williams School of Dance at the age of 3. Jenna is trained in ballet, pointe, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, cheer, tumbling, hip hop, and tap. At the age of 5, she joined the EWSD competition team and continued to compete until the age of 18. Jenna has received various scholarships and awards, including: $40,000 scholarship to attend AMDA, Tremaine Dance scholarships, Dancer of the year Finalist for Celebration Talent, scholarships to attend the Hollywood Summer Tour, and multiple high score awards. Jenna has also performed with the Great Smoky Mountain Dance Theatre in their production of “The Nutcracker”. She has held many soloist and demi-soloist roles, such as: Clara, Dew Drop Fairy, and Dew Drop Demi.

Jenna will be attending the University of Tennessee, while being on faculty at EWSD. She has worked with both recreational dancers, as well as, members of the EWSD competition teams. Jenna has also worked with several local little league, middle school, and high school cheer teams to choreograph routines for competitions and half-time performances. Jenna loves having the opportunity to share her knowledge of dance with students in and out of the studio.

Cara Lusk

Jaclyn Schiess

Emily Elder

Ashlynn Fuentes

Saydie Flynn

Nariah Mullins-Student Teacher

Charlie Stone-Student Teacher