Our Team

Kara Youngblood, Owner

Kara Youngblood is a McMinnville-based immigration attorney. After graduating from law school, she realized her passion for dance and set a goal to learn and hopefully one day perform at a professional level. However, she quickly realized that finding a resource to learn dance as a beginner adult was almost impossible, especially after moving back to McMinnville from Memphis and Chicago to open her own law office. Upon her return to McMinnville, Kara and Jan quickly connected and she began taking individual basic ballet and jazz classes. But, finding a consistent and suitable space also posed a challenge. After a few years, Jan and Kara have created a space, not only to develop Kara’s individual dance skills, but to share with others in the community that aspire to dance in a welcoming and accepting environment without regard to age or skill level.

Jasmine Dillon , Director and Instructor

Jasmine Dillon is a 22 year old contemporary dancer from McMinnville, TN.  After attending a West African dance intensive in Senegal, Africa, she found a new love for absorbing dance and culture from around the world. Her professional dance career began with a tour in 2021 performing Jade Treadwell’s work Visceral Undercurrent for the Kara Walker Art exhibit, “Cut to the Quick.” Since then she has performed as a soloist for the repertory work Noble Sorrows choreographed by Khia Smith, Monica Bill Barnes & Company in The Running Show, and Kyle Abrahams repertory Yes, we are in our Feelings. Since 2016, Jasmine has both acted and choreographed for Dream Reality Group. She attended the American Dance Festival in North Carolina and the A.I.M by Kyle Abraham Winter Intensive in Los Angeles, California on full scholarships. Jasmine is currently dancing for Unveiled Productions, Southern Black Dance Theatre, and Middle Tennessee State University where she is obtaining a Bachelors of Science in Dance degree with a concentration in Pedagogy in Practice. Jasmine is studying a wide range of dance genres including ballet, jazz, modern, hip hop, Latin, and West African.  While teaching at studios around Middle Tennessee, her goal as a dance educator is to expose her students to all types of dance and the true roots of the genres.

Mikayla Hurst, Instructor

Mikayla Hurst holds a B.S. in Science with a focus in dance and a minor in Health and Human Performance from Middle Tennessee State University. She is a Nashville, Tennessee native and started dance as a freshman in her high school color guard program. After high school, she went on to perform in Drum Corps International World Class as a soloist for Music City Drum and Bugle Corps. While at Middle Tennessee State University, Mikayla trained, performed and traveled with MTSU's dance program and participated and performed at the South Eastern American College Dance Association Conference in 2022 and 2023. She now teaches movement at local high school marching arts programs in the middle Tennessee area. She strives to inspire her students by creating a safe and supportive environment that allows for the exploration of dance as a creative art form.

Millie Miles , Instructor

Millie Miles is a third year double major in Dance and Exercise Science at Middle Tennessee State University. Her training began at Roots Academy in 2017 with mentors such as Jordan Grace Lozoya, Jillian Lovins, and Deavon Walden. Supplementing her dance training, Millie was involved in musical theatre productions all through highschool. While the majority of her training has been in hip hop, contemporary, modern, and jazz dance, Millie deeply appreciates and practices many styles. She’s now continuing her training with MTSU’s Pre-professional Dance Theatre Company and Middle Tennessee Performing Arts Company (MPAC). In her career, she seeks to bring athletic conditioning protocols to dance studios so that more dancers can efficiently improve their talents injury free. As a teacher, Millie aims to help students develop impeccable artistry, confidence and professionalism.