Staff | Vision Dance

Meet The Team

Jenny
Hicks

Founder

Comp. Cheer Coach

Comp. Dance Instructor

Tumble Instructor

Jenny resides in Denton and has taken dance since the age of two she has been involved in competitive dance as well as cheerleading and pageants. She has a passion for teaching students of all ages to dance and express themselves through dance. Jenny began a dance ministry with a heart of opening doors to the community and their families. She hopes to not only strengthen dancing abilities and other talents but also to lead others closer to Christ by teaching them that they can worship through dance. She believes that if you place Christ in the center of all you do, you will always succeed!

Jenny has two little girls, Mae Lee, and Mabry, and is happily married to her husband, Daniel

Alyssa Manley

Comp. Cheer Coach

Comp. Dance Instructor

Rec. Dance Instructor

My name is Alyssa Manley! I was born and raised in Tennessee, I moved to North Carolina in November of 2020 after marrying my husband Andrew! I have loved dance since I was a little girl! I started dancing at three years old and started competing at eight years old! At age 14, I started teaching and found my true passion! In college, I got to continue to dance as well as join the cheer team! I found a new love and then coached a competitive cheer team and elementary cheer for two years! My favorite part of teaching is sharing my love of dance and cheer with others, and at Vision, I am so blessed to add a whole other level and get to share the love of Jesus too! VDC has brought me the most amazing friends and family!

Susanna Sutton

Rec. Dance Instructor

I have danced since the age of three, taught classical ballet for fifteen years, and performed locally in NC, surrounding states, and internationally in India, Isreal, and Germany. I love performing and teaching others excellence in technique to use for God's glory. When I'm not dancing my husband and I are passionate about raising a godly family with our three children, Joseph, Charlotte, and Colette.

Heather Houchins

Rec. Dance Instructor

Heather has been involved in the dance world for 41 years. Throughout her dance career, she has been able to obtain the role of a dancer, a teacher (25 years) with a focus on tap and ballet, a judge trained in multiple styles, and a dance mom. Heather has always loved the art of dance and thrives on sharing her passion with those she teaches.

Ashley
Carroll

Cheer

Coach

Coach Ashley began her coaching journey with Vision in fall of 2023. But her journey starts long before that. Coach Ashley began dancing at age 4 and began cheering in 3rd grade. She was trained in tap, ballet, jazz, acro, pointe, clogging, ballroom dancing and shagging. She cheered throughout school where her high school competition team consecutively placed in state competitions. She later joined an all star competition team in Durham called the Spirit Xpress Allstars. She was a 4 time All American cheerleader and competed and performed in the 1999 All American cheer competition and performed in the halftime show of the Pro Bowl with N’Sync. She has worked as a summer camp instructor and has traveled the US teaching cheer to many youth. In 2006, she began coaching an all star team from Salisbury with ages ranging from 4-18. She traveled the east coast, winning many National titles. After having 2 babies, in 2013 she decided to stay close to home and started coaching her high school team, South Davidson. She coached there until god led her to a higher calling of serving the Davidson County Board of Education. After a long break, God led her back to doing what she loves most. Sharing the love of cheer. Shes a mom of two wonderful children, Reece and Charlotte. Shes a special needs mom and advocate. Her life is spent serving children and those who can’t advocate for themselves. Vision gives her the perfect foundation to spread gods love and serve all children.

Crystal
Wisdom

Office
Manager

Thomasville-born but West Coast-raised, Crystal Wisdom has a passion for community and helping others. She began to dance during high school, where she was introduced to ballet, tap, jazz, and modern at the San Diego School Of Creative and Performing Arts (SDSCPA). Dance in any capacity is something she enjoys. Crystal has had the opportunity to be a part of dance in many capacities. Such as assisting in revitalizing dance within the community of Big Bear Lake, California, to opening paths for dancers to experience performing on stage at the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles, California. The Lord guided Crystal and her family to return to her birthplace of Thomasville five years ago, which is very near and dear to her heart. She is a homeschooling boy mama to three great sons, two of whom have graduated, and is married to her husband, Jacob. Crystal is joining the Vision team as our office manager and is excited to be a part of such a wonderful family of students, parents, and staff.

Comp. Dance Instructor

Zoe Collins

My name is Zoe Collins, and I have been dancing since I was 8 years old. I danced recreationally for 5 years before starting the competition when I was 13. That is where I found my true passion! I started teaching right out of high school, and have been teaching ever since! Teaching competition is the best job in the world and I wouldn't trade it for anything else. I continue to dance and compete myself, while also coaching some amazing teams! VDC is my home away from home, my second family

Rec. Dance Instructor

Taylor
Buchanan

I have loved dance since I can remember! I began classical ballet at the age of 6 and continued with that until I went to college. I have had experience in pointe, jazz, tap, and modern as well. I started out being an assistant teacher for many years and now have been solo teaching for about 3 years. I am engaged and getting married in September! When I’m not teaching dance, I’m cutting and coloring hair in the salon. I enjoy hanging out with my pup, soaking in the sun, and spending time with Jesus! I’m SO grateful and excited for the opportunity to join Vision Dance.

Rec. Dance Instructor

Tumble Instructor

Anna
Taylor

Hi! My name is Anna Taylor! I have been dancing since five years old and competing since nine years old. I started assisting in dance and tumble classes at 13 years old and quickly fell in love with teaching! I have been at Vision since 2020 and it will forever have a huge place in my heart! I have danced in many styles but my favorites include tumbling and lyrical. Since being at Vision I have been a part of the Junior Staff! I love being able to teach dance, cheer, and tumble to those of all ages. I have a huge passion for spreading the love of Christ to those around me. I love being able to lift others up while teaching them new skills! I am very excited for this opportunity and look forward to a fun year!

Rec. Dance Instructor

Bethany
Egelnick

I started dancing at my local dance studio when I was 8 learning jazz, ballet and contemporary. Instantly I fell in love with the world of dance between the athleticism, discipline, and grace it teaches. Most importantly I love how you can worship God through the art of dance. Our bodies are designed to move and create and that looks different for each individual but that’s why I love dancing so much! I look forward to this next year to be able to teach students with that same passion in their hearts!

Tumble
Coach

Stacy
McLean

I grew up loving the sport of gymnastics my whole life. I have always loved being upside down, flipping, twirling and swinging. I was a competitive girls artistic gymnast for 10 years and competed at state championships each year and won 1st place for vault at my last state championships in 2007. 8 years after I retired from girls artistic gymnastics I competed in trampoline and power tumbling and earned 4th place at National Championships in level 8 power tumbling. I also won 1st place in synchronized trampoline for level 8 at State Championships. I have been coaching competitive gymnastics, cheer and tumbling for nearly 15 years and I love to learn more and more ways to help kids learn new skills. My goal is always to encourage each athlete, help them create positive mindsets, edify them and build them up as a beautiful successful person in everything they do. I love Jesus, He is my best friend and has rescued me from so much and continues to guide me, love me and comfort me. I just hope I can help other people lean into Jesus for everything they need help with, as He is our ultimate healer, counselor, comforter and joy! 1 Corinthians 2:12-16

Desirae
Stone

Fundraising

Manager

Hi, my name is Desirae Stone! You can find me at the front desk with Mrs. Crystal most of the time! I am also over all the fundraising/marketing events we do throughout the year! I’m always open to new ideas so if you ever have any ideas or questions come see me! A little about me - I am 25 years old and married to my wonderful husband, Taylor. We met in middle school in 2011 and fell in love at first sight! We have two wonderfully amazing kids! Our daughter Olivia, who is five years old, and our son, Ryder who is one and a half years old! My daughter has been a part of Vision Dance for about four years and I have seen her flourish so much!!