Dynamite Dance Factory​
About Dynamite Dance Factory
About Dynamite Dance Factory
Dynamite Dance Factory is located in Kennesaw, GA. We offer group classes specializing in Jazz, Hip Hop, Ballet, and other dance styles. Join our dance family and watch your dancers explode with potential! Dance classes for ages 2.5 and up!
Celebrating BGM all year long here at Dynamite Dance Factory!
REGISTER FOR 2023-24 FALL/SPRING SEASON BEGINNING MONDAY,SEPTEMBER 11TH!
Spaces ARE limited
https://www.dynamitedancefactory.com/registration-and-tuition​
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Welcome to Dynamite Dance Factory!
Welcome to Dynamite Dance Factory!
Here at Dynamite Dance Factory, we accept ages 2.5 and up! Classes offered in Tap, Jazz, Hip Hop, Lyrical, and more!
Contact us today!
VOTED BEST DANCE STUDIO IN KENNESAW FOR 2022 AND 2023!
We are so excited to have won the Best of Kennesaw for TWO years in a row! Thank you to every dance parent, every friend of the studio, and every DDF dancer for continuing to believe in the "Dynamite Dream"!
Kyri Hayes
Owner
Artistic Director
Instructor
​Kyri Hayes is the owner of Dynamite Dance Factory founded in Summer 2018. Her dream was to have a place that boys and girls could go to as they leave all of their burdens at the door by offering dance classes for various ages. Kyri began her dance training at a young age in Cartersville, Georgia. She has worked alongside of dance studios such as Cartersville School of Ballet, The Georgia Ballet, Decatur School of Ballet, and Woodland High School's fine arts program in the dance department. During her four educational years at Woodland High School, she was able to earn her certification upon graduation as a Woodland High School Fine Arts Major in 2013. In the years to follow, she choreographed for Woodland's C.A.T.S.(Cartersville Artistic Talent Showcase) leads and dance ensemble of Catch Me If you Can, How to Succeed in Business without Trying, In the Heights, and many more mainstream musicals under the direction of Elissa Marks Marele. Her jazz and hip-hop choreography has also been showcased under the direction of Terri Kayser and Karen Grantham in Cartersville School of Ballet's productions such as Kaleidoscope, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Princess and the Frog, Cinderella, and other various festivals around the supporting Metro-Atlanta areas.
Kyri always had a sparkle of hope that she could call Dynamite Dance Factory her own one day. "I always shut down the idea of having my own studio. I thought I did not have the qualifications...too young..too much responsibility. I literally woke up one day, got onto I-75 to go to my corporate job, and it was like I had a wake up call. I thought about DDF. In that moment, all the motivational speeches, church sermons, and my passion for the art of dance spoke to my heart. In that moment, I promised myself I would not let another year pass by without going for what my heart wanted. I went to go look for spaces and one of the final places I looked at was an old clothing store. Everything was perfect...nice floors, changing rooms, pearl white finishing..of course, I fell a little in love! But I did not fall in love with the price of it. Needless to say, I passed it up. I got discouraged again. I spoke with the leasing agent and he mentioned that he had another space open a two doors down and the square footage was a little smaller. I said I would go peak at it and never did, Then, one day as I was driving home, I forced myself to go look. I fell in love! No, it was not the 4,000 square foot building like next door..but one thing I can always see--potential. I envisioned the dancers that would be welcomed, the art that would be created behind those double doors. I signed the lease on Thursday, June 28, 2018."
Kyri is very dedicated to not only the dance training of the future students at Dynamite Dance Factory, she is just as committed to their mental well-being. She believes that each dancer performs and exhibits how they are feeling and that no one will leave the "Factory" without a seed of hope. She looks forward to all who come join the Dynamite Dance Factory family!
JEJ
Jewel Ellis
BALLET MASTER
Jewel Ellis began her dance career at the age of 3 with Lilburn School of Ballet. Today, Jewel is
nationally known as the “FlowerinaTM” or ballerina flower-girl. She is also CEO of Jewel
Ballerina LLC, an event entertainment company that specializes in classical ballet performances
for luxury weddings and events. Jewel has acquired over 37+ million views on TikTok alone for
showcasing her talent across the country. She has been recognized by Good Morning America,
NBC LX, FOX 5, ABC, and many more for her unique spin on a timeless tradition. Jewel strives
to continue exposing the art of classical ballet to the masses and educating the next generation of
ballet dancers at Dynamite Dance Factory.
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Stephanie Simpkins
INSTRUCTOR
Stephanie Simpkins has over 25 years of dance training and 14 years of teaching experience. Stephanie started her dance training at age 5, at the Venettes Cultural Workshop, under the direction of Vanessa Baird in Long Island, NY.
In 2004 Stephanie and her family moved from Long Island, NY to small town Cartersville, Georgia. Shortly after moving, Stephanie found Spirit of Dance Company. As a young adult Stephanie trained under various instructors including the Director Tanecia Weems and instructor Dee Baskerville. In 2006 Stephanie was hired as an assistance teacher working with the mini group. She quickly found success in her ability to create fun classrooms and teach little one’s discipline and technique at a young age. Throughout her first few years of teaching, she established a student following and has since continued to train a few of her first mini students all the way to high school graduation.
Between the age of 18 and 25 Stephanie expanded her dance training to other studios within the Atlanta Area. Throughout her adult years she primarily trained at Gotta Dance Atlanta under the direction of Cici Kelley. At Gotta Dance Atlanta Stephanie trained with a wide number of other instructors such as Allyne Gartrell, Peter Poulos and Daryl Foster. Through the years Stephanie worked on the Gotta Dance Atlanta team as a work study intern perfecting her craft in Ballet, Jazz, Modern, Contemporary, Hip Hop and Lyrical. Stephanie eventually became a staff member at Gotta Dance Atlanta teaching pre-teen Jazz.
In 2014 Stephanie ventured into the world of competition dance. Stephanie continued teaching with a specialized focus in her all-time favorite genre, Jazz.
Stephanie has found an amazing love for watching a young dancer become confident, build self-esteem, blossom, and grow within dance. Stephanie believes her dancers have no limits. Stephanie looks forward to continuing being a Coach for the "Brown Girl Twirl" and "SPARKS" Performance Groups. She also teaches Monday recreational classes.
Dominique Leonard
INSTRUCTOR
Dominique Leonard found her passion for dance at the age of 2. She continued her dance education after moving from New York to Georgia at the age of 4. She began training under the instruction of Erica Keating at Carla’s Dance Factory (CDF) at the age of 10 in Fayetteville, Ga. As a member of CDF’s junior and teen company, Dominique competed in dance competitions
annually in styles such as tap, jazz, and lyrical. Throughout high school, she served as the Choreography Captain for the McIntosh High School Chiefettes Dance Team. As the Choreography Captain, she choreographed the winning UDA Jazz Home Routine for her teammates. The Chiefettes competed under the Universal Dance Association (UDA) at the state,regional, and national levels, and Dominique has won numerous state titles with the group in
Pom and Jazz. Dominique was named the first place teen soloist out of over 10 competitors at the 2019 Georgia
State Championship; and choreographed the winning solo. Prior to leaving her hometown for college, she began her career as a studio instructor. She enjoys getting to know her students personally and loves building relationships with fellow dancers. Dominique graduated in the Spring of 2023 with a Bachelors in Secondary Education and a minor in Dance. She married the love of her life in the Summer of 2023. Dominique looks forward to continuing being a Coach for the "Brown Girl Twirl" and "SPARKS" Performance Groups. She also teaches Monday recreational classes.
Amber Jones
Office Manager
Amber Jones has been a supporter of DDF from the very beginning. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Kennesaw State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Nonprofit and Leadership. She is a woman of God that does public speaking, performing poetry, & creating content for ministries and businesses nationally. She mastered the art of communication and sales for a variety of businesses over the span of a decade. She and her incredible 8 year old son now live in north Georgia in their brand new home. She enjoys laying on the beach, singing, writing poetry, and spending time with her son.
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Tapper, performer, and choreographer, LaTonya Boston, hails from Dublin, Georgia. She completed her degree in Bachelor of Arts in Dance at Brenau University. Her training is in tap, jazz, hip-hop, and modern. She has had the privilege of studying under Gilda Loyd, Doctor Madia Cooper- Ashirfi, Michael Jablonski, and Nurzhan Kulybaev. Boston has had the opportunity of being selected to perform works created by well known choreographers such as Jennifer Archibald, Nicholas Palmquist, Owen Scarlett, and Joshua Blake Carter. Additionally, Boston has gained knowledge in the creative process while debuting her choreographic works during her tenure at Brenau both on stage and on screen. She is currently a member of The Tap Rebels, Atlanta’s International Professional Tap Dance Company. in Bachelor of Arts in Dance at Brenau University. Her training is in tap, jazz, hip-hop, and modern. She has had the privilege of studying under Gilda Loyd, Doctor Madia Cooper- Ashirfi, Michael Jablonski, and Nurzhan Kulybaev. Boston has had the opportunity of being selected to perform works created by well known choreographers such as Jennifer Archibald, Nicholas Palmquist, Owen Scarlett, and Joshua Blake Carter. Additionally, Boston has gained knowledge in the creative process while debuting her choreographic works during her tenure at Brenau both on stage and on screen. She is currently a member of The Tap Rebels, Atlanta’s International Professional Tap Dance Company.
LaTonya "Tootie" Boston​
Instructor