Faculty

Nicole Koenig is a highly respected ballet educator and former professional ballet dancer

with nearly 30 years of teaching experience. She danced with Nashville Ballet for 11

seasons, performing both soloist and principal roles in works by renowned choreographers

including Marius Petipa, George Balanchine, Choo San Goh, Benjamin Harkarvy, Jean-

Pierre Bonnefoux, and Graham Lustig and Paul Vasterling among others. Her performance

background deeply informs her teaching, bringing both artistic nuance and technical depth

into the studio.

Nicole graduated with honors from The Royal Academy of Dance ballet pedagogy program

as well as attended Canada’s National Ballet School teacher training course. Over the past

18 years Nicole played an integral role in shaping curriculum and syllabi, training teachers

and training dancers from beginner through pre-professional levels. She is known for her

keen understanding of movement mechanics, logical approach to progression, and her

ability to help dancers build strong, healthy technique that supports long-term artistic

development and success.

Nicole has successfully coached students for prestigious international competitions

including Youth America Grand Prix, Boston IBC, and the USA International Ballet

Competition in Jackson. She has also worked with professional dancers, coaching soloist

and principal roles with insight and care while helping the artists bring out their individual

interpretations to classical repertoire while also keeping the beauty and tradition of the

work.

A passionate and empowering teacher, Nicole helps dancers find their unique voice while

upholding high standards of excellence. Her classes balance discipline with warmth, and

she brings a “work hard, play hard” philosophy into the studio—making space for both

rigor and joy.

Nicole is also the founder of Ballet Syllabus Solutions, a consulting business that develops

customized syllabi for ballet schools across the country. She is thrilled to join the NSDA

Day Program and looks forward to contributing her experience, energy, and love for the art

form to a new generation of dancers.

Kyli brings over 10 years of dance experience across styles of ballet, pointe, pas de deux, contemporary, lyrical, jazz, musical theatre, and hip hop. Her well-rounded background, combined with years of competitive and pre-professional training allows her to provide students with strong technical instruction while encouraging artistry, versatility, and confidence in every class.

Originally from Florida, Kyli recieved training at Labelle Performing Arts where she studied under nationally recognized teachers and choreographers. During this time, she discovered her passion for classical ballet and contemporary dance. In 2020, she moved to Nashville, Tennessee to continue her ballet training at Nashville Classical Ballet Academy. After time away due to an injury, she joined NSDA and it quickly became her home, where she continued to refine her artistry and technique in ballet, pointe, and contemporary.

Kyli has competed and placed among the country's most respected ballet competitions, including NYDA, Ballet Championships of America, YAGP, and UBC. She has also received scholarships and acceptances to prestigious intensives including American Ballet Theatre, The Rock School for Dance Education, Kirov Academy, Joffrey Ballet, Nashville Ballet, and other renowned programs.

As an instructor, Kyli is passionate about creating a positive and encouraging environment where dancers feel supported, challenged, and inspired. Having navigated her own recovery from an injury, she understands the importance of training and building strength safely, and taking proper care of our bodies. Her goal is to help every student reach their full potential, fostering not only technical excellence, but also confidence, resilience, and a lifelong love of dance.

Krissy Dodge has a professional career that spans over 22 years. In 2003, she graduated with high honors from Point Park University with a BA in Dance Performance with a concentration in Classical Ballet. 

She then joined the Nashville Ballet as a second company member and quickly made her way up the ranks to Apprentice, Company and then Principal. She enjoyed a decade long career where she performed numerous principal roles with the company including original works by Artistic Director Paul Vasterling. 

After retiring from the stage in 2013 she was asked to join the NB faculty and has worked with the second company, Professional Training Division and Pre-Professional Program for the past 12 years. Mrs. Dodge has also choreographed numerous original works for the Professional Division that were performed in their Contemporary Showcases. 

She adores teaching and ensures her classroom is a safe place to grow, be challenged and to passionately progress artistically as well as technically. 

“My favorite parts of teaching are inspiring a love of dance in each student that is unique to them, cultivating a passion for knowledge of the craft and respect, but most of all helping them embrace their individuality in dancing.”
— Krissy Dodge

Suzanne was born in Durban, South Africa where she received 13 years of ballet

training in the Royal Academy of Dance classical ballet method. Upon completion of

all her RAD ballet examinations she was accepted at the Royal Ballet School in

London, UK where she furthered her training. 

She then went on to have a 10 year career as a professional ballet dancer with PACT Ballet Company in Pretoria, South Africa. After ‘retiring’ from the stage she made the transition to a ballet teacher after studying and passing her Royal Academy of Dance Teacher’s examination.

Suzanne has 31 years of teaching experience. For 23 years she was the owner,

director, teacher and choreographer of Suzanne Holmes School of Ballet. 

Suzanne immigrated to the USA in 2018 and continued her love of teaching ballet in

California. She relocated to Nashville TN in 2020 and is enjoying sharing her lifelong passion of ballet with students at NS Dance Academy.