Ashley Cook

Co-Owner, Clogging

Ashley Cook began clogging at age 4 and hasn't stopped moving her feet since! She has clogged all over the country including Las Vegas, Florida, and Hawaii. She is a Certified Clogging Instructor (CCI) through the National Clogging Hall of Fame. Ashley enjoys teaching workshops at Smoky Mountain Encore in Gatlinburg, TN and Mountain Madness in Wilkesboro. Ashley graduated from ASU with a degree in Communications, minored in Dance, and also received her certification in Classical Pilates. She and Daniel were married in July of 2009 and they welcomed a daughter, Stella, in December of 2010. Ashley is also the Children's Minister at FaithBridge United Methodist Church.

Elise Sigmon

Co-Owner, Clogging

Elise Sigmon began clogging at the age of 7 and has loved it since. She began teaching a competitive clogging team as a Senior in high school and continues to enjoy teaching all ages. She graduated from ASU in 2006 with a BA and concentrations in Business and Dance. Elise also enjoys teaching workshops at Smoky Mountain Encore in Gatlinburg, TN and Mountain Madness in Wilkesboro. She and Kyle were married in December of 2006 and have two children, Jacob, age 3, and Jenna, age 1. Elise is also a teacher at Boone United Methodist Preschool, works seasonly with Wee-Cycle Children's Consignment Sale, and enjoys singing in her church's praise band with Kyle who is the worship leader.

Karen Sabo

Hip Hop, DanceFit

Karen Sabo started taking ballet at the age of three, and has been hooked on dance ever since.  Karen's also studied tap, modern, jazz, African dance, Latin dance and hip-hop, but Broadway dance came in the most handy during her career as a professional actor.  She's performed in theatres from California to New York City, and has taught acting, dialects, directing, and movement, as well as fitness and dance.  She loves learning to clog from Elise and Ashley, and Karen and her husband, ASU theatre professor Derek Davidson, plan to incorporate dance into many productions with their new local company, In/Visible Theatre. Karen teaches "clean" and fun hip hop classes to kids and adults ages 10 and up.

Ellen Russell

Zumba

Ellen is a certified Zumba teacher and is AWESOME! She has great energy and gets everyone moving and feeling great.  Ellen is the owner of High Strung Jewelry, hand-making unique pieces of jewelry. Ellen has a daughter who dances on the WHS dance team. We are so happy to have her teaching Zumba at Appalachian Rhythm!!