Meet Our Dance Instructors & Office Staff in Huntsville, AL
Heidi Maness Knight, owner and director, is certified to teach dance through written and oral examination by Dance Masters of America. She was a member of DMA Chapter 33, and served on the Board as the Judges’ Liaison and Performing Arts Chairman. Heidi is also certified through Acrobatic Arts, and is one of the first studio owners in Alabama to complete training and be certified through Youth Protection Association For Dance (YPAD).
Heidi began studying dance at the age of four and started competing at nine. She received her early training in the areas of ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, lyrical, and acrobatics. Heidi has performed across the country and abroad, studying under some of the world’s most renowned teachers and choreographers. She spent four years training as an assistant teacher and began teaching her own classes before graduating from high school. Heidi continued studying and teaching dance while attending the University of Alabama. She spent four years teaching all disciplines of dance at the Academy of Ballet and Jazz in Tuscaloosa. Heidi was also highly involved in various campus honor societies and organizations and was an active member of Phi Mu sorority. Heidi graduated magna cum laude from UA with a degree in Communications and a minor in Dance. She worked as a producer for television stations in Tuscaloosa and Las Vegas before returning home to North Alabama, where she spent time in front of the camera as a reporter at WAAY-TV.
As dance educators, Heidi and her teaching team have developed specialized curriculums in the disciplines of jazz, tap, ballet, acrobatics, lyrical and hip hop. They have also developed a highly successful preschool dance program. Heidi directs the Heidi Knight School of Dance Company Dancers, who have received top honors at both the regional and national level. They also consistently win scholarships and prestigious individual awards, including 140 convention scholarships for the 2023-2024 competition season. Maria Laughlin is the current National NRG Apprentice and has spent the season touring with NRG, assisting and working behind the scenes. Kaylin Motton and Gabby Maehew are past National NRG Prodigy Winners. Reed Knight, London Williams, Maya Johnson, Paige Gray and Alex Perkins-Walley are current regional NRG Prodigy Winners. All toured with NRG on a full scholarship, assisting the faculty. London Williams is a Hollywood Vibe Company Member. She toured with HV the last two seasons on a full scholarship, assisting the faculty. Gabby Maehew was named Hollywood Vibe Regional Dancer of the Year in Nashville. HKSD dancers earned scholarships to summer dance events, including various conventions, talent agency auditions, and intensives. This year, several Company routines won top honors at regional competitions. “Toy Story”, “Speed Drive”, “Barbz'' and “Vampires Of The Knight” were chosen as 24Seven 11:00 Numbers (Judges’ Favorites) and “Vampires Of The Knight” earned the 24Seven Studio Pick. “Toy Story” was chosen as the Mini/Junior NRG Award Winner and “Vampires Of The Knight” was chosen as the Teen/Senior NRG Award Winner. At Hollywood Vibe “Vampires Of The Knight” earned Best Direction, “The Flock” earned Outstanding Choreography, “Barbz” earned the Studio Excellence Award, and “Toy Story” earned Best Costume. “Chapel Of Love”, “Sir Duke”, “Let’s Dance”, and “Vampires Of The Knight” were chosen as Best Of Radix numbers (Judges’ Favorites) and “Let’s Dance” earned the Radix Studio Standout.
Heidi Knight School of Dance was the Co. Dance Regional Studio Champion for Greenville, South Carolina three years in a row. The HKSD Company also received the honor of winning the “Co. Dance Award”. This award is given to one studio whose students, faculty, and parents demonstrate exceptional attitudes, sportsmanship, and conduct. HKSD students perform at various community events. They are also featured on numerous middle school, high school, and college dance teams and cheerleading squads and have graduated from prestigious college dance programs. Several HKSD alumni are now dance teachers and studio owners, or are performing professionally.
Always striving to further develop her teaching skills and stay current in choreography, Heidi enjoys attending dance workshops and conventions. Heidi attended the Dance Teacher Summit in NYC and Los Angeles for several years, and has taken HKSD teachers to DTS to train. She also completed the accredited Teacher Training Workshop at Broadway Dance Center in New York City and The Pulse on Tour Teacher Training Workshop. Heidi is a two-time recipient of the nationally acclaimed Company Dance Educator’s Award, and has received a number of awards for her choreography. Most recently, Heidi was interviewed for an article in the November 2023 issue of Dance Magazine, giving insight into “Cleaning Guest Choreography”. Heidi has also been a guest presenter/consultant for studio owner seminars by Francisco Gella Dance Works and Changing Lives with Kim McSwain. She is married to Colby Knight and they are the parents of Tucker Cavett and Reed Emmett.
