KNOW Your INSTRUCTORs

As a lifelong Nashvillian, line dancing has brought me joy for over a decade. I was born and raised in Nashville, graduating from Cameron High School. I earned my bachelor’s degree in human resources from Tennessee State University.

For 37 years I worked in the HR Department of Metro Nashville Public Schools, until retiring 12 years ago. That's when I discovered line dancing at Hadley Park—it was the perfect way for me to get out of the house and stay active while making new friends.

Dancing has truly enriched my retirement years. I enjoy leading the Hadley Park Line Dancers as President and sharing my passion for this fun, social activity. Moving to music and spending time with my dance family keeps me young at heart.

Outside of dancing, I love spending time with my large, close-knit family. As the 2nd oldest of 12 siblings, family is very important to me. For over 30 years I've been happily married, though my husband and I never had children of our own. My nieces and nephews bring me so much joy.

In my spare time I also enjoy friendly competition, whether playing ping pong or pickleball. I'm always up for a game! Through dancing and community involvement, I feel blessed to live my happiest retirement years right here in Music City.

A true Nashvillian, Mr. J was born and raised in Music City. After a 25-year career with the Metro Water Company, he retired and sought new ways to stay active. That's when he discovered his passion for line dancing in 2015.

Since then, Mr. J has shared his love of dance by teaching classes twice a week at Hadley Park Community Center. He enjoys introducing students to new steps and routines. Through line dancing, he has found joy in bringing people together and helping them relieve stress.

When not on the dance floor, Mr. J loves spending time with his family and friends. An avid traveler, he has visited countries around the globe and immersed himself in different cultures. He also enjoys restoring vintage cars and playing a round of golf whenever he can.

Students appreciate Mr. J's upbeat, encouraging personality and sense of humor. He goes out of his way to ensure all feel comfortable trying new moves, no matter their skill level. Under his leadership, the line dance community at Hadley Park continues to grow. His passion for dance is contagious, and he's always ready with a smile and high-five to celebrate his dancers' successes.

For over a decade, line dancing has brought Denise great joy and community. After starting at Hartman Park, she now teaches classes across multiple Nashville parks.

With a background in aerobics instruction, Denise found her calling in helping others learn new dance moves. She started substituting at various studios before retiring from her office job.

Dance has always been Denise's stress reliever. Even after 16-hour workdays, she looked forward to line dance classes to unwind. She appreciates how the social aspect enhances the workouts.

Since retiring, Denise has devoted more time to what she loves. In addition to Hartman Park, she now instructs regular classes at Hadley, Madison, and Elizabeth Parks. Students enjoy her upbeat teaching style and skill at breaking down choreography.

Beyond line dancing, Denise fills her days rediscovering hobbies, traveling near and far, and spending quality time with family. But her true passion remains bringing joy to others through dance. Denise feels blessed to share this hobby she loves so much.