Southern Association of Dance Masters

A Stronger Dance Community Together

Who We Are
The Southern Association of Dance Masters is a nonprofit dance education organization dedicated to supporting teachers, studio owners, students, and emerging educators. Through high-quality training, professional development, certification, competition, and community, SADM creates opportunities for dancers and educators to grow together. Our goal is simple: to build a stronger dance community together.

2026 FALL FACULTY ANNOUNCEMENT

November 14-15|The Guest House at Graceland| Memphis, TN

 

Jasmine Hanson

Jasmine has been training in the art of dance ever since she could walk. She became a member of Ingredients Professional Dance Company in 2011 where she performed in many cities and places across the US as well as assisting and teaching with Dance Revolution Dance Convention. Jasmine went on to work as a professional dancer at Universal Studios and Nickelodeon Hotel in Orlando, FL. She moved to Los Angeles in 2014 to pursue her dance dreams. While there, she trained in many styles of dance including ballet, jazz, tap, contemporary, jazz funk, hip hop, musical theater & heels from some of the best in the industry at studios such as Millennium Dance Complex, Movement Lifestyle, Edge Performing Arts Center and more. Her professional work in LA includes dancing in a Heineken commercial, Choreographers Carnival, LA Fashion Week, Springboard Music Festival, and she also danced in various music videos including Mark Diamond’s “Hummingbird” and Kyle Thorn’s “I’m In Love” just to name a few. She has assisted choreographers on many jobs taking her to Guatemala, working on the Art Carney Show, as well as assisting on Disney Channels hit show Bunk’d! Jasmine became a faculty member for MusicWorks Unlimited in 2018 where she shares her knowledge and love of teaching and choreography through her products for dance teachers across the world. Over the past couple of years she has been on faculty for Talent On Parade’s summer workshops, Pre-Pro and PROgressions as well as their fall Dance Directives where she has had the opportunity to share her passion with many talented dancers. Jasmine recently received an outstanding choreography award for a cutting edge duo that she choreographed. She is currently working as a swing for Legends in Concert and started her modeling career last year where she quickly booked a photoshoot and a commercial for OMB Bank as well as photo and video work for Margaritaville Resort. Jasmine is always excited for any opportunity to teach, create and share her passion with dancers and teachers around the world!

Asyia Cutts

Asyia Cutts, a Charlotte native, has dedicated over 22 years to dance and has been teaching for the past 9 years. She began her competitive training at Dance Productions and completed her pre-professional training at Havilah Dance Company. Asyia holds a BFA in Choreography and Performance from UNC Greensboro, where she trained under renowned artists such as Janet Lily, Duane Cyrus, and Clarice Young. She is continuing her professional work in the dance industry by performing with artists such as Usher and Chris Brown. She is a guest artist at multiple dance intensives along the East Coast. Specializing in jazz, contemporary, hip hop, and heels, her choreography has earned multiple awards for its innovation and artistry.

Gina Badone

Gina Badone originally from Yuma, AZ has been dancing, teaching, and choreographing professionally in Los Angeles, CA for the past 26 years. Gina came to LA as a scholarship student at Retter’s Dance Academy in Agoura Hills. Gina has been a senior faculty member at Retter’s, teaching ballet, jazz, and contemporary to many levels of dancers and has also been the Co-Director of their nationally ranked Rhythm Machine company and Dancer’s Bridge. Gina has also taught on the DanceMakers Inc convention, TurnItUp Dance convention, Oklahoma Dance Masters, Southern Association of Dance Masters, CNADM, and is continuing to inspire dancers around the country and the world. Gina got her start on the convention stage by being the Personal Assistant and Co-Choreographer to Linda Bernebei-Retter for Tremaine Dance Conventions for many years. Now, Gina’s choreography is sought after both nationally and internationally for her energetic teaching style and creative choreography. Her work has been featured on The Carney Awards on Cozi TV, Nickelodeon’s The Thundermans, and the renewal of Reading Rainbow with Levar Burton. Gina’s other choreography credits include the American Girl’s Molly Movie, the Big Bad Voo Doo Daddy’s and more. Gina has a wide variety of performance experience including many corporate, industrial and televised events. Gina is also a part of the talented team at MusicWorks Unlimited and breaking out with new choreography for young dancers in the styles of Hip Hop with Kidgroovz and MiniMoovz, Musical Theater with Theatrix, Contemporary, and many others! She has also contributed to the MoHo Productions team in song writing and even singing. Gina even expanded her knowledge of fitness in becoming certified by nationally known organizations: CorePower to teach Yoga, and Fit4mom Stroller Barre certification to teach pre and postpartum mamas and babies. She is currently teaching children of all ages in the Ventura Unified School District spreading the joy of dance to over 2,000 elementary students. Gina’s most valued accomplishment is becoming a mom to her son Bennett. He is surely her greatest production yet. Gina strives to inspire, motivate, and continue to be a positive role model for young dancers everywhere.

Niki Pennington

Niki Pennington Grady is a dance educator and choreographer with over 25 years of teaching experience. Her mission is to help dancers and fellow educators to expand their comfort zones so that they can be their most authentic self on and off stage. She cultivates this through her lyrical, improv, musical theatre classes, choreography, and teacher workshops. Niki travels the country as a guest educator/choreographer/speaker for private studios, schools, and conventions such as Chicago National Association of Dance Masters, Southern Association of Dance Masters, Stretch Strengthen & Plié Dance Festival, I Heart Dance Festival, Dance Masters of Wisconsin, and Dance Teachers United. She is a member of Chicago National Association of Dance Masters where she earned her CDE and is a 2026 recipient of the Yvonne Groves Legacy Scholarship. Niki is currently on faculty at Columbia Dance Academy inspiring dancers ages 2-18yrs old every week. She is extremely passionate about helping her students and others learn to express themselves freely through the art of dance, and to Breathe!!!

 

 

Southern Association of Dance Masters

Our Mission...

The Southern Association of Dance Masters is a non-profit dance education organization dedicated to raising awareness and appreciation of dance among teachers and students and enhancing the quality of education by offering professional training and certification in the proper techniques of dance.

 

The Benefits of Membership

Becoming a member of the Southern Association of Dance Masters (SADM) provides access to high-quality training, certification, and professional development opportunities. It connects members with a supportive community of dance educators, fosters artistic growth, and enhances teaching credentials, ensuring members stay current with industry standards and best practices.

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Upcoming Events

Join us at the Guest House at Graceland in Memphis, TN November 14-15, 2026, for our Convention, and Competition! Our Convention classes are focused on dance education and celebrating all students in the convention room. We will also have Teacher Certification Testing for students and teachers ages 16+ who wish to further their dance education and become a certified teacher.