We aim to provide developmentally appropriate dance classes that inspire creativity, imagination, and a lifelong love of fitness and the arts, while respecting the artistic and technical progress, body autonomy, health, and safety of each dancer. We aim to foster an inclusive atmosphere regardless of a student’s age, ability, gender, race, or background.

Learn more about Our Values here.

Brianna Hickman (Ms. Bri) is the director of ABC Dance and our lead instructor. She has 15 years teaching experience with children and adults in a variety of dance genres, including ballet, tap, jazz, modern, hip-hop, Broadway, and acrobatics. She is a dance faculty member at the Summer Arts Camp in Charleston, and volunteers with the Mid-Atlantic Dance Initiative. She is a member of Dance West Virginia and is Acrobatic Arts certified. Prior to opening her own studio, Ms. Bri taught at studios and high school dance programs throughout the Kanawha Valley, as well as in Wheeling, WV and Manassas, VA. She taught master classes at Oglebay Institute School of Dance in Wheeling, WV. She trained at Oglebay Institute School of Dance, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School and West Virginia Wesleyan College, where she completed a minor in dance, a bachelor’s in arts administration, and a master’s in business administration. Ms. Bri continues to perform professionally as a freelance artist and with projects such as the Mountain Moves WV Performance Project. Previously she performed with Virginia Civic Ballet, dancing principal roles such as the Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker and the Jaguar in The Rainforest. She also performed with Allegro Dance Company and JADCO Contemporary Dance Company. She participated in summer intensives with American Ballet Theatre and Ballet Austin, as well as numerous festivals including West Virginia Dance Festival and American College Dance Festival. 

Ms. Bri lives in Charleston with her two cats and dog. In her spare time she loves to read, garden, watch birds, and go camping.

Heather Looney holds an MFA in dance from the University of MD and a BFA in dance from Brenau University (GA). She works as an independent choreographer, teacher, dancer and arts administrator in the WV and OH area for multiple schools, studios and performing companies including Huntington Dance Theater and ABC Dance. Her work includes every type of dancer from preschoolers to professionals. She served as the festival director for Dance WV for nearly 5 years and following receipt of her MFA, she took a position as the artistic director and ballet mistress for The Dance Theatre of Fairbanks (AK) creating full length ballets for the modern era and recreations of classical ballets as well as contemporary and commercial work. While living in NYC for 4 years, she was privileged to work with The Mark Morris Dance Group, The Merce Cunningham Studio, Ballet Academy East and others who influenced her teaching and choreographic styles. 

She now resides on her family farm in WV enjoying the outdoors with her son and extended family.

Morgan Connard (Ms. Morgan) has 5 years of experience with teaching and choreographing for multiple studios including The Mountainettes and CW Dance Company. She began dancing at age 6 and went on to compete from ages 11 to 19. She has choreographed multiple national-winning dances as well as title-winning solos. She has a bachelor’s degree in English and is pursuing her masters in education through Marshall University.

Ms. Morgan lives in Dunbar along with her cat, Pollo. In her free time she enjoys reading and crafting.  

Talia Jordan is a 2025 West Virginia University graduate with a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Dance. A Charleston native, she has been dancing for eighteen years, having trained at the Academy of Arts at January’s and with the Capital High School Dance Company. Post-graduation, Miss Talia has been teaching dance and expanding her choreography repertoire. Recently, Miss Talia’s work, “A Change Is Gonna Come…” was featured in the 2026 West Virginia Dance Festival. The same work went on to win “1st Place Top Score Champion,” and the “High Voltage Award” at the 2026 Dance Machine competition. 

Two fun facts about Talia is she also has a degree in English and that she is a Pisces!