From a young age, Ms. Ella Grace immersed herself in the arts, growing up in the dance studio and performing on stage. Throughout her career, Ms. Ella Grace has performed in a variety of musical productions, with standout roles including Taylor in High School Musical, Dance Captain in Newsies, and Aquata in The Little Mermaid.

Her passion for dance was further honed when she was accepted to the Tennessee Governor's School for the Arts in 2018, where she specialized in dance.

As an educator, Ms. Ella Grace is deeply committed to inspiring the next generation of dancers. She currently coaches the Prescott South Middle School Dance Team, which has earned national recognition.

Ms. Ella Grace’s creative talents extend to the stage, where she has contributed her choreographic works to numerous productions, including Frozen Jr., Newsies Jr., The Fantasticks, and most recently, Fiddler on the Roof. 

She treasures the opportunity to inspire and cultivate the next generation of dancers, emphasizing the joy and artistry of movement above all else!

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Ms. Erika discovered her passion for dance at a young age and began her training at Rockstar Dance Academy in Mount Juliet, where she danced competitively for several years. She went on to join the nationally ranked Wilson Central High School Dance Team, earning titles at the state, regional, and national levels. One of her most exciting early achievements was performing on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

In college, Ms. Erika continued to grow as a dancer and leader. She trained with the University of Tennessee’s BOSS Dance Company and competed with the Tennessee Tech University Dance Team.

She now serves as the Dance Coach for the Tennessee Tech University Dance Team (2024–2026). Her choreography spans a wide range of styles, with a special focus on Pom and Game-Day routines that highlight precision, power, and school spirit.

Ms. Erika is passionate about more than just perfecting routines—she’s committed to helping her dancers develop the confidence, discipline, and resilience that dance instills both on and off the stage.

Ashlyn Warren is thrilled to be a teacher and choreographer at Upper Cumberland Stars! A lifelong dancer, Ashlyn began training and competing at a young age and quickly fell in love with the art of performance. She grew up competing in a wide range of styles, including lyrical, contemporary, jazz, hip-hop, and more—but she especially shines in lyrical/contemporary and hip-hop, which remain her specialties today.

As a high school sophomore, she began creating solos for younger dancers at her home studio, and her love for choreographing has only grown since. She has recently choreographed multiple solos, duets, and group routines for the 2024–2025 competition season. Her talent has already been recognized at the regional level—she earned two choreography awards this season, including one for her piece “Visiting Hours” performed by UC Star Dance at Believe National Dance Competition.

Ashlyn competed as a member of the Tennessee Tech University Dance Team from 2023 to 2025, gaining valuable experience at the collegiate level and deepening her understanding of technique, teamwork, and showmanship.

Becoming a dance teacher and choreographer has been Ashlyn’s dream for as long as she can remember, and she is so excited to share her creativity, energy, and love for dance with the UC Stars dancers!