Nadine Vosse Smith

Nadine, the owner of NVS Dance, opened the doors 41 years ago in Memphis, Tennessee.  She is an instructor, and is the head choreographer for all the Tap classes, and Tap competitive teams.

Nadine began dancing when she was three (3) years old.  She was trained by Marjorie Duckett and Burney Lyons, both of Memphis, Tennessee, and the Ballet Memphis.

Nadine has traveled, dancing professionally, for USO Tours, and she started her dance instructing career for Art Linkletter.  During her years of teaching she has taken dancers to the top with several national championships, as well as regional championships.  Her dancers have been in the finals of the Mid-South Fair Talent Competition for over 20 years.  You can see her dancers on TV, and on the "Big Screen".  Her students appeared in the move "Great Balls of Fire", the "Ted Mac Show" in New York, and the "Mid-South Talent Review".  Many of Nadine's dancers have gone on to work in L. A., Las Vegas, Opryland, and Branson, Missouri.

Nadine has won over 20 choreography, technique, and entertainment awards herself, and she has taken students to glamorous places like Las Vegas, San Antonio, Orlando, Charleston, and New York.

Jackie Smith Chartrand

Jackie, the daughter of NVS owner, Nadine Smith, is an instructor, as well as the head choreographer for all the competitive JAZZ & POM Teams at NVS.  She has been a full-time instructor & choreographer for 5 years.  She served as a student teacher many years prior.

Jackie trained at NVS Dance beginning at age two (2).  She trained here until she began her full-time instructing position.  Jackie has also trained at "The Edge" in L. A., as well as the American School of Russian Ballet.

Throughout her career she has won numerous scholarships from workshops.  Jackie was also chosen to dance for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, the Pro Bowl in Hawaii, and the New Year's Eve Parade in Paris, France. She was a finalist in the "Mid-South Fair" for seven (7) years, and won Nationals in 1996 at the Star Systems competition in Dallas, Texas.  She received a scholarship to the University of Memphis where she was a member of the ten-time National Championship Dance Team (1997 - 2000) that won Nationals in 2000, and danced at Madison Square Gardens.

Jackie has choreographed for dance teams around the city and taught classes in tap and jazz in Canada. She has also travelled to teach master classes in studios around the mid-south. Jackie's choreograpghy has won top awards regionally and also has won two national championships. She has also been awarded top teacher for solo and group choreography. She started the all star pom program "NVS Danstars" in 2004, where her teams have already been nationally ranked. Jackie graduated from the University of Memphis with a degree in Public Relations and is married to husband Dan Chartrand.

Kathy O'Connor Williams

Kathy is currently our part-time pre-school instructor working with owner, Nadine Smith. Kathy has many years of dance experience that began in Haclyon Till Studios at the Orpheum in Memphis, Tennessee . She danced as a USO dancer entertaining military troops all over the world. Kathy auditioned for the New York City Rockettes . she was one of only six (6) dancers to be accepted to the group from the southern states.After returning home from New York she taught for two (2) years, did charity work for the Shriners, the Masons, and a variety of clubs. Kathy owned three (3) radio stations, and was a member of the American Beauty Pagents. Kathy is now a member of the NVS ShowStopper Team who are retired dancers that perform all over the city of Memphis, and the surrounding area.

Terry Gilchrist

Terry is an instructor and choreographer at NVS Dance. She teaches peewee and recreational ballet as well as the senior ballet class. She is also an instructor and choreographer for the competitive lyrical classes. Terry began her dance training with Nadine Smith at the age of 3. She then furthered her dance career with classical training in the ballet arts beginning with Alexsei Moskelenko at the American School of Russian Ballet until it closed. She then trained with Nora Curran at the Allegro Ballet Academy for several years afterwards. The highlight of her ballet career was when she was selected to perform the Arabian pax de deux in the Nutcracker with a professional guest artist from the Nashville Ballet.

Combining her love for the theatre arts and her love for the ballet, she concentrated her studies in the lyrical field. She has either won or placed at many regional and national competitions, to include Showstopper, Dance USA, and Premier 2000. She has been a finalist seven times at the Mid-South Fair Senior Youth Talent contest. Each time performing her own choreography in lyrical or jazz. Terry was selected as an apprentice for the prestigious Broadway Theatre Project developed by the famous actress and dancer, Ann Reinking. At Broadway Theatre Project, Terry received training in the theatre, dance and vocal arts. She has also traveled the New York City to take classes at Steps on Broadway and has traveled out of town for various dance conventions to include New York City Dance Alliance, Manhattan Dance Project and SteppWith Me. Terry has been seen as a featured dancer in the Miss Memphis pageant, as well as a Miss Tennessee dancer in the past.

Lauren Brady (Part-time Student Teacher)

Lauren is currently a part time student teacher working under Nadine and Jackie, teaching recreational jazz and tap classes.She started dancing with NVS at age 6 taking classes in tap, ballet, jazz, lyrical, hip hop and gymnastics. She entered the competition program at age 9 where she was a member of our junior team. She has won numerous awards regionally and nationally in solo, duo, trio and group divisions, including the 1st sweepstakes award for her group in the junior mid-south fair youth talent competition.She has also studied at several different local workshops and conventions and was a member of the Dance USA dance team, which performed the opening number at Dance USA's nationals for 3 years. Lauren has travelled with NVS to Branson, Gatlinburg, San Antonio and Orlando. She is now a member of the Senior team and the Varsity pom squad here at NVS, and is in her 2nd year as a student teacher.

Kourtney Taylor (Part-time Students Teacher)

Kourtney is a student teacher at NVS teaching elementary and Advanced combo classes. She is also the teacher and choreographer of all pre comp groups here at NVS. Kourtney began dancing at NVS at age 3 where she has studied tap, jazz, ballet, lyrical, hip hop and gymnastics. Kourtney began competing at the young age of 6, and traveled with NVS to Las Vegas, Myrtle Beach, Gatlingburg, Branson, San Antonio and Orlando. Kourtney was awarded 1st sweepstakes at the junior mid south fair youth talent contest in her group and the next year was awarded the same in her solo. She has been awarded several scholarships for dance such as Hoctor's Caravan Kid, and Hollywood Vibe finalist scholarship. She was a member of Dance USA's dance team and performed for the opening number at Showstoppers national competition in San Antonio. Kourtney is in her 5 th year as student teacher, but worked as a class assistant many years prior, and is also a member of our Senior team.