Leah Hammett, originally from Atlanta, GA, discovered dance at the young age of two and hasn’t stopped loving it since. 27 years later, she is more in love with dance then she dreamed possible. The comfort and personal growth it brings each individual person fills her heart with a desire to strive for more. She did her early training with Sharon Story at Atlanta Ballet, in their Pre-Professional Division program. Dancing in pieces choreographed and staged by Armando Luna, John McFall, Orlando Molina, and Twyla Tharp. The summer prior to entering TCU, Leah taught Contemporary, Jazz, and Musical Theater at the Atlanta Ballet’s Advanced Summer Intensive and Professional Intensive and the rest is history; this is where she discovered her passion for teaching. Leah graduated Cum Laude, from Texas Christian University, with a BFA in Modern Dance and a minor in Arts Administration and specification in Business. In Spring 2017, she was chosen to represent the TCU School for Classical and Contemporary Dance and study contemporary dance abroad at University of Roehampton with teaching artists from across the UK and Europe. During her tenure at Roehampton, she had the unique opportunity to dance in José Limón’s Missa Brevis, re-staged by a MFA candidate Adam Hood and Seri Hodges, répétiteur. While on scholarship at TCU, Leah had the opportunity to perform in a number of works, notably by resident faculty Susan Douglas Roberts, Sarah Newton, Dr. Suki John, and guest artists Doug Elkins and Jennifer Nugent. In June of 2018, she completed and obtained her Yoga Alliance RYT 200-hour certification. Leah choreographed six works throughout college, and both of her senior year pieces were selected to perform for American College Dance Association. Choreography is a fantastic brain teaser that teaches you to think in themes, patterns, and nuances to build something perplex and yet simple. Leah hopes to encourage and challenge her students to push their creative perspective, and to find both joy and self-confidence through the aspiration and inspiration of classical and contemporary technique. Leah urges students to be comfortable with being uncomfortable. It is there, in the raw spaces between, that true art and passion align. The result? Simultaneous progression in the mental and physical abilities of a dancer’s journey. She is thrilled to be joining SAOD this season and looks forward to building incredible connections with her students and forming their technique to go out in the world and prosper.