EagleDanceCenter
DANCE. TUMBLING. FITNESS. FAMILY
Our Staff and Instructors
Anna Matney
Owner, Director
Dance Instructor
Choreographer
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Anna began dancing at Eagle Dance Center at the age of 3, studying ballet, jazz, tap, hip hop, and pointe during her 14 years as a student at EDC. At the age of 11, she joined EDC’s Competitive Dance Team - receiving various awards at regional level and National Titles at a national level both individually and in groups during her time as a team member.
A 2013 graduate from Galion High School/Pioneer Career and Technology Center’s Performing Arts Program, Anna also received a Focus in Dance Performing Arts diploma. In addition to her time as a student at EDC, she also was a member of the Varsity Dance Team, Varsity Cheerleading Squad, and participated in the Performing Arts play/musical programs at GHS.
With dreams of someday following in Miss Shannon Eagle’s footsteps as a studio owner - Anna’s dance career finally began at Eagle Dance Center - assisting dance classes at the age of 12, teaching at the age of 15, and joining the Competitive Choreography Staff at the age of 18, instructing all age levels and genres since 2011. Anna began her position as Co-Director under Miss Shannon in 2019, as of 2021 is the Owner/Director of Eagle Dance Center.
She enjoys Professional Development and continuing her education as both a dancer, instructor, and director through teaching conventions, dance conventions, and studying for different certifications.
Anna is beyond thrilled to finally be sharing her lifelong dream of being a studio owner and giving back to Galion and surrounding communities. Her goal is to continue to nurture the small town traditions that Shannon Eagle began 25 years ago… and to create an encouraging, open, and positive environment for self-expression.
Anna is a Galion resident - planting roots in the community she fell in love with - she enjoys connecting with other area residents, families, and small businesses. When she’s not spending time at the studio, she enjoys taking dance classes herself, spending time with her family, her friends, and her dog, Sully!
2021-2022 Classes: Tap 3, 4 & 5 | Jazz 3 & 4 | Leaps/Turns 1 & 2 | Adult Tap Basics
Claudia Riedy
Dance Instructor
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2021-2022 Classes: Pom 1, 2 & 3 | Hip Hop 3, 4 & 5
Claudia’s dance and performance background includes 15 years at Dance Unlimited Studio in Tiffin, and four years of competitive cheerleading at Tiffin Columbian High School. Claudia also performed and choreographed for four years through Bowling Green State University’s University Dance Alliance, a performance based dance organization through BGSU’s Dance Program.
Currently, Claudia is the Visual Arts Teacher at Galion High School. She is excited to strengthen her relationship with the Galion community, and share her passion for creativity and expression with her students!
Beth Anne Jarvis
Dance Instructor
Strength/Fitness Instructor
Choreographer
Beth Anne was raised right here in Galion, Ohio and began taking classes at Eagle Dance Center when she was 5 years old. Throughout her time at EDC, she studied ballet, pointe, jazz, lyrical, dabbled in tap, and competed with the competition team for 8 years.
After graduating from GHS in 2013, Beth Anne went on to major in Dance at OSU for a year where she developed a passion for modern, contemporary, and world dance. Through her experiences there, she made it her goal to center the classes she teaches around artistry, technique, strength, and most importantly, inclusion and positivity.
When Beth Anne is not teaching at EDC, she can probably be found running around the local communities doing freelance choreography and fitness instruction. Beth Anne serves on the board of directors, choreographs, and directs at Galion Community Theatre, choreographs for Colonel Crawford High School and the Mansfield Playhouse, and teaches BootyBarre and Aerial Yoga at Evolve.
Beth Anne is incredibly excited to work with this community of dancers, and is over the moon to be back at the place that molded her into who she is today, EDC.
2021-2022 Classes: Ballet 3, 4 & 5 | Musical Theater/Broadway 3 & 4 | Jazz 5 | Contemporary 1,2 & 3 | Pointe 1 & 2
Strength/Flexibility | Adult Ballet Basics
Kennedy Thompson
Dance Instructor
Choreographer
Kennedy has been studying dance for 21 years, 13 of those being a member of the Eagle Dance Center competition team. While competing, she was able to be a part of numerous regional and national overall titles from Myrtle Beach to California.
Kennedy graduated from Galion High School in 2015. Throughout her high school career, Kennedy was a part of the Tigerettes Varsity Football dance team. She was also an active member of the Varsity Football Cheerleading squad, Varsity Swim team, Showtunes, and has held numerous roles within the school’s theater program.
Kennedy volunteered as a Teacher’s Student Assistant for two years for the intermediate level classes under the supervision of Shannon Eagle before becoming a teacher herself after graduating high school. This upcoming season will be Kennedy’s seventh season as a teacher and choreographer for Eagle Dance Center. Wanting to keep her dance education as current as she can, Kennedy attends classes and conventions where she receives training from prestigious figures in the dance world, some of whose names can be recognized from So You Think You Can Dance, Dancing With the Stars, and numerous Broadway shows.
In addition to teaching classes and choreographing for Eagle Dance Center, Kennedy works at Blondie Hair Shoppe in Fairlawn, Ohio as a cosmetologist. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with friends, family, and her dog, Luna. A fun fact about Kennedy is that she recently got married (you may recognize her as Kennedy Gregg) in October of 2020.
Kennedy is ecstatic to be teaching another year at Eagle Dance Center, and she is excited to meet all of her students and to have a great season!
2021-2022 Classes: Toddler Creative Movement (Tuesday) | Musical Theater/Broadway 1 & 2 | Jazz 2 | Ballet 2 | Tap 2
Bri Wheeler
Tumbling Coach
Cheerleading Coach
Bri began her career in the tumbling/cheerleading world at the age of 6, participating in Galion Youth Cheerleading for 6 years. She then participated in tumbling classes at Mid-Ohio for 12 years, as well as competitive cheerleading at GCTG and America’s Best.
Bri is a 2016 Galion High School/Pioneer Career and Technology Center graduate, where she received a CDA Credential through the Early Childhood Education program upon graduation. During her time at GHS/Pioneer, Bri was active in Varsity Cheerleading, Showtunes, and Volleyball. During her Junior and Senior year, Bri was a volunteer coach for Galion Youth Cheerleading.
Currently, Bri serves as Eagle Dance Center’s Head Coach - overseeing all classes taking place in our tumbling gym. Bri currently is a student at OSU, set to graduate with a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work this fall.
2021-2022 Classes: Tiny Tumbling | Superhero Tumbling | Middle/High School Tumbling | Tumbling 1 & 2
Open Gym Tumbling | Cheerleading
Olivia Bower
Dance Instructor
Olivia began dancing at the age of 3 at Northpointe Dance Academy, and started competing at the age of 8. In 2015, she began studying at Eagle Dance Center to continue her education in dance through middle and high school. Olivia has received many adjudications and titles at both the regional and national level competitions. In 2021, Olivia was crowned at a regional competition and named, “2021 Miss Dance Nexstar.”
Olivia is a 2021 Northmor High School graduate, and will be attending Ashland University in the fall with plans to earn a degree in Business Management and minor in either Finance or Marketing. During her time at Northmor, Olivia also participated in Varsity Cheerleading.
Olivia began her teaching career assisting Anna Matney in middle school, and in high school trained under Taylor Eagle and Kennedy Thompson. She also continues her professional development as a dance teacher by taking classes and attending conventions from well known professional dancers.
Olivia is so excited to continue to share her love for dance with all of EDC’s students this season and in the future!
2021-2022 Classes: Toddler Creative Movement (Monday) | Ballet 1 | Jazz 1 | Tap 1 | Hip Hop 1 (Funky Jazz) | Hip Hop 2
Taylor Eagle
Choreographer
Guest Instructor
Taylor has been dancing for over 20 years - Eagle Dance Center being the core of her training, where she studied ballet, jazz, hip hop, tap, and pointe. Taylor was a member of EDC’s Competition Team where she received many awards and titles at both regional and national levels individually and in groups.
Taylor began teaching in 2009 and choreographing in 2013 - working with students ages 3 to 18 in ballet, jazz, contemporary, hip hop, tap, and pointe. She currently choreographs for EDC’s competition team, and you may even see her teach some pop up classes when she’s back in Ohio!
A 2013 Galion High School/PCTC graduate, Taylor attended Pioneer’s Performing Arts program with a focus on dance - as well as being active in GHS’s Varsity Dance Team. Following high school, Taylor went on to study dance at Maricopa College in Arizona, and is currently a student at UNC Charlotte, majoring in Dance Education and minoring in Psych in Childhood Development - then plans to continue on to receive her Masters in Dance Education.
Tiffeny Bowersock
Choreographer
Mel Wheeler
Student Assistant Instructor
Mel has been dancing at EDC since she was 11 years old, competing with the Competition Team for 7 years.
She is currently a senior at Galion High School, where she serves as Student Council Vice President, and participates in Varsity Cheerleading. Mel plans to continue her love of dance in her final year of high school, and then go on to a four year university where she plans to double major in Dance and Marketing.
This will be Mel’s 6th year assisting with our young dancers.
Outside of the studio, she enjoys cheering on our local football and basketball teams - and her best friend has four paws and a wet nose!
Autumn Miller
Instructor's Assistant
Trinity Doyle
Instructor's Assistant