Hannah Hayward is a bright, joyful artist with a heart and passion for movement, education, and performance. She is a graduate of the Ailey School scholarship program in NYC, a certified teacher with American Ballet Theater, and an alumna of the University of Tennessee. Hannah has served as a teaching assistant to Francisco Gella, was a Pre-Professional Trainee with Complexions Contemporary Ballet, and is on faculty at Rock the House Dance Convention. She is a former Artists Simply Human Assistant, a YAGP Regional medalist, a Top 10 winner at The Dance Awards NYC, and an award-winning choreographer. In 2016, Hannah moved to New York to pursue a career full-time and completed a year in the PeriDance Capezio Center’s Certificate Program before she was offered a full scholarship to the prestigious Ailey School, from which she went on to graduate with honors. At Ailey, she studied closely with Milton Myers, Ana-Maria Forsythe, Tracey Inman, and many more. In December 2021 Hannah graduated Summa Cum Laude with Chancellor’s Honors from the University of Tennessee-Martin and holds B.A. in Philosophy and Psychology. Some of Hannah’s performance credits include the Dizzy Feet Foundation Gala at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in LA, Macy’s 95th Thanksgiving Day Parade dancing Alvin Ailey’s “Revelations”, New York Fashion Week, Orsolina 28’s Gaga Showcase in Italy, the Ailey Choreography showcase, Ailey’s Global Harmony, Russian pop singer Elka’s music video, Ailey New Directions Choreography Lab, PeriDance Showcase, Complexions Contemporary Ballet at the Joyce Theater, the Broadway pre-production of Bend It Like Beckham, and High Hello the film directed by Sarah Brinson and J. Alex Brinson. Hannah has a wide student base and sets choreography across the U.S. She is the co-founder of Tessera Dance Theater, an up-and-coming non-profit based in East Knoxville (click here to learn more). She was also on faculty at Austin East Magnet High School and recently was contracted to contribute to Tennessee Theatre’s Marquee Awards.