Our Staff

Meet our wonderful staff!

Miss Hayley, Owner & Director:

Hayley Justice, owner/director of Legacy Dance Center, was a student at Angie’s Dance Academy for 10 years where she studied Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Lyrical, Hip Hop and Modern. At the age of 14, Hayley became Student Teacher for the Academy and has enjoyed working with children since. In 2007, Hayley joined the faculty of ADA and has choreographed routines earning “Best Choreography”, “Champions of Champions”, “Creative Concept” and many “Highest Score of the Day” awards. Hayleys students have danced on numerous college dance teams and some have become dance teachers themselves. David Ferguson, a long time student of Justice is now currently on Tour with Fiddler on the roof. Her Student Dalli Hensley is the reigning America’s Teen Miss Dance. Hayley is certified to teach through Dance Masters of America, Inc. and has an Entrepreneurship degree from Haywood Community College. She has also worked as a judge for Star Systems National Talent Competition. Hayley Justice, a long time student of Angie Henley, and her husband Heath Justice, are excited for the tremendous honor and duty of carrying on the traditions and excellence of Angie’s Dance Academy by creating a new Legacy to be remembered in our community. Hayley shares her life with her husband Heath & son Holt. There’s a quick and easy way to help your kids become happier.

Miss Ciera, Teacher:

Ciera began dancing at Angie’s Dance Academy when she was 2 years old. She trained in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Lyrical, Hip Hop, and Contemporary for 16 years at the Academy. She joined the Aces Performing Troupe at the age of six and has been dancing ever since! Competing in groups, duets, trios, and solos. Ciera was also a member of the studios liturgical team performing in various churches throughout the county. Ciera carried a role as student teacher for 8 years which she has thoroughly enjoyed. Ciera has performed with the Asheville Ballet Company for the past four years in their annual Nutcracker, along with the summer and fall performances. After graduation, she attended Western Carolina University for the first year and has now chosen to transfer into the Nursing Program at Haywood Community College. Ciera continues to dance today because of the joy and excitement of knowing she is making a child’s love for dance that much stronger. Even as an adult, dance will always be apart of her life. Ciera is fulfilling this with her roll as teacher for Legacy Dance Academy.

Miss Angie, Teacher & Director:

Angie Henley studied with Beale Fletcher from childhood and began teaching at an early age. She graduated King’s Business College in Charlotte and quickly came home to become the manager of the Fletcher School of Dance in Clyde. With more than seventeen years teaching experience, she opened Angie’s Dance Academy and was it’s Director from 1991-2019. She is certified to teach by test through Dance Masters of America, Inc., an organization comprised of professional dance teachers across the United States and is proud to be a part of the Legacy Dance Center team. Angie has performed both locally and on the national level and has choreographed many award winning routines. Angie’s students have been awarded cash scholarships toward their continued dance education and many have continued to study dance during and after their college years. Her students have been crowned Master Dance of N.C., Petite Miss Dance and Miss Dance of N.C. representing our state in the National Master and Miss Dance of America Scholarship Pageants. Angie’s students grow from a positive classroom experience where they nurtured to express themselves through their dancing. She is married to Matt Henley and they have a son in college, Landon.

Miss Abby, Teacher:

Abby Bearden joined the Legacy Dance family in the summer of 2021. She grew up dancing at a studio in Tallahassee, Florida for most of her life and then transitioned full-time up to Waynesville after graduating from WCU. Abby has been dancing for about 22 years and has been teaching on and off for about 12 years for ages 3 all the way up to adults. While she has experience teaching ballet, musical theater, ballroom, and contemporary, ballet is definitely her first love! She is so excited to be back in the classroom teaching students about what she loves most!

Miss Josey, Staff:

Josey, mother of dancer Emma Waldrop, joined the dance family in 2007 when she became a dance mom to her oldest daughter Avery. What started out as one night a week dance class quickly became more than that. She has spent a lot of time preparing for competitions, recitals and just trying to understand what it means to be a dance mom. Fast forward several years, she was asked to work at the studio in Dance Express. That is where she learned about all the hard work that goes into dance life. From the first day of class to the season finale, it makes her appreciate what it takes to put on an unforgettable performance. She loves the time she spends at Legacy. She is always happy to help the families who come into Dance Express, whether it is blinging out costumes or doing hair and makeup she is all for it. The families & dancers she has met working at Dance Express will forever be lifelong friends and is proud to be part of the Legacy Dance Center family.

Miss Rebecca, Staff:

Rebecca, mother of owner Hayley Justice, began her journey in the dance industry when she became a “Dance Mom” in 1996. Since then she has traveled to many competitions and dance conventions supporting her daughter on her dancing dream. She is now working as Legacy’s Office Manager. She enjoys each day at Legacy. Her bubbly personality shines through when she gets to see families at the studio each day. Outside of the studio, Rebecca enjoys gardening, spending time with her family, playing with her two puppies and taking her grandson, Holt, for Ice Cream. Rebecca is proud to be a part of Legacy Dance Center and cannot wait to continue her knowledge as a Dance Mom with all the moms of Legacy.

Miss Haley, Staff:

Haley Lanning, graduated from Pisgah high school and attended Haywood Community College. She went on to earn three coding certifications thru AAPC. She works full time as a surgical medical coder for Harmony Healthcare and Duke Lifepoint.

Haley became a Dance Mom in 2019 when her daughter Millie began her study of dance at Legacy. She knew right away that she loved watching the dancers grow through the years and enjoys seeing all their growth at recital. Haley joined the LDC staff in 2022 where she enjoys sharing her desire to help others and spending time with other Dance moms. She is married to Steven Lanning and has a sonRiley along with her daughter Millie.In her spare time, Haley enjoys camping, going to the lake, and spending time with family.

Miss Rachel, Teacher:

Rachel Sanford began her training at the Ozsoy School of Ballet in Duncanville, TX, under Ballet Master Ceyhun Ozsoy. Rachel attended many summer intensives including the American Ballet Theatre Collegiate Program, the International Ballet Competition Intensive, the Joffrey Ballet, and Houston METdance Professional Intensive. In 2016, Rachel graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Dance and a Business Foundations Certificate from the McCombs School of Business. She has performed in professional pieces by artists including Sidra Bell, Merce Cunningham, Mark Morris, and Joe Celej. In 2019, Rachel moved to North Carolina and joined the US International Ballet where she performed in works such as Giselle, Vampires, Alice in Wonderland, the Nutcracker and The Little Mermaid. She has choreographed multiple works for the Dance program at UT Austin, the McCallum Fine Arts Academy in Austin, TX, the US International Ballet, the Wilmington Dance Festival, and the Cucalorus Film Festival. Rachel currently resides in Asheville, NC where she teaches and performs with the Asheville Ballet.

Miss Jordyn, Teacher:

Jordyn Wright began dancing at the age of 3 and moved to Legacy her freshman year of high school where it soon became her home away from home. She competed in groups, trios, duos and solos, She has trained in tap, hip hop, jazz, and contemporary for 16 years. Jordyn graduated from Enka High School in 2023 and is currently a sophomore at Western Carolina University where she is continuing her dance career as a member of the Western Carolina Dance Team. Jordyn has such a passion for the art of dance and teaching dance and cannot wait to be apart of the LDC staff this year!