Aaron Hawkins II
(Team: Anita & Jeff Frederick)
Aaron K. Hawkins II was born and raised in Loudon, TN. He grew up in church where he found the passion for both singing and, most importantly, his faith. His love for dance was discovered at an early age where he spent his time watching old movies/ musicals with his mother and grandmother, doing Zumba with his mother, and choreographing dances to perform with his sister and cousin for their family.
Aaron was involved in Loudon High School’s marching band, where he participated in color guard and later became band captain his senior year. After high school, Aaron started his journey as a dance instructor for GoDance Ballroom Studios in Knoxville, TN and became a professional ballroom dancer alongside his life-long best friend and dance partner, Kira Treadway. Together they have choreographed multiple wedding dances as well as their own routines. Aaron’s accomplishments include placing 1st at the East Tennessee Dance Sport Competition and placing in the top 15 at Michael Bublé’s “Higher” Dance Competition.
Aaron can now be seen fulfilling his childhood dream of being a performer at Dollywood. He has been a part of numerous events and shows there which include The Imagination Playhouse, O Holy Night, dancer/teacher at the Sweet Summer Nights Dance Party, etc.
Aaron would like to give thanks to God for everything, both good and bad, his parents for the love, strength, as well as their constant and guiding support, his grandparents for building the foundation he proudly gets to stand on, and many others!
Enchanteé Mace
(Team: Sonya & Neal Anderson)
Enchanteé Mace is originally from the Seattle, Washington area and has been performing since the age of 7. After traveling the country with Forecast Productions, she moved to NYC where she attended the American Musical and Dramatic Academy for intensive training in the performing arts. Later she was certified through The National Dance Council of America as a Ballroom dance instructor for Fred Astaire Dance Studios. Here she instructed and competed in both Pro and Pro-Am divisions.
In 2009 she moved to Pigeon Forge where she performed in Swing Time, Masters of Magic, Hoot n Holler, Memories, and the Lumberjack Feud. For the last 14 years she has taught many styles of dance to children and adults alike. From ballet, to tap, musical theater, to ballroom…She enjoys a little bit of everything!
Enchanteé was also involved at the Creative Theater as both a director and choreographer, where she found joy in instilling the love of musical theater into the next generation of performers.
Enchanteé currently is a Realtor at Century 21 MVP in Sevierville and runs her own Event Planning Business called Enchanted Events. She has been married to her husband Rich Mace for almost 15 years and together they have three daughters Kassadi (Son in Law Mikhail), Sophia, and Finley.
Janna Reed Griffin
(Team Ally & Preston Burleson)
Janna Reed Griffin has been dancing, singing, and doing gymnastics since she was 2 1/2 years old. Trained in dance for 18 years and at the age of 12 was cast in the original Opryland Kids Club Show as a singer/dancer in Nashville, Tennessee. She then became a singer/dancer at Paramount Carowind’s Theme Park in Charlotte, NC.
Janna has performed at Dollywood in “Let The Good Times Roll, Country Tonight, was magician assistant at Governors Palace in Explosion, a dancer in BlackBear Jamboree, a magician assistant in Magic Beyond Belief and choreographer/dancer at Memories Theater. For 10 years she owned Power Dancer Factory teaching and choreographing many winning numbers for some very talented young dancers.
Janna is a successful hair and makeup artist but her most favorite thing is being mom of three amazing children! Her oldest, Kassadi, who graduated from law school and is working for a firm in Knoxville; her middle, Kaedyn, who is in Los Angeles pursuing her dance career like mom, and Karsen who is a freshman at the University of Tennessee. “All I ever wanted to do is dance and be a mom and both dreams came true!!!!“
Janna is very excited to be a part of the DWTS team and wants to wish everyone good luck!
Lauren Bass
(Team: Callie & Andrew Temple)
A true bluegrass girl who is currently working at Country Tonite Theater for her fourth season as their Dance Captain! Originally from Bardstown, Kentucky, Lauren began dancing at the age of three and never stopped! She continued her studies at Western Kentucky University majoring in both Theatre and Dance with a minor in Musical Theatre.
Her professional dance credits include: The Stephen Foster Story, Horn in the West, and TEXAS: The Outdoor Musical. Along with musicals such as The Producers, Guys and Dolls, Happy Days, Shrek, Seussical the Musical, You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, A Christmas Story and The Wizard of Oz just to name a few. Before Country Tonite you could find Lauren fluttering around Dollywood in their 2019 grand opening of Wildwood Grove where she originated the character Flit the Butterfly!
When Lauren isn’t Boot Scootin’ over at CT, she enjoys spending her days relaxing with her two fur babies Jenny and June! Lauren is excited and honored to be a part of DWTS and cannot wait to create with her couple!
Lessie Koopman-McCarter
(Team: Stacia & Eddie Lewis)
Lessie was born in Tampa, FL but has called Tennessee her home since the age of five. Growing up in a family of musicians, singers, and performers, Lessie started to dance, act, and sing at a very young age.
Since 1997 she has choreographed hundreds of routines for cheerleading groups, dance teams, theater productions and more. Lessie‘s passion for dance and health drove her and her husband, Waylon, to open 3D Fit House in 2010. Over the years they have had the privilege to help thousands of people lose weight, get fit & healthy as well as teach children of all ages the art of dance.
Today Lessie and her husband live in Sevier County with their daughter Aleya. Their focus is solely on family and ministry as well as personal training & health coaching their clients.
Lessie has been involved with United Way’s Dancing with the Stars as a choreographer since 2021.
Kira R. Treadway
(Team: Michela & Peyton Payne)
Kira R. Treadway was born at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. She has three siblings; two older brothers and one younger sister. Growing up her mom always taught them “where your friends will fail, your siblings won’t.” They are her best friends. To this day it’s faith, family, friends, and dance that mean the most to her. In 2005 Kira and her family moved back to Tennessee.
In high school Kira was a part of her color guard team. After graduation, she attended Carson-Newman University where she studied Communications. She was on her college dance team and was captain her senior year. She graduated in 2020 with a Bachelor’s degree in Communications. During her junior year, she interned at GoDance Ballroom studio where she met her best friend and dance partner Aaron Hawkins. After graduation, she started full time as a professional ballroom instructor. Kira has choreographed multiple wedding dance routines as well as creating her own performance routines with her partner Aaron. Some of Kira’s accomplishments include placing third in rhythm at East Tennessee Dance Sport Competition, and placing in the top 15 at Michael Buble’s Higher Dance Competition.
Kira is now working in Entertainment at Dollywood Theme Park. She is in her second year at Dollywood, and has been a part of multiple casts and shows such as the brand new Sing-A-Long show, dancer/instructor for Sweet Summer Nights dance party, and several characters around the park.
Kira is so excited to be fulfilling a lifelong dream of hers as a choreographer/dancer. She has so many people to thank for helping her get here, but most importantly God. Growing up in church and in her faith has made her who she is today. She would like to thank her parents and siblings for their constant support and prayers. As well as many others who have helped her get to where she is today.
