Brooke Jerome is a K-12 Dance Educator for Memphis-Shelby County Schools and an award-winning teacher and choreographer in the private sector at numerous dance studios, schools, community theaters, and arts organizations throughout the Mid-South. Brooke earned her BFA in K-12 Dance Education from the University of Southern Mississippi, and was awarded "Outstanding Dance Educator" in 2018. She began dancing with the Honeys in 2018, and in 2022, Brooke was named Co-Artistic Director of Hot Foot Honeys Tap Dance Company, alongside Sara Sims. Most recently, she performed in the Hot Foot Honeys’ LESSONS LEARNED (2025) and the Memphis Symphony Orchestra’s Magic of Memphis (2025). In 2023, 2025, and 2026, she was awarded "Best Choreography" at the NWMTA Allie Awards and “Outstanding Choreography” at the Orpheum Theatre’s HSMTAs in 2023. Brooke has been an active member of the National Dance Education Organization since 2016, and is currently serving on NDEO's Board of Directors. As a Dance Educator, Choreographer, and Artistic Director, Brooke emphasizes the humanity that can be found in dance artists of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities, and encourages dancers to express themselves through movement that communicates who they are, and who they are meant to be.

Sara Sims began her dance training at LRP Studios in Southaven, MS. She joined the Hot Foot Honeys in August of 2014 and was a Dancer and Choreographer before being named Co-Artistic Director in 2022. Sara attended the University of Memphis wherein she received her BA in German and Psychology. In 2022, she obtained her MA in Teaching from the University of Mississippi. Sara teaches tap dance at multiple dance studios throughout the Mid-South and has served as the primary tap instructor and tap choreographer for LRP Studios’ competitive team for the past 9 years. Her choreography has earned awards for its “clean and clear sounds" and “kaleidoscopic rhythm.” Sara’s second passion is the German language. When she is not in the dance studio, she enjoys teaching students about the German language and culture.

Erin Billingsley is enjoying her fourth season as a Honey. She is a long time lover of the arts, receiving dance training from studios in Arkansas and Tennessee. As a teen, she performed in a few theater productions along with the traveling production, Fire and Ice. She also danced in college for Arkansas State. In past years, you may have seen her dancing in the  Memphis Symphony Orchestra’s Magic of Memphis show. She has recently jumped back into the theater world joining the casts of Pippin and Newsies. She is a recent addition to the Mid-South Fair Youth Talent Committee. She works for the Baddour Center as their Special Events Coordinator, as well as a teachers’ assistant at Northpoint Christian School.

Katie Cowden is a dancer and artist from Grand Prairie, Texas. She trained in multiple styles of dance at Amanda's Dance Express and Grand Prairie Fine Arts Academy. She developed a passion for tap, leading her to join Rhythmic Souls Tap Company for five years. In 2022, she attended University of North Texas and received a BFA in Studio Art with a concentration in New Media Art. After moving to Memphis, she found the Hot Foot Honeys and joined the company in 2023. When she isn't rehearsing with the Honeys, she is a teacher and award-winning choreographer with Visions Academy of Performing Arts, as well as a tap dancing Santa during the Memphis Symphony Orchestra's Magic of Memphis show.

Susan Elswick is an avid lover of the arts. She has always enjoyed visual arts, dance/movement, and music. She danced for over 17 years, her foundational years were with Patricia Williams School of Dance, before she took a pause to raise her 3 wonderful children (now 23, 20, and 18) and to pursue a career as a social worker. She is currently a full professor and chair at the University of Memphis in the School of Social Work, she runs a small private practice in the region serving children and families, and she is an affiliate faculty member of the University of Memphis Institute for Arts in Health. Susan often teaches social work students and community partners about the power of expressive arts in practice. She combines the arts with therapeutic interventions to engage her participants in the healing process.

Meredith Keaton is a native Memphian who started dancing at age 2 under the tutelage of Dotti Patterson at Dotti’s School of Dance in Germantown, Tennessee. She trained in ballet, tap, and jazz and participated in dance competitions and workshops throughout her time with the studio. Following her graduation from Hutchison School in 2008, she attended Saint Louis University and sought out opportunities to continue dance through classes at the university’s recreation center in hip hop, belly dance, and Zumba. Upon graduating and returning to Memphis in 2012, she attended The University of Memphis, receiving a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling in 2015. Meredith auditioned and became a company member of the Hot Foot Honeys in the fall of 2017. Most recently, Meredith received a Master of City and Regional Planning (MCRP) degree and a Graduate Certificate in Local Government Management from The University of Memphis in December 2024. Meredith currently works for the Memphis City Council as Senior Legislative Analyst. She is an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, and the Junior League of Memphis.

Riley is from Southaven, MS where she grew up dancing at LRP Studios. She graduated from the University of Mississippi and is currently in pharmacy school at UTHSC. She teaches dance at LRP Studios and choreographs local community and high school theatres. She is so excited to share the stage with her sisters Rae and Sara as well as her mom, Lori Payne! She wants to thank everyone in Hot Foot Honeys for being so amazing and wonderful!

Graycie is in her 4th year with the Hot Foot Honeys. She has been dancing since she was 3 years old. She works at Starbucks as a shift supervisor and attends Arizona State University online. She is majoring in biomedical sciences and plans to become a medical dosimetrist.

Now in her 11th year with the Hot Foot Honeys, Elizabeth started dancing at age 5 in her hometown of Clarksville, TN. After moving to Memphis to attend Rhodes College, she sang and danced in college theater productions and choirs. Today she puts her English degree to work at Archer, one of the country’s largest independent ad agencies. She and her husband Greg love visiting their daughter Kinner and new son-in-law Andrew in New Orleans every change they get.

Laura started taking dance class and carrying a notebook around when she was four and she was still doing that at 17 and somehow she is still doing that now in her 30s. She holds dual degrees in dance and journalism from the University of Alabama, and a lot of respect for her stints in New York City and New Orleans. Her journalism career brought her to Memphis in 2019. She (finally) found her way back to dance with the Hot Foot Honeys in 2023. Laura lives in Midtown with her husband Henry, their dog Rita June and porch kitty Badger.

Olivia is ecstatic to be dancing with the Hot Foot Honeys for a fourth season! When not dancing with the Honeys, Olivia works in IT and cybersecurity at a local brokerage firm. She is currently studying online at George Washington University to receive their Master’s of Engineering in Cybersecurity Compliance and Policy. Olivia is so excited you’re here and is thrilled to share time and space with these wonderfully creative and brilliant humans!