Meet Our Staff

For Lori Lopez McNabb, dance has never simply been something she does—it has been part of who she is for as long as she can remember.

Lori began dancing at just three years old under the guidance of her aunt, Ellie, at Ellie Grimmett’s School of Creative Dance. Her love for performing quickly extended beyond the dance studio. As a child, Lori organized backyard dance shows with the other children in her subdivision, inviting all of the neighborhood parents to watch. Even then, she loved bringing people together through dance.

Lori continued dancing throughout her childhood and teenage years, performing until she graduated from high school. Her passion followed her to college, where she continued taking dance classes and participating in dance events. She also earned a role as a dancer in the musical Carnival, giving her another opportunity to pursue her love of performing.

Although owning a dance studio had always been a lifelong dream, Lori initially chose a different professional path. She attended college and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Counseling, followed by a Master’s degree in Counseling and later a degree in Administration. She accomplished all of this while working in the school system and raising her three children.

As her children grew, Lori found herself returning more and more to the world she loved. She began choreographing dances for her children and their friends to perform in her Aunt Ellie’s recitals. She later began teaching hip-hop classes at the recreation center in St. Albans and became the Hayes Middle School Dance Team coach.

Finally, in 2009, Lori took the leap and opened her own dance studio—turning a lifelong dream into reality.

Mekenzi Brooks has had a passion for dance for as long as she can remember, beginning her training at just two years old. Growing up as a competitive dancer at Spotlight Dance & Acrobatics, dance quickly became more than something she did—it became an integral part of who she is. Today, Mekenzi has come full circle as an owner, teacher, and choreographer at the very studio that raised her.

Throughout high school, Mekenzi was a member of the Capital High School Dance Company, where she served as Vice President for one year and President for two years. After graduation, she received a scholarship to West Virginia University to continue pursuing her dance education. During her time at WVU, Mekenzi earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Dance while simultaneously earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Business with an emphasis in Finance.

Her collegiate training allowed her to study extensively across ballet, jazz, modern, contemporary, tap, hip hop, musical theatre, and specialty styles. She performed in numerous showcases and choreographed original works for Collegiate Dancers.

Mekenzi is especially known for her unique and creative approach to contemporary choreography. For her, movement is never simply about steps—it is about telling a story and creating moments that make both the dancer and audience feel something.

Today, Mekenzi proudly owns and operates Spotlight Dance & Acrobatics alongside Morgan McNabb, continuing to build upon her mother’s legacy while bringing their own vision, creativity, and passion to the next generation of dancers.

Mekenzi also teaches BodyBarre fitness classes and continues investing in her growth as both an educator and choreographer through Dance Educators Collective, professional intensives, continued training, and educational opportunities.

Emily Hanna began her study of dance at the age of 3 in Charleston, WV. She studied at the American Academy of Ballet, which led to her invitation to join the Charleston Ballet. After several seasons with the Charleston Ballet she moved to Carlisle, PA to further her study of ballet with the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, under the direction of Marcia Dale Weary.

Her performance credits include Paquita, The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, and Les Sylphides, among others. Emily attended dance intensives in Saratoga Springs, NY; Myrtle Beach, SC, under the direction of William Starrett; The Charlotte City Ballet in Charlotte, NC; and with the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet.

Emily also studied under renowned ballet instructors David Howard, Oleg Briansky, Katrina Killian, Olga Dvorovenko, Serge LaVoie, and Miguel Campaneria.

Emily holds a BS in Government from Campbell University, an MPAP from American University and works in Government Relations for a national non-profit organization. She is the proud mother of two daughters, Caroline and Vivienne. Emily is a certified Lagree Fitness instructor and enjoys volunteering as a choreographer for the United Way of Central WV’s annual Dancing with the Stars fundraiser.

Molly Price is a proud Spotlight Dance Studio alumna and is excited to return to the studio as a Pre-K dance instructor. Molly was one of the original students at Spotlight when the studio first opened, making her return especially meaningful.

Molly’s love for dance continued throughout her school years, where she was a member of both the Hayes Dance Team and the Saint Albans High School Dance Team. She is thrilled to now share that same love of dance, movement, and performance with a new generation of young dancers.

Molly holds a degree in Early Childhood Development and Education from West Virginia University at Parkersburg and an ECCAT certification through the West Virginia Board of Education. She has more than 10 years of experience working with children from newborn through school age.

For the past four years, Molly has worked in Pre-K education, teaching in both Kanawha County Schools and a private center-based Pre-K program. During the 2025–2026 school year, she also worked in high school special education, further expanding her experience working with children with a variety of learning needs.

Outside of teaching, Molly is a proud mom to three children—Aiden, Addison, and Benjamin. Her background in early childhood education, combined with her lifelong connection to dance, gives her a unique passion for creating a fun, encouraging, and developmentally appropriate environment where young dancers can build confidence, learn new skills, and most importantly, have fun.

Molly is so excited to be back where her own dance journey began and looks forward to helping her youngest students discover their own love for dance!

Heather McCoy provides essential support to keep our studio running smoothly.

She assists with administrative tasks, costume coordination, and recital preparation.

Her dedication ensures that every performance and class runs seamlessly.