Autumn Henkel is a passionate dance educator, choreographer, and performer who believes that dance is about so much more than perfecting steps, it’s about discovering confidence, building character, and creating a lifelong love for movement!

 

Autumn’s journey in dance has taken her from local stages to training opportunities in New York City. She was honored to be named Lenawee County Fair Queen in 2021 and returned the following year as both a guest choreographer and performer. Throughout her competitive dance career, Autumn received numerous special judges’ awards recognizing her artistry, technique, and performance quality. She was also invited to New York City and attended two years of Broadway training and intensive dance study, further developing her skills alongside industry professionals.

 

Her ballet training includes completing and successfully passing numerous Cecchetti ballet examinations, as well as continuing her education and performance experience at Hope College, where she trained and performed in their showcase. Autumn has also had the privilege of performing as a guest with the Adrian Symphony Orchestra, bringing dance to life alongside live orchestral music.

 

As an educator, Autumn has been teaching since 2022 and has had the opportunity to work with dancers ranging from ages 2 through adult, across an extensive variety of genres. Her teaching experience includes ballet, pointe, pre-pointe, tap, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, acro, tumbling, contortion, strength and conditioning, and more. She has a particular love for acrobatics and ballet/pointe.

 

Autumn has also performed in TCA’s “The Nutcracker” as the Chinese Lead and the Sugar Plum Fairy. 

 

At the heart of Autumn’s teaching philosophy is the belief that students should leave the studio not only as better dancers, but as more confident, joyful, and kind individuals. She is passionate about teaching proper technique and encouraging dancers to work hard, while also creating an environment where children feel safe to be themselves, have fun, take risks, and truly fall in love with dance.

 

Outside of the studio, Autumn is married to her best friend, Eric, and they have two beautiful children, Levi and Winter. When she’s not teaching, you can usually find her behind a camera as a photographer, painting, creating something in the kitchen, enjoying her favorite coffee at The Buzz, downtown Adrian. Most importantly, lost in a good book, her all-time favorite series is Throne of Glass, by Sarah J. Maas!! 

 

Autumn is grateful for every opportunity to teach, perform, create, and encourage the next generation of dancers, and she considers it a privilege to be part of each student’s journey.