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    UTM English major dances through life

    Ethan Tanner Posted on

    Featured image: UT Martin senior English major Kaley Fletcher Green instructs her high school dance class at the Paris Academy of the Arts on Tuesday, March 3, in Paris, Tennessee. (Pacer Photo / Ethan Tanner)

    Senior English major Kaley Fletcher Green is not only committed to being a full-time UT Martin student, but also to being a dance instructor, a musical theatre choreographer, a wife, a mother and a worship team member.

    As the founder and chief instructor of the New Genesis Dance Company at the Paris Academy of the Arts, Green has treasured her lifelong passion for dance.

    “I’m very musically and artistically inclined. Everything that you can do with music, I’ve done,” said Green.

    Green first started dancing as a hobby when she was three years old, which lasted all the way through high school when she competed in Nashville and in Franklin in the 2020 and 2021 Music City competitions. Her dance group even earned an award at the 2021 Dance Worlds competition in Florida.

    She finished her senior year of high school dancing with Natalie’s Dance Network in 2022, but her relationship with the art form did not end quite yet. Once she graduated from Henry County High School in 2022, Green departed for the University of Memphis, only to leave after her freshman year.

    “The professors were great. The environment was great. I just really wanted to be closer to home because I’m a very big family person,” said Green.

    Green decided to enroll at UT Martin as an English major, where she could finish her studies a short distance from home.

    “I absolutely adore my department. I think all of my professors are great. My mentors are great. They deeply care about their students and their profession,” said Green.

    It was around this time when Green would be thrusted back into the world of dance, this time as an instructor. Henry County High School was producing its spring 2023 production of “Mamma Mia,” when theatre teacher Wendy Breedlove reached out to Green as a choreographer. She knew she could not decline the offer.

    “That was my first time that I ever did anything on the musical theatre side of things. And I absolutely fell in love with it. I love the kids that were there and the environment. It was super fun,” said Green.

    Green was also contacted by Rhonda Stanton to choreograph shows for Paris’s Krider Performing Arts Center (KPAC) starting with “The Spongebob Musical” in summer 2023. The performances were a success but there was one problem: the only dance studio in town had just closed.

    Green had originally set up a five-year plan to start her very own dance studio, but now she faced no other option than to start it within five months. Despite the hurry, Green established the New Genesis Dance Company in June 2024 on the top floor of the Paris Academy of the Arts.

    “I already knew the name was going to be New Genesis. Genesis just means creation. God put that on my heart and that’s what I’ve been following with. I just wanted a space and environment for people to feel comfortable to create in, no matter what that looks like, no matter your experience in it,” said Green.

    At New Genesis, Green offers classes for all of the different age groups across the many different genres of dance, whether it is jazz, tap, hip-hop, ballet or lyrical.
    Green has especially been impacted by her high school class, many of whom she met when choreographing musical theatre.
    “I absolutely adore my high school students. I think they’re great. I think we have a lot of inside jokes. I think just making memories has been my favorite part of being a dance instructor,” said Green.
    Owen Wade, a junior Henry County High School student in Green’s high school dance class, has plenty of good experiences learning from her.
    “Kaley just always makes the choreography cool but also simple enough to where everybody can get it. If they can’t get it, she always will accommodate for them,” said Wade.
    Amidst her profession in dance, Green has been tasked with many other brand new challenges, which include her duties as both a wife and a mother.
    “So funnily enough, I actually got married. We kind of eloped, if you will. We got married on April 30, 2023, the year before our actual ceremony,” said Green.
    She and her husband, Jordan, have been married for nearly three years, and have stood beside one another every step of the way. It did not take long before Green gave birth to her daughter, Selah, on July 29. Now that she has her very own family, Green has faced some difficulties managing the pressure that stems from her many commitments. Despite the struggle, Green has relied on her faith to walk her through all of her concerns.
    “I know that without God’s hand in this, it would not be able to be where it is today. And I fully give all of the credit to him. Obviously, hard work, dedication and work ethic are going to get you far in life. But ultimately, I leave it up to his hands and I do as much work as I can,” said Green.
    Green has stayed committed to her faith for many years, attending the Tennessee Valley Community Church since she was in middle school. As a devoted member, Green regularly serves her church as a singer on its worship team alongside Jordan, who serves as the drummer.
    Aside from her loaded schedule, Green looks forward to see what the future holds for her dance studio.
    One of her students and assistant instructors, Logan Barnhart, a senior Henry County High School student who plans to attend UTM in the fall, views Green as a capable instructor and leader.
    “She’s always a good leader. She always makes sure that everyone in the situation knows what they’re doing and how to do it and she never leaves anyone behind,” said Barnhart.
    Green intends to hold classes for people of all ages, and strongly encourages anyone who is interested in dancing sign up.
    “I hope it continues to, to grow, but I hope that we keep the core values that anybody can dance,” Green said. “You’re able to come in and let your  worries of your social life or school kind of melt away while you’re here.”
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    Ethan Tanner
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