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1852 Dance is beginning its 13th year
under the direction of Whitney Rice Durham and Heidi Rice Reed, who have over 50 years of combined dance experience. Originally
from Clarksville, TN, the sisters currently make their home in West Tennessee. Heidi and Whitney not only share a love
for dance but also their college sorority, Phi Mu, which was founded March 4, 1852. By combining both passions,
the name for their dance studio was established...1852 Dance.
Heidi Reed received a Bachelor's of Fine Arts in 1994 and Master's of Arts in Teaching in 2000 from The
University of Memphis. She was a member of the U of M Pom Squad and was the Feature Twirler for the Mighty Sound of
the South Marching Band. Upon graduation, she completed an internship with the Peridance Center in New York. Heidi
began dancing and twirling at the age of four, which led to numerous state and national titles including Miss Tennessee Co-ed.
She danced as a member of the Apprentice Company of Nashville Ballet and was selected to the Tennessee Governor's School
of Arts. Heidi served as the coach and choreographer for the Clarksville High School Dance Team for 10 years. She is
active in her children's school and also teaches dance technique to competitive gymnasts at Elite Energy Gymnastics in Murfreesboro,
TN. Heidi lives in Nolensville, TN with her husband, Mike, and their two daughters, Carrigan and Kennedy. Whitney Durham received a Bachelor's of Business Administration in 2000 and Master's of Business Administration in
2002 from the University of Memphis. She was a member of the U of M Pom Squad and served as one of the captains. She
held numerous leadership positions on campus including Phi Mu president and founder and executive director of Up 'til Dawn,
and she was also recognized as the U of M's Emerging Leader of the Year upon graduation. Whitney began dancing at the
age of four and teaching dance at the age of 11. She spent most weekends competing at regional and national competitions
across the country where she earned top honors in tap, jazz, and lyrical dance. She also danced with the Nashville Ballet.
Whitney is beginning her 14th year at the coach and choreographer of the Lexington High School Dance Team, and she previously
served as the coach of the Clarksville High School Dance Team for four years. She is also the current coach and choreographer
of the West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx Diamond Girls. Whitney is also a licensed Zumba Fitness instructor. In her spare
time she volunteers as a National Officer for Phi Mu and serves as a member of the Jackson Cotillion Club. Whitney currently
resides in Jackson with her husband, Japeth, and her son, Pierce.
While both Heidi and Whitney come from extensive dance backgrounds, they both feel
strongly about continuing their dance education This summer, they, along with 750 other dance teachers from across the
nation and Canada attended Rhee Gold's Dance Life Conference in Scottsdale, Arizona. This 4 day conference offered studio
owners, teachers and assistant dance teachers the opportunity to continue educating themselves for the betterment of their
studios and their dancers. While at the conference, they had the opportunity to take classes from Gio Hubela, the choreographer
for the ICONIC BOYZ, Joe Tremaine, the jazz guru and MMe Peff Modelski, Master Teacher of Ballet, and many many more. Last
summer, they traveled to Las Vegas with a group of students to attend Artists Simply Human (ASH) National Convention and Showcase. They are both member of the
National Association of Dance, Tennessee Association of Dance, and Henderson County Chamber of Commerce.
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