Community. Health. Serving.
About Vitality School of Dance
Our Philosophy
Vitality is providing a space where its dancers can delve into their creative and artistic potential while learning to be the healthiest version of themselves. We desire to make a positive impact by sharing the joy of movement and artistic expression with our surrounding communities.
Community
Vitality is cultivating an atmosphere centered around community. We believe that by pouring into one another, we can in turn pour into the community as a whole.
Health
Vitality encourages each member's growth in the 5 pillars of health: emotional, mental, relational, spiritual, and physical. Together, these pillars are the foundation for a meaningful and purposeful existence.
Serving
Vitality leads compassionate hearts through opportunities to serve one another. We hope these acts of service will inspire a ripple effect, positively impacting lives beyond our reach.
Meet the Team
Owner, Director &
Instructor
Ashley Self
Ashley K. Self has 23 years of dance experience and has received dance training in ballet, modern, pointe, and tap. She has 16 years of teaching experience in various genres (ballet, modern/contemporary, pointe, pre-pointe, tap, and beginner jazz) for ages ranging from 2-adults; Ashley also has experience teaching children with special needs. Further, she has taught for eleven different dance schools throughout North Alabama and South Tennessee; including directing her own program (in 2013-2014) in North Alabama. At the age of 19, Ashley directed a ballet production in Fayetteville, Tennessee that sponsored a local food pantry. Furthermore, she continued her dance education at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) and was a member of their pre-professional Dance Company. Ashley strives to stay in a mindset of growth so that she can offer quality instruction to her students. She has received additional training from Ballet Magnificat!, Huntsville Ballet and Middle Tennessee State University. Ashley is married to her "childhood sweetheart" (Colyn) and has three daughters. The Self's are a "homeschool family" that live and attend church in Columbia.
Co-Owner, Personal Trainer & FitnessInstructor
Colyn Self
Colyn is the owner of Self Vitality Health Coaching and is a specialist in his field. Colyn is a certified Personal Trainer, Nutrition Coach, & Behavior Change Specialist (PT, NC, BCS). Colyn has recently launched a new aspect to his Health Coaching services as a Content Curator/Social Media Manager for other Health Coaches. Colyn enjoys being a part of the Vitality Dance team and teaching our Fitness Classes. For fun, when Colyn is not working, he enjoys listening to educational podcasts, drinking coffee with his wifey, playing with his two daughters, and watching Star Wars movies.
Teachers
Rebekah Atkins
Instructor
Rebekah Atkins has logged 28 years of dancing experience and 17 years of training young dancers. She has danced professionally with Columbia City Ballet (now South Carolina Ballet), Ballet Magnificat, and Instruments Ballet Company. She also published her first book in 2025. Her training has been widespread across all styles of dance with acclaimed teachers from all around the country. She founded the non-profit Christian ballet company Instruments Ballet Company and co-founded Instruments Ballet Academy in Oregon City, Oregon in 2017. She is passionate about healthy early childhood development and raising up the next generation to be bold and fearless leaders. Her teaching style is disciplined in the pursuit of excellence with an emphasis on the unique artistic traits that each young dancer possesses. She uses methods from the Vaganova, Royal Academy of Dance, and American Ballet Theater curriculum to train dancers with well rounded technique and versatility. She deeply values the relationship she has with each and every student and strives to help them become all that they were designed to be.
Brittney Deptuch
Instructor - DTP Director
Brittney received her dance training on awarded scholarships from the Eugene Ballet Academy, Oregon Ballet Academy, and Portland Festival Ballet. She spent her summer months dancing at the prestigious Joffrey Ballet in New York City, American Ballet Theatre‘s JKO School in New York City, Harid Conservatory in Florida, And Magnus Midwest in Michigan. She has also worked and performed with State Street Ballet in California , Ballet Fantastic in Eugene and the Eugene Ballet Company. While working with these ballet companies she toured across California, Idaho, Washington, Colorado, Florida, and Alaska. Brittney has now been teaching and choreographing for 10+ years and loves to share her passion for Ballet with the younger generations.
Leslie Diamond Lee
Instructor
Leslie is honored to be an instructor at Vitality and to work alongside this amazing team and with these up and coming bright young stars! Originally from Columbus, OH, she received a B.F.A in Musical Theater from Kent State University’s School of Theatre & Dance, where she performed in productions of Side Show, The Fantasticks, Godspell and Chicago. She studied acting under Terri Kent, voice with James Mismas, and modern, ballet and jazz under Darwin Prioleau and Kim Karpanty (Alvin Ailey, Horton Technique). She continued to study ballet, jazz and tap at Broadway Dance Center in NYC. Leslie played the part of Maureen in the National Broadway Tour of RENT, and performed regionally in productions of Jesus Christ Superstar (Mary), Miss Saigon (Ellen), Cats (Demeter) and Crazy For You (Polly), to name a few. She is also a singer/ songwriter and has released several songs. She teaches voice and piano privately and lives with her family in Spring Hill. She is thankful for her family's continued support and love and so blessed to work at this School that has put God at the center!
Candice Friend
Instructor
Candice is originally from Memphis, had a passion for dance since she was a child when she began in ballet. As she has grown and moved around quite a bit, she has always immersed herself in a variety of genres of dance, whether it was competitive cheer, dance, hip hop, or other fun dances, such as swing, jitterbug, and salsa! Candice has even had the opportunity to dance on her college dance team as well as has danced for the NBA. Wherever there was an opportunity to learn new dance types, she would find a way to participate! Even though she has no formal training, she is dedicated to self expression and growth and has always dedicated time to being self-taught to grow her love for dance.
Bella Hertstein
Instructor
A native of California, Bella was diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis in her eyes and legs at 18 months old. The doctor thought that she would always walk with a limp, never run, and certainly NEVER dance. However, with the power and grace of God, Bella persevered and fully healed. She enrolled in dance just a year later! She danced for 8 years in California, until she moved out to Tennessee in 2019. Soon after moving here, Bella was looking for a studio to further her passion and knowledge in dance. That is when she found Vitality! She has been with Vitality for 5 years now, and has loved it! Dancing with Vitality's Company, modern, tap, and her passion, ballet. She was the first student at Vitality on pointe, 2 years ago, and she enjoys the challenge it brings. Bella has always loved being around and working with children. That's why she couldn't wait when she found out she could assist at Vitailty and help out with the littles! She has assisted for 4 years and is so honored to be able to share her love and passion for dance and The Lord, with the kids through teaching. She is EXCITED for this new opportunity to join the Vitality team and grow with them in her dancing education.
Isla Brewer
Instructor
Though she is the newest and youngest instructor on the Vitality team, Isla has several years of dance experience, and continues to grow in the art. Isla began ballet at the age of 5, transitioned to gymnastics until the age of 8, and later returned to her first love of dance, studying ballet, jazz, and tap. In 2023, Isla transitioned her study of dance to the Vitality studio, and this has been her “home” ever since. Isla is currently continuing her dance education as a student in Vitality’s pre-professional Day Time Program, is en pointe, and is currently studying ballet, jazz, character, and modern. Isla’s great grandmother served as a ballet instructor for many years, and Isla has inherited her love of teaching. While Mrs. Ashley was on maternity leave, Isla was able to step in and assist with teaching the monthly preschool ballet class at the Spring Hill library. Isla is also an active member of the Leaders In Training ministry at her church, a program that trains teens to assist/teach in the children’s ministry. She frequently leads worship in children’s ministry, and is also an active member of her youth group. She is looking forward to encouraging and growing with the younger dancers of Vitality, and is grateful for the opportunity to serve.