Amber Cumbee, Owner/Director
Amber Cumbee began dancing at age two in Charleston, SC. She moved to Aiken, SC at the age of seven and continued studying dance at Aiken Ballet where she soon became a member of the Aiken Ballet’s Performing Company and Competition Team. She has taken numerous master classes and attended workshops taught by professional dance instructors and choreographers from around the world. Ms. Cumbee began her teaching career by assisting dance classes at age twelve. The following year, she gained the responsibility of teaching and choreographing for her own classes. In 2003, at age 15, Amber was accepted and sponsored by Millie Lewis Modeling and Talent Agency in Savannah, GA. While under the tutelage of Millie Lewis, she attended the American Modeling and Talent Convention where she was invited to work for various talent scouts from all over America. Amber continued to attend numerous dance and talent competitions winning many awards for overall scoring. She decided to further her dance education by attending the University of South Carolina where she graduated in 2007 with a Bachelor of Arts in Dance Performance. In 2008, Amber utilized her degree by joining the faculty of acGATEWAY (Aiken County‘s Gifted And Talented Education With Artistic Youth) as a dance teacher, where she became an integral part of the staff for five years. She then joined the Crosby-Miller School of Dance faculty in 2009 where she teamed up with their owner/artistic director and formed the studio’s first competitive dance team. She led the team to victory for 9 years. Amber has also worked with several schools in the CSRA teaching and choreographing for fine arts and afterschool programs, pageants, dance teams, and school productions of musicals. Amber is also an M2 Certified Acrobatic Arts Instructor, bringing the Acrobatic Arts curriculum to TT&T since 2020.
Ms. Amber joined the Tip Toes and Taps faculty in 2016 as the Performing Company and Competition Team Director. She immediately fell in love with the family-friendly atmosphere and knew she had found her forever studio home. In 2019 she was presented with the opportunity to take over as Director of the studio, which she considered a blessing and dream come true. When she’s not at the studio, Amber enjoys furthering her own dance, tumbling and business education. She loves spending time with family, friends, and her sweet fur-babies. When she has time, Amber thoroughly enjoys traveling and having new experiences.
Raelynn Broadway, Manager
Raelynn Broadway was born and raised in Pennsylvania and relocated to North Augusta, SC, in 2012 with her husband and two children. In 2013, their family was blessed with the addition of their adopted son, making their home even more full of love. That same year, Raelynn joined the Tip Toes and Taps team as Office Manager, bringing her valuable experience from previous roles as an Office Assistant and Sales Representative at Green Supreme, Inc., as well as a Property Manager for a housing community.
Raelynn was promoted to Studio Manager in 2019 and has continued to expand on her professional skills by learning new programs, systems, and processes to better serve her TT&T studio family! Mrs. Raelynn is passionate about creating a welcoming, family-oriented environment and cherishes the connections she builds with students and their families.
Outside of the studio, Raelynn enjoys spending time outdoors with her family, crafting, and playing games. Her three grandchildren bring immense joy into her life and keep her busy. A true animal lover, her home is shared with dogs, cats, a bearded dragon, and a gecko. On Sundays, you’ll find Mrs. Raelynn volunteering at True North Church, where she enjoys greeting members and serving coffee. No matter where she is, Raelynn finds joy in helping others and spreading kindness.
Karis Altringer, Administrative Assistant
Karis Altringer is our administrative assistant with a focus on social media! She graduated from USC Aiken in 2024 with a Bachelors in Science in Nursing. She currently works as an ER nurse at a local hospital.
Raised in North Augusta, Ms. Karis started dancing at Tip Toes and Taps as a toddler and continued taking classes at the studio for 16 years. She has taught all ages in many classes, including ballet, tap, jazz, and hip hop. This past season, Karis took on Stage Manager for our Spring Recital. In her free time, Karis enjoys relaxing with her cat, Rosie, and shopping. She is excited to meet all the new families this season and is ready for our best year yet!
Kayla Adkinson, Dance Teacher/Acro-Tumble Coach
Kayla Adkinson began dancing at Tip Toes and Taps at the age of three, and brings years of experience and dedication as a teacher at her home studio. She loves her TT&T family! Coming from a large family herself, she has a natural love for working with children and truly enjoys helping young students. Ms. Kayla is certified in Acrobatic Arts and teaches a variety of classes, including Tots, Shooting Stars, and Rising Stars acro-tumble, musical theater, ballet, jazz, tap, and cheer pom! She is also one of our dedicated Performance Team teachers and choreographers. Currently, Kayla is studying Early Childhood Education at Aiken Technical College and completed the Teacher Cadet Program during her senior year of high school in 2023. She has always had a passion for dance and helping her students grow and develop. She strives to create a positive, encouraging learning environment where each student can succeed, build confidence, and develop a love for movement.
When she’s not in the studio, Ms. Kayla enjoys spending time with her family and friends. She also loves reading, writing, and exploring her interest in cosmetology.
Danielle Altringer, Dance Teacher
Danielle Altringer is our upper Ballet, Pre-Pointe, and Pointe Instructor. She earned her Bachelor Degree in English from Winthrop University and Master of Eduction in Teaching and Learning Degree from Clemson University. She has been teaching high school in Aiken County for five years. Raised in North Augusta, she danced at Tip Toes and Taps for nearly 15 years, and has been on staff since moving to Aiken several years ago. She has taught dance to all ages, from preschool to company level, including ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, and composition. She is the Stage Manager for our Spring recitals and has choreographed for recitals, concerts, and competitions.
Ms. Danielle is so excited to be a part of the Tip Toes and Taps staff, a group of people who she has considered family for many years. She is passionate about inspiring a love of dance in all of her students, and believes in building a foundation of technical knowledge and ability. When she is not at the studio, Danielle enjoys working in her garden, listening to podcasts and audiobooks, and spending time with friends and family.
Emily Mims, Dance Teacher
Emily Mims is a Dance Teacher and Choreographer from Aiken, South Carolina. She began dancing at the age of 3 and spent her early dance career performing with the USC Aiken Dance team and Columbia College Dance Company. She graduated from USC Aiken in 2022 with a bachelor’s degree in Studio and Digital Art. After graduating from college, Ms. Emily obtained her Dance Education credits from Columbia College and became a certified K-12 Dance Teacher through the Teachers of Tomorrow Program. Ms. Emily is in her 4th year of teaching at Aiken High School, having previously taught in Lexington County for three years.
Outside of being a dance teacher, Ms. Emily is also a Color Guard coach and an Art Gallery coordinator. In her free time, she enjoys reading, hanging out with her two cats, Spoon and Mango, and spending time with her family.
Iris Nichols, Dance Teacher
Ms. Iris has been dancing since she could walk and has trained in all styles for over twenty years! She grew up competing with Tip Toes and Taps and now serves as Co-Director of the Performance Team, where she loves helping dancers grow in confidence, artistry, and stage presence.
Iris graduated from the University of South Carolina Aiken in 2024 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and currently works full-time at Savannah River Nuclear Solutions. Throughout her dance journey, she has earned multiple titles including Miss U.S. Armed Forces Teen, Distinguished Young Woman of North Aiken County, and Senior Female Best Dancer Finalist at The Dance Awards in Las Vegas.
When she’s not teaching or performing, Ms. Iris enjoys traveling, singing, crafting, and spending time with her family, friends, and dog. She feels so grateful to teach at the studio she grew up in and to inspire her students both on and off the stage.
Natalie Nordeen, Acro-Tumble Coach
Ms. Natalie is incredibly thankful to be a member of the TT&T family. She is a cheerleading coach at Fox Creek High School and has been involved in competitive cheerleading for many years as a fan, competitor, and coach. You may recognize Ms. Natalie from the numerous Youth Cheerleading camps she helps put on each summer. She enjoys pouring into the future of the sport she loves so much! Her team has won back-to-back Region Championships, and she is so proud of the level of excellence that they compete at each year. Ms. Natalie graduated with her bachelor’s degree in education last May and teaches Fourth Grade at Merriwether Elementary School!
When not coaching cheerleading or tumbling, Natalie enjoys being an active alumna member of her sorority, completing DIY projects, using Canva to bring her creative visions to life, listening to the Wicked Soundtrack, and keeping up with the Royal Family!
Ms. Natalie is honored to be entrusted with the safety of your students while they try new things in her tumbling classes! She is also incredibly thankful for her coworkers and says they make this studio feel like a home away from home!
Taylor Robinson, Dance Teacher
Ms. Taylor is excited to begin her 5th season with the TT&T family, teaching lyrical/contemporary and jazz! Originally from Toledo, Ohio, she moved to the CSRA in 2020 to teach eighth-grade English/Language Arts at Paul Knox Middle School, where she also coaches the Patriots cheer team. With over 15 years of dance experience in contemporary, lyrical, jazz, musical theatre, hip hop, ballet, and tap, Ms. Taylor’s training began at a performing arts school. She continued her training through high school competitions and into college at Bowling Green State University. She has taught at multiple studios and coached a high school dance team, always sharing her love for both the art and sport of dance.
Ms. Taylor is grateful to be part of such a talented and welcoming studio community, and can’t wait to inspire the next generation of dancers.
Lexi Saxton, Dance Teacher
Lexi Saxton has been part of the Tip Toes and Taps family since her early days as a young ballerina. With more than 13 years of training, she specializes in jazz, hip-hop, tap, and ballet. Ms. Lexi has worked with dancers of all ages and skill levels, guiding them to strengthen their technique, build confidence, and develop a true love for dance. She brings energy and joy to every class, showing her students that dedication and refinement can be just as fun as they are rewarding. Lexi values giving her dancers the freedom to express their individual style through their training. Her passion for the arts extends far beyond the stage. In 2015, Lexi graduated from the Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology and went on to establish her own hair and makeup business, The Lex Designs, located in the heart of North Augusta. Her artistry has been featured in three magazines and showcased in films on both Netflix and Amazon Prime. She is also our studio’s go-to beauty expert.
Outside of the studio, Lexi wears many hats — including dance mom and baseball mom to her two children. In her free time, she enjoys being outdoors and savoring a great cup of coffee.
Madison Guyton, Assistant
Madison is a dynamic individual with a passion for tumbling and mentoring. Born and raised in Lexington, South Carolina, she developed an early fascination with cheerleading and tumbling. This initial spark led her to pursue a successful cheerleading career, laying the foundation for a lifelong journey marked by innovation and dedication. Throughout her career, Madison has been driven by a desire to serve as a leader to those around her. This ambition has led to significant contributions in qualifying and competing in the state championship 4 times, where she has consistently sought to encourage and uplift her teammates, no matter the outcome. Madison has earned the title of a 5A Cheerleading state champion, as well as a 4A Cheerleading state runner-up. She also has four lower-state and region champion titles.
Beyond professional achievements, Madison is deeply committed to serving her community. She believes that service to others builds stronger communities and fosters mutual respect, empathy, and shared responsibility. Madison actively seeks community service opportunities by participating in the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s student visionary of the year campaign, and has raised over $30,000 within the short span of 7 weeks. Whether through community service projects or advocacy and awareness, she strives to make a positive impact on the world around her.
Isabel Ngoka, Assistant
Isabel Ngoka was raised in North Augusta, South Carolina, and is a proud former Company Member of Tip Toes and Taps, where she trained both recreationally and competitively. A 2024 graduate of Lakeside High School, Isabel was an active member of the Soundation Show Choir and the International Thespian Society, dedicating much of her time to the school’s vibrant performing arts department. She is currently pursuing a degree in Business Marketing with a certificate in Theatre at Augusta University. Beyond her studies, Isabel performs with The Augusta Players and several local community theaters, showcasing her talents in dance, singing, and acting. Her notable stage credits include Irving Berlin’s White Christmas (2023) and Annie (2024). When she is not performing, Isabel contributes behind the scenes by volunteering as a technical associate, prop manager, and assistant stage manager for Augusta Junior Players productions. Her passion for the performing arts extends across multiple disciplines, earning her recognition and numerous awards in dance, voice, and acting.
Ms. Isabel enjoys reading, traveling, playing her ukulele, and spending quality time with her friends and family in her spare time.
Olivia Whitesides, Assistant
Olivia Whitesides is an Assistant Dance Teacher dedicated to fostering a supportive and disciplined learning environment for students. She assists in instructing dance techniques while maintaining an organized and encouraging classroom atmosphere. Olivia has been dancing since the age of eight at Tip Toes and Taps, where she was also a member of the competition team, gaining years of performance experience and technical skills. A graduate of North Augusta High School, Ms. Olivia also attended the Aiken County Career and Technology Center, where she earned certifications in Phlebotomy, EKG, HIPAA compliance, CPR, and First Aid. She is currently attending the University of South Carolina Aiken, pursuing a degree in Health Science with a focus on Nursing. Known for her patience, kindness, and positive attitude, Olivia strives to inspire confidence and growth in every student she teaches.
In her spare time, Olivia loves spending time with her friends and family. One of her favorite things to do is watch Dancing With The Stars with her Aunt anytime a new season comes out. They look forward to having fun together guessing who will win, discussing the dance routines, and spending quality time together.
Kindle Danridge, Student Assistant
Bio coming soon!