Jill Hasty McNew, owner and director, is certified to teach dance through written and oral examination by Dance Masters of America (DMA), Chapter 33. She is an active member of DMA and serves on the Board as Director. Jill has won many choreography awards at DMA and this year, choreographed the title holders opening number at the DMA Fall Convention. She has also served as the Senior Protégé Choreographer, which is the highest honor a choreographer can receive at DMA Chapter 33.  This year Jill also received the Company Dance Educator Award.  This award is selected by the Company Dance faculty and presented to one teacher at each convention who is making a difference through their teaching and example. This is the second time Jill has received this award.

Jill judges for Starlight Dance Competitions both regionally and nationally. Starlight is the sister competition of Company Dance.

Jill is included in the 2006 Edition of the Heritage Registry of Who's Who. The Heritage Registry selects and distinguishes individuals throughout North America who have attained a recognizable degree of success in their field of endeavor, thereby contributing to the growth of their industry. The edition is available at the Library of Congress in Washington DC, as well as major libraries throughout North America.

Jill is director and choreographer for the Jill's Studio of Dance Company Dancers. Jill's students have competed and received top honors at both the regional and national level. Jill has had title holder winners for DMA Chapter 33 in the Miss Dance, Teen Miss Dance, Junior Miss, and Little Miss Dance divisions. She has also had 3 students chosen as Company Dance Teacher Assistants. This is the highest honor an individual can receive at a Company Dance Convention. These students tour the country assisting the Company Dance faculty. Jill has had two students make it to the Las Vegas round for "So You Think You Can Dance," and one has made the Top 50. The JSD Teen Company Dancers were named National Champions with her routine "Workin' Day and Night" at the 2005 Company Dance National Finals. They were a part of the Great American Dance Challenge, which was shown on FSN. The JSD Junior Company Dancers were awarded National Champions in 2002 as they performed her winning routine "Respect" and were seen on ESPN2 winning Junior Performance of the Year.

This year Jill's winning routine "Word Up" was awarded the Junior Critic's Choice Award at NYCDA in Nashville, Tennessee. Jill's Senior routine "Hairspray" won the Senior Overall Highest Score at NYCDA. Also, her winning routine "Missed The Bus" won the Judges Choice Award at Company Dance in Memphis. Senior routine "Bollywood," choreographed by Nick Florez, won the Judges Choice Award at Company Dance, and Senior routine "Reach," choreographed by Martha Nichols, won the Senior Critics Choice Award at NYCDA. Jill's student, Brittany Stephenson was chosen to the Company Dance Hall of Fame which is the highest honor for an individual to receive at Company Dance. Jill's student, Abbey Moody was awarded the Teacher Assistant Award at Company Dance. This year JSD Company Dancers won 22 platinum medals and 16 scholarships.

Staying current and continuing her own education in dance. Jill goes to many conventions and workshops throughout the country. She enjoys taking classes at Broadway Dance Center in New York, and has been a guest teacher for different organizations and various studios. In addition to attending conventions, she also brings master teachers to the studio. Brian Friedman, Ray Leeper, Nick Florez, Rhonda Miller, and Gregg Russell are just some of the master teachers that she has brought to the studio.

Receiving her training in the areas of tap, ballet, and jazz, Jill competed in DMA Competitions, and performed at Panoply and other local events. While earning her Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from Mississippi College, Jill taught dance at various studios in the Jackson area and received such honors as homecoming queen, Miss Mississippi College, class favorite, Student Body Attorney, Who’s Who Among American Colleges and Universities, and was chosen to the Mississippi College Hall of Fame. Jill was also a college cheerleader. Her squad won the UCA Division II National College Cheerleading Championship three out of the four years she was there. Jill choreographed the dance portion of the routine every year. She also choreographed the Mississippi College productions of “The Music Man,” “Oklahoma,” and “Hello Dolly.” She performed in “Oklahoma,” and played the role of Zaneeta in “The Music Man”. While in college, Jill also choreographed for and judged several Junior Miss pageants. During her senior year, she and her sister opened their own dance studio, Showstoppers Studio of Dance. In that same year, she was invited to teach jazz at the National Association of Dance and Affiliated Artists (NADAA) Convention in
Mississippi. In 1991, Jill returned to Huntsville to marry her husband, Brian.

Jill taught sixth grade at Huntsville Middle School for four years. She is active in many community affairs. She is a member of the Gothic Guild, whose purpose is the preservation and restoration of Historic Huntsville and Madison County. She is also a sustaining member of the Junior League of Huntsville. Jill and Brian are active members of Southwood Presbyterian Church.