Jill Hasty McNew, owner and artistic director, is certified to teach dance through written and oral examination by Dance Masters of America (DMA). She is the President of Dance Masters of America Chapter 33 including parts of Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee; she served on the board as president, vice president, and scholarship chair for twelve years. Jill won many choreography awards at DMA 33, and has served as Junior and Senior Protégé Choreographer, which is the highest honor a choreographer can receive at DMA Chapter 33.

Jill was awarded National Dance Teacher of the Year by the Company Dance Faculty. She received this honor at the Company Dance National Finals in the summer of 2008. She was awarded the Company Dance Educator Award regionally in Birmingham in 2011 and in Memphis in both 2008 and 2006.

Jill has judged for Starlight Dance Competitions both regionally and nationally. Jill has also judged nationally for the Dance Masters of America prestigious solo titled competition in
New York City.

Jill was included in the 2006-2007 edition of the Heritage Registry of Who's Who. The Registry selects and distinguishes individuals throughout North America who have attained a recognizable degree of success in their field of endeavor and thereby contributing to the growth of their industry. The edition will be made available at the Library of Congress in Washington DC, as well as major libraries throughout North America.

Jill was seen in the Hannah Montana Movie in the "Hoedown Throwdown" scene, and was also seen in the Hannah Montana "Hoedown Throwdown" video.

Jill is the director and also a choreographer for the Jill's Studio of Dance Company Dancers. Jill's Company Dancers have competed and received top honors at both the regional and national level. Jill's Company Dancers have also won many National titles. Jill's Company Dancers were awarded National Studio Champions at the 2011 Company Dance National Finals in Hollywood, California. They were also awarded National Teen Performance of the year. Past JSD National Champions were seen on the Great American Dance Challenge on FSN and the 2002 Company Dance finals on ESPN2. Her individual dancers have also had national titles. Sara Laine McNew was awarded Senior National Prodigy and Anna Goodman won Teen National Prodigy at NRG Dance Project. Riley Fiorello won 1st Runner Up Intermediate Dancer of the Year at Hollywood Vibe, and Clare Gibbons won 1st Runner Up Junior Dancer of the Year at Hollywood Vibe Nationals. The studio has also had two National Agency Award Winners.

This year, several pieces choreographed by Jill won top honors at each competition. Jill’s Teen Production "Ari" received Teen Best of Radix, On the Edge, Teen 11 O'Clock Winner, 1st Overall Teen Productions, Highest Scoring Teen Jazz, and Stop the Clock at 24Seven, Vibe Award Winners and 1st Overall Senior Lines and Productions at Hollywood Vibe, and You Rock Jump at Jump. Her Junior Production, "Purple” received a Vibe Award, 1st Overall Pre-Teen Lines and Productions as well as Best Direction at Hollywood Vibe. Her Mini Line “Dancing Machine” received Mini Best of Jump, You Rock Jump, Highest Mini Jazz Score and 1st Overall Mini Lines at Jump. Jill's Mini Group “Hokey Pokey” received Mini 11 O'Clock Winner, Stop the Clock, Highest Mini Jazz Score, and 1st Overall Mini Groups at 24Seven. 

Jill's Company Dancers received other top honors at each competition this season with choreography by some of the nation’s best choreographers. Our Senior Line "The Grudge" choreographed by Shannon Mather received the highest adjudication at all four competitions as well as the following awards: Vibe Award, 1st Overall Senior Lines, Highest Senior Contemporary, Studio Excellence Award and Best Choreography at Hollywood Vibe, Senior Best Of Jump and You rock Jump Award at Jump, Studio Standout and On the Edge at Radix, and 1st Overall Senior Lines and Stop the Clock at 24Seven. Our Senior Group "Maybe," choreographed by Chaz Buzan, was awarded Senior 11 O'Clock Winner, Stop the Clock, Studio Stand Out, 1st Overall Senior Groups, and Highest Senior Contemporary at 24Seven, Vibe Award Winner at Hollywood Vibe, and Senior Best of Radix and On the Edge at Radix. Our Teen Line, “Temporary” choreographed by Chaz Buzan received Teen Best of Jump, You Rock Jump, and Best in Studio at Jump, Highest Teen Contemporary and Stop the Clock at 24Seven. Our Junior Line “Mama Knows” choreographed by Molly Long received Junior Best of Jump, You Rock Jump Award, 1st Overall Junior Lines and Highest Junior Jazz at Jump, 1st Overall Junior Jazz and Stop the Clock at 24Seven. Junior Production “Move It” choreographed by Randi and Heff received Junior 11 O'Clock Winner, Stop the Clock, 1st Overall Junior productions and Highest scoring Junior Hip Hop.

This year 63 audition scholarships were received and 57 class scholarships were received. We also had 9 winner scholarships awarded this year.  Clare Gibbons was selected to be a part of the prestigious Hollywood Vibe Company at Hollywood Vibe Nationals in Orlando. The studio has had many dancers be selected to tour with many conventions including Hollywood Vibe, Pulse on Tour, NRG Dance Project, and Hollywood Dance Jamz.

In 2014, Jill’s Senior Company Dancers were selected by America’s Got Talent to perform in front of the celebrity judges in Newark, New Jersey. It was an incredible experience and the second time her dancers have been selected to perform in front of the celebrity judges. They also performed in front of the celebrity judges in Atlanta of 2011. From 25,000 auditioning acts, Jill’s Studio of Dance was among the 350 that were chosen.

Jill goes to many conventions and workshops throughout the country to learn and stay current in dance. She has also been a guest teacher for different organizations and various studios and has taught teacher seminars at The Pulse in New York City. She also enjoys taking classes at Broadway Dance Center in New York. In addition to attending conventions, she also brings in the nations best master teachers and choreographers to the studio. Brian Friedman, Blake McGrath, Tyce Diorio, Ray Leeper, Shannon Mather, Talia Favia, Molly Long, Allison Holker, Chaz Buzan, Tessandra Chavez, Tucker Barkley, and Albert Cattafi are just some of the master teachers that she has brought in. These are incredible experiences for the dancers to learn and grow from the best in the industry.

Jill received her training in the areas of tap, ballet, and jazz. During those years, she competed in DMA Competitions, and performed at Panoply and other local events. She then went to Mississippi College and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education. While in college, she taught dance at various studios in the Jackson area. She received many honors in college, such as homecoming queen, Miss Mississippi College, class favorite, Student Body Attorney, and 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.