About Our Staff

Tiffany Okerson, Owner/Creative Director

Miss Tiff grew up in central Arkansas, Destin, FL and Memphis, TN. She began singing and dancing by the age of five and choreographing by the age of 13. What pushed her to start taking performing seriously was being accepted into Overton High School for the Creative and Performing Arts in Memphis, TN. There, she studied extensively in all dance styles for three years under the direction of James Farris and had the opportunity to perform for Mid-South Youth Talent, galas, parades, fundraisers, and other events across the Memphis area. Tiffany has trained under dance dynamos Stacy Tookie, Sonya Tayeh, Mark Meismer, Ray Leeper, Kim McSwain, Mandy Moore, Marcus Alpert, Alex Wong, Denise Wall, Ian Eastwood, Tom Richardson, and Miles Keeney, among others. In 2013, she received her certification in Ballet and Jazz from the Southern Association of Dance Masters. Tiffany also holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Union University where she studied classical voice for three years. In her high school/college years, Miss Tiff was invited to sing/dance for Mid-South Youth Talent Contest in Memphis, TN 3 different times (the largest talent competition in the world, and where both Elvis Presley and Justin Timberlake got their start!) She was also an entertainer at Libertyland in Memphis when she was just 17 years old. In 2001, she toured Germany with the Union University Singers. In 2005, she was a National Semifinalist for Gospel Music Channel’s show Gospel Dream, where she sang for Zomba Gospel's President, Max Siegel. She has been a church worship leader on multiple occasions since 2008, and sang for various local events including Dancing With Our Stars six different times. She has been privileged to sing with the acclaimed Memphis Jazz Orchestra, home to veteran musician and mother Jojo Jefferies. She has enjoyed leads in such musicals as Footloose (Urleen), Fame (Serena), and Market House Theatre's Anything Goes (Hope) and The Wizard of Oz (Glinda). Other notable credits include Telethon of Stars, Symphony Sing-Off, commercial appearances for Frank Farmer Chevrolet, voiceovers for Bristol Broadcasting, a four-time choreographer for Miss Illinois pageant, a two-time instructor for Dancing With Our Stars, and a back-up dancer in Weird Al Yankovich’s Mandatory Fun Tour in 2016.

Since starting TRF in 2011, Tiffany has choreographed over a dozen award-winning routines for her students, at various regional competitions, including special awards like "Cleanest Feet", "Most Unique Choreography" and the "Triple Threat Award". She has been a singer/dancer at the Badgett Playhouse in Grand Rivers, KY since 2010. She has been a part of such shows as Fabulous 50’s, The Big Band Show, Variety: Music, Memories & More, Variety: Christmas Spectacular, Big Band Christmas, Country Sweethearts, The Super 60's Show, The 70's Show, The Sounds of Memphis and The Awesome 80's Show. Tiffany says she feels blessed to have worked with such a professional cast of musicians, singers and dancers, incomparable to a vast majority of venues throughout the country. She has been a backup singer for Mr. Terry Mike Jeffrey and toured with his band part-time in his renowned Elvis tribute shows since Fall of 2014, singing alongside symphony orchestras in Detroit, St. Louis, Jacksonville, Winston-Salem, Nashville and Memphis, among others. Tiffany has also been seen performing with groups Tiff & Ian, Sticky Bones and her most recent band Wildflower Honey with Ms. Ashley Allen. These two can be heard jamming at some of Paducah's finest downtown establishments, local wineries and other hot spots beginning this spring! You will also see her performing with Paducah Rhythm Revue, a brand new professional variety ensemble birthed out of TRF!

This year marks Tiffany's fifteenth year of teaching dance and tenth year of teaching voice and theatre. She resides in Paducah with her husband Trent and their seven-year old spunky son Hansen and Heeler-Lab Champ. She is especially thankful to Trent for his continuous support, belief, patience and sacrifice with helping bring the TRF dream to life and to God for His unfailing love, grace, and for making "all things possible". Jeremiah 29:11 - which says "For I know the plans I have for you. Plans to prosper and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future." - will continue to be at the heart of why TRF exists today.

Christy Bowkamp

Miss Christy started dancing when she was just 4 years old at Gotta Dance Studio in Lexington, KY, training in all styles, including Pointe, which she began at the age of 12. She danced throughout her childhood, keeping her Ballet training at the forefront. With the constant support of her parents, she joined the competition team when she was in grade school and competed all the way through high school. She was also a member of the dance team at Tates Creek Middle and High Schools. Christy attended Murray State University and was a member of the Racer Girls Dance Team, where she was Co-Captain her Junior year and Captain her Senior year, acting as "coach" and choreographing all of the routines. Along with Racer Girls, she also joined Sigma Sigma Sigma Sorority and won "Best Choreography" for their 2014 performance in Murray State's All Campus Sing Competition. Christy was Choreographer for 2015's Miss Murray State pageant. She graduated from MSU with a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting and is working toward a Master's in Business Administration. She currently resides in Paducah, KY, working in the accounting department at Paducah & Louisville Railway. Christy is excited to be continuing her passion for dance by teaching the students

Jordan Williams

Miss Jordan began dancing at the age of eight, adding voice, dramatic arts and creative writing to her repertoire in more recent years. Her passion for the Arts dates back to as early as she can remember. In her teens, Jordan began dancing competitively, having trained in Tap, Ballet, Jazz, Pointe, Contemporary, Hip Hop, Lyrical and Modern, also taking part in extra technique classes and local workshops. Jordan has had the privilege of performing at events such as Dancing with Our Stars, The Lion's Club Telethon of Stars, Symphony Sing-Off for Paducah Symphony Orchestra, Stomp Towards a Cure, and more. She has worked with the McCracken Co. Public Library in their program "Musical Story Time" with their presentation of The Cat and the Fiddler and was chosen to be a guest teacher at Market House Theater's "Thrill the World" event. She has trained with world-renowned master teacher Marcus Alpert and So You Think You Can Dance finalist Alex Wong, Broadway Dance Center's own Tom Richardson and Miles Keeney, and one of her biggest inspirations - Ian Eastwood. You can currently see Jordan performing professionally at the Badgett Playhouse in The Sounds of Memphis. Homeschooled throughout her primary years, Jordan resides with her family in Paducah, KY where she studies at WKCTC, working to obtain her Associates Degree in the Arts. She is thrilled to now be teaching and choreographing for the students of TRF, having grown up training with the school since the beginning. Most recently, Jordan acquired the role of Dance Captain for The B.L.O.O.M Initiative's Variety Show Project. She plans to continue dancing throughout her adult years and as a part of her career.

Caitie Easter

Miss Caitie was born in Matthews, NC and moved with her family to Metropolis, IL at the age of 2. She began dancing a year later, but took a few years off to pursue softball, cheerleading and soccer. She started back at the age of 12, when TRF first began in the Musical Theater program. the following year, she began taking more technique-based dance classes and continued to take most of the classes offered at TRF. Caitie has a tremendous love for the performing arts. She was also a Rhythmic Youth team member for four years. She has performed for various local events like Stomp Towards a Cure, The Lion's Club Telethon of Stars and Dancing with Our Stars. She has performed in Market House Theater's production of Annie's Kids. She has also worked with the McCracken Co. Public Library's "Musical Story Time" program in The Cat and the Fiddler. She has also trained with highly regarded Teacher/Choreographer Marcus Alpert and Alex Wong, a So You Think You Can Dance finalist, World of Dance finalist Ian Eastwood and Broadway Dance Center's own Tom Richardson and Miles Keeney. She also had the pleasure of being invited to compete in the Mid-South Fair Youth Talent Contest in Memphis, TN in both singing and dancing. Caitie received the special award of "Emotional Commitment" at Creation Dance Champs Competition 2017 in Louisville, KY. She also placed 2nd overall in her age division for her solo "The Hill". Most recently, Caitie has been attending classes at Murray State University (MSU) as a Theatre Major, with focus on choreography and acting. She played Olive Ostrovsky, the female lead, in MSU’s fall 2018 production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, her first college role. In the spring of 2019, she choreographed MSU’s production of Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing, as well as Marshall County Arts Commission’s production of The Addams Family. She is currently choreographing MSU’s Operetta, The Pirates of Penzance, and is current choreographer for MSU’s “Campus Light“ for Spring 2020.

Jaelon Harris

Jaelon Harris, a performing artist, vocal producer/recording artist and creative director, is proud to be a part of The Rhythm Factory team! He has a exuberant passion for the arts and all things music!

Jaelon, a skilled vocalist having more than 10 years of on-stage performance under his belt, is glad to be sowing seeds of creativity into the upcoming generation of TRF's talented young artists.

He is involved in many projects including the Paducah Rhythm Revue, a division of the B.L.O.O.M initiative and non-profit under The Rhythm Factory umbrella.

Michele Easter

Miss Michele is the administrative assistant at TRF and she is darn fabulous at it. She was born and raised in Weddington, NC (a suburb of Charlotte). She graduated from Wingate University with a Bachelor's Degree in English with a minor in Business Administration. She worked in accounting and was an office manager for various homebuilders in the Charlotte area. She and her husband Cliff moved to Metropolis, IL in 2002. Cliff works as Minister in Youth and Families at First Baptist Church of Metropolis. Michele is a stay-at-home mom, who has homeschooed her three daughters Kenzie, Caitie and Reagan. Both Caitie and Reagan have been very active students at TRF since 2011, and Caite now teaches for the school. Michele recently added to her resume as she obtained the impressive position of District Manager for Driveline Retail Merchandising.