Twilla Mann has been passionate about dance since the age of five. Her extensive training spans a variety of styles, including jazz, tap, ballet, American clogging, ballroom, and Scottish highland dance. She has received certified training as both a teacher and a judge from prestigious organizations such as the National Clogging and Hoedown Championships and America On Stage director workshops, along with numerous other programs across the United States.
Twilla's talent has earned her numerous awards in competitions throughout the Western U.S., excelling in clogging, ballroom dance, and Scottish highland dance. She reached the highest level of competition in Scottish highland dancing, where she earned the coveted title of "Most Promising Dancer." While in college, she studied ballroom dance and went on to compete in and win awards at many events, including the U.S. Nationals in San Diego, CA, and the distinguished British Championships in Blackpool, England.
Her performances have taken her around the world, with notable appearances for U.S. President George Bush and LDS Church President Ezra Taft Benson, as well as shows in Hawaii, New York City, Washington D.C., Philadelphia, Disneyland, and numerous international folk festivals across France, Spain, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Portugal, and Austria.
With over 30 years of experience in teaching and choreography, Twilla founded American Rhythm in 2000. She and her husband currently own and operate the American Rhythm Folk Ensemble in Provo, Utah. Twilla is also a proud mother and grandmother.
Teagan Simmons has a wealth of experience in the performing arts, excelling as an award-winning clogger, dancer, and singer. She studied Dance at Brigham Young University, where she was a member of the International Folk Dance Ensemble and the prestigious BYU Youth Ballroom Team. Teagan also served on two performing missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Nauvoo, Illinois.
Her career has taken her around the world as a dancer, singer, and musician with the American Rhythm Folk Ensemble, with tours across France, Spain, Canada, Mexico, Poland, the Czech Republic, Germany, Peru, Denmark, Sweden, and throughout the United States. In addition to her international tours, Teagan has showcased her talents in numerous musical productions.
With over a decade of experience as a teacher and choreographer for American Rhythm Folk Ensemble, she has also taught clogging at BYU and served as a dance trainer for the Young Performing Missionaries in Nauvoo, Illinois. Teagan and her husband currently operate Club Clog an online dance training company. She is the proud mother of twins, born in 2022.
Lianne Ames began her professional performing career at the Promised Valley Playhouse in Salt Lake City as a singer/dancer. Her next venue was playing the lead role of Belle Davenport in a historical play in Skagway, Alaska. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Dance Theater from Brigham Young University where she played lead roles in main stage productions including Florence in "Chess" and Anne in "The Merry Wives of Windsor." She has also toured with the Brigham Young University Young Ambassadors. Lianne has received numerous awards including: First place in the Kansas City Chapter of National Association of Teachers of Singers and a Blue Cappy Award for Best Choreography in a high school musical in the Kansas City Metropolitan area. She has choreographed for college, community and high school productions including "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers," "Oklahoma," "Hello Dolly," and "Once Upon a Mattress." She choreographed for Central Missouri State University's show choir troupe. She and her husband owned and operated the Salmon Valley Playhouse, in Salmon, Idaho, with productions including, "You're a Good Man Charlie Brown" and "Hansel and Gretel." She has directed, co-directed and performed in "The Nutcracker" for more than 19 seasons. In 2002 she was invited to co-direct American Rhythm with Twilla Mann. She and her husband own Legacy Performing Arts Academy in Roosevelt, Utah where Lianne continues to teach ballet and music/dance/theater which she has loved doing for over 25 years.