Our Team: Our heart and soul
Diana Suarez
Originally from Cali, Colombia, Diana discovered tango in 2008 and soon moved to Buenos Aires, where she trained intensively for over a decade—beginning with the renowned Sistema Dinzel®. Her teaching blends strong technique with improvisation, musicality, and personal expression, shaped by years of study and performance across South America and the U.S. Diana creates a welcoming space where students can explore the connection, creativity, and joy of tango. Now in Chattanooga, she invites dancers of all levels to discover their own voice through this beautiful and dynamic dance.
Joel Thomas
Mia Younger
Mia Younger has been dancing from an early age, taking lessons in several different styles of dance, including, ballet, tap, jazz, hip-hop and cheer. She began her ballroom journey as a student in 2012 after taking a hiatus from performing with her local professional band. She realized at that time how much she missed dancing and performing - ballroom was the perfect outlet for both. After several years as a student and enrolling her husband to join her in lessons, she began her professional career in 2017, partnering her husband at their first DWTS charity event. Dancing is cathartic and therapeutic. She has seen it positively impact so many lives and relationships, including her own. There is a certain freedom and lightness when you’re moving to music, a moment in time to lose yourself in rhythm and fluidity. She loves helping people bring something new, beautiful and therapeutic into their lives.
Joel is a professional ballroom dance instructor with over a decade of experience teaching in Nashville and Chattanooga, Tn. He works with dancers of all levels, from beginners to advanced performers, focusing on clear technique, musicality, and well-structured story centric choreography. Routines choreographed and coached by Joel have been performed at national ballroom dance competitions and regional charity events, earning multiple awards for performance and presentation. Specializing in group classes, Joel creates an engaging and welcoming environment where students build confidence, improve movement, and experience the benefits of ballroom dancing both on and off the dance floor.
Micheal Stayman
Michael is the newest addition to the Emilie Cole Studios team, bringing over two decades of experience in sales, customer service, and event planning. He plays a key role in planning and setting up studio events, dance socials, and supporting our social media presence.
While much of Michael’s work happens behind the scenes, his passion for dance is front and center. After his first visit to a honky-tonk, he quickly fell in love with line dancing and country swing—and never looked back. Michael is actively taking country dance lessons and can be found at as many dance socials as possible, continuing to grow as both a dancer and a valued member of our dance community.
