"Last year, our students had the privilege of experiencing their first workshop with Mr. Hanner. We were amazed by how they responded to his class. They genuinely look forward to seeing him each month and strive to work harder. His teaching methods benefit the dancers greatly by improving their ballet technique and also in many other aspects of their lives. Watching the dancers as well as teachers being inspired by him is truly gratifying. Mr. Hanner has had a tremendous impact on our our students and we feel lucky to be able to continue working with him." - Karen Lanzara and Nicole Hudson-Dance Dynamics, Long Valley, NJ www.dancedynamicslongvalley.com/

"Thomas Hanner has been teaching at our studio for the past four years. His unique style of teaching adds a special boost to our ballet curriculum. Along with his knowledge and love of ballet, which is evident in his teaching, he brings respect and discipline into the classroom. The dancers share my gratitude for having Thomas a part of our dance education." - Linda Sicilia, Elower-Sicilia Productions of Dance & Music, Thurmont, Maryland www.espdance.com

"Thomas Hanner has been a valuable asset to the success of our competition program. Since Thomas' introduction as a guest teacher at The Ballet Studio, our scores at competition have consistently improved over the last four years. He has a firm but kind teaching approach and the students respond very positively to him. Thomas is just what every studio needs!" - Sherri DiStefano, Competition Director, The Ballet Studio, Yardville, NJ www.tbsdance.com

"Thomas comes every other week and works with our competitive dancers at the studio. We've seen a great improvement in their ballet technique. The students are very excited when he comes and they look forward to seeing him. We hope that next year his schedule will allow him to come every week. We are lucky to have him!" - Julie Rogers, Julie Rogers School of Dance, Huntingtown, MD

"Thomas Hanner is one of the best things that I could have done for my students. He is so knowlegeable about even the smallest details which can help your students in everything they do. The students at my studio have enjoyed his method of teaching and their performance has improved a great deal. He is wonderful with the small children also. They not only learn ballet technique but they also learn life lessons through his ballet classes. Give your students the opportunity of a lifetime. Thomas will make a difference for them. He is an angel who fell from the sky to my studio." - Carol Still, Carol's Academy of Dance, Lancaster, PA

"Mr. Hanner has taught several master classes at my studio during my summer intensive programs. He was a favorite of all! His method of teaching simply inspired me. Every dancer needs to experience one of Mr. Hanner’s classes. There are hundreds of really good master teachers out there that will give your students a great technique class, but if you want your students to walk away with more, if you want them to be inspired, if you want them to gain knowledge, understanding and a deep appreciation for the art of dance, then you want them to take a class with Thomas Hanner. When you watch Mr. Hanner’s class you can see that he truly loves working with children and with his unique approach to teaching he both motivates and encourages his students to be the very best they can be. Every one of my students left his class feeling good about themselves and what they have accomplished. I hope that Mr. Hanner will continue to bring his inspirational classes to “Art of Dance”!" - Susan Smith, owner and director of Art of Dance in Bethlehem PA www.artofdance.us

"When Thomas Hanner came to the studio, I wasn't quite sure what to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised. He seemed to know how to handle each age group of classes; whether it was teaching them proper etiquette, or giving that extra detail to help students with their form. He definitely had their undivided attention the minute the students walked through the door (as it should be in every class!). As their teacher, I also picked up several teaching tools by watching Mr. Hanner conduct his class. It was with out a doubt a memorable experience for my students and I would love to have Mr. Hanner back. Thanks again!" - Jennifer Wheeler, Transitions Dance Company Portsmouth, VA

"We really enjoyed having Mr. Hanner for classes. The way he structures his class is a dying art form. It is very much the way we trained when I worked professionally with the St. Louis Ballet. It creates some of the strongest most consistent dancers. He also works very intuitively with the students, knowing when to push and when to pull back, when to compliment and when to criticize. I was amazed at his ability to sense what each child needed without ever having met them. We fully intend to have him back." - Robin Friedersdorf, Artistic Director, Bon Air Dance & Pilates, Bon Air, VA

"Thanks for bringing the love of ballet to our studio. Our students really enjoyed the Master Class with Thomas Hanner. He is a kind and experienced teacher. He blends proper ballet skills that can be transferred to other areas of life." - Cindee Tine,Stage Left Dance, Middletown, CT www.stageleftdance.com

"Bravo, to a truly "Master Teacher" Thank you for sharing your knowledge, experience and for being a truly inspirational Teacher. Your Master Class uplifted the spirits of my students and myself, very quietly, but with lasting intensity, in only one very special afternoon. Isn't that were dance really begins? The spirit of a dancer, expressing itself in the physical form. Greatly looking forward to your next class with us." - Ingrid Pearsall, Ballet Instructor for Colts Neck Dance & Performing Arts Academy, Colts Neck, NJ www.coltsneckdance.com

"My students have had the great privilege to experience the excitement of ballet many times with ballet Master, Thomas Hanner. He has been a guest teacher for students from beginner to advanced level at my studio. What an absolutely unique experience for all of my students. His approach to ballet is far more than a dance lesson, it is a "life" lesson. His energy and enthusiam for every student is an enlightenment that lasts long after the classes have culminated until the next wonderful guest class. Thomas is continually conscientious with following up phone conversation in relation to the successes and future needs of the students. Thomas once said to me,"Miss Joanne, the good Lord has put me here in this life to be a teacher. It just so happens that my vehicle in which to teach is ballet." Wow!!! What a testimonial for all teachers who are so blessed through the vehicle of dance!Thank you for asking me to participate in sharing my wonderful experiences with Mr. Hanner. We are so fortunate to have such an inspirational and truly sincere man in our lives!" - Joanne Reagan Horn, President and director of the Joanne Reagan Dance Studios, Inc., Cape May, New Jersey www.joannereagandance.com

"Just observing Thomas Hanner's class makes you want to be a better dancer, teacher, even a better person. He has such a wonderful way of reaching out to the students & teachers. We cannot wait to have him back to the studio, I only wish we could have him every week." - Lisa Marie D'Amato, owner of Lisa Marie School Of Dance In Edison, NJ

"Mr. Hanner is most concerned for the welfare of his students - both their bodies' freedom from injury and their mental attitude of well-being. His class begins with an empasis on posture, balance, center, and concentrated focus which allows one to warm-up well for center practice and to achieve a mental attitude conducive to change and growth. In particular, his use of tempi, from adage to allegro, allows one to experience progressive achievement. His value on one's own creation as the source of movement resists the sense of ballet as a rigid, inflexible regimen imposed on an unwilling body. He challenges the student to be present in the moment and to be actively creating and interpreting. His center floor choreographies are delightful, challenging, original and highly instructive. There is a lesson to be learned in each exercise. I highly recommend Thomas Hanner as a dedicated professional and wonderful human being." - Joellen Meglin, Professor of Dance, Temple University

"At the time I met Mr. Hanner, dance class was the highlight of my day. My parents had separated the year before and things were still unsettled. I was dancing preprofessionally and working part time to pay for class, costumes, and pointe shoes while finishing school. Dance was my escape from that reality. I had started taking ballet at age 14 and fell in love with the art. In two years I had been placed in the company class. Almost all the girls were younger, shorter, and more experienced. To me, these differences were very obvious which caused me to doubt myself despite my rapid progress. I had a lot to work through and I didn’t realize how in subtle ways it effected my dancing. I met Mr. Hanner though a master class he taught at Step By Step Dance Studio in Mercerburg, PA one summer. He handled the class very professionally, giving corrections and further instruction yet allowed the safe space I needed to work through my questions and gain focus. Since then, my dancing has rapidly advanced, my focus has increased, and movements have become more refined. My other dance instructors have taken notice. Mr. Hanner has helped me grow as a technician, an artist and as a person." - Anne Dice

"Our classes in dance at Peabody are with Thomas Hanner, a dedicated and inspiring teacher who enables students to achieve more than they knew they could." - Leon Fleisher, Peabody Conservatory