Meet the Staff

Instructor & Company Choreographer

HD was raised in North Phoenix and took her first dance class at the age of 3. She grew up as a competitive dancer and was trained in ballet, pointe, hip hop, jazz, jazz funk, tap, contemporary, lyrical, and musical theatre. At 14, she began assisting her mentor Jose Soto at local studios and high schools. Her time with Jose not only strengthened her as a dancer but also helped to shape her teaching style. Also at 14, she was selected by Vicky Harris as the first-ever prodigy for Choreography Pros. A year later, she was selected as a prodigy for NRG Dance Project where she was discovered by Robert Hoffman III and signed with Go2Talent Agency. HD has trained with industry professionals including Cisco Ruelas, Brooklyn Jai, Oththan Burnside, Nicole Kirkland, Amari Marshall, Kennis Marquis, and Thalia Ramos. She also assisted Brooklyn Jai at Millenium Dance Complex and other studios in Los Angeles. HD is passionate about training young dancers and unlocking their full potential. She began her teaching career at 14 when she taught her first hip hop class for Cisco Ruelas and Arizona RawTalent. She has also taught students of all ages at Dynamic Motion Dance, Creative Edge Dance, Dance Deluxe, Dance Expo, Dalton Dance Theatre, and A Time to Dance. She is a guest teacher at Paul Revere Charter Middle School in Los Angeles where she choreographed and assisted with staging their 2019 production of “Newsies.” HD is currently teaching full-time at multiple dance studios, setting choreography for high schools and colleges, and pursuing a degree in Sports Psychology from Grand Canyon University.  

Instructor & Company Choreographer

Lilly Jewell grew up in Anthem, AZ and danced at Dynamic Motion Dance Academy for 15 years. She is trained in ballet, pointe, jazz, contemporary, lyrical, and acrobatics. She has been sharing her passion of dance as a teacher for the past 5 years, having taught through out Arizona, both as a teacher in the studio and as a competition and company choreographer. When in college Lilly ran the NAU dance club for 3 years, from 2018-2021, running rehearsals, scheduling show cases, and choreographing. While at NAU she took part in many artistic projects that centered around movement, videography, and story telling. Lilly also holds a certification in acrobatics from Acrobatic Arts. Lilly’s love for dance bloomed from her mothers passion for the art. She was put into her first dance class at 4 years old and never looked back. She holds a deep love for ballet and the foundation it sets for dance technique. Lilly loves sharing the beauty and story telling she sees in ballet with her students and teaching them how technique translates into other dance styles Everyday she loves connecting with her students, watching them grow, and learn new skills throughout each class. Lilly loves that she gets to work at the same studio that supported her as a student and be apart of its legacy!

Instructor & Company Choreographer

Native of Arizona, Velaine Jollé has been a lover of the world of dance for as long as

she can remember. She began her dance training at the age of 3 at On Stage Dance

Academy under the guidance of Rose Trioani and the inspiring, Michaela Romero.

Velaine broadened her scope with tumbling, cheerleading, wrestling and

bodybuilding throughout her teens and early 20’s. She studied and danced more at

G.C.C. with the Physical Graffiti Co. and the greatness of Lenna DeMarco. She’s

traveled and performed throughout the nation with many dance companies and

entertainment corporations like Nebellen, Twilight Productions, and Dance Fx for over

a decade. This gave her the exposure and knowledge of more urban styles like hip

hop and all the genres within it. With over 30 years of teaching, performing and sharing

her passion of dance with others, she has been awarded both regional and national

choreography, overall high placings and judge’s awards throughout the competitive

dance circuit as well as, directed over a decade of productions with a cast of 150 plus

amazing students. Velaine's certification with Acrobatic Arts keeps her strong,

knowledgeable, and on trend with her favorite genres to teach: acrobatic tumbling

and technical dance skills. She equally enjoys creating and training in lyrical, jazz,

contemporary, and foundational hip hop styling. She is extremely grateful to be able

to be an artist of dance and excited to work with the next generation of artists and

dancers!

Instructor & Company Choreographer

Sam is a passionate and experienced dancer with over 18 years of training, the majority of which has been focused on competitive dance. Originally from Chicago, Sam moved to Colorado at the age of 14 and most recently relocated to Arizona in May 2023.

Throughout the years, Sam has taught in a variety of settings, from dance studios to choreographing for sorority dance competitions. A highlight of Sam’s dance journey includes receiving an award from In10sity Dance Competition to attend the prestigious Rockette Camp in New York City. Sam also spent a season dancing on the University of Colorado Dance Team, representing CU Boulder at collegiate events.

Sam recently graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder with a degree in Marketing and currently works as a Business Development Intern with the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation. Now turning focus toward teaching, Sam is thrilled to share a deep love for dance and inspire the next generation of dancers through creativity, discipline, and joy.

Instructor & Company Choreographer

Kadynce Ross is a dedicated and versatile dancer from Boise, Idaho, currently studying Kinesiology with an emphasis in Sports Performance and a minor in Dance at Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona. With a strong foundation in multiple dance genres, Kadynce has developed a deep passion for movement, performance, and the artistry of dance.

Over the past year, Kadynce has traveled as an MVA+ dancer with Velocity Dance Convention, gaining invaluable experience and exposure. Her performance credits include working with internationally recognized artists such as Now United, Ava Max, and most recently, Tove Lo—experiences that have helped shape her as both a performer and creative.

Beyond performing, Kadynce also teaches and choreographs, sharing her knowledge and love for dance with students of all levels. Grateful for the many opportunities dance has brought her, she is excited for what lies ahead and remains committed to growing as both an artist and educator.

Instructor

I am Luis Castro, a passionate

choreographer and teacher from El Paso, Texas, whose love of dance was sparked

by the lively rhythms of Latin

ballroom dancing. The dance floor

has always been my haven, a place where I can be who I truly am and freely express myself.  As a collegiate student of several dance styles including jazz, ballet, hip hop, and contemporary,

I'm always amazed by the diverse

range of expression and movement. My background in Latin ballroom dancing continues to educate and inspire my choreography, bringing

emotion, sincerity, and rhythm to

every routine.

Instructor

Katie Kirwan began her early training in Middletown, Ohio under Phyllis DeWeese and later studied under Raphael Grigorian in Corning, New York, Dayton Ballet, Pointe Park College, Milwaukee Ballet, Ballet Chicago, and North Carolina Dance Theatre. At Indiana University, she earned her Bachelor of Science in ballet and arts management under the wonderful teaching of Violette Verdy, Jasque Cesbron and Leslie Peck. In North Carolina, she began teaching at DancePlace, the official school of North Carolina Dance Theatre. However, the highlight of her career was dancing with Ballet Magnificat! under Kathy Thibodeaux from 2001 – 2008 as a soloist company member. In the fall of 2008, she taught at Dance Center Prague, a conservatory in Prague, Czech Republic. After moving to Chicago she taught and worked full time for the Joffrey Ballet Academy from 2009 – 2015, including 5 years as Joffrey Ballet’s Children’s Cast Head Ballet Master for The Nutcracker. 

Katie returned to graduate school in 2012 to earn her Masters in Occupational Therapy. She currently works with children with complex medical needs, but also enjoys working with adults. With her background in OT, she has been the creator of a Parkinson’s Disease dance project in the Chicago area, and a children’s dance class through her current job, providing group therapy through the medium of dance to children with a range of abilities including those using bracing, wheelchairs and other devices for mobility. It is her passion to expand dance opportunities to all people of all backgrounds and abilities.

Instructor

Mikayla Skogen started a ballet class at the age of three years old at Dynamic Motion Dance Academy and fell in love. She’s been dancing ever since. She has danced all styles such as ballet, pointe, jazz, lyrical, modern, contemporary, tap, and musical theater. Although her favorite by far is, Ballet. She has been a guest ballerina for a few studios around Arizona and attended college for Dance Education at GCU (Grand Canyon University). She is also certified in Ballet through DMA (Dance Masters of America). Currently she is a dance teacher at the place where it all began, Dynamic Motion Dance Academy and absolutely adores teaching the little ones. She has a passion for children and and for dance and thankfully she has a job that combines those two together. She would love to own her own studio one day and continue to share her love for dance with others! 

Instructor

Neil Spooner, a dedicated dance artist, choreographer, and educator with 16 years of dance experience and 6 years of teaching experience, is originally from Cleveland, Ohio. Grand Canyon University is where
he earned his BA in Dance Performance. It was there that he honed his artistic vision, pushing limits and captivating audiences with powerful performances. Neil is skilled in improvisation, choreography, partnering, and a variety of dance styles, such as Jazz, Hip Hop, Ballet, Modern, and Heels. With an array of experience working with other studios in Arizona and the US, he has an East Coast and Midwest street style that inspires inclusion and self-expression. Neil is committed to stretching the boundaries of dance in order to produce inclusive, thought-provoking work.

Guest Instructor

Brittany Corrigan has over 25 years of dance experience working as a dancer in the San Francisco Bay Area. She is an experienced dancer, choreographer and educator in Jazz, Contemporary, Lyrical, Musical Theatre and Ballet. She has had the opportunity to work with several esteemed choreographers and dancers from around the world and has trained and performed at multiple venues in San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York. She attended Santa Clara University with a Theatre Arts Scholarship for Dance and was on the SCU Dance Team. Most recently, Brittany spent the past 6 years at Funkmode dancing and instructing and also trained at Alonzo King Lines Ballet. She relocated to Arizona in August 2023 and is currently a Company dancer with Nhan Ho Project and Wight Noise Dance Company. In September she had her first performance in AZ at the Show Me Choreography Showcase. She is excited to be a part of the dance community here in AZ and is looking forward to continuing her passion for dancing and teaching dancers of all ages and levels.

Guest Instructor & Company Choreographer

Sara has had a passion and love for dance for as long as she can remember. Starting dance at the age of 3, she has trained in a variety of styles including Jazz, Hip-Hop, Contemporary, Lyrical, Tap, Ballet, Pointe, Musical Theater, Modern, Jazz Funk, Acro, and Ballroom. Having an Associates Degree in fine arts, a Jazz Certification with Dance Educators of America, and Certification with AZDanceMed (training to assess and progress dancers using efficient exercises), Sara believes that you can never stop growing. She continues her education daily through new experiences and her current professional dance career.

 Over the years she has toured with the Utah Ballroom Dance Company, danced for: 13th Floor Haunted House, I.D.E.A Dance Fashion Show, Dancing for the stars Charity Event, a music video shot in LA, and has found success in Ballroom competitions. During the summer of 2019 she was given the opportunity to train with Staib Dance Company in Sorrento, Italy. Recently performing in “Fright Fest” and “Holiday in the Park” at Six Flags Over Texas, she was able to train in a Rockette/ Precision style show called “The Jingle Belles” for the Holidays. Sara has also booked and filmed a commercial with CenturyLink, and continues to explore different opportunities of performing and teaching. 

 Teaching since 2015 has allowed her to choreograph and teach throughout the community. She directed and choreographed “The Polar Express” show at Amped Coffee Company, along with being a guest choreographer at Boulder Creek High School. Her choreography has been recognized and awarded at various competitions. Though the biggest reward of all is seeing her students chase and achieve their dreams and goals. While perfecting their technique, building confidence, and instilling a healthy, balanced lifestyle, Sara has a passion for helping dancers go from good to great!