MaKayla began her dance journey at just three years old at Shaw Dance Studios, where she spent over a decade training in a wide variety of styles and building a strong technical foundation. Her passion and dedication carried into her high school years at Bonneville High School, where she earned a varsity letter as a sophomore with the Lakettes and later served as co-director of the Dance Company, further developing her leadership and artistic voice.
After graduating, MaKayla continued to pursue her love of dance through intensive workshops at Juilliard, gaining valuable experience and exposure to high-level training. She then attended Snow College as a dance major and performed with the Snow College Badgerettes, where her talent and work ethic earned her a peer nomination for Female Athlete of the Year.
Following her college career, MaKayla shared her passion by teaching at various studios before stepping into the professional world as a Lady Eagle with the Salt Lake Screaming Eagles of the Indoor Football League (IFL). This experience allowed her to combine performance, athleticism, and entertainment on a larger stage.
Today, MaKayla continues to stay actively involved in the dance community. She enjoys judging competitions, attending showcases, and taking local heels classes whenever possible to keep growing as a dancer. Outside of dance, she treasures time with her husband, their son, and their two beloved fur babies. And when she gets the chance, you can bet she’s happily rewatching her favorite film, Center Stage—for what she jokes is the 865th time.
Makensie began dancing at just three years old at the University of Utah Montessori Dance program, and over the past 20+ years, dance has become a central part of who she is. For Makensie, dance has always been more than movement—it’s been a way to express joy, love, passion, and even emotional pain. It has long been her “happy place,” and now more than ever, it serves as a refuge where she can step away from the noise of everyday life and find a sense of inner peace.
Much of Makensie’s formal training comes from Ballet West, Utah’s premier professional ballet company, where she had the honor of performing in numerous professional productions. She later expanded her performance experience as a member of the championship drill team at Bountiful High School under the direction of Jan Whittaker, further refining her precision, performance quality, and love for team dynamics.
While she is no longer performing with a company or team, dance continues to play a vital role in her life. Makensie is the proud founder and owner of Envision Dance Studio, where she has spent over a decade training and mentoring dancers. She is also a sought-after judge for elite dance competitions, sharing her expertise and passion with the next generation of performers. Makensie is deeply committed to helping dancers build a strong technical foundation while growing into confident, expressive, and powerful artists.
In 2024, Makensie and her husband welcomed a beautiful daughter into their family. She looks forward to one day sharing her love of dance and passing on her passion to the next generation.
Brandy has been dancing for as long as she can remember—her journey began the moment she could walk. She first trained in tap and ballet, building a strong technical foundation that quickly grew into a passion for all styles of dance. Throughout her childhood and teen years, she expanded her training across multiple disciplines, developing both versatility and artistry.
In junior high and high school, Brandy brought her love of performance to the sidelines as an active member of both cheer and drill teams, where she honed her precision, teamwork, and stage presence. As an adult, she has continued to stay deeply connected to dance, performing with an adult dance team and sharing her expertise by choreographing for local dancers and studios.
Brandy is also a respected presence in the competitive dance world. She has spent years judging dance competitions, offering thoughtful feedback and encouragement to help dancers grow. Behind the scenes, she plays an important role with Hustle, assisting with tabulation and ensuring events run smoothly.
Outside of dance, Brandy is an entrepreneur who owns a successful painting business and also works part-time with 801 Promotions. No matter how busy life gets, she remains deeply committed to the dance community and is passionate about helping dancers reach their full potential.
Brandy is supported by her amazing husband, who encourages her love for dance, and together they are raising three energetic boys who keep her busy with their many sports and activities.
Amy brings over 30 years of experience in the dance world, having built a dynamic and meaningful career as a teacher, choreographer, and judge. Her work has taken her across Northern and Southern Utah, Wyoming, and Oregon, where she also served as a Dance Department Director. Throughout her career, she has trained, conditioned, and choreographed dancers and teams of all ages and skill levels in both studio and school settings, helping them refine their technique, elevate their performance quality, and take the stage with confidence. Her experience spans competitive and recreational dance, as well as both soloists and teams.
Amy has a deep love for judging dance competitions and is especially passionate about building confidence in competitive dancers. She believes in providing feedback that uplifts and empowers, ensuring dancers leave the stage feeling encouraged, inspired, and stronger than before. Her goal is always to help dancers recognize their potential and continue growing in both skill and self-belief.
Now back in Northern Utah, Amy has come full circle—teaching at the very studio where her own dance journey began. Outside of the dance world, she enjoys running (purely for the love of it), creating estate plans by day, and spending time with her husband and their three boys, who keep life full and active.
Laura began her dance training and competitive career at a young age, studying a wide range of styles including ballet, jazz, tap, drill, contemporary, lyrical, hip hop, and pom. She was actively involved in both her high school cheer squad and her local dance studio, laying a strong and versatile foundation in performance and technique. She later pursued an Associate of Arts degree at Western Wyoming Community College in Rock Springs, Wyoming. With more than 24 years of teaching experience, Laura has made a lasting impact in the dance community. She served as the Head Coach of the Rock Springs High School Dance Team for 22 years, where her leadership and dedication helped shape countless dancers. Her excellence in coaching was recognized with the 4A Wyoming Coach of the Year award at the State Championships for both the 2018–2019 and 2021–2022 seasons. She was also recently nominated as a Wyoming Woman of Influence in the Arts, highlighting her contributions to the state’s artistic community. Laura is the proud owner and director of Artistry in Motion Dance Studio in Rock Springs, where she continues to train and inspire dancers of all ages. She is a certified judge with both the Utah Dance Judges Association and the Utah High School Activities Association, and has choreographed extensively for studios, high school teams, and soloists throughout her career. Outside of dance, Laura enjoys gardening, reading, and spending quality time with her husband, four children, and several grandchildren. She is honored to be part of Utah’s vibrant dance community and is passionate about sharing her knowledge, supporting dancers, and contributing as a judge.
Jennette began dancing at just 2 years old and has never stopped moving since. Over the course of her lifelong dedication to dance and performance, she has trained and competed with multiple studios, building a strong foundation in technique, performance quality, and versatility across styles.
Her competitive and performance career includes being a two-time back-to-back State Drill Team champion as an Ogden High Tigerette, where she helped lead her team to consecutive state titles. She also performed as an Ogden High Cheerleader and continued her dance career at the collegiate level as a member of the Weber State University Dance Team, representing her school at games, events, and competitive performances.
Beyond school-based teams, Jennette expanded her experience into the professional arena, performing on multiple professional indoor football dance teams, where she gained additional training in high-energy entertainment, crowd engagement, and game-day performance standards.
Alongside her performing career, Jennette has dedicated many years to developing the next generation of dancers and cheerleaders. She is an experienced dance and cheer teacher, coach, and choreographer, known for her ability to train athletes in both technical precision and performance confidence. Her choreography work spans competitive studios and performance teams, blending creativity with strong foundational technique.
In addition, Jennette has served as a studio competition judge for nearly 20 years, bringing a trained eye, extensive field experience, and a deep understanding of scoring standards, performance quality, and competitive excellence to the judging panel.
Sage began his formal dance training at age seven with Power Plus Productions. At 14, he transferred to the Copper Hills Dance Company, where over the next three years he further developed his technical foundation while discovering a deep passion for choreography and intentional artistic creation.
He is currently dancing with the Salt Lake Community College Dance Company, continuing to refine his artistry through collegiate-level training, performance, and creative exploration.
Over the course of his 14-year dance journey, Sage has choreographed numerous works for his own teams, concerts, and performance events, including halftime shows for organizations such as the Salt Lake City Stars. His choreographic experience spans competitive dance, concert work, and live entertainment settings, allowing him to explore storytelling through movement in a variety of environments.
Sage’s artistic development has been shaped by years of competitive dance experience, in-depth study of modern dance techniques, and a strong focus on the use of time, space, and energy. He also draws from improvisation practices in multiple forms, using them as a tool for creation, body awareness, emotional connection, and healing.
His passion for dance exists in a space of deep creativity and human connection. Dance has always been a central part of his life and a powerful form of self-expression. As Sage describes it: “Dance is rebellion, dance is the expression of the soul, dance is one of the purest forms of human emotion.”
He is best known for his macabre and eccentric storytelling style in choreography, often blending emotional intensity with theatrical and unconventional movement choices. His mission within the field of dance is to encourage others to step outside of their comfort zones and to use dance as a tool for both personal expression and healing—for themselves and for others.
My name is Jayden. I have been dancing for 9 years and coaching dance and tumbling for the past 5 years. I am the owner of JJ Dance Academy, where I focus on training dancers of all ages in technique, performance, confidence, and discipline, with an emphasis on strong fundamentals and growth in both dance and tumbling skills.
In addition to running my studio, I am also a cheer coach at Cyprus High School, where I work with athletes to develop performance quality, strength, precision, and team leadership. My coaching experience has allowed me to help dancers and cheerleaders grow not only as performers, but also as confident and dedicated individuals.
Professionally, I danced for the NBA Utah Jazz and Hale Theater. Performing at the professional level has given me extensive experience in elite training, high-level choreography, and live entertainment, while also strengthening my ability to perform consistently under pressure.
Through both coaching and performing, I am passionate about sharing my love for dance and helping others reach their full potential on and off the floor.
Alisha has been involved in dance for over 35 years, with experience spanning studio training, drill teams, collegiate dance, and professional performance. Her lifelong dedication to the art form has given her a strong, well-rounded foundation in both performance and technical execution across multiple styles and levels.
For more than 25 years, Alisha has been teaching and choreographing, sharing her knowledge and passion with dancers of all ages. She also served as a high school drill team coach for 17 years, where she played a key role in developing disciplined, confident, and high-performing teams. Since 2004, she has worked as a dance and drill judge, bringing decades of experience, a trained eye, and a deep understanding of performance quality and competitive standards to every adjudication panel.
Outside of dance, Alisha has remained active in her community in a variety of ways. She is a former Mrs. Utah America and continues to support pageantry efforts while staying engaged in civic and community involvement alongside her husband’s political work. Professionally, she also works in the dental field, where she enjoys helping improve patients’ smiles and confidence every day.
Alisha is a proud mother of two and loves spending time traveling across the United States with her family, working toward marking off each state on their family travel map. She is excited for another inspiring dance season and looks forward to continuing to support and uplift dancers throughout the year.
Karsen is a dancer, choreographer, and creative visionary whose work is driven by passion, resilience, and artistic purpose. He began his dance journey at the age of 6 and has since trained extensively in a variety of styles, including Hip Hop, Lyrical, Contemporary, Musical Theatre, and Jazz. His diverse training has shaped him into a versatile and expressive performer with a strong foundation in both technical skill and storytelling.
In 2023, Karsen expanded his artistry into choreography, creating original works for both his high school and studio programs. His choreographic voice continues to evolve as he explores movement as a form of personal expression and connection, blending creativity with intention and emotion.
At the age of 3, Karsen experienced a life-changing lawnmower accident resulting in the loss of his lower left leg. Rather than limiting his journey, this experience has fueled his determination and shaped his perspective as an artist. His passion for dance, combined with an unshakable work ethic, continues to push him forward in both performance and creative development.
Karsen is currently mentored by Menina Fortunato through her “Business of Dance” program, where he is building essential industry knowledge, professional skills, and meaningful connections within the dance community. He has also previously trained under Blake McGrath in fall 2024, where he had the opportunity to learn a wide range of choreography and technical skills from industry professionals including Kelly Sweeney, Ell Horan, Brian Friedman, Shannon Mather, Erika Klein, and others.
With aspirations to influence the dance world through teaching and choreography on both local and national stages, Karsen is committed to challenging stereotypes and redefining industry expectations. His journey reflects innovation, perseverance, and creativity, and he continues to grow as an artist dedicated to leaving a lasting impact on everyone who experiences his work.
Laura began her dance training and competitive career at a young age, studying a wide range of styles including ballet, jazz, tap, drill, contemporary, lyrical, hip hop, and pom. She was actively involved in both her high school cheer squad and her local dance studio, laying a strong and versatile foundation in performance and technique. She later pursued an Associate of Arts degree at Western Wyoming Community College in Rock Springs, Wyoming. With more than 24 years of teaching experience, Laura has made a lasting impact in the dance community. She served as the Head Coach of the Rock Springs High School Dance Team for 22 years, where her leadership and dedication helped shape countless dancers. Her excellence in coaching was recognized with the 4A Wyoming Coach of the Year award at the State Championships for both the 2018–2019 and 2021–2022 seasons. She was also recently nominated as a Wyoming Woman of Influence in the Arts, highlighting her contributions to the state’s artistic community. Laura is the proud owner and director of Artistry in Motion Dance Studio in Rock Springs, where she continues to train and inspire dancers of all ages. She is a certified judge with both the Utah Dance Judges Association and the Utah High School Activities Association, and has choreographed extensively for studios, high school teams, and soloists throughout her career. Outside of dance, Laura enjoys gardening, reading, and spending quality time with her husband, four children, and several grandchildren. She is honored to be part of Utah’s vibrant dance community and is passionate about sharing her knowledge, supporting dancers, and contributing as a judge.
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