FACULTY
Lisa Waddell | Owner
Tap, Jazz & Musical Theater
Lisa has been teaching dance for over 40 years! She started her young career as a competitive gymnast, and after numerous injuries, decided to get involved in dance. She trained in all styles throughout the valley and had the opportunity as a young adult to dance her way through New York and Russia with a performing company. At the young age of 15, Lisa realized teaching dance was her life passion! Immediately after graduating high school, she opened the studio with her sister, Lori, and the rest is history. Her specialty is jazz and tap for all ages, although, Lisa has a special knack for the toddlers beginning at age two. She loves her “tiny dancers” and has a unique curriculum which creates a love of dance structure and listening skills in a fun, yet caring way. Moreover, Lisa has helped at a variety of studios throughout Arizona including Dance Connection 2, the sister studio in Chandler AZ, where she taught for numerous years. Above all, Lisa’s heart is in Dance Connection, Scottsdale and she believes it is a place for everyone to dance at.
Dequan Lewis | Company Director
Contemporary & Jazz
Nicole Hennington
Company Instructor
Nicole Hennington spent her first two decades in Arizona where she danced at Dance Connection, Scottsdale and graduated from The University of Arizona with a B.F.A. in Dance and a minor in Finance. During this time, she studied with Chuthis, Nederlands Dans Theatre, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, New Dialect, and Ate9. Upon graduation, Nicole joined GroundWorks DanceTheater in Cleveland, Ohio where she danced for four years. With GroundWorks, Nicole danced in original works by James Gregg, Peter Chu, Antonio Brown, Brian Brooks, Hannah Garner, Robyn Mineko- Williams, Adam Barruch, Dianne McIntyre and others. Nicole attended Springboard Dans Montréal in the summer of 2022 where she worked with RUBBERBAND Dance Group and UNA Productions. In January 2023, Nicole joined NW Dance Project and has collaborated with internationally-acclaimed choreographers such as Joseph Hernandez, Ihsan Rustem, Nicole Von Arx, Gustavo Ramirez Sansano, Caroline Finn, Bryan Arias, Serge Bennathan, and Sarah Slipper. As a choreographer, Nicole was commissioned by GroundWorks DanceTheater in 2022 and was a choreography fellow for Carmel Dance Festival’s Inaugural Choreography & Dance Fellowship Program in 2023 and the Jacob’s Pillow Ann & Weston Hicks Choreography Fellowship Program in 2024. She has also choreographed for NW Dance Project’s In Good Company and Summer Dance Platform. Nicole is now based in Scottsdale, Arizona where she teaches locally and continues to choreograph for pre-professional studios across the country.
Liz Blalock
Squad Team Director, Jazz, Combo, Leaps and Turns & Hip-Hop
Liz Blalock graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Dance and was a member of the ASU Dance Team for 4 years. She has professionally cheered and danced for the Arizona Rattlers Sidewinders, the Arizona Cardinals and the Phoenix Mercury Hip Hop Squad.
Liz’s passion for dance opened up opportunities to travel and instruct for Universal Dance Association and served as a judge for local and National competitions. She has assisted the Head Coach to the dance teams at ASU and GCU and this past year was the Head Cheer and Dance Coach at Ottawa University in Surprise, Arizona.
Liz is currently a fitness instructor and teaches Pure Barre, Cycle and Dance Fitness. She also guest choreographs for the Arizona Rattlers Sidewinders and Arizona Cardinals Cheerleaders. Liz resides in Central Phoenix with her family. (Husband- Austin, Daughter- Logan Age 5 and Son- Dak Age 2.
Britni Lamken
Jazz, Hip-Hop, Musical Theater & Contemporary
Britni Lamken has been dancing since the age of two. Born in Canada, Britni moved to Arizona at the age of fourteen, and began teaching at Dance Connection, Scottsdale in 2010. Specifically, she specializes in students raging from five to twelve-years-old. Britni is well-versed and trained in all styles, but her favorites include hip hop, tap, jazz, and contemporary, which has earned her national awards for her choreography. She always strives to work hard at nurturing her students’ love for this craft! Currently, Britni resides in Phoenix with her husband, Ryan, and her two kids (her pride and joy!) Matilda and Mayzie.
Aspen Waddell
Guest Choreographer; Jazz, Musical Theater & Contemporary
Aspen Waddell is a New York City based choreographer, professional dancer, and teacher. She has worked with top choreographers such as Marguerite Derricks, Tabitha and Napoleon D'umo, Nick Kenkel, Brooke Wendle, and more. Some of her credits include Gwen Stefani, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Co-Star), L'Oréal Paris, Good Morning America, Cadillac, New York Fashion Week, Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, and Neiman Marcus. Her professional choreography debut was at Manhattan Movement & Arts Center performed by Joffrey Ballet School in New York City. Aspen is currently a faculty member at Joffrey Ballet School and on faculty at Broadway Dance Center. She is represented by MSA Talent Agency.
Amanda Dexl
Jazz, Hip Hop, Contemporary, Lyrical, Hip Hop & Dance Team
Amanda Dexl grew up as a competitive dancer in Illinois and trained in all styles of dance from a young age. She competed primarily with Perseverance Dance Company and has performed on several industry events and TV shows. After high school, Amanda lived in Los Angeles for two years working as a professional dancer. She has worked with some of LA’s top choreographers and regularly danced in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Hollywood. In her junior year of college, Amanda danced for the University of Minnesota dance team and contributed to defending their national title. Amanda currently teaches and choreographs competitive routines for both studios and dance teams throughout the country. She emphasizes the importance of teaching a strong work ethic and hopes to train, challenge, and inspire dancers of all ages to build a strong technical foundation while pursuing their passion.
Brianna Dexl
Jazz, Contemporary, Hip Hop & Dance Team
Brianna Dexl grew up as a competitive dancer in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. She has trained in all styles of dance from a young age. Majority of her training was under Missy Ridgway, Lizzie Mackenzie, Mandy Moore, Sonya Tayeh, Dee Caspary, and Brian Rabenda as well as her experience on University of Illinois Dance Team. She then moved westward to Los Angeles for several years working as a professional dancer. While connecting with some of LA’s top choreographers, she regularly performed in a show within the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Hollywood. She has had the opportunity to perform on TV shows, award shows, music videos and industry events, some of which include America's Got Talent, Capezio Ace Awards, and Radio Disney Music Awards. She’s spent many weekends judging for Hall of Fame Dance Challenge and In10sity, offering her professional insight to current competitors. Brianna is now a full time dance teacher and choreographer for studios throughout the United States. She emphasizes the importance of a strong dance foundation built upon hard work, dedication, and passion.
Teisha Metz
Ballet
Teisha Metz has been teaching at the Dance Connection for 21 years. Born and raised in Arizona she began dancing at the age of three. Teisha was part of Dance Connection's competitive company. Along with training at Dance Connection she attended Arizona School for the Arts where she studied Ballet and Modern at the School of Ballet Arizona. Upon graduation she received the Katherine K. Herberger Scholarship to Arizona State University where she continued her ballet and modern training. Most recently Teisha has completed her 500hr Yoga Teacher Training and has been teaching at Modern Yoga for two years.
Jaymie Wells
Jazz, Lyrical, Contemporary, Hip Hop & Tap/Jazz
Jaymie is a DC alumni! Starting at the age of two, Jaymie has danced competitively with Dance Connection for 11 years. She is trained in all styles, but is most passionate about contemporary, jazz, and lyrical. Jaymie was also a member of the Desert Mountain pom team and was Pom team captain. Moreover, she furthered her dance career and is a former GCU dancer. Currently, Jaymie works as a JV pom coach, as well as an assistant varsity coach at Arcadia high school and attends GCU working on her degree in marketing and advertising. Overall, Jaymie loves working with children of all ages. In her free time, she loves spending time with her family and her best friend Duchess, a German shepherd. We are so excited to welcome Jaymie as part of our faculty family!
Natalie Crandall
Ballroom
Originally from Wisconsin, Natalie Crandall began dancing at the age of 3 and by 6 years old was an active competitor in ballroom dance. She pursued a career in competitive ballroom dancing for over 20 years, obtaining multiple National & International Amateur Championship Titles and 3 National Professional Titles.
In 2020 Natalie refocused her journey on becoming an educator and ballroom dance coach along with becoming an all around movement expert. That year she became a certified spin instructor, 200hr yoga & meditation instructor and most recently a Guide for Kinrgy - a dance fitness modality created by Julianne Hough.
Natalie has continued on to lead many dance masterclasses and fitness workshops at events with household names and corporations such as Tony Robbins, Meta (Facebook), Alo Yoga and Dance Vision. Natalie also organizes Desert Sol Dancesport, an NDCA Sanctioned Pro/Am Ballroom Dance Competition in February in Phoenix.
After years of relentless training as a competitive dancer, continuing her education and branching out into different movement modalities, Natalie thrives on guiding dancers to their most technical, authentic and creative selves.
Ceci Cruz
Hip-Hop
Ceci was born & raised in Arizona and has been dancing since the age of 6. When she first started she was in crews around the valley and later moved to the studio scene. Ceci specializes in Hip-Hop and happily teaches all levels & any ages. She graduated from the University of Arizona in 2019. She has been teaching since 2016 and has loved being able to make an impact on student’s confidence in Hip-Hop.
Season DeAngelis
Ballet & Contemporary
Born and raised in California, Season started dancing at the age of two. She trained under the Royal Academy of Dance and received the highest honours up to Advanced II. From there, she danced at the Colburn Academy under Glenn Edgerton and Leslie Carothers which prepared her to be asked to dance at The Boston Ballet at age 17. She danced with The Joffrey Ballet of Chicago where she had the opportunity to perform ballets such as Raymonda, Cinderella, and The Nutcracker. In 2011, she was asked to be the Principal ballerina at State Street Ballet where she had “The Secret Garden” title role, Mary Lennox, choreographed on her by Josie Walsh. She has danced in the Gala of the Stars, Gala de Danza, and has been a founding member with BalletRED, Barak Ballet, and Luminario Ballet. She has also performed on Glee, with Leeann Womack, and commercials such as Conair.
After retiring from performing, Season has gone on to train dancers that have received top prizes as YAGP, NUVO, Jump, 24 seven and many others. She won the IDA award for choreography and continues to choreograph and train dancers across the US with her three sweet daughters in tow! Her favorite part about teaching is sharing the love of dance and inspiring students to feel confident and beautiful.
Tzu-Chia Chu
Ballet
Tzu-Chia trained at the School of Imperial Eleven Ballet in Taiwan under the direction of Yung-Cheng Huang. With Imperial Eleven Ballet Tzu-Chia danced featured roles in La Bayadére, Esmeralda, and The Dying Swan. She continued her professional training at the Pennsylvania Academy of Ballet; while in Pennsylvania Tzu-Chia performed featured roles in The Nutcracker and Le Corsaire. Tzu-Chia joined Ballet Arizona in 2005, and has since originated featured roles in Ib Andersen’s Preludes and Fugues, Play, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, 1052 , Diversions and the title role in Cinderella. Tzu-Chia has also been featured in Les Sylphides, Christoper Wheeldon’s Polyphonia, and Twyla Tharp’s The Golden Section. Tzu-Chia’s George Balanchine repertoire includes leading roles in Divertimento No. 15, Stravinsky Violin Concerto, La Sonnambula, Apollo, and La Valse. Tzu-Chia has danced principal roles in Raymonda, Andersen’s Swan Lake, and as Juliet in Romeo and Juliet. Tzu-Chia’s received critical acclaim for her interpretation of the siren in Balanchine’s Prodigal Son by The New York Times in June 2010.
Kanako Imayoshi
Ballet
Kanako began her training in Fukuoka, Japan, and later joined the Reiko Matsuoka Ballet Institute, with which she toured Russia, China and Japan. She was awarded a scholarship to train in Paris, and further studies took her to the Beijing Ballet School, Joffrey Ballet School, City Ballet School in California, and to Petaluma, California with Maria Vegh. Kanako has performed professionally with Peninsula Ballet Theatre, Idaho Ballet, Alaska’s North Star Ballet, Ballet Hawaii, Tau Dance Theatre, and Reiko Matsuoka Ballet.
Since joining Ballet Arizona in 2001 Kanako has originated featured roles in Ib Andersen’s Indigo Rhapsody, Elevations, Mosaik, Preludes and Fugues, Play, and A Midsummer’s Night Dream (Hippolyta). Principal roles have included Myrtha in Giselle; Ib Andersen’s The Nutcracker (Sugar Plum Fairy) and Don Quixote (Mercedes, Street Dancer, Queen of the Dryads); and Apollo (Polyhymnia), La Sonnambula (Coquette), Divertimento No. 15, Serenade (Dark Angel), Allegro Brillante, and “Rubies” from Jewels, all by George Balanchine, and Bournonville’s Konservatoriet. Kanako has performed soloist roles inSwan Lake, Coppélia, Les Sylphides, and Ib Andersen’s Romeo and Juliet (Lady Montague), and in Balanchine’s Theme and Variations, and La Valse. She frequently travels to Japan as a guest artist and dance coach. Bio From Ballet Arizona
Emily Zachary-Smith
Ballet
Originally from Indianapolis, Emily began training at a young age for a career in dance. In high school she was asked to study extensively at Butler University in the Early
Entrance Program for Gifted and Talented Students. Here she had elite ballet training, and performed corps through soloist roles in many ballets. During those same years she spent
time training at professional studios in LA and NY, along with assisting Joe Tremaine, Doug Caldwell, and more with Tremaine Dance Conventions. In 1998 she moved to Los Angeles beginning her professional career performing in films, television, commercials, and theatre. Emily prides herself in being a versatile dancer, teacher, and choreographer.
Along with a dance career, Emily became a Pilates Master Trainer. She found the education and knowledge of Pilates was a great balance with dance, and was amazed at the benefit of injury prevention for herself and others. Emily truly loves being a teacher, choreographer, and mentor. She expanded this love
with two companies partnered with her husband, Josh Smith, creating Hardcore Pilates LA, and Core Training Techniques (CTT). Recently Emily & Josh relocated with Core Training Techniques to Phoenix/Scottsdale, AZ. CTT provides one of a kind training
programs in person and virtually for cross training, Pilates, injury prevention, numerous genres of dance, technique, and specialty classes. CTT has been an integral part of training for many clients of all ages. Emily is honored to be part of the faculty of
Tremaine Dance Conventions, working with students and teachers nationwide since2015.
Some of her film credits include Academy Award winners; American Beauty and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Looney Tunes Back in Action, and The Haunted
Mansion. For almost a decade Emily spent her holiday seasons performing in The Radio City Christmas Spectacular, with featured roles, including the 75th Anniversary at Radio
City Music Hall. She has enjoyed performing in shows such as Disney’s Beauty and the Beast and Crazy for You at the acclaimed Sacramento Music Circus. Other Hollywood credits include The Emmy Awards, The Grammys, the hit TV show Glee, and numerous other performances. Emily has been blessed to experience performing internationally for special events in China and Germany, where she was not only a dancer, but was also a co- choreographer with her husband and others. She has appeared in a variety of other productions ranging from numerous classical and contemporary ballets, commercials,
industrials, and more. Emily is so thankful for her training with mentor, and dance icon, Mr. Joe Tremaine. Her
time studying and working with him, and other influential teachers (Doug Caldwell, Lynn Herrick, and Michelle Jarvis) helped shape her to a well-rounded performer and educator.
Emily’s favorite jobs include being a mother to sons, Zach and Oliver.
Dana Metz
Contemporary, Lyrical and Jazz
Dana was born and raised in Arizona. She began training at the age of 8 and had the opportunity to work with many choreographers such as Ray Leeper, Tina Caspary-Cyphert, Mandy Moore, Mark Meismer, and Dee Caspary. Dana attended Arizona School for the Arts for six years, and studied ballet and modern at the School of Ballet Arizona. Throughout the years of choreographing, she has built a national reputation and just recently received 1st runner-up in the prestigious A.C.E. Choreography Competition in NYC.
Gillian Levin
Combo Classes
Peggy Reggio
Combo Classes
Lindsay Butterfield
Tap, Jazz & Ballet
Lindsay started dancing in Texas the age of 9 at a competitive Dance Masters certified studio where she studied all forms of dance including ballet, tap, jazz, pointe, lyrical, and tumbling. She was able to grow as a dancer through her experience of competing and performing all over Texas and at the national level.
Upon moving to Arizona just before high school, Lindsay chose to leave the competitive dance world to pursue her study of ballet. Lindsay was accepted to the School of Ballet Arizona under the direction of Kee Juan Han as a member of their intensive ballet training program. Through this training, she was given the opportunity to dance in many of Ballet Arizona's professional performances including The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, Romeo and Juliet, Swan Lake, The Seasons, Midsummer's Night Dream, and Don Quixote. While classical ballet will always have her heart, she chose to not take a professional path and attend college.
Lindsay then enrolled at Arizona State University with a major in social work and continued dancing as a member of the student dance company known as "Physical Graffiti". She also guest performed with both of Arizona's professional modern dance companies, "Center Dance Ensemble" and "Devere Dance Company."
In 2001, Lindsay started teaching ballet at a studio in the the west valley which she later purchased in 2014.
In that time, she became certified by test to teach Ballet and Jazz through Dance Masters of America. She is proud to have created award winning choreography at both the regional and national levels. While the competitive trophies and awards are amazing, the biggest reward for her is when dancers of any level discover their love and passion for dance.
In 2022, Lindsay chose to sell her studio to one of her former dancers as it was taking away from the time with her children while they are still young and very active. After focusing on being a dance mom for the last couple of years, she is ready to get back in the studio to share her expertise and love for dance with the dancers of Dance Connection.
Carly Slade
Squad assistant, tap, jazz, hip hop, Lyrical & tumbling
Carly grew up in Scottsdale, AZ. I attended Arcadia High School and was president of our Dance Company, I also did studio dance at Paula Carr Dance Academy for 17 years and competed for 10. After graduating I continued my passion for teaching and began to pursue my professional dance dreams, I was given the amazing opportunity to be apart of the Arizona Sidewinders for 3 seasons and was award the Sidewinders Spirit award by my teammates for best representing what it means to be a sidewinder! I have been teaching and assisting around the valley since 2014 and have developed such a love for it and all my students! I teach all styles of dance & tumbling! I am so excited to join the Dance Connection Family!!
Shea Taylor
Ballroom
Shae Taylor received a BA in Ballroom Dance from BYU where she trained, competed and taught. Over the course of 25 years it has been her honor to train hundreds of students in both social and competitive ballroom. Students that have trained with Shae have earned full ride university scholarships for ballroom, held national titles, and some are currently the top professionals in the ballroom dancer industry including current National and World Title holders. Some of her students teach and direct the original programs she founded.
Shae recognizes the unique opportunity ballroom dancing presents for youth to learn positive values and skills. These social skills will benefit students in all facets of their life. Shae considers these skills to be the core of the training she provides. She works hard to provide a safe and fun environment where her students can strive for excellence.
Sam Kuhn
Tap
Sam has been dancing since the age of 2 and began her competitive career at the age of 5. While being trained in various dance styles, her specialty and passion lies with tap. She has had the pleasure of working under many tap professionals in the industry including Gregg Russell, Suzy Guarino-Hall, Maud Arnold, Aleksandr Ostanin, Michelle Miner, and Jensen Freeman as well as performing with various different tap companies including Tap 24.7 and being an original member of Tap’d Out. Currently, Sam seeks close mentorship under Ryan Lohoff and Angela Carter, the co-founders of Tap Into The Network, where she is an Apprentice and entering her 3rd year with the company. During her apprenticeship, Sam has had the opportunity to travel throughout the country where she has assisted classes, judged a tap competition with the company, and performed in their annual show. While having a strong passion for teaching tap, Sam is also seeking her M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Northern Arizona University North Valley with the hopes of becoming a play therapist in the future. Sam is so excited to continue to share her love for tap with the next generation of dancers!
Mikhael Gonzales
Ballet
Mikhael Gonzales, born and raised in upstate New York. I have been teaching dance for the past 18 years and have loved the journey! I am very passionate about dance and proper training while having the most fun possible. Being able to coach and inspire young dancers into making their dreams come true has been a blessing and I cannot wait to continue that path here at Dance Connection. I am so excited to meet all of my dancers very soon for an incredible season!!
Mindy Murphy
Turns/Leaps & Jazz
Mindy Murphy is an accomplished dance teacher with a lifelong love for choreography, perfecting dances, and teaching. After 16 years as a competitive studio dancer, her passion led her to pursue a minor in dance at the University of Nebraska. From 2011 through 2022, Ms. Mindy owned and directed an award-winning studio in Omaha, where her expertise and personal approach fostered exceptional growth and improvement. Mindy's choreography has been honored with multiple awards, a testament to her creativity and ingenuity. With contagious enthusiasm and an insistence on technical excellence, Ms. Mindy instills a love for dance in her students, inspiring them to achieve their full potential and cultivate a lifelong appreciation for dance.
Jaclyn Levine
Ballet
Jaclyn Levine-Nail has extensive training in ballet, studying at PennsylvaniaAcademy of Ballet, the Kirov Academy of Ballet in Washington D.C., and Nutmeg Conservatory for the Arts in Torrington, CT. Jaclyn was also selected for an exclusive training program where she was one of six dancers coached by Vadim Pisarev and Inna Dorofeeva, of the Donetsk Ballet of Ukraine. Jaclyn spent several years performing with Dance Theatre of Pennsylvania. She has performed in a host of classical ballets including; “The Nutcracker”, “The Sleeping Beauty”, “Cinderella", and “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”, along with many other classical and contemporary works of various choreographers. Jaclyn has taught ballet all over the Phoenix metro area since
2007 including Scottsdale School of Ballet, and Master Ballet Academy. Jaclyn has been training Arizona’s premier figure skaters through her own business, "AZ Ballet for Figure Skaters” at the Scottsdale and Chandler Ice Den’s since 2010. Jaclyn has a passion for ballet, and makes it her priority to pass on this
love for the art form to all of her students. Jaclyn provides a ballet education that focuses on building a strong technical foundation in a positive, fun, and encouraging environment.
Lori Johnson
Private Coach
Lori started her dance career in ballet and gymnastics. Then, began competing with a college dance team. When Lori took her first jazz class at 14, she discovered her calling: teaching dance. Lori competed and performed with a local studio and kept up on her jazz and ballet technique, and as an adult, aspired to be a “professional” dancer and moved to Las Vegas where she performed for over two years professionally. Upon her return to Phoenix, she began a serious teaching career and opened Dance Connection with her sister, Lisa. Lori’s forte is in details/cleaning solos, group choreography, and most importantly, mastering strong technical skills in any level of dancer. Through the ongoing years, Lori put her distinct talents to work and has become a well-known, award-winning choreographer for not only Dance Connection, but a handful of studios across the nation.
Kalani Hilliker
Private Coach
Kalani Hilliker is most known for her time on Lifetimes reality hit TV show “Dance Moms”. She has also worked in the television industry as a dancer on Disney channels Shake it Up & ABCs Bunheads. Kalani has years of training in all styles of dance but her forte’ & favorite style is lyrical. Kalani has realized her new passion is teaching & choreographing & she adores working with our dancers 7-14 yrs! We are excited to have Kalani with us for another season!
Hailey Hoffman
Guest Teacher
Kelsey Metz
Guest Teacher
Kelsey Metz, a versatile Performer from Phoenix, Arizona, began her dance education studying a variety of styles including Jazz, Contemporary, and Ballet at institutions such as Dance Connection, Master Ballet Academy, and Arizona School for the Arts. Over the past decade, Kelsey has dedicated herself to developing her professional career by immersing herself in diverse movement techniques such as Gaga Movement Language, Counter Technique, Modern, Giordano Jazz, and Progressive Ballet Technique. Her passion for dance education continues to drive her as she constantly seeks out new forms of learning to further her knowledge and expertise. Kelsey has had the privilege of dancing for prominent artists including Mandy Moore, Jess Hendrix, Ray Leeper, and many others, showcasing her versatility in Contemporary, Jazz, and Theatrical works and currently dances with CONDER/Dance.