MEET THE FACULTY

Zoe Allred Brandaris

  • Zoe Allred Brandaris began training as a gymnast as well as in musical theater at the age of 7. She has played both supporting and principle roles in many plays, musicals and Shakespeare’s works over the last 13 years.

    Zoe became a competitive figure skater at age 10, training under the 1988 Pairs World Champion and Disney on Ice star Evgenia Cherynsheva. During her skating career she claimed gold medals throughout Idaho, Utah and Wyoming, and she became a Pacific Regional Ice Skating Champion. Zoe added Ballet to her training regiment, and she quickly found a passion for dance. Zoe eventually found her way to the Dance Centre, and during her time at TDC she competed for 4 years, travelled to New York and California, and discovered her love and talent for teaching.

    Zoe has trained at the Broadway Dance Centre in New York City, The Edge Performing Arts Center in Los Angeles, Brigham Young University’s Advanced Ballet Intensive – where she trained with Ballet West’s Michael Bearden. She was a member of the SLCC Dance Company, and was offered a contract with Odyssey Dance Theater – Utah’s Premier Professional dance company.

    Zoe is thrilled to be returning to the Dance Centre as a member of our staff, and we can’t wait to have her share her gifts and passion for dance with your dancers!

Becca Hall

  • Becca Hall is a choreographer, TCSD elementary school teacher, and outdoor enthusiast. She graduated in 2006 with a Bachelor’s degree in Dance Education and Elementary Education from Weber State University and has been teaching elementary school, competitive dance, and musical theater throughout Utah for the past 20 years.

    Becca started dancing when she was 6 years old, and has trained in ballet, jazz, hip-hop, modern, and tap. She has performed and competed nationally and collegiately, on stages from Disneyland to Carnival Cruise Lines to ACDFA. She danced with the Weber State Orchesis Dance Company on a full scholarship and during her time there had the opportunity to work with company dancers from Alvin Ailey and The Limon Company; she also danced with The Moving Company, an educational outreach dance company based in Ogden, Utah that uses dance to explore and teach math and science concepts.

    After graduating Becca continued her training with Dance America and the Summer Slam series, collaborated on choreographic works through Weber State University and received scholarships through Repertory Dance Theatre and Ririe-Woodbury for summer intensives. She interned with Erik Stern of the Dr. Shaffer and Mr. Stern Dance Ensemble, helping to produce the world premiere of Muscle Memories at the Rose Wagner Theater in SLC in partnership with their LINK Series.

    Although Becca loves performing, her true passion is in teaching! She has taught for several studios, teams, schools and theaters throughout Utah. She aIso serves on the Board of Directors for the Tooele Education Foundation and worked to bring this years Elevate Dance Project to the stage, where TDC performed in support of excellence in arts education!

    When she is not teaching or dancing, Becca can usually be found hiking or paddle boarding with her very patient husband, or cheering on her 3 crazy kids.

Ciera Duersch

  • Ciera began dancing at age 4, and has loved it ever since. Born and raised in Utah, her dancing took her to TDC, where she competed on multiple competition teams, winning overall awards on various occasions. She also has competed and won overall awards with her solos at competitions and conventions. She graduated from Stansbury High School, where she was Secretary and Captain of the Dance Company and Dance Captain of the Ballroom Team, as well as Dance Sterling Scholar. She received the Most Outstanding Dancer, Die Hard Dancer, Best Choreography, and other awards at region and state dance competitions and conventions.

    Ciera has performed various soloist and demi-soloist parts in The Nutcracker. She has trained at multiple prestigious dance studios across the U.S., including Alvin-Ailey Dance Academy, American Ballet Theatre, Steps on Broadway, Broadway Dance Center, the Edge Performing Arts Center, Disney, and Anaheim Ballet. She has also performed with Odyssey Dance Theater and the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square.

    Ciera has a Bachelors Degree in Dance Education with a Minor in Spanish, as well as an Associates degree in dance from Utah Valley University. This has given her the opportunity to study many disciplines, including dance kinesiology, dance history, composition, dance accompaniment, improvisation, lighting and production, Laban Movement Analysis, modern, jazz, ballroom, contemporary, teaching methods, and more. During her time at UVU, she was a member of Synergy Dance Company, which gave her the opportunity to perform pieces choreographed by Dr. Lyndsey Vader and Jamie Myers, as well as perform at regional ACDA conferences. She completed her student teaching at Copper Hills High School, where she taught and choreographed for several dance classes, including their Dance Company. She has trained in all styles, including jazz, ballet, modern, contemporary, lyrical, ballroom, tap, hip hop, and musical theater.

    Ciera has choreographed and taught dancers of all ages for over 7 years. Her choreography has won multiple awards at competitions, including judges choice and best choreography. Ciera aspires to create a learning environment filled with love and inclusion at TDC, where dancers are able to have fun but also realize and work towards their full potential. She loves teaching dance because of the many times that it has given her solace throughout her life, and she strives to give that to anyone that comes into the studio.

Alexandra Heyrend

  • Alexandra Heyrend received her early dance training at the Academy of Ballet Arts in St. Petersburg, FL, primarily studying ballet and Russian character dance. She enjoyed her high school years as a Dance major at the Pinellas County Center for the Arts at Gibbs High School in St Petersburg, graduating with honors. During this time, Alexandra performed with Ballet Classique, Gibbs Repertory Dance Theatre, and as an Apprentice with Tampa Ballet.

    Alexandra is a scholarship award recipient of the Classical Ballet Society of Tampa. The summers of her high school through early college years were spent attending intensive summer ballet workshops on scholarship at the School of Cleveland Ballet, the San Francisco Ballet School, and the School of the Hartford Ballet.

    The summer before her high school senior year, Alexandra was offered a full tuition scholarship to study year-round at the highest level of the SFBC, but had to decline in order to return to St Petersburg and graduate high school at the PCCA. Upon graduation, Alexandra received a full Endowed Scholarship as a Ballet Major at the University of Utah.

    During her freshman year, she danced solo roles with Utah Ballet—and while still a student at the U, accepted an invitation to become a company member of Ballet West, with whom she danced for a few years before taking time off to have a family.

    These days, Alexandra finds great satisfaction teaching ballet at The Dance Centre—and in her family life, with her husband and their three children. She is certified in Progressing Ballet Technique, an innovative program designed to train dancers in muscle memory to improve technique, flexibility, and longevity in dance.

Elijah Hatch

  • Elijah Hatch found his love for dance at the age of nine years old when he began ballroom dance. During that time, he won multiple awards, but it wasn’t until he was almost 15 years old that he was guided to his true passion- ballet.

    His training began under the direction of Jennie Creer King at Ballet West Academy. From there, he trained in the Professional Training Division in Salt Lake City.

    Elijah has had the opportunity to play multiple roles, some highlights have been, James Ruben, from the Bournonville ballet, La Sylphide; the Nutcracker Prince, Snow King, as well as the Cavalier. He also found a love for contemporary ballet and creating his own works.

    Elijah trained for three years with Ballet West Academy. Following that, his training was put on hold for a service mission in England. After returning home, Elijah resumed his training under the direction of Jennie Creer King and her company “Chrysalis.”

  • DescripAmy Jaskowick is a local special education teacher with over a decade of experience in working with children with disabilities -from early intervention to high school-age students. She is also a kids’ yoga teacher and the mobility/yoga coach for the Tooele High School football team. Hailing from the midwest and now settled in Grantsville, Amy brings us her experience with competitive dance and combines it with her passion for education in order to create a fun and inclusive dance adventure!tion text goes here

Spencer Lawson

  • Spencer S. Lawson began dancing at age 10 when he took his first tap class. He was hooked! He studied Standard and Latin Ballroom and the took his training to the next level, training in Jazz, Ballet and Tap with Janet Gray Studios and The Dance Centre. Spencer attended The Hartt School at the University of Hartford where he graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre. 

    Working as a professional performer for 8+ years on the East Coast., some of his favorite credits include Off-Broadway: Anything Goes! Regional: White Christmas (Ogunquit Playhouse), 42nd Street (North Shore Music Theatre, New London Barn Playhouse), A Christmas Carol (Hartford Stage), ZM: A Zombie Musical (Goodspeed Opera House), Mamma Mia (Arrow Rock Lyceum), and Young Frankenstein (Theatre by the Sea)

    Spencer returned home to Utah in 2020 and received his MBA in Marketing from SUU. He now works in Advertising and enjoys performing at Hale Centre Theatre!

Paige Rasmussen

  • Paige has been dancing since she was about 3 years old. She first began dancing at a studio called American Expression of Dance under the direction of Anne Weichers. There she grew up training in all styles including ballet, jazz, contemporary, lyrical, and hip hop.

    During these years, Paige also danced competitively in group dances and solos at multiple competitions/conventions. Paige loves all styles of dance but she really found her passion in hip hop and continued to dive deeper into her hip hop training through the amazing Tristan Gray.

    From there she has joined multiple hip hop crews and programs and has grown her education in many of the styles under hip hop including new jack, locking, popping, house, waaking, and breaking.

    With that, she has also learned the history and culture behind these styles. She has had the amazing opportunity to perform in many professional shows, competitions, videos, and battles.

    Paige absolutely loves teaching and spreading her knowledge. She has been teaching for almost 5 years now. She has taught at various different studios and has also had the opportunity to teach a few college courses at Weber, Westminster, and BYU.

    Hip hop and dance have absolutely changed Paige’s life and she hopes to pass on that love and passion for dance as well.

Ashley Sizemore

  • Ashlee began dancing at the age of three and has had a passion for it ever since. She grew up training at The Dance Centre where she studied Jazz, Ballet, Pointe, Contemporary, Hip Hop, Musical Theatre, and more. She was a member of the SHS Dance Company and Varsity Cheer Team while in high school where she carried many leadership positions. Ashlee has danced with companies throughout Salt Lake City, like Ballet West, Millennium Dance Company, Odyssey Dance Theatre, and Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company.

    Ashlee graduated from Stansbury High School in 2017 and continued her education at Southern Utah University where she received a full tuition scholarship to attend the dance program. Here she majored in Dance Performance, studying Ballet, Modern, Tap, Jazz, Improvisation, Dance Composition, Dance History, Dance Repertory, and more. Ashlee was a four-year member of the SUU Dance Team and served as Captain her Senior Year. She graduated from SUU in 2021 with a Bachelor of Science in Dance Performance and a Minor in Media Studies.

    Ashlee has a variety of different teaching and choreography experiences. She taught at The Point Dance Studio in Cedar City for three years and was the competition team coach there for two years. Additionally, she had the chance to be one of 8 choreographers to create a piece for an SUU Dance Concert.

    Ashlee strives to be a light at The Dance Centre and hopes to be someone the dancers look forward to seeing each day when they walk in the studio. She enjoys teaching because she can share her passion for dance and loves to help each individual dancer reach their full potential.

Sheryl Bliss Odell

  • Sheryl began dancing at the age of 12 under the direction of Angela Keddington. She went on to dance, compete and choreograph with her High School Dance Company and Region Championship/State Award Winning Drill Team for three years where she served as both Vice-President and President of the Dance Company. While there, she had the opportunity to learn from many great choreographers and instructors, namely: Kellie Chamberlain, Lori Rupp, Stacey Tookey and Jen Toomer-Cook. She received a full-tuition scholarship to the College of Eastern Utah where she was selected as President of the College’s Dance Team her second year.

    During that time she had the opportunity to compete at the National Dance Competition in Las Vegas where her team placed 4th overall their first year.

    She also had the opportunity to perform with Huey Lewis and The News and Kenny Loggins at the Red Hot 4th of July Celebrations. 

    Sheryl began teaching dance in 2004 and hasn’t stopped. She coached High School Drill for six years and choreographed for high school teams for 8 years. 

    Sheryl began teaching at The Dance Centre in 2018 and has loved every second! She’s had the opportunity to certify in the Ready Set Dance and Ready Set Acro Programs and is excited to continue implementing them into our preschool dance classes. She believes in creating a fun, educational and disciplined dancing environment for even the youngest dancers. Her teaching goals include teaching proper technique, terminology and the importance of always doing your best! She hopes to instill in each dancer a life-long love of dancing and a belief that kindness is a superpower!

Jen Spiegelhoff

  • Jen began dancing as a teen and knew instantly that it was a passion for her. She studied at The Dance Company in SLC under direction of Dixie Clegg, where she was a member of their performing company. Jen enjoyed her time as a cheerleader and Dance Company member at Highland High, where she developed a love for choreography.

    Jen trained at the University of Utah under Bonnie Story, and danced with a local professional performing company while she also began teaching at various SLC studios including Salt Lake Dance Center, Power Plus Productions and Flava Entertainment. When Jen’s family moved to Erda, she was blessed to find Kathie Steinagel, owner of Lake Point Centre for The Performing Arts (currently known as The Dance Centre) and knew immediately that this was the place where she belonged.

    She was fortunate enough to coach The Dance Centre’s first competition team, and has been overjoyed watching her talented dancers’ journeys over the years. Jen has choreographed for and taught the SHS drill team, teaches local fitness classes, and continues to train every opportunity she can from teachers across the globe.

    She believes there is something special and different to be learned from everyone, regardless of their prestige. As a coach and choreographer, she has received numerous awards but takes the most pride in seeing her students grow and blossom into beautiful, abundant individuals who also happen to be phenomenal dancers.

Carly Price

  • Carly Price is absolutely beyond thrilled to be a part of the tumbling program here at The Dance Centre. Seeing your wonderful children walk through the doors and have fun, work hard and succeed will bring her so much joy.

    Carly is a mother of 6 beautiful children ages 11, 10, 8, 6, 3, and 8 months. These children of hers, along with their amazing daddy are the world to her. She lives and breathes her family.

    Carly knows what it feels like to work hard and see the amazing results. Another big part of her life since she was 4, is gymnastics. Gymnastics is a love and hobby of hers. She competed in gymnastics for 7 years and taught and coached for 6.

    Although she competed as an all-around gymnast she absolutely loved competing in beam and floor. She competed at a state level 4 years in a row and always placed in the top 5. She was team captain in high school her senior year. Her love for gymnastics grew even more when she started coaching.

    To see a child learn a new skill was super exciting for her. The smile on the faces of those she taught was worth everything. She believes as a class it is important to help each other by always lifting each other up. She will treat your child as her own when they walk into TDC.

Josh Hinton

  • Joshua Hinton began dancing as a freshman at Stansbury High School. His first experience with dance was on the ballroom team. In the beginning, he danced because all the girls were cute, but it wasn’t long before he loved everything about the art of dance. Although he began as a ballroom dancer, ballet quickly became his first love. He studied under David Riskin and loved having a male mentor and really learning the role of a cavalier in partnering with the most amazing ballerinas. He was able to spend the summer after high school dancing with Anaheim Ballet and loved every second of his time studying and learning from Larry and Sarma Rosenberg. He considers that summer one of the highlights of his dance life.

    In 2015, a devastating injury took Josh’s ability to dance. He worked so hard to recover, but wondered if the happiest part of his life was over. While still an inpatient, he was able to sneak out of the hospital and go to his first dance performance. He watched Aria Alekzander perform in Denver, CO and it was life changing for him. He realized that night, that when he watches dancers perform, he feels as if he is the one dancing. He knows that he never wants to lose that feeling of dancing. He loves everything about The Dance Centre and working with the most amazing dancers. He looks forward to helping Charity, the faculty, and the dancers any chance he gets and always works hard to “feel the joy of dancing” every single day. His most recent accomplishment includes graduating from Brigham Young University with a bachelor’s degree from the School of Business. He currently teaches at Tooele High School, and loves being the Assistant Director at his favorite place, The Dance Centre.

Sofia Pollini

  • Sofia Pollini Bio Was born in the Netherlands and grew up in England. She is an Italian and American citizen and trained professionally as a ballet dancer for 3 years in Scotland where she toured with a Scottish ballet company performing in Giselle, Nutcracker and Swan Lake. She is trained and certified as a Ballet teacher with the Royal Academy of Dance, London. She has a degree in Ballet Performance from the University of Bath, United Kingdom. Sofia was a finalist in the 2019 Scottish Youth Ballet Grand Prix as well as a soloist with the English Youth Ballet where she was able to perform in Sleeping Beauty. Sofias training also includes attending Summer Intensives at English National Ballet, Central School of Ballet, Ballet West and attending twice-yearly workshops with principals at the Royal Ballet, London.

Charity Duersch

  • Charity met her true love Adam while at college. Their adventure brought them to Tooele County, where they decided to build their lives together. Four cute kids came soon after. As a small Business owner, Charity was introduced to the dance world through the interests of her daughters. After searching for a safe dancing environment that let her daughters carry out their dreams, she found a small dance studio being held in a tiny garage space. It is there that she understood what effect dance can have on an individual.

    From that garage studio, Charity has grown The Dance Centre to what it is today- a pre-professional studio bursting at the seams that she has owned and operated for the last 12 years. Dancers from TDC have become talented individuals, making names for themselves in their colligate dance careers and winning a myriad of awards and scholarships to help them achieve their wildest dreams. Charity loves working with dancers. She believes in upholding high morals and standards at TDC, which helps dancers feel comfortable and safe to be themselves. She takes pride in hiring only the best of the best teachers and staff from all over the state with top-of-the-line dance experience and who maintain the same principles that she does. Charity loves running the studio and being able to rub shoulders with the incredible students who enter the doors. It’s her hope that all those who attend the studio will be able to leave feeling more confident about who they are and their ability to accomplish their dreams.