Highly Qualified & Fun Instructors
Not only do our instructors have a passion and love for teaching dance and they also the credentials to back it. Dance 101 instructors have college degrees in dance as well as certifications from reputable dance organizations. Instructors have access to continued education with some of the nation’s top professionals. This provides our students with up-to-date steps, technique and the latest dance trends.

Ms Emily
Owner / Artistic Director

Ms Brianna D
Director of Instruction and Teacher Development / Instructor
Ms Brianna, originally from Woodward, Oklahoma and raised in Gilbert, Arizona, has always had a passion for dance and believes it to be something that brings her family together. Ms Brianna started taking dance class in middle school and knew she could not live without it. Ms. Brianna went on to complete her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Education from Arizona State University and is K-12 certified. Traveling to parts of the world like Paris, Italy, Germany, California, and New York, Ms. Brianna is interested in experiencing how different people include dance as part of their culture. Ms Brianna’s favorite style to dance is House dance. Ms Brianna loves teaches all forms of hip hop foundation. “You don’t have to be good, but you do have to be good at trying and trying again.”

Ms Alexis
Dance Instructor
Ms Alexis was born and raised in Peoria, Arizona and began dancing at age 9. She danced recreationally and competed at Prestige Dance Academy. When she reached High School she began to pursue other activities such as equestrianism and art. She studies at Arizona State University progressing towards a Bachelors degree in Psychology and a minor in Design Studies. She has nannied for 3 years and has a passion for children. Because of this love of children, and her past with dance, teaching at Dance 101 is a perfect way to incorporate what is most important to her into her life.

Ms Brianna
Studio Manager and Dance Instructor

Ms Brigid
Dance Instructor
Ms Brigid is originally from northern New Jersey her whole life. She started dancing at the age of 3 and immediately fell in love with it. She began dancing competitively when she was 6 and graduated from her studio when she was 18. When she was 15 she joined Nick Dinicolangelo’s Hands Down Tap Project. She continues to perform with the company in New Jersey. After coming to Arizona to attend ASU in 2016, she became an executive board member of the ASU club “Free the Dance” and has performed in the undergraduate show for the dance program. Along with that, she was in Brandon Trieu’s contemporary show held at Unexpected art gallery. Besides dance, Brigid is currently a senior pursuing a double major in Design Studies Management and Communications with an internship in digital marketing. Ms Brigid has loved getting to teach at Dance101 and is so excited to begin her third year of teaching here!

Ms Brittany
Dance Instructor
Ms Brittany, originally from Northern California, has been passionate about movement her entire life. She danced recreationally and competed at her home studio, CVPA for over ten years. After high school, she continued to develop her teaching skills by instructing tap classes at two different studios in the Bay Area. Once she moved to Arizona, she became extremely focused on educating herself with the arts community, teaching at different studios, and pursuing two different degrees. Currently, she has over four years of experience teaching dance to various age levels and hopes to open her own studio one day. Ms Brittany is well versed in dance styles including ballet, tap, hip hop, jazz, and contemporary. She recently received a Bachelor of Science in Communication and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from Arizona State University. With a knowledgeable background in both performance and teaching, she hopes to learn and evolve while working with the students and Dance 101 faculty.

Ms Caitlyn
Dance Instructor
Ms Caitlyn is originally from Iowa Falls, Iowa where she had extensive training in ballet, pointe, contemporary, tap, jazz, and pom at the Robert Thomas Dancenter and under the direction of Emily Finch and Maureen McGrath. She competed as a young dancer and won the title of Iowa’s Outstanding Dancer in 2006. After moving to the Valley she received her Associates Degree in Dance Performance from Scottsdale Community College and performed with Instinct Dance Corps, S.A.J.E, and Moving Company. Professionally, Ms. Caitlyn performed as a principal dancer for former company Vega Arts and Entertainment and trained with Fosse protege and Broadway star, Ann Reinking. Ms. Caitlyn has been teaching dance and choreographing for over a decade for numerous dance studios in the valley as well as the National Dance Alliance all over the country. Aside from teaching dance she is also a Physical Therapist Assistant, a wife, and mom to son, Hudson and Nash.

Ms Dee
Dance Instructor

Mr Jemel
Dance Instructor

Ms Chareka
Dance Instructor

Ms Jessica
Assistant Director and Dance Instructor

Ms Jordan
Dance Instructor
Ms Jordan, originally from Chicago, Illinois, moved to Arizona at age 11. Up until she was 15 years old she was a competitive gymnast. She took her first dance class her freshman year of high school at Gilbert High and fell in love with it. She started to study musical theatre, ballet, contemporary, hip hop, tap and jazz at Studio 3 Performing Arts Academy. The following year she became a member of their competitive dance company. Ms Jordan then went on to receive her Bachelors Degree in Dance Education from Arizona State University. While attending ASU she choreographed multiple pieces for showcases within the school and danced for Perfectly Imperfect Dance Company. She also directed a competitive dance company for ages 10-18 where she received multiple choreography awards from competitions like Cathy Roe, Releve, and No Limit. Immediately after graduating Jordan started working at Tempe High School as a dance and yoga teacher. Jordan plans to continue to teach, choreograph and learn as much as she can within the dance community.

Ms Lindsey
Dance Instructor
Ms Lindsey, born and raised in Phoenix, began dancing at the young age of 3, started competing at 10 and teaching at 15. In high school she was president of performance dance, choreographing for all levels in the school, as well as captain of the pom team. After graduating high school Lindsey went on to make Arizona State’s Hip Hop Coalition where she performed at games and other events for the university. During her time at ASU she studied dance abroad for one year in Northern Ireland focusing on unique dance styles. Dance has opened so many doors for Lindsey leading her to her love of children, other passions such as acrobatic yoga, and teaching. She plans on continuing to be involved in the dance world for as long as possible.

Ms Niamey
Dance Instructor
Ms Niamey is a graduate of Arizona State University (ASU) with a BA in Communication, Minor in Dance and Certificate in Brazilian Studies. With her strong faith background and love for the community she graduated from Elevate International Antioch Discipleship and Arts program in 2017 where she learned how to be a disciple implementing projects and initiatives to enrich the community. Niamey has been dancing for eighteen years; she has been a member of the WNBA Phoenix Mercury Hip-Hop Squad, Anomalous Dance Crew, Arizona Raw Talent and many more. Niamey has performed in the Valley, Chicago and Atlanta (just to name a few) and she has trained with amazing world-renowned choreographers. Niamey has taught many dance residencies in Phoenix, Mesa, and Tempe.

Ms Morgan
Dance Instructor

Ms Riley
Dance Instructor

Ryn
Dance Instructor

Ms Sara
Director of educational development and Dance Instructor

Ms Tessa
associate DIRECTOR / INSTRUCTOR
Ms Tessa was raised in Chandler, Arizona and began dancing at the age of 9. She has trained in styles from tap, jazz and ballet to ballroom, pointe and musical theatre. She danced recreationally for a few years and then began competing with the company at Dance Connection 2. Ms Tessa competed regionally throughout Arizona and on the national level. Ms Tessa was awarded the Senior Scholarship at Dance Connection 2 for her leadership and work ethic. Competing taught her professionalism and gave her confidence. Tessa has also participated in many community dance events, and performed at events through school during her years in college. Tessa graduated from Arizona State University in May of 2019 with a degree in Communication and a minor in Dance. She has been teaching at Dance 101 since 2016 and has taken on the role of Associate Director beginning this season. She has a love of learning as well as teaching and hopes to learn just as much from her students as her students learn from her.

Ms Treva
Dance Instructor

Ms Tatum
Dance Instructor
Ms Tatum was born and raised in Chandler, Arizona and started dancing at the age of 3. From an early age she knew she loved to dance so she began studying ballet, tap, acro, jazz, and ballroom at Tempe Dance Academy. At the age of 7 she started to compete with her studio and spent six summers in NYC after she was awarded “Outstanding Dancer” at New York City Dance Alliance. Ms Tatum was also involved in her high school dance program along with being a part of the pom team. Teaching young students the art of dance has made her even more passionate about dancing. Teaching young children inspired her to pursue her education at Arizona State for elementary education in hopes of becoming a 1st grade teacher. Ms Tatum hopes to make her future classroom just as fun and positive as her dance classes.