Meet Your AIT Mentors
World Class | Industry Leading | Artistically Driven
Robert Schultz
Founder, Director & Instructor
Robert Schultz is the founder and creative director at Artists in Training, under the umbrella of his multi-genre production company I Am Creating Productions, INC.
During his career, he has taken on a wide range of diverse roles. Robert’s work has been featured on the shows Keeping Up With The Kardashian’s, Kimora - Life in the Fab Lane, Modern Family ABC, Heartbeat NBC, Major Crimes TNT, and he has choreographed and danced in the opening number of the Daytime Emmy Awards. His choreography has been featured in over 200 flash mobs with Flash Mob America, including the Isn’t It Romantic movie premiere event, and several industrials for Amazon. He has also choreographed several music videos for Night Riots, directed by Chris Buongiorno (co-producer of Spiderman No Way Home). Robert danced in several movies including She’s All That, The Wedding Planner and Flintstones 2, and served as choreographer on Rome and Jewel. His commercial appearances include Pepsi, Jack in the Box, AT&T Superbowl, and Toyo Mag Tires, and he has danced on the stages of the MTV European Music Awards, Billboard Awards, Soul Train Awards, along with dancing for the Backstreet Boys and Toni Braxton.
In the early 2000s, Robert launched the Artists in Training organization, leading the way as one of the first in-studio dance conventions in the industry. Since then, he spent many years on tour as a national convention teacher with several other companies. In 2019, Robert partnered with Kathy King to relaunch AIT back into studios nationwide, bringing a more intentional focus to helping studios develop a more positive and mindful dance community within their own walls. Robert continues to serve as Creative Director at AIT, while also teaching, choreographing and adjudicating for several dance organizations across the country.
Hailee Payne
Instructor
Hailee Payne began dancing at age 4 and hasn't stopped since! She received most of her training at Infinity Dance in Ogden, Utah where she competed until she graduated high school. All the while, she traveled on the weekends to assist at the conventions, Hollywood Connection and Radix. A fan of Odyssey Dance Theater from a young age, she was privileged to be a part of the company and perform in the hit Halloween show, Thriller. From there, Hailee competed on “So You Think You Can Dance” season 12 “Street VS Stage” where she placed in the top 4. Some of the choreographers Hailee worked with included Mandy Moore, Brian Friedman, Travis Wall, Luther Brown, and Tessandra Chavez to name of few. Immediately following the end of the show, Hailee went on the SYTYCD Tour which included 70 cities in the US and Canada. After the tour, she made the move to Los Angeles! Most recently, Hailee has been performing with Jojo Siwa on her D.R.E.A.M Tour. Other stage performances include: Backstreet Boys “Larger Than Life,” Florida Georgia Line Smooth Tour, performing an original piece created by Mia Michaels honoring Dick Van Dyke and Lin-Manuel Miranda, Wango Tango, and many other radio shows across the country. Besides SYTYCD, you may have spotted Hailee on the AMAs with Taylor Swift, The Soul Train Awards, The Ellen Show, Good Morning America, and @Midnight with Chris Hardwick. She has even began to establish herself commercially by shooting a print ad with BMW. Hailee has also been teaching since she was 16 years old and has found that her passion for performance is matched by teaching. She is proud to be a faculty member on NRG Dance Project where she teaches multiple styles. Hailee is represented by LA Bloc Agency.
Lisette Bustamante
Instructor
Lisette Bustamante began her entertainment career straight out of high school, and in the years since she’s worn a number of professional hats, including dancer, choreographer, artistic director, music video director, on air personality and movement coach.
She’s danced alongside superstars such as Madonna, Ariana Grande, Gwen Stefani, Justin Timberlake, Janet Jackson and Usher on stages all over the globe, and has choreographed for Ricky Martin, Pink, Prince, Britney Spears and Jennifer Lopez.
She’s been featured in commercials for Gap, Pepsi, Pringles, iPod and Sprite, and has choreographed for film and television, with credits including supervising choreographer on MTV’s America’s Best Dance Crew. Her passion is dance education and with 20 years experience under her belt, she travels the world as a master instructor on the dance conventions Artists Simply Human and Monsters of Hip Hop and currently resides in Atlanta, Georgia with her husband and two children.
Devon Larcher
Instructor
Devon Larcher has been dancing since the age of 10, training in all styles. Devon had the opportunity to attend the Jacqueline M Walsh School for the Performing and Visual Arts and continued his training at Shannon O’ Brien School of Dance. During the start of his professional career Devon traveled internationally to Hengshui, China for their Inaugural Arts Festival and worked with Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines as an aerialist and dancer. Here, in the states, he has been a company dancer with Part of the Oath, Bill Evans Dance Company, Ten31, Fusionworks Dance Co., and Urbanity Dance. These early opportunities have led Devon to where he is now, which is a company member with the world-renowned Koresh Dance Company for 6 years. As a performer with Koresh, Devon has been performing to sold out audiences nationally and internationally. Devon continues to share his broad knowledge and talents teaching & choreographing at studios, conventions and Universities across the United States and abroad.
Judith McCarty
Instructor
Judith McCarty is a French, Congolese, Cape Town-raised choreographer and artistic director. Her classes are high energy, full of technique, drilling, and hot choreography.
Judith has toured the world dancing and choreographing for the biggest Afrobeats, hip hop, and pop artists including Lauryn Hill, the Fugees, WizKid, Davido, Flavour, Tiwa Savage, A Boogie wit da Hoodie, Burna Boy, and more. She has performed on some of the world's biggest stage,s including Idols South Africa, Metro FM Awards, One Africa Music Fest, Essence Magazine’s Black Women in Music, BET Music Awards, and many more.
Judith's work has been displayed on stages such as the Barclays Center, the Apollo, and Hot 97's Summer Jam. Her artistry has created show-stopping pieces that have made her a go-to choreographer. While balancing her career, she has also opened a dance company, Afro-Afriqué, that includes over a dozen dancers as well as a junior team. Her dedication to sharing her knowledge about dance in African culture has led her to teach at various studios around the world.
Kylie Bronk
Instructor
Kylie Bronk is a multidisciplinary artist, fueled by love and devoted to transformation through embodied expression. With a rich foundation in diverse dance styles, Kylie approaches movement as medicine, using it as a powerful tool for healing, education, and storytelling.
Kylie is a force in the world of movement. Creative Director, Choreographer, EQ/BQ Coach for dancers, musicians, artists, and actors whose work is featured on the Disney Channel, Nickelodeon, independent films, DC Comics, Tubi, and more. She’s a respected choreographer, performer, and educator, known for inspiring creativity, building confidence, expanding consciousness, and holding space for others to awaken their voice through their soul-work.
She is the founder of Sacred Ayana — a spiritual movement practice and holistic movement philosophy. Sacred Ayana is a convergence of disciplines, bringing somatic practice and spiritual sciences, emotional and body intelligence, the sacred and the scientific, the quantum and the emotional, the intuitive and the performative. Alongside movement, Kylie is a sound practitioner and facilitator, weaving vibrational medicine as a supportive pathway for healing and expanded consciousness, guiding others into the sacred resonance where movement, energy, and frequency converge.
Her classes draw from her curriculum rooted in Emotional Intelligence (EQ) and Body Intelligence (BQ), guiding students into the body’s “historical data” to explore and shift emotional imprints that shape past, present and future experiences. Through intuitive movement, Kylie helps release stored memory, emotional residue, and “stuck story” from the body’s energetic grid, creating space for new belief systems, ideas, and elevated emotional states to be embodied and integrated.
Her modalities empower students to move through life as emotional athletes… aware, attuned, and expressive. Whether in a studio, in front of a camera, behind a camera, holding the camera, on or off a stage, Kylie’s work calls us to move with intention, tread lightly on the earth, and live fully as a clean and well-tuned instrument.
She moves through the world with intention, offering movement as medicine and using the body as an instrument of wisdom. Within it, emotions are housed, held, and heard, not as burdens but as raw material for transformation. By turning her focus inward, she reveals the body to be one of our greatest tools: a vessel that teaches, heals, and transmutes unexpressed feelings into embodied truths.
A sacred channel for love, healing, and self-worth, leaving behind a heartfelt resonance in every soul she encounters.
Sienna Lyons
Instructor
Sienna Lyons is a well versed choreographer, educator, and dancer based out of Los Angeles, CA. Since moving to LA, Sienna has experienced the entertainment industry on all sides from dancing back-up for artists such as JLo, Taylor Swift, Pharrell, and Selena Gomez... to choreographing for Gwen Stefani, FOX's The Masked Singer, Kidz Bop world tours and music videos for the past 4 years, and assistant choreographer for Janet Jackson's Las Vegas residency. Sienna has the hands on experience and knowledge to help future dancers and choreographers fulfill their dreams and goals.
While loving the entertainment industry, Sienna also holds a strong passion for teaching/educating dancers of all ages! Her teaching journey began at 16 years old at her home studio, Elizabeth's Dance Dimensions in Seattle Washington where her mentor/teacher Elizabeth Lanning saw choreographing and teaching was something she could do well from a young age. 2012 was her start to teaching in LA at the famous Debbie Reynolds Dance Studio. She also teaches at studios Movement Lifestyle and TMilly productions. Dance styles taught include Heels/Heels Technique, Jazz, Jazz Funk, and commercial hiphop. Sienna does not take her duty as an educator lightly and finds pure joy when seeing growth in her students!
Coming from a technical background, Sienna runs a focused, hard working class consisting of conditioning the body, intricate clean movement, musicality/understanding music, and of course pure performance elements. Although her classes are challenging, it is guaranteed you will leave feeling empowered and inspired to continue training!
Tash Marconi
Instructor
Tash Marconi is an Australian born Latina whom has worked professionally as a triple threat in the performing arts industry for 15 years spanning all mediums across tv, film, stage, theatre and more. She has had the pleasure of sharing the stage with artists such as Taylor Swift, J LO, Lil Nasx, Kylie Minogue, Meghan Trainor, Kelly Clarkson, Nick Jonas, Ricky Martin and more. She has also graced the big screen in several films “The Great Gatsby”, “Seriously Red” and most recently Baz Lurhmann’s “Elvis” biopic with Austin Butler & Tom Hanks. Tash has also enjoyed working in TV in seasons 1-3 of “Dance Academy” and an episode of “Raven’s Home”.
Tash has worked with many worldwide renowned choreographers including Kyle Hanagami, Nappytabs, Tessandra Chavez, The Squared Division, Kelley Abbey, Jason Gilkison & Chris Scott and not only as a dancer but now stepping behind the camera as associate choreographer alongside Dani Vitale, Nika Klun and most recently Mitchell Woodcock on the recently released Paramount Plus tv series” Paperdolls”
Though much of her late work has been commercial on stages such as The VMAS, AMA’s, Billboard Awards, FIFA World Cup, League of Legends World Series Opening & the late late show, she has also adored her work in theatre in the National Tours of WICKED, Dirty Dancing, Grease, A Chorus Line and recently completed the Australian Production of “In the heights” as associate choreographer, ensemble/dance captain & Carla cover.
One of Tash’s greatest memories has been when she toured North America and performed on the infamous Las Vegas Strip as a dancer/dance captain/associate choreographer for the Legendary Jazz Icon miss Paula Abdul. In recent years Tash marconi has also become qualified as a life & mindset coach and launched her own 6 figure business “The Method By Tash” where she works closely with women in the arts industry whilst they create the life of their dreams. She hopes to pass on her wealth of knowledge, experience and life lessons through cultivating a safe, empowering and powerful space for women to become the best & most extraordinary version of themselves.
Helen Estrella
Instructor
Helen was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area. Much of her youth was spent in the rigors of competitive artistic and rhythmic gymnastics through which she found her love of dance.
Helen eventually moved to Los Angeles to dance with some of the industry’s top choreographers. She can be seen in print and commercial work for Sola Optical Lenses and 2000 Olympics, as well as danced for various contemporary companies while in LA.
In 2002 she found her way back to Sonoma County where she directed local competitive companies until the birth of her own, Estrella Dance Company. After a few yeas of directing her own company, Helen decided to follow one of her life long dreams and opened her studio: The Dance Room.
Helen is currently a faculty member of Artists In Training, Camp ME, Theater Arts Preparatory School, the Boulder Jazz Dance Workshop, Talent on Parade Dance Directive Convention, as well as judges for Talent on Parade and Imagine Dance Challenge. She is a nationally recognized instructor and choreographer who travels extensively teaching master classes and setting choreography on various dance companies. In 2010 Helen relocated to Colorado to be the Artistic and Company Director of various studios in the area. Helen is known for her cutting edge, contemporary style while focusing on the technical details of dance.
Between teaching at conventions, judging, owning her own studio, running competition companies, teaching and choreographing for studios around the nation, and being a parent herself... Helen has every aspect of the dance world under her belt.
Bex
Instructor
Bex (they/she) originally from Nuneaton, England began their dance journey at the age of three. At the age of eight, their family moved to Michigan, US and Bex started training competitively at Michelle's Academy of Dance. In 2011-12 they got the amazing opportunity to tour with Camp Pulse as a counselor and got to assist choreographers such as Nancy O’Meara, Rosero McCoy, Brooke Lipton, Lane Napper, Cris Judd and David Moore.
By the age of 12, they realized that their love and curiosity for dance was going to be a lifetime career. In 2014, Bex was a pre professional trainee with the Big City Dance Center, owner Lisa Fruchey, training with Eisenhower company members Lindsay Chirio and Andrew Cribbet from 2015-2018. Throughout their training Bex has supplemented their journey with prestigious intensives such as Eisenhower Newdancefest, Sidra Bell’s Winter Module and Hubbard Street Pre-Professional summer intensive.
Bex graduated with a BFA in dance (modern concentration) with a minor in business with honors in 2022 from Point Park University in Pittsburgh, PA. Bex has performed works with Al Blackstone, Jason Mcdole and Christopher Huggins, during their training at Point Park. While being at school, they were hired to improv at Eons Fashion show and model a piece from Marlin Monroe’s designer for “Diva Dreams and Fashion Queens” by Richard Parsakain in spring 2022.
After graduation Bex began training at Kalakeli Movement Arts in Goa, India, directed by Navala Chaudhari from January-April 2023. Trained with professional dancers from all around the world such as Vittoria De Ferrari Sapetto, Prashant Tewatia, Navala Chaudhari, Alvaro, Kevin Edward Turner (creator of Company Chameleon), Marso Riviere, and Prashant More. Learned new styles of dance such as capoeira, bollywood, break dancing, partner work, clowning and movement theater.
After Kalkeli, Bex had the opportunity to train with Ballet Vlaanderen in Belgium, Elephant in the Black Box in Madrid, Spain and KWAM Collective in London, England. While in London they had the opportunity to assist Dane Bates at the “Move it, Shake it” Convention.
In late November 2024, Bex was signed with Bloc talent and moved to LA officially in January. Since moving to LA, they have been a featured backup dancer for Lady Gaga, “Abracadabra” music video. They have also been a contestant on Jordan Matter Productions and The Kevin Langue Show. Bex is currently training in numerous studios in LA and at home, creating and seeing where life and their art of movement takes them.
Chonique Sneed
Instructor
Chonique began her entertainment career at the young age of 8. A Los Angeles native, born in the center of Hollywood, she started her performance journey as a child actress with a background in musical theater. She began working early, on commercials, kid variety specials, and TV shows, while having a natural ability and skill in dance.
Chonique went on to dance in movies, world tours, and music videos, and has been a contributing choreographer for artists such as Missy Elliott, Christina Milian, Ricky Martin, Britney Spears, Pink, and J.Lo, to name a few. She also worked as a Supervising Choreographer and casting consultant for “America’s Best Dance Crew” for season 5, 6, and 7. She has traveled around the world teaching master classes and workshops including Tokyo, Sweden, Toronto, and London.
Chonique is also no stranger to the music scene: releasing singles on all digital platforms around the world, with her first hit song “Pop Drop & Roll” featured and named Audience Favorite on the hit show, “So You Think You Can Dance”. Her most popular single to date is “Let It Go.” Which became a dancer Smash hit licensed in over 6 television shows, films, a Spotify Favorite and a Choreography Staple around the World.
Chonique is also the co-founder of the artist/dancer mentorship program “Creating Opportunities” known as “Creating Opps,” with her business partner Lisette Bustamante. Chonique is a creator and performer who leaves her audience and community with inspiration, confidence, and new ways to develop themselves as artists, and empowered individuals.
Kelly Allen
Instructor
Kelly Allen is a professional dancer and creative with over 19 years of experience in the entertainment industry. Having contributed to more than 50 TV/film projects, Kelly has played a pivotal role in shaping some of the most iconic productions of our time. Originally from the Central Coast of California, she trained locally before relocating to Los Angeles to pursue a career in dance. In LA, Kelly quickly began collaborating with some of the industry’s most influential choreographers, both as a performer and an associate.
Kelly’s recent work includes being associate choreographer on two tv series which the choreography was Emmy-nominated. She served as associate choreographer for three seasons of Physical (Apple TV) with Emmy-nominated Jennifer Hamilton and for five seasons of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Amazon) with Emmy-winning choreographer Marguerite Derricks. Additional recent credits include commercials for Meta Quest, The Accountant 2, Étoile (Amazon), Fallout (Amazon), Miss USA, Little America (Apple TV), Roar (Apple TV), Lucifer (Netflix), and Interior Chinatown (Hulu).
Some of Kelly’s most notable credits include working with Katy Perry (Grammys, music videos, Wango Tango), the Academy Awards, G.L.O.W. (Netflix), Westworld (HBO), Bad Moms 2, The Affair (SHOWTIME), Superstore (NBC), Glee (FOX), Bunheads (ABC Family), Behind the Candelabra (HBO), So You Think You Can Dance (FOX), Disney Channel, The Sing-Off (NBC), Frozen (Disney), Two Broke Girls (CBS), and Jimmy Kimmel Live (ABC). She has also performed in corporate industrials for major brands such as NIKE, Lexus, and Samsung.
Kelly’s other credits include live productions like Heathers the Musical (NYC), PEARL (Lincoln Center & International Tour), Rose Parade, The Who’s Tommy, artist Natasha Bedingfield, Barbie Live! (International Tour), Celebrat10n (Walt Disney Concert Hall), Dance Camera West (Getty Museum), and OPEN (Ford Amphitheater & National Tour), working with renowned choreographer Daniel Ezralow.
Suzy Guarino-Hall
Instructor
Suzy Guarino-Hall has over 30 years of experience in the entertainment industry, with a background in print, film, and voiceover work for brands like Volkswagen, McDonald's, and Blue Cross Blue Shield. In her lifetime as an actress, she has appeared in over 100 commercials. A Chicago native now based in Phoenix; she holds a bachelor's degree in communications from Loyola University Chicago.
Suzy is the founder and artistic director of Tap 24.7, a Phoenix-based tap company known for producing 14 original shows performed nationwide. She is also the founder and CEO of TapVibe Challenge and TAPapalooza, an all-tap dance competition and workshop, which made its debut in 2024.
Suzy travels and works with studios in the US and Canada; choreographing award-winning dances and also teaching workshops at major tap festivals including Motor City Tap Fest and Phoenix Tap Fest. She has judged and show directed for dance competitions such as Dance Educators of America, Starsystems, Spotlight Dance Cup, Amp Dance Competition, and In10sity Dance. As an educator in the weekly classroom, she teaches at The Dance Project, and Take Five Dance Academy, and is currently in her 11th year as adjunct faculty at Grand Canyon University, teaching all levels of tap and tap ensemble.
She currently owns and operates the Tap 24.7 Lounge, where there are weekly tap classes open to the public and the home of Tap 24.7. Through her teaching, choreography, and productions, Suzy hopes to shape the future of tap dance, inspiring the next generation of performers.
Natalli Dorn
Instructor
Started as a competition girl, Natalli has many stories to tell and many lessons to teach. Growing up in Denver CO, as a competitive dancer, she learned how to work with professionals at a young age. She knows all the ins and outs of the performing world. Working with choreographers like Brian Friedman, Jason Parsons, Mia Michaels, Marty Kudelka, Dana Wilson and many more. A few shows she's been in are "Parade", "Urinetown", "RENT", “Shrek” and the opening cast of "Frozen" in Disneyland's California Adventure. Following some Commercials in Gap and Old Navy as well as the “Land Swing” for Norwegian Cruise Line. She currently works and lives in Los Angeles teaching where she graduated (American Musical & Dramatic Academy) as well as Choreographing and
Performing as much as she can. The journey of a performer is a crazy one, but there's nothing like it.
Sloan-Taylor Rabinor
Instructor
Sloan-Taylor Rabinor grew up and trained in Phoenix, Arizona. At the age of 17, she won her first national title at the dance convention The Pulse as the first Elite Protege. That is where her dance career really began. With The Pulse, she started traveling and assisting choreographers such as Brian Friedman, Laurieann Gibson, Wade Robson, and Mia Michaels. Sloan’s love for dance took her to Los Angeles in 2009. Starting out fresh in a new place, Sloan’s ability took her straight to the top, landing her a spot as a backup dancer for Lady Gaga’s iconic performance on the 2009 VMA’s. In that performance, Sloan is seen as the wild one in the famous “wheelchair moment”. Sloan has completed four world tours dancing for Lady Gaga and performed in her Las Vegas residency.
In terms of music videos she can be seen in “GUY”, “Applause”,“Bad Romance”, “Telephone”, "John Wayne”, “Forever”, and “ What A Man Gotta Do”. She has also danced on Ellen, X Factor (UK), Oprah, AMA’s, Grammy’s, Billboard awards, and VMA’s. Other artist include The Jonas Brothers, Selena Gomez, Halsey, Rosalia, Fletcher, Panic at the Disco, Dua Lipa, Justin Bieber, Nicki Minaj, Kelly Clarkson, and Gwen Stefani. In 2017 Sloan hit both the Superbowl stage and headlined Coachella.
In 2021, she also made her debut as commercial choreographer on season 5 of “The Masked Singer” and most recently was the associate choreographer for the 2021 Facebook Pride show.
As a teacher, Sloan travels the US with various dance conventions. Most often described as "athletic contemporary” or “saucy jazz-funk” she believes in empowering young dancers and preparing them for the next step in the professional dance scene. She is passionate about educating dancers about pieces of the industry that aren’t often discussed and providing true and honest guidance for the next generation of artists.
Re'Sean Pates
Instructor
Re’Sean Pates is a southern bread singer/dancer/choreographer, now living in Arizona. He has been working professionally for 10 years.
His most recent credits include currently dancing for Shania Twain In her Las Vegas “Let’s Go” Residency! He also was a background vocalist & dancer with Shania Twain on her 2018 NOW World Tour. He also had the pleasure of being the associate choreographer & dancer for Shania’s “Life’s About to Get Good” music video.
Other credits include NBC’s “Hairspray Live” as Jackie, associate choreographer to Daniel Ezralow for Katy Perry’s “Chained to the Rhythm” music video & her 2017 promo tour (2017 Grammys, 2017 Brit Awards, Londons’s BBC Big Radio Music Festival, 2017 Met Gala, 2017 Brandcast). He has also worked on FOX’S hit tv show “Glee” [seasons 3-6] as a Dalton Academy Warbler, Apple Sports Watch commercial, Daniel Ezralow’s 3 world tours (OPEN Italy & US Tour, Pearl live at the Lincoln Center & Canadian Tour, Primo Passo), & many others.
Liz Guerrieri
Instructor
Growing up in Ohio, Liz traveled nationally on award winning competitive teams, created her high school dance team and assisted the NBA Cleveland Cavalier Girls. After graduation, Liz furthered her dance training by attending Wake Forest University on a Dance Team scholarship, earning her bachelor's degree in Health & Exercise Science.
Following college, Liz moved to Los Angeles to immerse herself in the commercial dance industry. Liz’s performance credits include Demi Lovato, DNCE, Panic! At the Disco, Good Morning America, Justin Bieber, Kelly Clarkson, & The Ellen Show. Liz has been the assistant & associate choreographer for many live performances and videos including the Demi Lovato 2018 World Tour, Madison Beer 2021 World Tour, Halsey, The American Music Awards, Saturday Night Live, The CMA Awards, The Masked Singer Season 3, The Kelly Clarkson Show, Old Navy, Pentatonix, ESPN featuring John Legend, & more!
Her choreography has been set on high school and collegiate dance teams, overall award winning competition routines, and nationwide intensives. Liz loves being both a student & teacher and is incredibly grateful to do what she loves every day and call it work!
Tiffanie Carson
Instructor
Tiffanie Carson, also known as ‘TCarson,’ is a dedicated educator, mentor and performance artist with a passion for shaping pre-professional dancers where she has had the privilege of being a vital part of the dance faculty for over twelve years. TCarson teaches technique courses exploring industry styles through the lens of contemporary and commercial movement practices, working closely with both dance and musical theatre majors. She is also the faculty mentor and advisor for the senior Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) dance majors for their capstone performance projects. TCarson’s excellence in teaching has been recognized with the Transformative Teaching Award (2020) and the James R. and Mary B. Wilkins Appreciation Award (2024). In addition to teaching at Shenandoah University (SU), she serves as adjunct faculty at the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University, teaching contemporary and commercial dance styles.
As a choreographer, TCarson has presented work at numerous festivals and showcases, including the New York Jazz Choreography Project (2016, 2018, 2024), VelocityDC Dance Festival (2016), Annual Choreographers’ Showcase at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center (2017, 2020), the Pushing Progress Series (2017) and the American College Dance Association Gala Concert (2020).
In addition to her academic work, TCarson is in her 14th season with Christopher K. Morgan & Artists (CKM&A), directed by Christopher K. Morgan, where she serves as company dancer and assistant director. She has toured nationally with the company as part of the creative development and rehearsal direction for “Pōhaku,” and is currently on tour for “Native Intelligence / Innate Intelligence.” TCarson is also a longtime member of 18 years for BARE Dance CompaNY, directed by Mike Esperanza, where the company just celebrated its 20th anniversary with the performance of “The Evolution of Separation” presented at the LaGuardia Performing Arts Center in July 2025.
Olivia Short
Instructor
Olivia began her dance journey at Michelle's Academy of Dance & Performing Arts Center in Metro-Detroit, MI, training and competing since the young age of six. During her high school years, she was able to travel the country as a member of Hollywood Connection Dance Convention Teen Company. At just age 15, she began teaching and choreographing, following in the footsteps of her mother.
After graduating, Olivia danced professionally with the Detroit Pistons Dancers for the 2021 season. She then went on to Michigan State University, performing with the MSU Dance Team and serving as captain during her senior season. Now a proud MSU graduate, Olivia is kicking off her rookie season as a Detroit Lions Cheerleader!
Mariah Spears
Instructor
Mariah Spears is a professional dancer living in Los Angeles. Mariah just got of an international tour with Latin pop group “Rebelde” that consisted of 54 shows in stadiums and arenas across the US, Colombia, Brazil, and Mexico. She also is a jazz professor at Chapman University. Mariah has been featured on commercials such as Marshalls feat. The Voice Contestants, Allstate, Sonos Holiday Commercial, Hollister, SoFi, The Greatest Showman Live commercial, Fuji-film, and others. She also has danced for artists such as Kelly Clarkson and danced on TV shows like “Schooled.”
In 2013, Mariah was a featured performer as one of the top 16 dancers on Fox Television's Season 10 of "So You Think You Can Dance”. Mariah has choreographed for artists such as Warren G and Snoop Dogg. Her work is featured in the movie G-Funk and in the musical Teddy’s Café. She also has choreographed commercially for Mercedes, Nike, and the Oscars. She graduated from Chapman University in 2016 with a BFA in Dance Performance and clusters in Theater Technology and Honors. Mariah is currently traveling and teaching around the world; having taught in Australia, Paris, Shanghai, South Africa, and around the US. She also owns a company called Artist Only that is an in-studio convention that bridges the gap between the studio and the professional world; teaching students on set experience.
Kathy King
Event Coordinator & Co-Director
Kathy King is a Metro-Detroit based dance educator, mentor, and success coach. She began her professional performance career at the young age of 15, eventually finding her way into teaching, choreographing, directing and coaching. Her training includes Wayne State University, EDGE Performing Arts Center, Broadway Dance Center and Bates Dance Festival. In 2006, Kathy founded the professional nonprofit company Michigan Dance Project, touring the state for eight seasons and helping to launch the careers of dozens of dancers nationwide. She was named as a Crain's Detroit Business "20 in their 20s" in 2013 for her work as a dance educator in Metro Detroit. Kathy also founded and directed for thirteen seasons the Brighton Dance Festival, which grew into an esteemed international summer dance event. Other notable teaching credits include Eastern Michigan University School of Music & Dance, American College Dance Association, Cleary University Dance Team, FLIGHT AcroDance Convention, and many other studios and schools across the nation.
In 2019, Kathy stepped into the role of Executive Director to Los Angeles based Artists in Training, helping to rebrand and relaunch the organization after several years of hiatus. Most recently, Kathy launched her company Kathy King Strategies, LLC in 2020, providing mentorship and business coaching to creative entrepreneurs across all industries worldwide.