Our faculty + staff

Anna Roberts is a passionate hip hop teacher and dancer. A Studio West alumnus who started dance classes at the age of five, she took ballet and tap but found her love of dance through hip hop. She has been part of the Beat Box for over 10 years, dancing with performance groups such as Edge and Tacoma-based Icon. She has trained with other prominent choreographers in Tacoma and Seattle but loves the strong arts community in her hometown of Olympia. She received her Bachelor of Studio Arts from WWU and will soon complete her master’s degree in teaching. With over five years of teaching experience at Studio West, Anna brings encouraging, high-vibe energy to every class and believes dance is a safe space for every student to express their authentic self.

Kadie Holien started her dance training at Studio West in 2009 and remained with Studio West until she graduated in 2022. She took ballet, jazz, and contemporary classes, but found her passion in hip hop. In 2018, Kadie joined the Studio West Dance Theatre Performance Division team, EDGE, where she gained extensive performance experience and training across the greater South Sound area.

After graduating high school, Kadie joined the University of Oregon hip hop team where she performed and choreographed for philanthropic and sporting events…including Portland Trailblazers games!

After graduating with her teaching degree in 2025, Kadie came back to Studio West to teach intermediate hip hop and work alongside Studio West’s former Hip Hop Director, Sarah Jane Bracy, as an assistant coach to the Performance Division. Now, Kadie teaches intermediate and advanced hip hop as well as coaches two Performance Division teams, EDGE and DYNAMIX.

Originally from Tulsa, Oklahoma, Kyle Leapline cultivated his passion for the performing arts through extensive involvement in singing, acting, and dancing with civic and regional organizations, including renowned companies such as Tulsa Opera and Tulsa Ballet. He pursued his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Ballet Performance at Friends University in Wichita, Kansas, under the mentorship of Stan and Sharon Rogers. During his time at Friends, Kyle had the privilege of working with acclaimed artists such as Shawn Stevens of New York City Ballet, Dominique Walsh of Dominique Walsh Dance Theatre, and James Wallace of the James Wallace Experience. He also originated roles in numerous neoclassical ballets choreographed for Wichita Ballet Theatre by Mr. Rogers.

Following his graduation in 2012, Kyle embarked on a professional performing career with esteemed organizations, including Dance Theatre of Tennessee, Lexington Ballet, Ballet Wichita, Wichita Grand Opera, and various civic companies as a guest artist. In 2016, Kyle transitioned to teaching, sharing his expertise with a focus on ballet in the greater Wichita area.

In 2020, Kyle relocated to Olympia, Washington, where he has become an integral part of the Puget Sound dance community. He currently teaches multiple dance genres at several local schools and organizations, bringing his extensive knowledge, technical precision, and artistic insight to inspire the next generation of dancers.

Liz Joyce brings 15 years of dance experience and a love of movement and artistic expression to Studio West. Her training and performance experience have shaped a strong foundation in technique and musicality, along with an appreciation for the discipline and creativity dance encourages. Outside the studio, Liz enjoys choreographing, attending concerts and live musical and dance productions, and following the musicians, dancers, and choreographers who continue to inspire her.

Liz holds a master’s degree in education and has many years of experience teaching elementary school students. Her background informs her understanding of child development and age-appropriate instruction, as well as her commitment to a positive, nurturing learning environment. She combines her dance experience and teaching expertise to create engaging, supportive classes where young dancers can develop their technique, build confidence, and express themselves. Above all, Liz hopes to help each student discover the joy of dance.

Megan Jackson grew up in Olympia, Washington, and has been a dancer for 18 years, beginning her dance journey at SWDA when she was 5 years old. While Megan explored almost all styles of dance when she was younger, her focus has been in Hip Hop. Megan was a member of Studio West’s Hip Hop Performance Division group, EDGE, for seven years and has loved being a part of the SWDA and Beat Box communities.

After she graduated from Olympia High School in 2020, Megan attended Gonzaga University and was a member, and eventually a co-captain, of Gonzaga’s hip hop team, Bomb Squad. As a member of this team, Megan was able to perform at basketball games and events within the broader Spokane community. Megan is thrilled to be back in Olympia and returning to a studio that has truly shaped her as both a dancer and choreographer.

Queen Jamaikah is a dancer, choreographer and teacher from St. Louis, Missouri. She began performing at age two and trained in dance, choreography, acting and production at Grand Center Arts Academy. In 2017, she was one of five students to receive the St. Louis Dance Career Award. Her professional experience includes performing and choreographing with Ashleyliane Dance Company and Innervision Dance Theatre, teaching at Afrokuumba Dance Studio, and coaching and choreographing for a youth cheer team in South Korea.

Sarah began training in ballet and jazz at the age of 9 after her parents realized that her non-stop dancing around the house was more than a childhood phase. She loved taking classes and progressed quickly. During her junior high and high school years, she attended dance workshops, performed in recitals, and attended a summer intensive with Ballet Magnificat in Jackson, MS. Sarah’s first love is dance but she’s always enjoyed singing and acting as well. In sixth grade, she was cast in her first musical and has been involved with musical theater ever since! Sarah earned a communications and music degree with an emphasis in vocal performance from Multnomah University in Portland, OR. Over the years, she’s acted in many of her dream roles on stage including Mary Poppins in Mary Poppins, Belle in Beauty and the Beast, and most recently Fiona in Shrek: The Musical. Sarah has studied tap, thanks to her musical theater experience, and has also directed and choreographed multiple musical productions for youth. Some of her favorites include A Year with Frog and Toad and SpongeBob the Musical. As a dance instructor, she especially loves working with kids and helping them discover their own potential. For Sarah, teaching dance is about so much more than learning steps – it’s about helping each student find their voice, believe in themselves, and discover the magic of storytelling through dance.

Fun fact: Sarah is an avid swing dancer! She initially learned to Lindy Hop during college in Portland and has since trained in other vintage jazz dance styles such as Balboa, Charleston, Shag, Blues and East Coast Swing. She has taught many of these styles in the Portland, Olympia, and Tacoma swing dance communities, and loves performing, competing and social dancing throughout the US as well as internationally. She especially enjoys competing in mix-and-match competitions where she was awarded 2nd place in Seattle (2023) and Denver (2024). Sarah has no plans of giving up this fun dance hobby and always looks for an opportunity to Lindy Hop when traveling!

Alissa Hobby began her training at Evergreen Dance Center where she gained performance experience in numerous roles, culminating in the lead role in Alice of Wonderland. Alissa continued her dance education at the University of Washington, where she performed in the Faculty Dance Concert. While at UW, she took an Anatomy for Dance course that ignited her passion for teaching dance and movement. After graduating, Alissa moved frequently as a military spouse. She was given teaching, choreographic, and performance opportunities in both Texas and New Jersey. After later returning to Texas, Alissa gained extensive choreographic and leadership experience while teaching at Miss Annie’s Straight Up Dance, and the Del Rio Council for the Arts where she was the director for the ballet Cinderella in 2022, assistant director for Sleeping Beauty in 2021, and assisted and choreographed for Nutcracker productions from 2018-2022.

In addition to dance, Alissa is a Registered Yoga Instructor, and holds certifications in Personal Training, Group Fitness, and as a Health Coach. She also has teaching experience and training as a Barre and Pilates instructor and has developed cross-training programs for dancers. Alissa is excited to share her knowledge and passion for dance with students of all levels at Studio West.

Autumn George began training at Silverton Ballet and Performing Arts and continued her training at Oregon Ballet Theater, Northwest Academy, Pacific Northwest Ballet, North Carolina School of the Arts, and with David Parsons in New York City. She earned her Bachelors of Science in Dance at Western Oregon University with a minor in Business. As a Veteran and Army spouse, Autumn travelled around the U.S. teaching in Oregon, Arizona, Texas, Kentucky and Georgia before relocating to Washington.

Elizabeth Piper, PT, DPT, began her training at age 9 at Ballet Arts Olympia under the direction of Suzanne Ferko. It was there that she met Stephanie Wood-Ennett, who remained her instructor for many years. At age 15, Elizabeth began training on scholarship at The School of Oregon Ballet Theatre with school director, Damara Bennett, and company director, Christopher Stowell. During her years of training, Elizabeth attended summer programs with Pacific Northwest Ballet, Boston Ballet, Oregon Ballet Theatre and The Royal Winnipeg Ballet. Elizabeth joined City Ballet of San Diego in 2009 and completed her professional dance career with them in 2013 when she then decided to pursue a career in Physical Therapy.

During her dance education and career, she was honored to dance in such distinguished works as Balanchine’s Serenade, The Nutcracker, Valse Fantaisie, and Donizetti. She also performed in ballets such as Romeo and Juliet, Giselle, Carmen, Swan Lake, Firebird, Paquita and Lew Christensen’s Il Distratto. Elizabeth graduated from Saint Martin’s University, Summa Cum Laude, in May of 2017 with a B.S. in Biology, and from the University of Puget Sound with her Doctorate in Physical Therapy in 2021. She currently works with Providence Medical Group as a Physical Therapist both in outpatient Orthopedics and Pelvic Health. She enjoys sharing her skills gained as a professional dancer with our students and is excited to bring her skills as a Physical Therapist to SWDA.

Erin is a Seattle native who began her ballet training with Ms. Irene Larsson – formerly a dancer with New York City Ballet. Erin danced in many summer programs including Joffrey School of Ballet in New York City. She danced for one year with Redwood Concert Ballet in Eureka, California. Her teaching career began with Kay Englert at Washington Contemporary Ballet, where she served for fifteen years as ballet mistress, instructor and choreographer. Erin also taught ballet at Ballet Arts of Olympia with Suzie Ferko. Erin has been an instructor and choreographer at Studio West since the studio’s inception. She is married, has one son, three daughters, and three adorable grandchildren.

Hollie McGovern began her classical ballet journey at the age of four in Olympia, WA, under the guidance of Virginia Woods. She continued her training with Brigitte de Calle at the Ballet School of Olympia. Between 1990 and 1992, she started sharing her expertise by teaching pre-dance classes.

At the age of 11, Hollie’s talent was recognized by the Pacific Northwest Ballet School, where she was accepted as a full-time student. She further refined her skills at The University of Utah’s dance program, earning a B.S. degree.

From 2001 to 2006, Hollie served as the Artistic Director at Penn Valley Academy of Dance. She expanded her teaching repertoire by instructing ballet, lyrical, and jazz at Sierra Dance Institute, Bear River, and Nevada Union High Schools from 2008 to 2016.

In 2016, Hollie assumed the role of Artistic Director at Center Stage Dance Studio in Grass Valley, CA, a position she held until 2023. Her performance repertoire includes Paquita, Coppélia, Nutcracker, Balanchine’s Concerto Barocco, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Les Sylphides, Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, and La Bayadère.

In 2023, Hollie returned to Olympia and began teaching at Studio West Dance Academy. Driven by her passion for dance, she also started teaching at Western Washington Dance Center to engage with more students.

Hollie holds the prestigious Bolshoi Ballet Academy Teacher Certification and is an ABT®-certified teacher, having completed the ABT® National Training Curriculum. Her journey reflects her unwavering dedication to the art of dance and her commitment to sharing her knowledge with others.

Jayce Richardson began his dance journey in Texas where he was born and raised and a part of his high school dance team for three years. He began taking dance classes at Revels Performing Arts Center his senior year, where he had the chance to try a variety of different styles. Shortly after graduating from high school, Jayce moved to Washington to further pursue his love of dance. He began taking classes at both Studio West’s The Beat Box and Johansen Olympia Dance Center in 2021. He has performed on a variety of stages in Olympia as well as with Studio West at Arts Walk, Track City, and Spring Showcase. He has continued his dance education with studios in the Seattle/Tacoma area, such as Westlake Dance Center and Rhythmz.

Jayce has always been called to different styles of dance, like contemporary and jazz, but has found his passion and skill in the hip hop community. He has been a part of an adult performance group in Olympia since 2023, the same year he began teaching at The Beat Box. Over the past two years, Jayce has found his “happy spot” to be that of teaching young students in beginner levels how to further feel comfortable in their own movement styles and encouraging them to be authentically themselves.

Jerrilynn “Jeri” Globe first started her dance training at age 11 in ballet, lyrical, jazz, tap, musical theatre and tumbling. One year later, at the age of 12, she started competing and attending classes and conventions around the country where she received multiple awards for solos, duets, trios and corps work.

At age 13, Jeri began assisting in dance classes for children ages three through 16. After assisting for three years she started teaching her own classes as well as choreographing for competitions and dancing full-time. To her amazement, her students, with the supplement of her training and choreography, received multiple awards and achievements.

From this point on, Jeri decided that teaching was her calling and dove in head-first. At age 19 she was asked to be assistant director of her studio and went on to take over the business and make it her own, later adding a retail store – Dance Fashions Unlimited. She wore multiple hats; managing the business, making costumes, teaching and choreographing. Her business rose in success.

In an effort to slow down, Jeri decided to sell her studio and focus on dance instruction. Since 2010, her experience, values, and enthusiasm for dance have contributed to Studio West’s vision – we are pleased to have Jeri as an instructor and office staff member.

Born and raised in Olympia, Washington, Joslyn began dancing at age three and joined Studio West Dance Academy in 2008 as one of its very first students. Her passion for dance grew through her training in ballet, jazz, and hip hop. In 2012, she joined Studio West’s hip hop performance group, EDGE, performing at festivals throughout the Puget Sound and participating in Monsters of Hip Hop, the original all-hip-hop dance convention.

In 2017, Joslyn became captain of EDGE and joined Studio West’s Teacher-in-Training Program, beginning her journey as a dance educator. Known for her creativity, positive energy, and infectious enthusiasm, Joslyn loves inspiring young dancers and helping them build confidence through movement.

Joslyn is currently pursuing her Master of Teaching degree at The Evergreen State College, furthering her passion for education both in and out of the dance studio.

Madie was born and raised in Olympia, Washington. She started dancing at Studio West when she was younger, and the love of dance has stuck with her ever since! Madie enjoys teaching and dancing in all styles of dance because of the storytelling each genre exhibits.

Madie danced on the Capital High School dance team, which won state in 2019. She competed with the Westside Select Allstar team and placed third in the nation in the Pom category at the Varsity All-American Championships. In 2018 and 2019, Madie was named Inside Dance Magazine All-American Dancer of the Year and was also nominated as the Thurston County Girls Sports Star of the Year in 2019.

Madie then went on to dance at the University of Washington on their Spirit Squad, dancing multiple styles from the sideline to the UDA nationals’ stage. She now owns her own choreography business to keep her love for the dance team and unity alive post-graduation from the University of Washington. She is excited to bring her unique vibe to Studio West and can’t wait to meet all of her SWDA students!

Ms. Marianna started her Ballet training at the age of five at Keyla Ermecheo’s Ballet School in Caracas, Venezuela; where she graduated as a classical Ballet Dancer. She joined Metropolitan Ballet of Caracas under the artistic direction of Keyla Ermecheo. During that time she performed many classical and neo-classical repertoire including: Giselle act II, Sleeping Beauty, Le Corsaire (pas de deux), Bayaderka Trio, Nutcracker, Apollo (Balanchine), Paquita, and was able to be a part of the World Festival and perform at Pace University in New York. Four years later she joined National Ballet Caracas under the artistic direction of Vicente Nebreda where she toured to other countries and all around the United States performing predominantly Nebreda’s and Balanchine’s work. After guest performing in Tulsa Ballet’s Nutcracker and Romeo and Juliet, she joined Ballet Memphis in August, 2001 under the artistic direction of Dorothy Gunther Pugh. With the company, she was able to perform in numerous ballets by renowned choreographer’s such as Trey McIntyre, Mark Godden (Carmina Burana), Lila York, George Balanchine, Garret Ammon, Julia Adams and Joseph Jeffries. She trained under: Carmen Estela Fernández, Nela Lanz, Johana Fernández, Rafael Portillo, Irina Ivanova, Marina del Elmo, Vladimir Issaev, Vladimir lopoukhov, Eric Volodin, Maya Samokhalova, Ruta Butviliene, Rumen Rachev, Rubén Echeverría and Keyla Ermecheo. Ms. Marianna has taken the mat and reformer courses in Stott Pilates under the direction of Tamara Hoffmann and dedicates full time to teaching the art of Ballet.

Monica Sieling began her early years of dance training at Ballet Arts Olympia. At the age of 10 she transferred to Studio West Dance Academy and began pursuing all styles of dance including ballet, jazz, hip hop and contemporary. Performing in Studio West Dance Theatre productions and participating in Performance Division pieces has brought her great joy and has been an integral part of Ms. Sieling’s dance education. Her favorite roles include: Chinese in Nutcracker, the Cook in Alice in Wonderland, the Jester in Cinderella and Michael in Peter Pan. Ms. Monica is also one of the original members of Studio West’s Hip Hop dance crew, EDGE. EDGE has danced in numerous Hip Hop shows and workshops throughout the area including, Krunk, No Flex Zone and Monsters of Hip Hop. Ms. Monica has a patient, yet exuberant style when instructing young children. She began as a teacher’s assistant in 2012 and displayed such natural abilities when working with dancers, that in 2014 was offered her own class. Since then her talent and instruction skills have earned her additional teaching positions. "Having the chance to work with young dancers gives me a new perspective and love for this art form [dance] that I never experienced before. Watching my students connect with themselves and others through dance, and then leave class with a smile on their face is what inspires me as a dance instructor." -Monica Sieling

Destiny began dancing at the age of 11 at Studio West Dance Academy. During her very first class she fell in love with dance. Destiny danced at Studio West’s Beat Box for a few years, performing on both Beat Box Jrs. and Vibes Kru. She then continued her dance journey at Freedom Dance Center, competing all over the Puget Sound, as well as participating in, and competing at the Monsters hip hop convention.

She is now able to share her joy and love of dance by teaching Beginning and Intermediate Hip Hop as well as choreographing for Track City.