MARIA VACCARO (STUDIO OWNER/DANCE DIRECTOR)

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MISTY FRISBEY

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LINDA WILSON began to dance with Virginia Tanner at the age of 3. She continued to study all sorts of dance throughout the Salt Lake Valley from many other very notable teachers. She moved to El Paso,Texas where she luckily found her place with the very wonderful Ingeborg Heuser and the UTEP Civic Ballet. She spent all of her high school years focusing on ballet technique and performance. Miss Heuser warned her she would want to teach someday. She returned to SLC to join Ballet West under the direction of Willam Christiansen and later under Bruce Marks. After rising to the rank of soloist she decided to head east. She went on a short stop-over to Minneapolis (mid-west) where she remained until she retired from the stage. There she was a principle dancer with Loyce Houlton’s The Minnesota Dance Theatre and Myron Johnson’s Ballet of the Dolls. Thanks to her husband Deward for pushing her to the dance scene in St. George, Utah. 

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NAMAAD JACKSON is a performer, choreographer, and educator and mentor whose background, training, passion and its underlying culture extends over 15 years. In 2008, Jackson found Kaution Dance Kru which is also known as "KDK" and serves as it Chief Executive Director. KDK is an equal opportunity professional dance company that provides guidance, education and training to inspire other energetic dancers. Since starting Kaution Jackson was able to branch and start a youth division of the company in 2012 called Khaotic Dane Kru which ranges from the ages 12-18 years old. In 2014, under Jackson's direction and leadership he branch KDK to Las Vegas to open his very own dance studio called Studio KDK with starting Kaution and Khaotic Dance Kru Las Vegas. KDKLV actively performs around the Las Vegas metropolitan area.  Jackson's work has been showcased in various cities and states such as New York, Las Vegas, New Jersey, California, Canada, Boston, Houston, Utah, and several venues, including World of Dance, Prelude, DC's Cherry Blossom Festival, Prelude, National Dance Day, Intersection Festival, CSN, Cashman Center, and more.

During his time in Washington D.C., Namaad serves as a faculty member at Joy of Motion Dance Center, where he was able to showcase his creative work as well as teach and inspire students in the art of hip hop dance. He has performed, choreographed and directed many dance companies, Including DCypher dance was Joy of Motion's resident company, Split Soulz, D.A.P.A.C., Culture Shock DC (CSDC), Making Move Dance Collective, and Studio 9. While Dancing and performing with Kaution Dance Kru, Jackson also performed with Team We Gon MakeIt serving as its first Director of Operations. After moving to Vegas Namaad has than performed and directed other groups along with directing his own. He has performed and directed other companies such as Culture Shock Las Vegas Where he serves as the Director  for the world renowned Culture Shock as well as being the Artistic Director of Future Shock and Mighty Shock Las Vegas.

Prior to moving to Saint George Namaad served as the first Creative Director for Millennium Dance Complex Las Vegas Company and Crew program. Where he lead an elite industry training program for young adults. Recently Namaad had audition for Cirque Du Soleil which is one of the largest production companies in the world. Namaad See's dance as positive force and a medium to tell stories, discuss issue and inspire others. He is very proud of his accomplishments and is very passionate about his life as a professional career as a dancer, choreographer, and educator. He encourages others to recognize their passion and always follow their hearts and dreams.  

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DONI JONES grew up in St. George Utah, at the age of 8,  she entered an after school tumbling program at Santa Clara Elementary; taught by Don & Gonnie Buell (Green Valley Gymnastics.) She was hooked, immediately. She developed a love for acrosports and loved the positive: (You can accomplish anything you work for) atmosphere; that the Green Valley Gymnastics program and their coaches embodied. 
Doni traveled the entire country, competing at the National and Pre-Olympic level in the sport of power tumbling and trampoline; until the year 2000. She was an Elite trampolinist (trampoline was her jam). Today she just loves to teach others some of the things she's learned,  and loves to be around anyone and everyone; who is  interested in the sport. Doni loves teaching at Dixie Arts Conservatory, because of the continuous, positive vibes and the very best students in the world!

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JAMIE TYLER is from St. George, UT. I have been married 7 years have 4 kids who keep me busy and 2 adorable grandkids. 
I am a trained and certified yoga instructor. I’m trained to specialize in Hatha yoga as well as kids yoga! I love teaching kids yoga in a loving fun environment.

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JAIDYN HARRIS grew up in Pocatello Idaho and started dancing at the age of three then starting teaching at the age of twelve. She recently moved to St. George to study at Dixie State University as a dance major. She has been competing and choreographing for national competitions for years, winning  overall awards for technique, choreography and performance. Jaidyn’s also been performing in musicals,  productions, and  plays since the age of six, receiving roles such as Annie in Annie, Elvira in Blithe Spirit, Clara and Sugar Plum Fairy in the Nutcracker as well as many more. She has such a strong passion for teaching and enjoys passing on her love for singing, dancing and acting. 

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ANDREW MAYNARD is from San Bernardino California. He first learned to dance hip hop in high school when we was the mascot. He moved to St George Utah in 2013 to study at Dixie State University. In 2016 his first ballroom dance he learned was the collegiate shag. He caught on with ballroom really quickly and soon started teaching. He instantly fell in love with ballroom dance and became a dance major. Soon he earned a scholarship to dance on DSU dance company, and is also on the DSU ballroom team. Andrew loves teaching ballroom; especially with youth. Every moment on the dance floor is a moment of feeling
free and uplifting.

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BRIANNA ROSIA 

After moving from Southern California, Brianna grew up in St. George, UT, and began performing 15 years ago. Since then, she has been involved in over 60 productions with  Dixie Arts Conservatory, St. George Musical Theater, The Stage Door, Dixie State University, Tuacahn, Pine View High School, and Center Stage. While she loves nothing more than performing, she has also played the roles of stage manager, costume designer, light/sound designer, choreographer, to director and everything in-between.

 

Her love for all aspects of the theater began with St. George Musical Theater. Season after season, SGMT stole her heart as she worked on almost every production both on and offstage. 

 

As a sophomore in high school, Brianna was offered an internship to work with Dixie State University's, "Comedy Storm." Each summer, she could be found acting in one show, and stage managing another simultaneously. She did this each year until she became an official Theatre Major at DSU. 

 

In 2009, Brianna started as the Musical Theater Program Director for Dixie Arts Conservatory. For almost six years, she absolutely loved directing full length children's musicals, offering workshops, holding summer camps, and teaching the, 'All Abilities - Musical Theater" class. 

 

In the summer of 2013, Brianna took the opportunity to travel to Edinburgh, Scotland, where she performed in the greek tragedy, Trojan Women. 

 

From 2013-2016 Brianna was hired on as the first director/choreographer for the City of St. George performing group "The Leisure EEEE's." These college-aged performers would perform throughout the city at various events, while hosting weekly shows in Downtown St. George throughout the summer to encourage children of all ages to "get up and dance!" 

 

She is currently serving on the Artistic Board at the Stage Door, and recently appeared onstage during their production of Young Frankenstein. 

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TINA HICKS 

Tina is excited for the opportunity to join the DAC Studio in 2019! She will be teaching "Fitness Fun" to Teens.  Her mission as a dance instructor and wellness coach is to provide a creative learning environment that is both ENERGETIC and UPLIFTING.

 

She has trained over the years in many dance disciplines and loves the art of movement.  She also has a passion for wellness and fitness.  In 2019 she has combined her two passions and announced that she will now be teaching dancercise.  

 

As a wellness coach, her love for the fitness industry started at a young age.  At just 10 years old, she was asking her mom for a weight set and eating healthy snacks because she LOVED it!  Working out put a smile on her face!  Looking back, she said her  two favorite workout videos were "Sweatin' to the Oldies" and the "Buns of Steel" series.  

 

When it comes to dancing, she has really enjoyed learning and teaching jazz and lyrical.  Tina participated on dance and cheer teams from grade school on up to high school.  The most incredible experience for Tina was finding out she made Varsity Cheerleader at Hunter High School although she was only a sophomore.  This had never happened before in history of the school up to this point.  Then later in her senior year, she was named captain where she started a legacy of the team competing nationally.  Years later, Tina found out that the cheer squad had taken 1st place at Nationals for their Division!

 

Her first teaching experience started at 15 years old.  She and her best friend, Natalie were members of the National Jr. Honor Society and what started out as their community service project ended up becoming a studio.  Tina & Natalie's Dance!  The parents got together a year after they started the studio and insisted they paid the young ladies for their time.  Tina and Natalie decided they could pay them $5/month.  It's now been 20+ years since and Tina still teaches.  Tina went on to teach for the studio that she grew up and taught there for a decade.  Then went on to work for fitness gyms and other dance studios.  

 

Dance is her LIFE!

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KRISTYN SMITH is a graduate from Southern Utah University where she received her Bachelor of Science in physical education and human performance. She was a cheerleader for SUU for 3 years. She was also the cheer coach for Parown and Hurricane High School. She is married to a wonderful husband and they have two girls that keep them busy. I am so excited to be a part of the DAC team..

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