Come Dance with us!
Scottsdale's Best Dance Education
7609 E. Pinnacle Peak Rd. Suite C18 Scottsdale, AZ 85255
480-284-6440
Class Schedule
Call 480-284-6440 with any questions regarding registration, class schedule, or class availability. Our new schedule for the 25/26 dance season is LIVE! We are also currently placing new students who want to try out for our Company Dance groups. Call to set up an evaluation.
Programs of Study
Creative Movement Program
The Creative Movement Program introduces children to the art of danceby promoting the exploration of creativity and expression through movement. We offer:
MOM/TOT: AGES 18-36 MONTHS
CREATIVE MOVEMENT, AGES 3-5
Recreational (5-18yrs)
DCDA Recreational program follows a carefully designed curriculum with levels of study. Formal training begins at the Youth Level where the foundation of classical technique is delivered to beginning and intermediate classes in Jazz, Ballet, Tap, Hip-Hop, Drama, POM, and Tumbling/Acro.
Company Program (6-18YRS)
Company Program (6-18YRS)
Our Performance Company groups follow a rigorous, pre-professional curriculum that is level based and technically trains dancers in ballet, jazz, tap, and theater arts. Our company groups are divided by level and ability and include Mini Company, Apprentice Company, Junior Company, and Elite Company. These groups train multiple days a week and are for dedicated and focused students wanting to train in a professional environment.
*Evaluation and Invite Only
Faculty
Christie Wieger - Owner/Instructor
Ms. Christie has been dancing for 34 years and was classically trained in Jazz, Ballet, Tap and Musical Theatre. She was Captain of Phoenix Country Day School POM Team and danced for Westmont College’s Hip Hop Crew, NSTEP. She has danced professionally in numerous stage shows such as Seussical the Musical, Alice in Wonderland, and for many corporate and gala events. She has instructed kids through adults and opened DC Dance AZ 10 years ago in order to bring back quality dance training to Arizona, like she experienced when growing up. Her dream is to inspire students of all ages to love the classical art of dance. Christie is the mother of two and has a BS from Westmont College.
Trisha Folk - Artistic Director
Ms. Trisha is a native Phoenician with a strong family legacy in the arts community with over 30 years of teaching experience in performing and visual arts programs. Ms. Trisha was classically trained in ballet, tap, and jazz. She has performed professionally in TV commercials, toured nationally in musicals, industrials, and concerts, danced ballet for Ballet West and Houston Ballet and was an NFL Cheerleader/Captain. She is a certified member of the Royal Academy of Dance, Progressing Ballet Technique, National Dance Education Organization, American Alliance for Theatre and Education, National Art Education Association and Screen Actors Guild. She has choreographed, produced, and directed for major entertainment companies such as Disney, Twentieth Century Fox, NBC, Atlanta Olympics, NFL, NBA, Universal, Lion King Productions, Warner Bros., Charlie Daniels, and ZZ Top, to name a few. Former students have gone on to work with the Rockettes, Alvin Ailey, Cirque Du Soleil, Disney, Nickelodeon, Paul Taylor, Broadway, San Francisco Ballet, Houston Ballet, Ballet AZ, Dancing with the Stars, World of Dance, NFL cheerleaders, NBA dance teams, ABC, Royal Academy, Theme Parks, Cruise Lines, and Las Vegas. Trisha has written and currently writes dance, acting, and visual arts curriculums for national teaching programs and several professional ballet companies. Trisha’s artistic direction, expertise, experience, exceptional master teaching, and commitment to training dancers and performers are unsurpassed in the valley. As an advocate for families affected by autism, she has been the Arizona recipient of the Star Award and Champion Award for bringing awareness through the arts. Ms. Trisha is also the recipient of an AriZoni award. She attended the University of Arizona for General Fine Arts and is the mother of 15-year-old twins Anna and Bradley. This is Ms. Trisha’s tenth year as artistic director, company director, and teacher at DCDA.
Amber Olson - Studio Director
Ms. Amber Olson is the Studio Director of DC Dance AZ. Amber became a part of DCDA through her daughter starting dance at the studio over 8 years ago. Her involvement grew when she assisted the studio in its moving locations and expansion during the Covid 19 shut down. Amber passionately supports the studio and all it does through marketing, hiring, organization, event planning, business planning, communication and management. Ms. Amber studied theater and political science at Wesleyan University and The University of Nebraska. She loves sharing her passion for Theater Arts with our students and seeing them gain confidence in speaking, acting, and performing on stage. Her ultimate goal is to make DCDA a warm, welcoming, family-type environment for all dancers who enter the studio doors, to have it be their home away from home as they learn technical dance skills, grow in physical and personal strength and gain confidence through performing.
Amber is the mother of 3. She enjoys traveling, concerts, theater, being with friends and family and her golden-doodle Posy.
Maggie McClain- Pom Coach
Maggie’s background in dance consists of 15 years of competitive dance, and 4 years on her high school pom team. She trained in ballet, tap, hip hop, jazz, contemporary, and modern. Maggie currently coaches for Mountain Ridge’s Game Day team and recently finished coaching for a junior all-star dance/pom team where her teams competed at top level competitions. She is so passionate about teaching and supporting these dancers. She is so excited to be teaching at DC Dance AZ.
Katie Rafferty- Creative Movement Instructor
Ms. Katie Rafferty will be teaching our tiniest dancers in our Creative Movement and Mommy and Me classes. Ms. Katie is a mom of four and started at DCDA with her girls in the Mommy and Me classes years ago! Ms. Katie danced from a young age through high school and college. She loves working with children and previously worked in speech therapy with early childhood and elementary students. She is also a Pilates enthusiast and certified in mat Pilates. Ms. Katie loves dance and looks forward to sharing the fun of dance with all her students!
Megan Linch- Creative Movement Instructor
Ms. Megan Linch started dancing at the young age of 3. Immediately she knew she loved being on stage and performing! She started training in tap and jazz, then added ballet as well as many cultural dances. She has also trained in theater, stage production and choreography. While performing, Megan discovered that she also have a love for teaching! Megan has a degree of Science in Education from Northern Arizona University. She has been teaching elementary school for 10 years, and was named “Teacher of the Year” by Cave Creek Unified in 2021! She brings her knowledge of child development to the dance studio and teaches creative movement, as well as beginning ballet and tap! Megan still loves to perform, as well as spend time with her family and friends!
Maddie Anyaji - Instructor
Maddie is originally from San Diego, California where she began dancing at the age of 3. She started training in various styles of dance under award winning choreographers and notable SoCal instructors such as Erika Leedy, Lynnrae Hiers Serra, Amanda Kerby, and Kevin Frey. By age 15, she had signed with Go2Talent Agency and most recently performed in the SuperBowl 57 halftime show. Maddie attended college at Arizona State University where she had the opportunity to be part of the nationally ranked ASU Dance Team. Along with performing at football and basketball games, she was selected to the competition team and is a two time national champion. In her time on the ASU dance team, she choreographed numerous halftimes, timeout routines, and their gameday competition routine alongside her co-captain. She is currently in her first year as the JV coach and Varsity Assistant with the Pinnacle High School Pom team, where she will be taking JV to nationals for the first time in program history. Maddie is excited to bring her knowledge and passion for dance to students across the valley!
Dannis Shepherd- Instructor
Best of Scottsdale
Exciting News!
We are bursting with pride to share that we have been voted “Best Dance School“ by Best of Scottsdale for the past 5 years 2020-2025! We are so proud of our staff, students, programs and the families that make up our studio! Come dance with us and be a part of something spectacular!