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Best of Scottsdale
Exciting News!
We are bursting with pride to share the news we have been voted “Best Dance School“ by Best of Scottsdale for the 2nd year in a row! 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!
Class Schedule
Call 480-284-6440 with any questions regarding registration, class schedule, or class availability.Our new schedule for the 23/24 dance season will be live soon! 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
Creative Movement Program
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)
Creative Movement Program
Creative Movement Program
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)
Creative Movement Program
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 8 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 ninth year as artistic director, company director, and teacher at DCDA.
Amber Olson - Studio Director/ Drama Instructor
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. Amber also teaches the company students drama class. She took her first theater class as a young child and instantly fell in love with the stage. She has performed in countless productions at universities, playwright festivals and community theaters as well as instructed years of children’s theatre classes. 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, Annabelle who is 13 and 8 year old twins Sam & Henry. She enjoys traveling, concerts, theater, being with friends and family and her golden-doodle Posy.
Sydney Hinze - Hip-Hop, Recreational, and Company Instructor
Ms. Sydney Hinze was born and raised in Scottsbluff, Nebraska and has been dancing since she was 4 years old. She trained at Tabor Dance Academy in ballet, jazz, tap, hip hop, pointe, and contemporary. Sydney danced competitively for several years, and attended workshops and intensives all over the country.
Sydney is currently attending ASU pursuing a major in marketing and minor in fashion. She also really enjoys yoga and hopes to go through yoga teacher training at some point. Sydney loves exploring Arizona by trying new restaurants and going on hikes. She is thankful to be starting her second year dancing and teaching at DC Dance AZ.
Lori Lee- Yoga and Flexibility Instructor
Ms. Lori Lee teaches Adult Yoga on Friday mornings at 9:30. She also teaches flexibility/stretching to our company dancers. Lori is a yoga enthusiast, whole food/cooking enthusiast, painter, music lover, and mother of two. Lori began her yoga journey when she decided to get her teacher certification at At One Yoga in 2007, learning the craft under well known instructors John Salisbury, Jenn Chiarelli, Alex Austin, and future co-founders of Spiritual Gangster, Vanessa Lee and Ian Lopatin. Lori’s yoga practice focuses upon flow, asanas and breath that help to improve flexibility, strength, balance, and allowing the spirit to shine. Lori has taught adult classes, children, private lessons, and charity events where she loves to share her passion for yoga, being at one with her class, with love, kindness and gratitude.
Using her BFA in Painting and BA in Psychology, Lori loves volunteering at her children’s school in the art masterpiece program, and giving back to the community volunteering with her daughter for the National Charity League. Lori is inspired every day by her two children, Sophie & Bailen, husband, family and friends where her goal is to spread kindness and love.
“Be the Change You Wish to See in the World” Mahatma Gandhi
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!
Alma Schnell - flamenco instructor
Alma Schnell's background hails 30 years of experience as a director, choreographer, professional dancer, and flamenco, tap, and Mexican folk dance teacher. Alma studied flamenco and Mexican folk dance in Guadalajara, Mexico. By the age of 16, she was professionally dancing with Jose Luis Esparza in Guadalajara, Mexico. Her extensive study of various dance forms with renowned flamenco dancers: Jose Luis Esparza, Luis Triana, Ketty Clavijo, Mario Maya, Dini Roman, Lydia Torea, and renowned tap dancers: Glenda Folk, Charles Goddertz, led her to become the director of Alma Performing Arts, a multicultural dance studio in Scottsdale, Arizona.
In addition to her extensive dance background, Alma has worked with numerous corporate cultural diversity groups in the valley, such as America West Airlines, Society of Hispanic Engineers, Boeing, Best Western, Motorola, Free Scale, Paradise Valley Community College, Scottsdale Community College, etc., for many years. Through her dance company, Alma always gave back to the community through community service with organizations like Friends of the Orphans, De Colores, Brazo Abiertos, and American Cancer Society. She understands culture is an important part of people's identity and worked with the City of Phoenix to develop a program that helped Hispanic children be proud of their heritage through her passion of the arts.
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!
Dara Bowman - Creative Movement Instructor
Ms. Dara Bowman will be joining the DCDA staff this season teaching Creative Movement on Tuesday at 3:30. Dara has been a dancer/teacher for a combined 20+ years. She studied classical ballet with an ex-principal dancer from New York City for 10 years, and after expanded her repertoire to many different styles during and after college. Before her relocation to Scottsdale, she ran her own dance program in Cripple Creek, Colorado. Dara is very excited to be a part of the DC Dance AZ team and inspire more young dancers in Creative Movement on Tuesday afternoon.