Hi! I’m Lay, a dance educator, choreographer, and performing arts director with experience teaching students of all ages. I create positive, engaging classes that build technique, confidence, and creativity. My goal is to help every dancer grow, discover their unique voice, and develop a lifelong love of movement.

I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Performance and Movement with a concentration in Theatre and Dance. Throughout my education and career, I have continued to expand my knowledge through teaching, choreography, performance opportunities, and specialized dance training. One of the most meaningful experiences in my artistic development was training in Grenada, where I studied traditional West African dance, gaining a deeper appreciation for the cultural roots of movement and storytelling through dance.

In addition to teaching, I have served as the Dance Director for Athiala Inc., a nonprofit performing arts program, for the past 10 years. In this role, I have developed curriculum, mentored young artists, directed performances, and helped students discover confidence and purpose through the performing arts. I am also an award-winning choreographer, having received recognition through the Assemblies of God Fine Arts Festival and the Canyon Athletic Association.

While I teach a variety of dance styles, including hip-hop, jazz, contemporary, musical theatre, and movement fundamentals, my greatest passion is creative practice and movement exploration. I love helping dancers discover their unique artistic voice through improvisation, freestyle techniques, and guided movement exercises. I believe dance is not only about mastering steps but also about developing self-awareness, confidence, creativity, and authentic self-expression.

My teaching approach combines strong technical foundations with a supportive and encouraging environment where students feel safe to take risks, explore movement, and grow. I tailor lessons to each student’s goals, learning style, and experience level. Whether a student is focused on technique, performance, choreography, creative expression, or building confidence through movement, I strive to provide meaningful instruction that supports both artistic and personal growth.

Students can expect to improve their technique, musicality, coordination, performance quality, and movement vocabulary while also developing confidence, discipline, creativity, and a deeper understanding of themselves as artists. My goal is for every student to leave class feeling challenged, inspired, and empowered to continue growing both inside and outside the dance space.