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Our Faculty and Staff

Hillary Howard
Owner/Director
Hillary was born and raised in Lindon, Utah where she has been dancing since the age of 3. Her main focus while young was on ballet, taking from Utah Regional ballet for several years before switching to a more competitive studio and expanding to all genres of dance. Here she competed nationally in New York, Florida, Las Vegas, California and many other places throughout junior high and high school. She then attended Utah State University in Logan, UT where she danced on the contemporary company, Full Circle, and later became the assistant director. While there she also danced on and choreographed for the ambassadors of the LDS institute, and had many fun performing opportunities through out the state.
After college she continued to teach in ballet, jazz, tap, contemporary, and tumbling at multiple studios through out Utah. In 2013 she started her own studio previously called Born 2 Dance, which is now the Ultimate Dance Experience. She has been teaching for over 15 years and loves being a part of building technique, confidence, and self-discipline in young dancers.
Hillary also has a background in early childhood education and and several years experience running commercial day cares and teaching preschool. She believes that everyone who walks through the door is important and valued.
Because of this, she strives to make her studio a place where students not only improve their talents but also develop a great self esteem, a love for their body and motion, and become well-rounded, great people.

Rose Walker
Jazz/Hip Hop Instructor
Rose Walker is originally from Orem, Utah. Her love for dance started from the first day she could walk, from dancing in her bedroom to putting on big performances for her family in the living room. At the age of 3 she was finally old enough to be enrolled in classes. There she trained and competed for 15 years in Ballet, Jazz, Hip-Hop, Tap, Contemporary, lyrical and more.
Dancing and Traveling have always been the 2 biggest dreams for Rose. She thought, what would be better than to be able to do both at the same time? Once Rose graduated, she pushed forward and went on to dance for Carnival Cruise lines for 3 years. Just like that she was dancing for thousands of people and traveling all over the world.
After her years with Carnival Cruise Lines her eyes opened, she wanted to explore even more. She went on to live and work as a dance teacher in different countries including South Africa and Italy. She was able to learn to speak fluent Italian and grow as a teacher in other dance cultures. She was so inspired that she then decided to move to Los Angeles. There she was able to perform and train with major dance choreographers and dancers in other dance styles including heels, Jazz Funk and Hip-Hop.
Rose is a well-rounded and dedicated dancer, choreographer and instructor eager to share her love and knowledge with others through teaching. Her #1 goal is creating a safe and loving environment for others to learn and grow!

Shaylee Hurst
Ballet/Jazz Instructor
Shaylee is so excited to join the Ultimate Dance  family! Her mom has joked that she was born with pointed toes and they’ve been that way ever since! She has a 25 year foundation of dance with an emphasis in classical ballet. Shaylee has been teaching ballet for about 10 years throughout raising her family.  Along with her love of ballet, she has found joy and passion in many other forms of movement such as trail running, marathons, yoga, cycling, and weight lifting. She loves to spend time with her husband and 5 young children. Shaylee is looking forward to getting to know all of the Ultimate Dance dancers, and sharing the beauty of ballet with each of you.

McKenzie Carpenter
Ballet/Jazz Instructor
McKenzie is from Saratoga Springs, Utah. McKenzie started dancing at the age of 3. She is trained in jazz, ballet, lyrical, contemporary, and hip hop. She started her training at Dance Makers in Cedar Hills, directed by Wendi Isaacson. She then continued her training here at Ultimate Dance. She was a part of Westlake High School Dance Company, where she got the opportunity to be President her senior year. While on Westlake Dance Company she had the opportunity to travel to New York and LA where she got to work with many amazing teachers and choreographers. McKenzie was also awarded Most Outstanding Dancer at the Utah High School Dance Festival in 2017. She is now attending Utah Valley University and majoring in Elementary Education. McKenzie loves teaching and sharing her passion for dance with the dancers at Ultimate Dance.

Nolan Richter
Jazz/Acro/Contemporary Instructor
Hi! My name is Nolan Richter and I am 22 years old. I began dancing informally through my after school program at my elementary school and I have been in love with it ever since! I began dancing at Colette's Dancing School, now known as Gravity Dance Center, training in ballet, modern, tumbling/acro, jazz technique, and hip hop. When I was 16 I moved studios and trained at Synergy Dance Academy where I deepened my knowledge and understanding of ballet, technique, and began training in tap. I was on dance company all four years of high school at Cottonwood High, and I served as the team's president my senior year. I was also selected as our school's sterling scholar for dance where I made it to state semi-finals and was later awarded a dance scholarship at the University of Utah. I attended the U of U studying in Psychology and Dance, and was in the modern dance program from 2017-2019. I recently graduated from the University of Utah with a Bachelor Degree in Psychology with an emphasis on eating disorders, and a minor in modern dance. Currently I spend my time as the assistant coach for Cottonwood High Dance Company, training on Underground Crew, and helping with various drill teams across the state.

Allison Madigan
Tumbling/Ballet/Jazz Instructor
Allie started taking gymnastics at a young age and loved it from the start. At age 11, an injury took her off the mats but it was never far from her thoughts. Her heart has always been on gymnastics and, at the age of 15, she was able to return to the mats; but this time as a teacher. Lehi Legacy Center saw something special in Allie and she quickly exceeded their expectations. Since starting she has progressed to a level 7 teacher and is currently the floor coach for the competitive gymnastic team. With close to 7 years of teaching, her love and passion for gymnastics is evident in the expertise she brings to each and every class. After gymnastics, Allie trains in classical ballet at UVU where she has grown another love for teaching dance as well! Allie has now taught not only Gymnastics but also Dance for several years and loves being a part of it all!

Misty Anderson
Competition Director/Instructor
Misty Anderson was born and raised in Kearns Utah where she participated on the Kearns High school Drill Team and Dance Company. After Graduating Misty received a dance scholarship to Snow College for dance and participated in the Dance Major/minor program. Misty was also a 2 year member of the Snow College Badgerettes where she served as Vice President. While at Snow College Misty met the love of her life and was Married to Rich Anderson in January 1999. After graduating Snow College Misty further pursued her schooling at Southern Utah University where she was a member of the SUU Wakyeenans Drill Team and also participated in the Dance Major/Minor Dance Program.
In 2000 Rich and Misty moved to Las Vegas Nevada where Misty taught at Bunker Dancer Center. Misty then moved to Pocatello Idaho where she started up a local recreational Dance and Tumbling Program before moving back to Utah to do the same thing. In 2002 Rich and Misty built a home in Saratoga Springs , Utah and fulfilled her Dream of Opening up a Dance Studio. Misty owned and directed Ultimate Dance for 16 years.
Misty has won multiple Director of the year, Best overall Studio, and Best choreography awards. Under her direction Ultimate Dance won multiple sweepstakes, overall High point, best Technique and showmanship awards. They performed at many places around Utah including stadium of fire and has performed at Disneyland multiple times.
Misty sold Ultimate Dance in 2018 to focus on her passions which are teaching, Choreography, Competition, judging, traveling and of course her husband, two sons, and little princess daughter. When she is not at the studio you can find her choreographing for different school Musicals, or watching her kids play sports!

Michelle Smith
Ballet/Jazz Instructor
Michelle has been teaching dance for 21 years. Her focus in teaching has been on proper technique, body alignment, and balancing strength and flexibility for injury prevention. Michelle has been teaching at Ultimate Dance since 2007. She enjoys seeing her students grow as they learn dance and life skills.
Michelle started dancing at the age of 3. She has been trained in classical ballet (16 years), jazz dance (18 years), pointe (11 years), contemporary (10 years), lyrical (18 years), Tap (12 years), Irish hard toe (4 years), ballroom (2 years), and modern dance (13 years). She was a founding member of the Wasatch Youth Ballet Company where she had the opportunity to dance at Carnegie Hall in New York City. She also had the chance to dance with the Utah Opera in two annual productions. Michelle has had the privilege of taking master classes with world class and professional dancers and teachers around the country.
In college Michelle studied dance performance and dance education. She was awarded the Presidential Dance Scholarship at Utah State Eastern. She was a member of the Ballet Repertory Ensemble at Utah State Eastern and Orchesis Dance Theatre at Weber State University. She was able to perform many classical dance pieces from George Balancine, Twyla Tharp, Bob Fosse, Agnes de Mille, Jerome Robbins, and more. Michelle has been teaching at Ultimate Dance for over 11 years!

Kendra Rangel
Instructor
Kendra Rangel found her love and passion for dancing at the age of 3 and has continued this passion throughout her life. Kendra has had intensive training in ballet and jazz as well as tap, modern, and contemporary. She has also participated in hip hop, country swing dance, and other social dance classes. Kendra began her intensive study of dance at Life House Performing Arts Academy where she trained for 14 years eventually becoming the President of her Ballet and Jazz companies.
Kendra also joined her high school dance company where she was voted captain. She was able to lead a company and have many choreographic opportunities while serving in this capacity. She grew in her technical and artistic abilities as she continued her career in dance at Utah Valley University. Kendra is actively perusing a Dance Degree with an Emphasis in Ballet. She has also had the opportunity to perform on the Universities Pre-Professional Ballet Company, Repertory Ballet Ensemble and is planning on continuing her membership with this company throughout her years at UVU. Kendra loves teaching and is excited to continue passing on her passion of dance to her students.

Mandi Johnson
Instructor
Mandi devoted 23 years to dancing on competitive formation teams and loved every minute! She trained in many genres of dance since age 3 and especially loved clogging and later, ballroom. She danced with the Art City Ballet, Osmond Family Productions for stage and TV and loved being on her high school dance companies. She was a choreographer for the Miss Draper and Miss Sandy Scholarship pageants and received a dance scholarship to BYU. There she performed with Contemporary Dance Theater and Ballroom Touring Team representing the United States while traveling to the British Isles, South Africa, China, Russia and won multiple United States titles.
She now enjoys busting a move in her kitchen to the delight or embarrassment of her 5 kids and has enjoyed watching her teammates be the professionals on ‘Dancing with the Stars’ and her coach choreograph for ‘High School Musical’ and the Olympics opening ceremonies in Salt Lake and Greece.
While you will mostly see her in the office she loves to work with solos/duos/trios to clean routines and get them super polished and performance perfect!

Abigail Anderson
Instructor
Dance has always been something I love to do. I have been dancing since I was 3 years old and have been teaching since I was 15. My training includes contemporary, lyrical, jazz, hip hop, and ballet/Pointe, and tumbling. I had the amazing opportunity to dance for the dance company at Lehi high school and was a choreographer there for 2 years. It taught me a lot about how to teach, be precessional, and to be creative when it comes to my work. I am currently going to school at Taylor Andrews hair academy, but had 2 years of college at Utah Valley University where I took dance classes. When it comes to dance and my class, I love and try to strive to create an environment where every girl feels loved and feels that they are being pushed and learning something new. Dance is my passion and I love sharing it with the girls I teach.

Julie Staheli
Instructor
Julie Staheli began dancing at the age of 4 and soon knew that ballet was her love. She was R.A.D. and Cecchetti trained at Colorado School of Ballet and Vaganova trained at The Academy of the Colorado Ballet. She graduated from Brigham Young University with a B.A. in Dance with a Ballet Emphasis where she performed and toured with the Ballet Showcase Company. While attending BYU, Julie received dance and academic scholarships and enjoyed student teaching opportunities. She has danced professionally and has taught at various studios in Utah County, as well as American Leadership Academy, where she directed their Dance Company.
Julie is grateful for the opportunities and experiences that dance has provided. She has been a dance double in a film, she was a featured dancer in the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics Opening Ceremonies, she received a full tuition scholarship from the Burklyn Ballet Theatre and was offered a position dancing at Tokyo Disney. Julie lives in Cedar Hills and has 4 children. She loves the ability dance has to inspire and build confidence. Teaching ballet is her passion!

Kirany Scott
Instructor
Prior to teaching at Ultimate Dance, Kirany taught for two years at Dye’n 2 Dance in Roosevelt, Utah and at Heart N Soul in Springville, Utah. Kirany also interned at Over the Rainbow Preschool for three years. Although her teaching career is fairly young, her dance career is not. Kirany began dancing at the age of 3 at Dyen’ 2 Dance, where she trained in all levels of ballet, jazz, contemporary, lyrical, hip-hop, tap and tumbling. With her studio she traveled around the country for numerous dance conventions and competitions.
During her last two years of high school, Kirany joined Union High’s Drill Team, where she became Military Officer, won 3A All-state and academic All-State, and joined her team in winning 3rd in State both years. Upon graduation, she received a Full-Tuition Dance Performance Scholarship to Utah Valley University’s Modern Dance Department. At UVU, Kirany was a member of the prestigious modern company, Contemporary Dance Ensemble, for two years while she began her degree in Dance Education. Kirany has loved teaching at Ultimate Dance and is excited for another year of teaching and sharing her love of dance with others!

Leah Gulstrand
Instructor
Leah Gulstrand is an artist, dancer, and teacher from Saint Paul, Minnesota. She is a B.F.A candidate from the University of Utah in Modern Dance and Minor in Nutrition. She is a recipient of the University of Utah Fine Art’s Full Academic Tuition Scholarship, which was granted in the spring of 2014 and has continued to renew through the 2018 year. She has performed in many venues and spaces across Minnesota, Utah, Portland, and Boston, including the Minnesota Fringe festival and The University of Utah’s Performing Dance Company and Gala. Distinguished faculty and Community members she has worked with Include Sharee Lane, Luc Vanier, A ‘Keitha Carey, Jasmine Stack, Margaret Mirrinoff, Emily Blacik- Joos, and Elijah Labay. She has worked at several studios nationally throughout the U.S.A, and at the moment is a staff member at Murray High Schools’ Murray Community Education Program. She is currently living and working in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Sidney Snowden
Instructor
Sidney Snowden grew up training and competing dance from age 3 up until she graduated from Timpanogos High School in 2013 where she served as the dance company president her senior year. Sidney's passion and dedication to dance lead her to many scholarships and titles including Hollywood Vibes Dancer of the week, and LA Dance Magic's runner up for Magic Performer of the year. After graduating Sidney continued dancing and training with LADM under the direction of Jackie Sleight assisting conventions on tour with LA Dance Magic. Sidney also performed and trained with the contemporary company Expansion under the direction of Bonnie Story. Sidney’s love and passion for dance continues in her teaching and choreography, she has received many recognitions and awards for her choreography and enjoys every aspect of dance. Sidney is trained in ballet, jazz, contemporary, modern, tumbling and hip-hop.

Tiffany Sobel
Instructor
Tiffany Sobel has been dancing her way through life and loving every minute of it. She has been teaching and choreographing for 19 years. Tiffany has received training from many Utah dance schools as well as Utah's Ballet West, The Edge Studio in LA, Off Broadway Studio in Seattle and continues to receive further instruction from attending many national touring conventions including NUVO, LA Dance Magic and JUMP. Tiffany was a Universal Dance Association performer and teacher. In addition to all her dancing Tiffany improved her knowledge of early childhood development as a therapeutic preschool specialist at The Children's Center. She has dedicated her time to develop many dance programs for all ages of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Murray and Midvale. There are so many talented and passionate dancers and Tiffany would love to help them grow in confidence and reach their full potential.

Jaimee Beard
Instructor
Jaimee, a Utah native, has been dancing for over ten years. She first started out as an Irish dancer but then discovered her love for all styles of dance. Jaimee was on her high school drill team and has performed at the Stadium of Fire, Real Salt Lake, Disneyland, and Universal Studios. She earned the 3A Utah Dance and Drill Team Association Scholarship in 2014. Jaimee took some time off of dance when she served a full-time mission for her church in North Carolina. She has choreographed and taught dance for six years at local studios throughout the Central Utah area, including assisting in coaching the North Sanpete high school drill team. Jaimee graduated from Snow College with an Associates of Science in Dance in 2018. While attending Snow College on scholarship, she was the President of Snow College's Dance Ensemble.
Jaimee currently attends Utah Valley University as a part of the Dance Education program and is a part of the SALT Contemporary Dance staff. Jaimee has worked alongside renowned choreographers such as Bill Evans, Ari Mayzick, Virginie Mécène, Dmitri Peskov, Eldon Johnson, Amy Gunter Lolofie, and others. Jaimee is trained in many styles including Hip Hop, Ballet, Jazz, Contemporary, and Modern.
What We Believe
At Ultimate Dance Experience our mission is to provide students of all levels with an opportunity to grow both physically and mentally as a dancer, while cultivating an environment that promotes hard work, positive body image, and self confidence. Our classes are designed to be age appropriate, build a solid technical base, and help
dancers excel in all aspects of life.
Happy Parents and Dancers
