Karissa Molen is a performer, choreographer and instructor who has worked with several different private dance companies, as well as high schools and universities. She started her training at the Academy of Dance in Heber City, Utah with extensive experience in jazz, ballet, hip hop and contemporary genres. During her high school years, she was a member of the Wasatch Dance Company for three years, a Wasatch High School Cheerleader for two years, and was named Junior Drill Mistress and Head Drill Mistress of the Championship Waspettes Dance/Drill Team her junior and senior year. As a senior, she was awarded the All-Region and All-State title in dance/drill team for the state of Utah at Wasatch High School.
She received scholarships every year through her college career, which made her experience at Utah Valley University (UVU) incredible! Karissa studied Modern Dance at Utah Valley University. She was on the Dean’s List each semester and graduated with her BFA in Spring 2016. She was a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society throughout her college years and graduated with Cum Laude honors in April of 2016. She was a member of the Synergy Modern Dance Company at UVU for two years where she was able to perform pieces created by talented choreographers such as; Monica Campbell and Natosha Washington. Natosha’s piece, “What Lies Beneath the Skin” became a national finalist at ACDA in 2015.
She has sixteen years of teaching experience, teaching students 3 – 18 years old for Academy of Dance, Wasatch Dance Company, River Meadows Ballet, Soaring Wings International Montessori School and Intensity Dance Team. She has choreographed over 250 award winning group pieces, solos and duets in the genres of jazz, lyrical, contemporary and hip hop. She loves teaching dancers of all ages, and watching them “light up” as they learn new choreography that she has created. Witnessing new students discover the power of dance as a key to building self-esteem and overall confidence is the motivation that drives Karissa to perform, choreograph and teach the art of dance.
Karissa Molen
20 years of training in jazz, ballet, hip hop, contemporary
3 years member of Wasatch Dance Company
2 years member of WHS Cheer Squad
Junior Drill Mistress and Head Drill Mistress of Championship Waspettes 2008-2010
16 years of teaching experience
Member of UVU’s Synergy Dance Company 2013 – 2015/ACDA National Finalist 2015
Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Dance
Graduated with Cum Laude Honors 2016
IDT awarded Open Dance Nationals Team Overall Grand Champion 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021,2022 and 2023.
IDT awarded Open Dance Nationals Overall Studio Grand Champion out of 86 studios 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022 and 2023.
Karissa was awarded National Platinum Director of the Year in 2019, 2021, 2022 and 2023.
*She is also available for private lessons.
Rylee Slater
IDT Heber Instructor: IDT Acro Level 1, IDT Acro Level 2, IDT Acro Level 3, IDT Junior Technique, IDT Contemporary Team, IDT Ballet 5, IDT Gold Team Ballet, IDT Gold Turns
IDT Vineyard Instructor: IDT Pointe Class, IDT Ballet 5, IDT Improv/Choreo, IDT Adult Contemporary Class, IDT Junior Contemporary Team, IDT Ballet 3
Rylee grew up training with Center Stage Performing Arts Studio in Utah and then left to train with Artistic Dance Project. Because of her extensive studio training, she was able to work and tour with some of the most incredible artists in the dance world. She has worked closely with Travis Wall, Teddy Forance, Chantel Agurie, Stacey Tookey, and Jason Parsons.
Jason and Chantel have even choreographed solos for her. She had the opportunity to travel to Canada and attend Camp Protege, which she considers the highlight of her dance career. She has toured the United States and Canada with seasoned pros in the industry. She has traveled to New York and Los Angeles many times to compete and win at nationals including the Dance Awards, Hollywood Vibe, Velocity, Radix, and many NYCDA.
IDT is so excited to have Rylee sharing her incredible technical training and innovative choreography with our classes and teams. She can’t wait to meet her new students! *She is also available for private lessons.
*Full class descriptions on IDT website under “Teams/Classes”.
Paris Burg
IDT Heber Instructor: IDT Gold Team II, IDT Junior Team II, IDT Lyrical Team, IDT Senior Technique
IDT Vineyard Team Director: IDT Contemporary Team, IDT Senior Hip Hop Team
Paris Roberts grew up in Chino Hills, California. She started dancing at 3 years old and began competing at age 4. She has trained in all of the genres with emphasis on hip hop, ballet, technique and contemporary. She was on her high school’s dance team for all 4 years! She is now on her third year at UVU on the 3x NDA National Championship Dance Team where she continues majoring in exercise science.
Paris has 20+ years of training and 8 years of teaching experience. She has extensive experience in competing with her studio, her high school and UVU winning multiple National Championships.
Paris is excited to meet her classes and teams in Heber and Vineyard. She is super excited for this season and watching everyone exceed their goals! *She is also available for private lessons.
*Full class descriptions on IDT website under “Teams/Classes”.
Grace Bjerregaard
IDT Vineyard Team Director-IDT Mini Team, IDT Gold Team, IDT Junior Team II
IDT Vineyard Instructor: IDT Ballet 3, IDT Junior Team Tech., IDT Ballet 2,
IDT Heber Instructor: IDT Acro Level 3, IDT Acro Level 2, IDT Junior Technique
Grace has over 12 years of dance training. She grew up in Sandy, UT and started competing with AED Studio in Draper, UT in jazz, hip hop and contemporary. At AED, she was able to train with former Cougarettes and industry professionals such as; Charlie Bronk, and Chase Wise. This is where dance first became a bigger and more serious part of her life. She knew it was what she loved. She specifically had great experience training in ballet as a foundation of her dance career. She then trained and competed with The Dance Project with more industry professionals Big Chocolate (Mark Cameron) Dez Jaynes.
In March of 2023, she returned from serving a year and a half mission for the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Minnesota. She is a sophomore at BYU studying Dance Education. She has 6+ years of teaching experience in studios throughout Utah. She especially loves teaching dance. She can teach all ages and levels in Jazz/Jazz technique, hip-hop, contemporary, ballet and modern dance.
Grace will be teaching IDT Mini Team, IDT Gold Team, IDT Junior Team II, IDT Junior Hip Hop Team 2, IDT Vineyard Instructor: IDT Ballet 3, IDT Junior Team Tech., IDT Ballet 2, IDT All Boys Hip Hop, IDT Hip Hop Acro, IDT Hip Hop 4. *She is also available for private lessons.
**Full class descriptions on IDT Website under “Teams/Classes”
Brinklie Pullan
IDT Vineyard Junior Cheer Team Director, IDT Vineyard Junior Cheer Team, Acro Level 3 and Acro Level 2
Brinklie has over 14 years of training in tumbling and cheer! She grew up in Las Vegas training as an Elite Cheer and Tumbling Athlete. She went on to win state, region and national titles such as; PCS Grand Champion, USA First Place Grand Champion, Jamz Nationals National Champion, zero deductions and superior tumbling. She was captain of the Palo Verde High School Cheer Squad in the all girl advanced category where they won four consecutive national titles. She is currently a member of the 2023-2024 National Championship UVU Cheer Squad.
Brinklie has years of experience teaching young tumblers and cheerleaders through high school programs, tumbling gyms and private lessons. She is a great choreographer! She is so excited to choreograph a fun pom routine for her Junior Cheer Team! She loves teaching each student on a personal level, helping that student achieve his or her personal goals.
Brinklie will be Directing the IDT Junior Cheer Team and teaching Acro Level 2, Acro Level 3. *She is also available for private lessons.
*Full class descriptions on IDT website under “Teams/Classes”.
Sierra Minio
IDT Advanced Senior Technique, IDT Senior Turns
Sierra Minio grew up in Florida where she trained in ballet for 17 years. Along with extensive ballet training, she also has training from All American Dance Factory in Tampa, Florida, where she trained in contemporary, lyrical, tap, jazz, hip-hop, and pointe. She was a competitive dancer for 13 years. In those 13 years she won many awards at competitions such as nycda, 24/7, jump, nuevo, radix, and more. She has worked directly with choreographers such as Andy Pellick and Suzi Taylor. She received pre-professional training at All American Classical Ballet School, led by award-winning instructors and choreographers, Julio Montano and Gissell Durand.
She recently moved to Utah from Florida where she was majoring in Dance Education, with her main focus in ballet, at BYU. She was an assistant for “4pointe” while at BYU, where she was able to learn from Lynn Roberta Charles. She is now a professional dancer with Odyssey Dance Company and will be starring in many of the pieces for their popular “Thriller” show such as the Bride of Frankenstein and the Witches.
Sierra is excited to meet new dancers in the Advanced Senior Technique and Senior Turns Classes. “I would love to share some of my knowledge of dance to the next generation of students!” **Available for Private Lessons**
*Full class descriptions on IDT website under “Teams/Classes”.
Maddy Lucas
IDT Heber Instructor: Black Team Ballet, Gold Team Technique, Black team Technique, Hip Hop Combo, Creative Movement, Ballet 1, Mini Team II, Hip Hop 1, Disney Combo Gold Team Ballet,
iDT Vineyard Instructor: Ballet 5
Maddy grew up in Georgia where she trained in dance for over 15 years. She has training in ballet, contemporary, hip hop, jazz, and lyrical genres. She attended Dance Academy West, where she was a Company Member 2010-2018. She also trained at the Royal Dance Academy, Conservatory Program and was an Elite Level Diamond Competitive Team member. winning multiple top 5 awards for solo and team pieces. She was a scholarship recipient at The World Dance Pageant 2021. She was also a primary dancer in “Peter and the Wolf” with Royal Dance Academy. She also trained with the Joffrey Academy of Dance.
Maddy was able to take part in community service through events such as; the Atlanta Children’s Healthcare Parade and the non profit organization, Twirling Twice. She served a full time mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Leeds England where she taught adult dance classes in between her appointments and charity work! Maddy has taught dance all over the world and she is so excited to teach at Intensity Dance Team.
She has recently transferred to BYU from Williamsburg learning Academy where is studying Law. She comes to us with years of experience as an instructor and a highly trained performer. She has a wealth of technical knowledge and experience and cannot wait to meet her new dancers!
Maddy loves teaching the littles (2-5 year olds), the older advanced dancers and all ages and levels in between. She is excited to meet her dancers for the 2024-2025 season! **She is available for private lessons.**
*Full class descriptions on IDT website under “Teams/Classes”.
Londyn Cleaver
IDT Vineyard Instructor: Intro to Ballet 1, Intro to Hip Hop, Intro to Jazz/Disney Combo
IDT Hip Hop 2, IDT Jazz 2, IDT Lyrical Team, IDT Hip Hop 3
Londyn has been dancing since she could walk! She has over 15 years of training in ballet, jazz, hip hop, pom, tumbling, contemporary and ballroom. She was a part of a very successful competitive dance team competing in all genres. When she turned 13, she transferred to online school so she could devote more time to her competition team. She also started competing in ballroom with her partner.
When she entered high school, she was on the cheer and dance teams at Orem High School. Because of her busy high school schedule, she couldn’t possibly do all three so she stopped dancing competitively and focused on continued training through the high school programs. She is currently a senior at Orem High School and the president of ODC, the dance company. She is also in cosmetology school and planning to graduate high school with my cosmetology degree. “I have so much love for dance and don’t know where I would be without it. I’m so excited to add IDT to my repertoire! “–Londyn Cleaver. **She is available for private lessons.**
*Full class descriptions on IDT website under “Teams/Classes”.
Shanae Davis
IDT Heber Director of the IDT Junior Cheer Team,
IDT Heber Instructor: IDT Ballet 2, IDT Junior Hip Hop
Shanae has over 12 years of dance and cheer training. She competed with Academy of Dance and was a member of the Wasatch High School (WHS)Cheer Squad all four years, serving as captain of the cheer squad her Senior Year. She was the Assistant Coach of the 2024 WHS State Champion Cheer Squad!
Shanae will be Directing the IDT Heber Junior Cheer Team, and the IDT Heber Senior Cheer Team. She will also be Directing IDT Cheer/Pom Intensives for girls who want to cheer or be on the drill team in high school.
**Full class descriptions on IDT Website under “Teams/Classes”
Madi Ess
IDT Vineyard Instructor: IDT Junior Hip Hop Team, IDT Hip Hop Acro 2
Assistant Director for Paris Roberts (Heber Teams and Vineyard Teams)
Madi grew up in Provo, Utah where she trained for more than 15 years in various genres of dance including ballet, jazz, contemporary, hip hop and more. She has been a competitive dancer for more than 9 years. She is an IDT Alumni where she won individual and team local, regional and national championship titles. The IDT Teams that she was a member of received Judge’s Choice Awards, and even perfect scores. As a solo competitor, she was always at the top of her divisions. At Timpview High School, she was a member of the dance company for 4 years and served as company president her senior year. She was awarded Dance Sterling Scholar her senior year.
She has professional experience dancing in Oddysey’s Thriller, and as a specialty dancer in Stadium of Fire for multiple years. She has impressive experience choreographing for her high school dance company concerts and halftimes. She has enjoyed performing at Disneyland and community parades/events.
Madi is excited to meet her Hip Hop dancers in Vineyard! She can’t wait to share her knowledge, experience and fresh take on the most current styles. She is also excited to support Paris as her Assistant Team Director.
*Full class descriptions on IDT website under “Teams/Classes”.
Annie Harris
IDT Vineyard Instructor: Intro to Classes for 3-5 and 6-8 year olds
Annie Harris grew up in Arizona and began training in ballet at a very young age. She has over 14 years of training in many genres with an emphasis on ballet and contemporary. She began teaching dance at 16 years old and found a love for teaching and choreographing. After high school graduation, she was a member of her college dance team and majored in dance. After she received her Associate Degree in Dance, she transferred to BYU and majored in Dance Education. She will graduate in December of 2024 with her Bachelors Degree in Dance.
She had the opportunity to perform in a variety of styles along with setting choreography on the company in college. In addition to that, she had the opportunity to participate in the Artist of Promise competition where a duet she co-choreographed placed 3rd. She is currently a member of Kinnect Dance Company where they visit elementary schools to perform and teach creative dance.
Annie will be teaching the IDT Intro to Classes for 3-5 and 6-8 year olds. She is so excited to meet your dancers and introduce them to the joy of dance!!
**Full class descriptions on IDT Website under “Teams/Classes”
Sasha Taylor
IDT Vineyard Instructor: IDT Junior Hip Hop Team II, IDT Performance Team 1
Sasha grew up in Utah and has been training in ballet, hip hop, contemporary, lyrical and many other genres for 16 years. She started competing at 5 years old and has won many impressive awards! She is an IDT Alumni (2021-2024)and has won multiple local, regional and national championships. The IDT Teams that she was a member of received Judge’s Choice Awards, and even perfect scores. As a solo competitor, she was at the top of her division and was awarded the AOS Superstar Award for placing at the top of all 2024 solo competitors (more than 3,000 soloists). She has also been a part of the Provo High Dance Company for 3 years, and she was elected as the president her senior year.
She has professional experience dancing in Oddysey’s Thriller, and as a specialty dancer in Stadium of Fire for multiple years. She has impressive experience choreographing for her high school dance company concerts and halftimes. She has enjoyed performing at Disneyland and community parades/events.
Sasha is so excited to meet her IDT Junior Hip Hop Team II and IDT Performance Team 1 Dancers and share her love of dance with them!
**Full class descriptions on IDT Website under “Teams/Classes”
Jennie Pyper
IDT Heber Studio Manager, IDT Store Manager, IDT Heber Event Coordinator, IDT Customer Relations Director
Photo coming
Megan Boothe
IDT Vineyard Studio Manager
Matt and Tami Molen
Owners/Studio General Managers Vineyard location.