Meet our Staff!

Kara has been dancing since she was three years old and discovered her love for ballet at the age of seven. Though she’s explored many styles of dance, ballet has always been her true passion. Kara studied tap, jazz, and ballet as a musical theatre major at Cal State Fullerton and danced en pointe in the pre-professional division at The Academy of Dance, OC’s Dance Conservatory. She now shares her love of learning and creativity as a preschool Sunday School teacher and finds great joy in inspiring young dancers to express themselves through movement.

Lex has been dancing since the age of four and enjoys jazz, contemporary, and pom. She has competed for over 15 years some in studio, as well as for Centennial high school, and at the collegiate level with RCC. Lex is very passionate about dancing and hopes to inspire her students and ignite that same passion within them. She strives to create a supportive and energetic environment where dancers can develop their skills and confidence.

Karah has been trained as an instructor at Performing Arts Empire. She joined dance later in life but has grown up playing sports and trying new activities. Karah is passionate about creativity and enjoying the process of learning new things. She teaches the younger ages and prioritizes teaching the basics they will continue to use throughout their dance journey. She brings a great energy to young dancers that keeps engagement and excitement throughout her classes!

Ashley Contreras has been dancing for the past 10 years. She has trained in many styles including ballet, jazz, tap, contemporary, lyrical and hip hop. She currently attends Hillcrest High School and is going into her fourth year on their Varsity Song & Dance Team and second year as a captain. As Ashley’s passion for dance grew, she began her journey into musical theatre. Some musicals she has performed in are Beauty and the Beast, High School Musical, Legally Blonde and Mamma Mia. She also has tech crew experience working behind the scenes of shows. She is excited to begin teaching and sharing her passion for dance and musical theatre. Ashley's teaching philosophy is centered around the belief that dance is for everyone. She encourages students to explore their creativity in an inclusive and nurturing class environment where all students can grow and learn.

Miranda started dancing at the age of 11 at Performing Arts Empire. She fell in love with the stage. Throughout the next 7 years of her life she trained in various styles including ballet, contemporary, tap, and jazz. She had the opportunity of learning from a wide range of teachers. With them she got to learn many techniques and choreography styles. She is passionate about aiding her students to grow in their craft in order to increase in their ability to express themselves through art that they love.

Ana Henderson began dancing at the age of three and has been passionate about the art ever since. She attended a performing arts high school in Las Vegas, where she majored in dance and developed a strong technical foundation across multiple styles. Continuing her training at a studio through the age of 18, Ana gained extensive experience in performance and technique. She had the privilege of training with The Rockettes for three summers in New York City, where she fell in love with precision work. Ana is currently performing professionally at both Disneyland and Universal Studios, bringing high-energy entertainment and storytelling to audiences from around the world. With a special love for jazz and musical theater, Ana is dedicated to helping students build confidence, performance quality, and a genuine love for dance.