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.

Gianna Pascente is a dancer, educator, and choreographer originally from Des Plaines, Illinois. She is a recent graduate of Chapman University, where she earned dual degrees in Dance and Business Administration. Gianna has trained extensively in a wide range of dance styles, including ballet, contemporary, modern, jazz, hip hop, ballroom, dance for film, heels, and more. Her training includes renowned programs such as Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Gus Giordano Dance, Alonzo King Lines Ballet, and Nova Linea Contemporary Dance. She has also attended and assisted at Reflection The Workshop and performed in multiple concept videos. Currently based in California, Gianna continues to pursue training while sharing her passion for dance through teaching and choreography. She is dedicated to helping dancers build strong technical foundations while fostering confidence, artistry, and a genuine love for dance. Her goal is to create a positive and inspiring learning environment where every student feels empowered to reach their fullest potential both in and out of the studio.

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.

Aaron came to classical ballet as an adult and has trained seriously toward a professional career ever since, with a focus on the Vaganova method. In just three years — beginning with private instruction and continuing at Pryntsev Ballet Academy — he has progressed to performing a paid role in PBA’s Nutcracker this past December. In the studio, Aaron brings that same focus and discipline to his students, helping them build strong fundamentals, clean technique, and the confidence to grow as dancers.

Chloe has trained in dance for over 10 years, including 4 years on her Varsity High School Dance Team. Through this training she is a 2x state champion and 4x national champion! Currently, Chloe is a member of the Cal Poly Pomona Dance Team and teaches dance and gymnastics at the YMCA.

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.

Irie started training at Performing Arts Empire in ballet, tap, and acro from the age of 8. She has been training through the PAE student assistant program to develop the skills needed to begin teaching dance. Utilizing her extensive experience working with children, she is excited to begin sharing her passion for dance as a teacher!

Cherish has been dancing since the age of four. She has been trained in ballet and danced en pointe for years. She has also been trained in contemporary and Irish dance. Cherish is a musician and leads worship at her church. She is a creative, detailed artist. She enjoys working with children and patiently encouraging them to grow as individuals and in their skills of creative expression.