Staff

We are proud to work with local, exceptional choreographers and instructors!

Congratulations to our 2022 Staff Award Recipients!

Ariel Wright
Hip Hop Instructor
Ariel created her roots as a dancer in Sacramento She regularly teaches at a number of local studios across all ages. Her passion for teaching has given her the opportunity to tea h all across northern CA with her goal being to teach out of state and one day out of the country. Ariel's most recent credits include Wale, Eric Bellinger, Lupe Fiasco, and the Sacramento King's 916Crew.
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Dari Kellom
Jazz Funk/Pumps Instructor
Darina was a member of the Columbia University Dance Team where they placed 9th at the NDA Collegiate Dance Championships in Daytona, Florida. She has been dancing for over 15 years including with semi-professional sports teams. Darina is also a seasoned dancer and choreographer for the professional band, Hip Service performing throughout Northern California.
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Isela Ortiz
Program Director, Instructor
Isela Ortiz is the owner of Sac Dance Lab and has over 20 years of choreography and performance experience including various commercial work and five seasons as a Sacramento Kings Dancer.
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Julia Kobylka-Ilsley
Contemporary Instructor
Julia Ilsley has been dancing and teaching for most of her life. Her greatest accomplishments include dancing at the collegiate level on the UC Davis Dance Team as well as at the professional level with Sac Dance Company. Julia enjoys working with dancers on perfecting technique and gaining confidence to move in their own unique way.
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Monica Padilla
Ballet/Lyra Instructor
Monica has trained across the country from an array of instructors in a multitude of styles mainly ballet. Having taught children and adults for over a decade, Monica strives to help her students find their natural movement and voice through ballet.
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Leanne Ruiz
Hip Hop Instructor
Leanne attended Sacramento State University where she received her Bachelor’s degree in Dance. This was her second year dancing professionally for the Sacramento Kings and in 2019, Leanne was invited by the NBA to travel to India to perform. Over the past 12 years while working for the United Spirit Association.
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Mariah Palmiter
Pumps Instructor
Mariah Palmiter danced for the Sacramento Kings Dancers for three seasons and represented the top pro-dancers and cheerleaders in the country at Pro Action in her final season.
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Jon Reyes
Jazz Instructor
Jon Reyes began his dance journey with Blackrock Dance Company at Natomas Charter School’s Performing and Fine Arts Academy. His versatility across multiple genres of dance, such as hip-hop, jazz funk, jazz, heels and ballet, has shown success through his involvement with SacDanceCo and Sacramento Cabaret. As an instructor and choreographer at SacDanceLab, his expertise lies in jazz, lyrical and contemporary.
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Joseph Rata
Hip Hop Instructor
Joseph is a Dance Major at Sacramento State. He specializes and studies various styles of dance such as Hip-Hop, Contemporary, Modern, Jazz, Afro-Caribbean, and Bollywood. His passion in dance involves unifying the community and inspiring many talented artists to bring joy to their lives through dance.
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Talia Wong-Boyer
Pumps Instructor
Talia Wong originally trained in ballet, with 17 years of experience in Balanchine, Vaganova, and Cecchetti techniques. She danced professionally with Jose Mateo Ballet Theatre in Boston before heading to Brown University, where she was a dancer and Artistic Director for Fusion Dance Company. She then moved on to compete in Latin Ballroom at the Amateur and Pro-Am levels, winning several collegiate and state competitions. Talia is now a proud member of the Sacramento Burlesque Jazz Company, where she is currently in her second season. Her choreo is meant to challenge you while providing a safe, supportive environment to be your sexiest, badass self!
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Anthony Ward
Jazz Funk Instructor
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Haley Martinez
Contemporary Instructor
Haley is from the city of Sacramento, California. He started dancing at the age of fifteen and has artistically developed his craft through out his journey. He has found a love in sharing my work and telling stories through my movement. Creating change, connecting humans on a deeper level, and what it means to feel liberated. He is constantly inspired and driven by his talented peers who have pushed him to be greater. He currently graduated from The CLI conservatory under the direction of Teddy forance and has learned from artists such as Robert Green, Chaz Buzan, Jakevis Thompson, and Brian Nicholson. Credits include Nhan Ho Project and Sacramento Contemporary Dance Theatre.
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Max Contreras
Hip Hop Instructor
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Morgan Rineheart
Pom Instructor
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Jonathan Romero
Heels Instructor
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Lexi Dean
Jazz Tech Instructor
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Tallulah Orosz
Heels/Burlesque Instructor
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