SLDC STAFF

 

 

 

Keli Lesker

Owner, Competition Director, Teacher, Choreographer

Keli Lesker is originally from Los Angeles, California and has been a renowned choreographer and dance instructor for over 20 years. She has studied ballet, jazz, contemporary, modern, lyrical, ballroom, and hip hop from various studios in Southern California. She and her sister, Tiffiny Wayland, have trained with top choreographers and teachers including Joe Tremaine, Tina and Dee Caspary, Bob Woodard, Jason Beitel, Rob Schultz, Richard Kauzmtch, Preston Lee, Nancy Paradis, Stacy and Fransisco Martinez, and more. Keli was the owner and Company Director of Dance House, California locations, for 13 years. She has choreographed for the Special Olympics and Euro Disney Opening Ceremonies, as well as the LA Clippers Halftime, Team Rave LA, Debbie Reynolds Showcase, Cirque Des Fleurs at The Music Box (Hollywood), award winning DH company, nationally recognized competition teams, numerous community events and fundraisers, just to name a few. Many of her students have gone on to pursue careers as professional dancers in the industry; i.e. Cirque du Soliel, Alvin Ailey Dance Co., Executive Director of IHollywood, "Wicked", "Hairspray", So You Think You Can Dance contestants, Star Search contestants, Disney (Anaheim) stage shows and parades, So You Think You Can Dance (Europe) winner, Artistic Director and Choreographer at Knockturnallheads, owner of Sharp International, Julliard, and numerous college dance teams. She has also trained and choreographed for many Songleading, Cheer, and Dance teams. Keli has judged for Dance Rave Talent Competition as well as the Culver City Figure Skating Championships (Artistic Judge). She is also a recipient of the Capezio Choreography Award for jazz.

 

Tiffiny Wayland

Musical Theater Director, Teacher, Choreographer

Tiffiny Wayland, a California native, has been dancing, performing, and teaching, for over 15 years. She is an award winning choreographer as well as the Musical Theater Director. Tiffiny grew up and trained in the Dance House family and soon became an outstanding teacher and choreographer. Her training includes ballet, jazz, tap, lyrical, modern, salsa, and hip hop. Over the past two decades she has competed at the highest levels, winning awards in jazz and lyrical solo performances. She has also performed in the 1998 Special Olympics Opening Ceremony, Team Rave LA, Dance House Company, LA Clippers Halftime, Sharp International Entertainers, and numerous community events and fundraisers. Tiffiny has choreographed for Team Rave LA (San Fransisco), Dance House competition teams and performances, Nightmare on Rosemead, as well as full length productions including; The Lion King, Cinderella, The Little Mermaid, The Wizard of Oz, Beauty and the Beast, and Peter Pan. In addition she has been an instructor and choreographer for several Southern California high school Songleading, Cheer, and Dance teams.

 

Doreen Warfield

Zumba!, Zumba Toning

Doreen has been bitten by the Zumba bug! She has been teaching teaching Zumba classes since December 2010.

"The energy I feel after a class is amazing! Who wouldn't want to reduce stress, lose weight, and feel better???"

Come join the party!

 

Fiona Hershberger

Irish Dance

Fiona has been Irish Dancing for 11 years and teaching for 3 years. She is a former competitive dancer and originally danced with Tir na Nog Irish Dance in Kaiserslautern, Germany. Currently, Fiona dances and teaches for the O'Faolain Academy of Irish Dance out of Webster Groves, MO. As a military brat she traveled all over the world and is now a military spouse (Marine Wife). Fiona was born in Scotland and as a child, after watching Lord of the Dance, fell in love with the upbeat music and pounding rhythm.

 

 

 

Barbara Wayland

Acro/Partnering Coach

Barbara has over 35 years experience in dance, choreography, partnering, and teams. Her United States Figure Skating awards include a Gold medal in Ice Dancing, Silver medal in International Dance, and Bronze medal in Pair Skating. She attended the 1980 Professional World Championships in Barcelona, Spain as a USA Team Competitor in Ice Dancing. For 20 years Barbara was a National and International competitive coach as well as choreographer in Figure Skating. During that time she received the USA - Helms Artistic Award and the Judges Choice 1st place award out of 150 entries in singles, pairs, and dance for the Artistic Blades Championships. In addition to18 years of teaching experience in performing arts, theater, and dance, Barbara was the Director of The Dance House, California locations. (1996-2009)

 

Liz Auten

Ballet/Pointe, Tap, Tiny Tots

Liz Auten has been teaching and choreographing in the St Louis area for the past 13 years. She grew up training under the Cecchetti Method and holds a teaching certificate in this intense form of ballet. She has established competitive teams that have won numerous awards including choreography awards for Miss Liz. Some of her choreography credits include EHS dance team, IDTA, and country singer Sue Kennedy. She has judged for Odyssey Talent and currently has students performing professionally in Chicago, Las Vegas, New York, and in St Louis as Rams cheerleaders. Liz feels incredibly blessed to be able to share her love and passion for dance with so many young aspiring dancers.

 

 

Trisha Turns

Tiny Tots, Tap, Musical Theater

Trisha Turns has grown up dancing around the St Louis area. She has been dancing since the age of four and competing since the age of five. Although trained in ballet,  jazz, lyrical, and contemporary, her favorite style of dance is tap. Trisha has won scholarships to California and New York for her tap solos as well as competed all over the United States. Trisha most enjoys sharing her love for dance with many young aspiring dancers.

Ki Smith

Fusion Belly Dance, Essentrics, Power Stretch, "Strong is the New Skinny" Boot Camp

I first learned of belly dance when I was around 14. A group of curvy belly dancers came to my school to do a demo. While most of my class mates focused on the dancers shape, I was mesmerized by their movements and their bravery. It always stuck out in my mind. In my early 20's, I found myself intensely drawn to Tribal. It soon became an obsession! I worked on my art form every spare moment. I have studied with some famous teachers and  some fabulous not so famous (but should be) teachers! Within a few years I was performing in every student show I could get into. In 2007, I formed a dance troupe called NeoHips and we danced our way around England. In 2008 we were featured on the cover of"Taqasim", Britain's oldest Middle Eastern magazine. In 2009 we were invited by the Belly Dance Super Stars to perform in their show called Tribalondon, in London. While I still enjoy performing, I became an ACE certified group fitness instructor to make me a better dance teacher. Through dance instruction I found another obsession, FITNESS! Which I study with the same passion as belly dance. I hope to share this passion with you!

Tess Boyer

Hip Hop

Whether it's dancing, singing, choreographing, modeling, acting, or coaching, Tess is one that is known to put her whole heart into it. She is recognized in the Illinois Dance Team Association as one of their alumni dancers, assistant coaches, and two-time state championship hip hop choreographer. Tess has been dancing for 16 years, choreographing for 6 years and coaching/teaching for 3 years. Not only is dance one of her passions, but she is known for her vocal ability as well. She has participated in the Muny productions as a Muny kid and Muny teen for 12 years, competed in several vocal competitions, went on National tour with Dragon Tales/Vee productions as their lead character, was crowned Miss Jr Teen America in 2004, and was honored to sing the National Anthem at the St Louis Rams Breast Cancer Awareness game as a 2012 St Louis Rams Cheerleader. Tess is still pursuing music, as she is the singergirl in SMASHBAND as well as the co-writer/lead singer of her original songs with the country band, "Tess & The Brothermen". Currently Tess coaches and choreographs at Edwardsville High School. She is extremely passionate about dance and is priviledged to assist in developing a dancer's experience and career.