DMDA'S Wonderful Staff!!!

Tiffany began dancing at the age of 4 and was also a gymnast for 10 years.  In 1998 she received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Performance and Choreography from ASU.  Her Senior year she was awarded a Choreography Scholarship and was chosen to be part of the committee to choose the following year's faculty at ASU. In 1999 she also graduated from SWIHA (Southwest Institute of the Healing Arts) in Massage Therapy.  In her dance career she has been lucky enough to do summer training with Chuck Davis, Mark Morris, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Alvin Ailey Dance Co., and The Pulse.  She was awarded a Pulse Teacher Scholarship  to dance in New York in 2010 with the SYTYCD choreographers.  She was tested and certified in ballet, jazz, and modern in 2006 to become of member of Dance Masters of America, a national dance teacher association.  In 2013 she tested, and is now a Certified Examiner for DMA in Ballet and Modern.   Tiffany has been the owner and director of DMDA since 2000.  She graduated in 2021 with her Master of Fine Arts at ASU with a Dance Teaching Artist Praxis Certificate.  She is currently a Professor at Grand Canyon University, teaching Technique and Lecture courses.    Inspiring children to love the discipline and passion that dance can bring is what drives her to teach.  She is strongly aware and thrives for both the mental and physical health of the students that she is lucky enough to teach.  

Alexis Stephens began dancing at the early age of three. Growing up she had the opportunity to work with renowned ballet instructor Olga Tarasova, among other highly educated instructors. She studied extensively in ballet, tap, lyrical, jazz, contemporary, hip hop, and (later on) modern. After her journey with competition and studio dance ended, she continued her pursuit of dance by diving into the realm of choreography in her high schools dance company. After high school, she continued her choreographic and performance pursuits at Arizona State University, where she graduated in 2015 with her BFA in Dance/Dance Education. While she attended ASU, Alexis was awarded several academic and dance talent scholarships. Upon completion of the program, she was honored to have been awarded a certificate from the School of Dance for “Outstanding Achievement in Performance.”

Throughout her dance career, Alexis has been privileged to work with Epik Dance Company, Halo Movement Collective, Scorpius Dance Theatre, and several other local artists in the valley. She has performed in multple live productions including, but not limited to, “A Vampire Tale,” "All In the Heir" "Underland: A White Nightmare,” "Savage Beauty," "Memoriam," and "Cell." She currently teaches and shares her passion for dance with her students at INSPIRE Entertainment, and Dynamic Motion Dance Academy. While performing and teaching professionally, Alexis continues to further her dance education. She has attended many summer training programs with companies such as River North Dance Chicago and MusEffect in LA. She continues to develop her own craft by traveling and taking classes from some of her favorite artists, such as Cat Cogliandro. Alexis has become one of Arizona’s most sought after contemporary choreographers. She has a hungry heart for dance and it is her passion to inspire others the way that dance has always inspired her.

 Lyndsie Clymer has been dancing since she was 3 years old at DMDA. She has taken Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Tap, Hip Hop, Breaking, Modern, Ballroom, Lyrical, Contemporary, Musical Theater, and Acrobatics. Lyndsie was apart of a competitive team for 6 years, where she loved to perform with her fellow dancers. Since the age of 12 Lyndsie has been assisting her mentors Tiffany Fox and Sherry Henderson. She is now pursuing her dream of teaching, Lyndsie has worked with various levels of dancers ages ranging form 2-18. Lyndsie recently got her certification in Jazz with Dance Master of America. She is currently working on her Certification for Acro with Acrobatic Art. Lyndsie is a Choreographer and Director at Musical Theater of Anthem. She has done many shows there, her favorites being Mary Poppins, Once On This Island, and 13. Lyndsie teaches dance at different studios and schools around Arizona. She is a guest choreographer at Boulder Creek High School with the Choir and Dance Program. Along with working in elementary and preschools with extra curricular activities. Lyndsie was given the Artistic Merit, Leadership and Academic Award in 2015, which only a few were awarded in the state of Arizona. Lyndsie’s choreography has be awarded and recognizes through Competitions, NYAs and district evaluations. She is incredibly grateful to be able to do what she loves every single day. Lyndsie truly just loves to teach dance and work with kids. DMDA has been Lyndsie’s home studio since 2001. Lyndsie is excited to continue working with the students of DMDA, helping them reach new endeavors with their strength, flexibility and technique. 

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Katie Kirwan began her early training in Middletown, Ohio under Phyllis DeWeese and later studied under Raphael Grigorian in Corning, New York, Dayton Ballet, Pointe Park College, Milwaukee Ballet, Ballet Chicago, and North Carolina Dance Theatre. At Indiana University, she earned her Bachelor of Science in ballet and arts management under the wonderful teaching of Violette Verdy, Jasque Cesbron and Leslie Peck. In North Carolina, she began teaching at DancePlace, the official school of North Carolina Dance Theatre. However, the highlight of her career was dancing with Ballet Magnificat! under Kathy Thibodeaux from 2001 – 2008 as a soloist company member. In the fall of 2008, she taught at Dance Center Prague, a conservatory in Prague, Czech Republic. After moving to Chicago she taught and worked full time for the Joffrey Ballet Academy from 2009 – 2015, including 5 years as Joffrey Ballet’s Children’s Cast Head Ballet Master for The Nutcracker. 

Katie returned to graduate school in 2012 to earn her Masters in Occupational Therapy. She currently works with children with complex medical needs, but also enjoys working with adults. With her background in OT, she has been the creator of a Parkinson’s Disease dance project in the Chicago area, and a children’s dance class through her current job, providing group therapy through the medium of dance to children with a range of abilities including those using bracing, wheelchairs and other devices for mobility. It is her passion to expand dance opportunities to all people of all backgrounds and abilities.  

 Miss Sara has had a passion and love for dance for as long as she can remember. Starting dance at the age of 3, she has trained in a variety of styles including Jazz, Hip-Hop, Contemporary, Lyrical, Tap, Ballet, Pointe, Musical Theater, Modern, Jazz Funk, Acro, and Ballroom. Having an Associates Degree in fine arts, a Jazz Certification with Dance Educators of America, and Certification with AZDanceMed (training to assess and progress dancers using efficient exercises), Sara believes that you can never stop growing. She continues her education daily through new experiences and her current professional dance career.

 Over the years she has toured with the Utah Ballroom Dance Company, danced for: 13th Floor Haunted House, I.D.E.A Dance Fashion Show, Dancing for the stars Charity Event, a music video shot in LA, and has found success in Ballroom competitions. During the summer of 2019 she was given the opportunity to train with Staib Dance Company in Sorrento, Italy. Recently performing in “Fright Fest” and “Holiday in the Park” at Six Flags Over Texas, she was able to train in a Rockette/ Precision style show called “The Jingle Belles” for the Holidays. Sara has also booked and filmed a commercial with CenturyLink, and continues to explore different opportunities of performing and teaching. 

 Teaching since 2015 has allowed her to choreograph and teach throughout the community. She directed and choreographed “The Polar Express” show at Amped Coffee Company, along with being a guest choreographer at Boulder Creek High School. Her choreography has been recognized and awarded at various competitions. Though the biggest reward of all is seeing her students chase and achieve their dreams and goals. While perfecting their technique, building confidence, and instilling a healthy, balanced lifestyle, Sara has a passion for helping dancers go from good to great!

Ms. Deena Grew up dancing in the San Francisco Bay Area and attained her Masters Degree in Dance Choreography and Performance.  Deena's professional dance career included dancing for the San Francisco 49ers GoldRush, as a Warrior Girl dancer for the NBA Golden State Warriors, as well as dancing  in Disneyland's water spectacular Fantasmic!  Deena was runner-up to Miss California (Miss America Organization) and won many National dance titles and numerous scholarship awards throughout her career.  Though no award has been as great as the joy Ms. Deena sees in her student's faces when they learn to dance!  Deena has spent the last 23 years teaching dance to ages 2.5 through adult.  She has a passion for teaching and instills that same passion and love for movement, fitness and the art form in each of her dancers.  Come take a class from Ms. Deena and see why you too will be hooked on dance forever!!