Basic Dance Training is proud to call these dance specialists “MAJOR”…
Brenda Searle – Owner
Brenda has been coaching and teaching in the dance community for over twenty years. She is currently the drill team coach for Hillcrest High School in Midvale Utah. She travels to set choreography for numerous dance teams and studio companies and is also a judge for many events.
Her choreography resume includes, High School Musical 3, 2002 Winter Olympics Opening and Closing Ceremonies, Paris New Years Day Parade, Alamo Bowl and Gator Bowl halftime shows, L.A. Dance Magic Best of Show awards, New York City Dance Alliance Critics Choice awards, as well as countless Region, State and National championship routines.
Her personal accolades include former NBA Utah Jazz Dancer, NBA All Star Weekend Performer and featured dancer with KISS. Brenda was the 2002 Utah Drill Team Coach of the Year and was also awarded the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Section 7 Spirit Coach of the Year.
Ciara Murano-Steele – Owner
Ciara received her Bachelors degree in Dance and Health Education from Brigham Young University in 1998. She coached the Pleasant Grove High School Vikettes Drill Team for seven years. She had several Region and National Drill Team titles while at PGHS. Ciara is currently teaching at Park City High School where she developed and built their dance program.
Her choreography credits include the Austrailian Down Under Bowls, Blues Traveler “Canadian Rose” music video, the 2002 Salt Lake Winter Olympic-Soldier Hollow Venue and the Ski World Championships in Oberstdorf, Germany.
Ciara is also the co-owner of Wasatch Dance Center, she has developed an entire jazz curriculum for dancers ages 5-18, and her jazz curriculum is taught at numerous studios throughout the Western U.S.
Mechele Bosco – Owner
Mechele has been a teacher and coach at Hillcrest High School in Midvale Utah for the past 25 years. She has 13 Utah High School State Championships in three different sports including gymnastics, tennis, and drill team.
Mechele was recently honored by Southern Utah University by being inducted into both the University Athletic Hall of Fame, and the Alumni Coaching Hall of Fame. Mechele has a Masters of Business Administration Degree and is an avid photographer and graphic designer. She has always enjoyed working with young athletes, and is well known for motivating and inspiring greatness.
Nikki Ashton – Owner
Nikki coached Lone Peak High School Drill Team for 7 years and was part of several Region Championships, a 4A State Championship, National Championships, and was named Utah 4A coach of the year. Nikki also has 10 years judging experience.
Nikki is Co-Owner/Director of Utah Dance and Drill Solo Championship and the Miss Drill Team Utah Pageant, as well as assisting in the organization of The Jordan Beet Classic Drill Team Invitational. Nikki with the help of her family founded “Toasty Toes” a non- profit organization dedicated to providing much needed winter clothing to Women and Children Shelters.
Autumn Hernandez-Roberts
Autumn is a nationally-recognized teacher and choreographer. Her routines have received numerous first place, choreography, specialty, and overall titles at prestigious national competitions such as Spotlight Dance Cup, Jump, Odyssey Competition, Hollywood Connection, and more. She has instructed across the country and choreographed for teams in Utah, Idaho, California, and Nevada. Autumn has a wide range of style and is best known for her cutting-edge choreography in lyrical, contemporary, jazz, and hip hop. Autumn is also a trained gymnast and professional cosmetologist.
Chalyn Dye
Chalyn has been dancing for 18years training in Hip Hop, Jazz, Ballet, Contemorary, Lyrical, Musical Theater and Tap. She is currently attending the University of Utah as a Health Promotion major as well as teaching at Wasatch Dance Center in Heber. Chalyn was a member of the Hillcrest Drill Team for 3 years and helped them earn a state title and 2 national titles as the co-captain. She was also a member of the LA Dance Magic Company for 2 years and was a teaching apprentice for LA Dance Magic last season. She has won numerous scholarships at several national conventions including LA Dance Magic, NYCDA, JUMP, Dance Attack and NUVO. She was also the Senior Solo Champion at Champion dance Nationals in 2008. Chalyn danced on a professional contemporary dance company UNBOUND under the direction of Caroline Lewis-Jones in Columbia, South Carolina. Chalyn is an accomplished choreographer and has set many award winning lyrical, dance and hip hop routines for drill teams and studios around the state.
Karl Hendrickson
Karl trained at the Winner School in Salt Lake City, Utah. He danced with Odyssey for six years where he performed in Thriller, Shut Up and Dance, Joy to the World, and was a featured as George Bailley in “It’s a Wonderful Life”. He was a Fire and Ice dancer for the 2002 Olympic Medals Ceremonies. Karl has performed in many industrials. He also has appeared on TVs Touched by an Angel, and has won countless convention scholarships and recognition. Karl recently worked with Stiletto Entertainment and danced four different shows with Holland America Cruise lines. He is currently living in Las Vegas, dancing with Donny and Marie in their show featured at the Flamingo.
Katie Peacock
Katie Peacock trained at Hi-Light Dance in Alpine, Utah. Katie danced with the award winning Lone Peak High School drill team where she served as Captain for two years, made the All-State Drill Team, and also received the Academic All-State award. In college, Katie danced with the BYU Cougarettes from 2007 to 2010 and helped her team win the 2010 National Championship. During her time as a Cougarette, she served in many leadership positions and received the Most Valuable Dancer award in both 2009 and 2010. Katie loves teaching and choreographing and has worked with many drill teams and studios throughout Utah, Idaho, and Wyoming. Katie is studying Dance at BYU and will graduate in April 2012. She is also teaching at Hi-Light Dance and is grateful to be part of the dance community.
Krissie Edwards
Krissie is originally from Columbia, South Carolina where she trained at Southern Strutt under the direction of Nancy Giles. After graduating high school, she continued her education at the University of South Carolina and Weber State, earning her degree in Criminal Law. While attending USC, she continued teaching at Southern Strutt. In 2002, she relocated to Salt Lake City and in 2004, she started teaching at The Winner School. She has also done choreography for the BYU Cougarettes as well as several High School drill teams and dance companies.
Lauralyn Kofford
Lauralyn graduated from BYU with a Bachelors of Science degree in Dance Education. She taught and coached at Timpview High School for 12 yrs. Her choreography includes the annual 4th of July “Stadium of Fire”, the Miss Rodeo America Pageant, the 2002 SLC Winter Olympic Games Opening and Closing Ceremonies, Bowl game halftimes shows, and many National Championship Dance/Drill, Studio, and Solo competition routines. Lauralyn directs the annual “Rap It Up” hip hop convention and co-directs the Miss Dance/Drill Utah Pageant and the Utah Dance and Drill Solo Championship.
She is the Event Coordinator for Dance America and is the Co-Founder for the “Intermountain Spirit Association.” Lauralyn serves on the Board of Directors for the “UDJA” and has been a certified adjudicator for 18 yrs. Lauralyn LOVES to workout and currently teaches fitness classes for Gold’s Gym.
Lindsay Bosco
Lindsay has been dancing for 15 years with intense training in Ballet, Jazz, Hip Hop, Lyrical, and contemporary. She has been a part of a State and National Championship Hillcrest High school drill team and also has been honored with Individual State and National accolades. Lindsay was chosen as an All-State Drill team member and won the Utah High School Dance/Drill Team scholarship, and she has been honored with multiple dance convention scholarships. Lindsay’s passion is dancing, performing, teaching and choreography.
Linzi Baker
Linzi has been dancing for 9 years and has trained extensively in all disciplines. She has won numerous scholarships at several national conventions including LA Dance Magic, NYCDA, West Coast Dance Explosion and NUVO. She has also had the opportunity to perform at Disneyland, in Odyssey’s Thriller and with Justin Giles Final Cut. Linzi graduated with honors from Alta High School where she was the choreographer for the Alta Dance Company and a member of the National Honor Society.
Mandy Shaw
Mandy Shaw has been dancing since she could walk. As the daughter of a former studio owner, she has had extensive training in many forms of dance including ballet, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, tap, pointe, hip hop and tumbling. She has over 24 years of dance experience. Mandy has received many scholarships from various conventions and schools, enabling her to train with many of the industry’s leading choreographers from New York to Los Angeles. Much of her life was spent competing and performing throughout the country. Upon high school graduation, she continued her dance studies at Utah Valley State College in ballet and jazz.Shortly after, she took over as owner/director of what is now Infinity Dance.
Taylor Cate
Taylor has been dancing for 18 years training in jazz, contemporary, ballet, hip hop, lyrical, and tap. She is attending school at the University of South Carolina where she is a part of the Carolina Girls Dance Team as well as Unbound Dance Company under the direction of Caroline Lewis-Jones and Susan Dabney. She danced with The Winner School and graduated from Cottonwood High School where she was a member and captain of the Chaparrals drill team for 3 years. She has won numerous dance convention scholarships, danced in Odyssey’s Thriller and was a featured dancer in High School Musical 3. She has choreographed many solo and high school routines and teaches classes at various studios.
Taylor Ames
Tayler grew up dancing at Infinity Dance under the direction of Mandy Shaw. She went on to dance as a Box Elder High School Rockette for three years, where she served as Drill Captain. She was a member of the All State and All Region Drill Team, as well as receiving the dance Sterling Scholar for her high school. She danced as a back ground dancer for Thurl Bailey at the Usana Ampitheaters 24th of July celebration, and danced in Odysseys production of ”The Dance”. She is now entering into her third year on the Dance Team at UVU as dance captain, where she will continue to choreograph for her team. Tayler enjoys expanding her dance career through teaching, and helping others accomplish their goals in dancing. She is excited to join the BDT staff.
Samme Gough
Samantha Gough has been dancing for 15 years training in jazz, lyrical, ballet, tap, and hip hop at the Winner School. She attended Hillcrest High school and was captain 2 out of the 3 years of the Drill Team. Samantha has performed with many professional companies including Ballet West’s “Nutcracker” and Odyssey’s “Thriller”. She has received scholarships from Dance Attack, JUMP, and NYCDA. After high school, Samantha danced for the Utah Flash Basketball team, which is the D-league of the NBA. She loves dancing, choreographing, and performing.
Kambri Shenk
Kambri has been dancing for 15 years and has trained at Center Stage Performing Arts in jazz, contemporary, hip hop, and ballet. She was an Outstanding Dancer Scholarship winner at NYCDA and Senior VIP Scholarship winner at JUMP. She graduated with high honors from Spanish fork High School and was president of the Dance Company, Student Body Vice President, and Dance Sterling Scholar. She has had amazing choreographers such as Mandy Moore, Justin Giles, and Dee Caspary. Kambri is currently teaching at Esprit De Corps Dance Company and attending Utah Valley University receiving her Bachelor’s degree in Health Education.
Autumn Nelsen
Autumn is currently serving as the dance captain of the 9 time National Champion BYU Cougarettes. As a four-year member, she has been able to choreograph for the team, as well as choreograph for many high school dance teams throughout Utah. Autumn has grown up dancing at her mother’s studio, Hi-Light Dance Academy, and is now one of the instructors.
She was a member of the Lone Peak Drill Team, serving as dance captain for 2 years. In High School she won many regional and national solo dance awards, including Miss Dance/Drill Utah 2008. Autumn has had the opportunity to dance with LA Dance Magic Company, traveling with them for a year. With her strong ballet background, her emphasis in teaching is in technique, although she loves creating choreography for any style. In the future, Autumn is planning on taking over her mother’s studio so that she can help other girls learn to love dance just as much as she does.
Alisha Lee
Alisha lee is from salt lake city Utah and has been dancing for 13 years with training in jazz, hip hop, ballet, contemporary, and modern. She is attending Utah valley university were she is studying dance and social work. Alisha is a member of the nationally ranked Utah valley dance team and is an officer this year. She was a member of the Taylorsville high school drill team for three years, was captain her senior year and also a member of the all state drill team. Currently Alisha is working at radio Disney. She started off dancing as a road crew member but is now an official radio Disney emcee. She is a passionate performer, dancer, and choreographer, and loves her summers at BDT.