Karissa Molen is a performer, choreographer and instructor who has worked with several different private dance companies, as well as high schools and universities. She started her training at the Academy of Dance in Heber City, Utah with extensive experience in jazz, ballet, hip hop and contemporary genres. During her high school years, she was a member of the Wasatch Dance Company for three years, a Wasatch High School Cheerleader for two years, and was named Junior Drill Mistress and Head Drill Mistress of the Championship Waspettes Dance/Drill Team her junior and senior year. As a senior, she was awarded the All-Region and All-State title in dance/drill team for the state of Utah at Wasatch High School.
She received scholarships every year through her college career, which made her experience at Utah Valley University (UVU) incredible! Karissa studied Modern Dance at Utah Valley University. She was on the Dean’s List each semester and graduated with her BFA in Spring 2016. She was a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society throughout her college years and graduated with Cum Laude honors in April of 2016. She was a member of the Synergy Modern Dance Company at UVU for two years where she was able to perform pieces created by talented choreographers such as; Monica Campbell and Natosha Washington. Natosha’s piece, “What Lies Beneath the Skin” became a national finalist at ACDA in 2015.
She has sixteen years of teaching experience, teaching students 3 – 18 years old for Academy of Dance, Wasatch Dance Company, River Meadows Ballet, Soaring Wings International Montessori School and Intensity Dance Team. She has choreographed over 250 award winning group pieces, solos and duets in the genres of jazz, lyrical, contemporary and hip hop. She loves teaching dancers of all ages, and watching them “light up” as they learn new choreography that she has created. Witnessing new students discover the power of dance as a key to building self-esteem and overall confidence is the motivation that drives Karissa to perform, choreograph and teach the art of dance.
Karissa Molen
20 years of training in jazz, ballet, hip hop, contemporary
3 years member of Wasatch Dance Company
2 years member of WHS Cheer Squad
Junior Drill Mistress and Head Drill Mistress of Championship Waspettes 2008-2010
16 years of teaching experience
Member of UVU’s Synergy Dance Company 2013 – 2015/ACDA National Finalist 2015
Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Dance
Graduated with Cum Laude Honors 2016
IDT awarded Open Dance Nationals Team Overall Grand Champion 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021,2022 and 2023.
IDT awarded Open Dance Nationals Overall Studio Grand Champion out of 86 studios 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022 and 2023.
Karissa was awarded National Platinum Director of the Year in 2019, 2021, 2022 and 2023.
*She is also available for private lessons.
Rylee Slater
IDT Heber Instructor: IDT Acro Level 1, IDT Acro Level 2, IDT Acro Level 3, IDT Junior Technique, IDT Contemporary Team, IDT Ballet 5, IDT Gold Team Ballet, IDT Gold Turns
IDT Vineyard Instructor: IDT Pointe Class, IDT Ballet 5, IDT Improv/Choreo, IDT Adult Contemporary Class, IDT Junior Contemporary Team, IDT Ballet 3
Rylee grew up training with Center Stage Performing Arts Studio in Utah and then left to train with Artistic Dance Project. Because of her extensive studio training, she was able to work and tour with some of the most incredible artists in the dance world. She has worked closely with Travis Wall, Teddy Forance, Chantel Agurie, Stacey Tookey, and Jason Parsons.
Jason and Chantel have even choreographed solos for her. She had the opportunity to travel to Canada and attend Camp Protege, which she considers the highlight of her dance career. She has toured the United States and Canada with seasoned pros in the industry. She has traveled to New York and Los Angeles many times to compete and win at nationals including the Dance Awards, Hollywood Vibe, Velocity, Radix, and many NYCDA.
IDT is so excited to have Rylee sharing her incredible technical training and innovative choreography with our classes and teams. She can’t wait to meet her new students! *She is also available for private lessons.
*Full class descriptions on IDT website under “Teams/Classes”.
Paris Burg
IDT Heber Instructor: IDT Gold Team Technique, IDT Black Team Technique, IDT Black Team Ballet, IDT Hip Hop Combo Class
IDT Vineyard Instructor: IDT Black Team II Director, IDT Black Team Technique
Paris Roberts grew up in Chino Hills, California. She started dancing at 3 years old and began competing at age 4. She has trained in all of the genres with emphasis on hip hop, ballet, technique and contemporary. She was on her high school’s dance team for all 4 years! She is now on her third year at UVU on the 3x NDA National Championship Dance Team where she continues majoring in exercise science.
Paris has 20+ years of training and 8 years of teaching experience. She has extensive experience in competing with her studio, her high school and UVU winning multiple National Championships.
Paris is excited to meet her classes and teams in Heber and Vineyard. She is super excited for this season and watching everyone exceed their goals! *She is also available for private lessons.
*Full class descriptions on IDT website under “Teams/Classes”.
Ella Prather
IDT Heber Instructor: IDT Ballet 1, IDT Creative Movement, IDT Ballet 2, IDT Acro Level 2, IDT Jr. Hip Hop, IDT Cheer/Acro/Tumbling
Ella grew up in Heber City, Utah. She has over 8 years of training in a variety of genres–ballet, jazz, hip hop, and contemporary. Ella has been training with IDT and Karissa for 5 years. She has won numerous championships with individual IDT Teams, as well as Team and Studio Overall Grand Championships through the years.
She is a senior at Wasatch high school, a member of her high school dance team and looking forward to this year’s competitions! She enjoys anything outdoors, such as repealing, hiking, and boating! She loves adventure in and out of the studio. She cannot wait to meet new dancers this season!
Ella will be teaching Creative Movement, Ballet 1, Ballet 2, Acro Level 2, Junior Hip Hop Class, Cheer/Acro/Tumbling. *She is also available for private lessons.
*Full class descriptions on IDT website under “Teams/Classes”.
Asha Chappell
IDT Heber Instructor: IDT Junior Technique, IDT Ballet 3, IDT Senior Technique
Asha grew up in Heber City, Utah where she trained from the age of 3 in the genres of ballet/pointe jazz, and contemporary. She danced competitively from 3-14 years old. She competed with the Utah Arts Collective (formerly Wasatch Dance Center) all over the country including New York, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles.
She was a member of the Wasatch High School Cheer Team for all four years of high school. They were region and state champions each year she was on the team. She has years of experience teaching ballet, tumbling and technique classes. She is attending BYU in the fall.
She has so much planned for her IDT Classes and cannot wait to meet her new students this fall!
Asha will be teaching IDT Junior Technique, IDT Ballet 3, IDT Senior Technique Classes.
*Full class descriptions on IDT website under “Teams/Classes”.
Sophie Shipp Asay
IDT Vineyard Instructor: IDT White Team, IDT Gold Team Technique, IDT Junior Team II, IDT Junior Hip Hop Team 2, IDT Hip Hop 2, IDT Jazz Combo 2
Sophie Shipp Asay grew up in Las Vegas where she trained in ballet since the age of 3. Her ballet background began with training at a studio named Dance in Motion, located in Reno, Nevada. After her family moved to Henderson, Nevada she continued her training at Dance Zone Studio and Dance Etc. where she was introduced to ballet on pointe. She danced competitively from age 3 to 14. Once she got to high school, she continued her technique training with Erica Tomlinson who is a professional dancer for the famous Las Vegas show titled Le Reve.
She also trained in other genres such as; Jazz, Modern, Hip Hop, and Contemporary Dance. Sophie was Captain of a nationally ranked dance team and is continuing her training while at UVU pursuing her degree in elementary education. She graduated with her BS Degree in Elementary Education December 2023. This extensive training and teaching experience allows Sophie to introduce a fresh approach to standard classes. She will be combining contemporary music with classical ballet exercises and technical combos to bring a new energy to IDT classes.
She has 10+ years of experience teaching all genres to dancers from 3-17 years old in various studios throughout the west.
Through her experience she came to understand the importance of ballet. She feels that ballet what helps us succeed as dancers- to have the correct form and training! She loves ballet, hip hop, jazz, and hopes her dancers can find a love for it too. She connects with everyone she teaches and is able to help each dancer progress at an impressive rate. *She is also available for private lessons.
*Full class descriptions on IDT website under “Teams/Classes”.
Brinklie Pullan
IDT Vineyard Junior Cheer Team Director, IDT Vineyard Junior Cheer Team, Acro Level 3 and Acro Level 2
Brinklie has over 14 years of training in tumbling and cheer! She grew up in Las Vegas training as an Elite Cheer and Tumbling Athlete. She went on to win state, region and national titles such as; PCS Grand Champion, USA First Place Grand Champion, Jamz Nationals National Champion, zero deductions and superior tumbling. She was captain of the Palo Verde High School Cheer Squad in the all girl advanced category where they won four consecutive national titles. She is currently a member of the 2023-2024 National Championship UVU Cheer Squad.
Brinklie has years of experience teaching young tumblers and cheerleaders through high school programs, tumbling gyms and private lessons. She is a great choreographer! She is so excited to choreograph a fun pom routine for her Junior Cheer Team! She loves teaching each student on a personal level, helping that student achieve his or her personal goals.
Brinklie will be Directing the IDT Junior Cheer Team and teaching Acro Level 2, Acro Level 3. *She is also available for private lessons.
*Full class descriptions on IDT website under “Teams/Classes”.
Grace Bjerregaard
IDT Vineyard Team Director-IDT Mini Team, IDT Gold Team, IDT Junior Team II, IDT Junior Hip Hop Team 2
IDT Vineyard Instructor: IDT Ballet 3, IDT Junior Team Tech., IDT Ballet 2, IDT All Boys Hip Hop, IDT Hip Hop Acro, IDT Hip Hop 4,
Grace has over 12 years of dance training. She grew up in Sandy, UT and started competing with AED Studio in Draper, UT in jazz, hip hop and contemporary. At AED, she was able to train with former Cougarettes and industry professionals such as; Charlie Bronk, and Chase Wise. This is where dance first became a bigger and more serious part of her life. She knew it was what she loved. She specifically had great experience training in ballet as a foundation of her dance career. She then trained and competed with The Dance Project with more industry professionals Big Chocolate (Mark Cameron) Dez Jaynes.
In March of 2023, she returned from serving a year and a half mission for the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Minnesota. She is a sophomore at BYU studying Dance Education. She has 6+ years of teaching experience in studios throughout Utah. She especially loves teaching dance. She can teach all ages and levels in Jazz/Jazz technique, hip-hop, contemporary, ballet and modern dance.
Grace will be teaching IDT Mini Team, IDT Gold Team, IDT Junior Team II, IDT Junior Hip Hop Team 2, IDT Vineyard Instructor: IDT Ballet 3, IDT Junior Team Tech., IDT Ballet 2, IDT All Boys Hip Hop, IDT Hip Hop Acro, IDT Hip Hop 4. *She is also available for private lessons.
**Full class descriptions on IDT Website under “Teams/Classes”
Averie Watson
IDT Vineyard: IDT Ballet 1, IDT Hip Hop/Jazz, IDT Cheer 1, IDT Disney Combo Class, IDT Hip Hop 1, IDT Tumbling 1, IDT Acro 2
Averie grew up in Las Vegas, Nevada. She has over 13 years of training in ballet, gymnastics, jazz, hip hop, contemporary, lyrical, pom and acro. She trained with famous choreographers such as; Carly Conde, Joey Velas, Shanden Perez and Sabrina Bryan. She also received advanced training at world class studios such as Millennium and Center Stage.
She competed with her national championship high school dance team; Foothill High School Varsity Dance through all 4 years of high school. She also attended conventions and won national dance competitions as a studio dancer. Averie graduated high school as the projected millennium scholarship recipient. She is currently attending BYU and can’t wait to meet her dancers at IDT!
Averie will be teaching @IDT Vineyard: IDT Ballet 1, IDT Hip Hop/Jazz, IDT Cheer 1, IDT Disney Combo Class, IDT Hip Hop 1, IDT Tumbling 1, IDT Acro 2 *She is also available for private lessons.
**Full class descriptions on IDT Website under “Teams/Classes”
Emily Runyan
IDT Vineyard Instructor: IDT Mini Team II, IDT Creative Ballet
IDT Musical Theater Director: IDT Musical Theater, IDT Musical Theater Chorus
Emily started dancing competitively when she was 13 years old and has been training vigorously ever since (12 years of training). After competing in jazz, hip hop, lyrical, contemporary, clogging, and ballroom in a studio setting, she performed and competed with the Maple Mountain High School drill team from 2013-2015. After high school, she attended BYU studying Elementary Education with a minor in Dance. She currently teaches and choreographs for the Dance Companies throughout Utah. She has choreographed for several youth theater productions at the Scera Center for the Arts. Since 2019, she has performed in many musical productions at Hale Center Theater Orem, and Hale Center Theater Sandy. She currently performs with an accomplished tap company, percussive footwork ensemble. I have taught and substituted classes at studios all throughout Utah teaching ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, lyrical, contemporary, clogging, and musical theater.
Emily has taught several IDT Summer Camps and Classes and we can’t wait for her to direct the IDT Mini Team and teach the Creative Ballet Class on Mondays at IDT Vineyard. *She is also available for private lessons.
**Full class descriptions on IDT Website under “Teams/Classes”
Londyn Cleaver
IDT Vineyard Instructor: Intro to Ballet 1, Intro to Hip Hop, Intro to Jazz/Disney Combo
TA Gold Team, Gold Team Technique, Ballet 3
Londyn has been dancing since she could walk! She has over 15 years of training in ballet, jazz, hip hop, pom, tumbling, contemporary and ballroom. She was a part of a very successful competitive dance team competing in all genres. When she turned 13, she transferred to online school so she could devote more time to her competition team. She also started competing in ballroom with her partner.
When she entered high school, she was on the cheer and dance teams at Orem High School. Because of her busy high school schedule, she couldn’t possibly do all three so she stopped dancing competitively and focused on continued training through the high school programs. She is currently a senior at Orem High School and the president of ODC, the dance company. She is also in cosmetology school and planning to graduate high school with my cosmetology degree. “I have so much love for dance and don’t know where I would be without it. I’m so excited to add IDT to my repertoire! “–Londyn Cleaver.
She is currently Assisting the iDT Gold Team, the IDT White/Gold Technique Class, and the IDT Ballet 3 Class. She is also the instructor for our IDT Intro Classes on Friday afternoons.
**Full class descriptions on IDT Website under “Teams/Classes”
Shanae Davis
Director of the IDT Junior Cheer Team
Shanae has over 12 years of dance and cheer training. She competed with Academy of Dance and was a member of the Wasatch High School (WHS)Cheer Squad all four years, serving as captain of the cheer squad her Senior Year. She is currently the Assistant Coach of the 2024 WHS State Champion Cheer Squad.
Shanae will be Directing the IDT Heber Junior Cheer Team. They will learn a fun pom routine, working on jumps and a cheer that they will perform at the IDT Spring Concert! She will also be Directing IDT Cheer/Pom Intensives for girls who want to cheer or be on the drill team in high school.
**Full class descriptions on IDT Website under “Teams/Classes”
Jennie Pyper
IDT Heber Studio Manager, IDT Store Manager, IDT Heber Event Coordinator, IDT Customer Relations Director
Photo coming
Sophie Asay
IDT Vineyard Studio Manager, IDT Vineyard Event Coordinator
Matt and Tami Molen
Owners/Studio General Managers Vineyard location.