Samantha "Sam" Slater -Dance Instructor

     Samantha “Sam” Slater was born in Winfield, KS raised in Topeka, KS. As a first generation Asian-American in a single parent home, Sam found solace in dance, theatre, and cheer throughout her childhood. She started dance at age 3 and joined Ballet Midwest at age 12 up and performed in well known classical ballets production such as The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, Giselle, Cinderella, and La Boutique Fantasque up until she graduated high school. During that same era she was very active in her local theatre community performing various shows such as Peter Pan, Cinderella, and Little Shop of Horrors. She also cheered for her high school and competed as well. After graduating high school 2007, Sam received a dance scholarship at Barton County where she competed nationally at the National Dance Association in Daytona, FL and placed top 10 out of many other Division II dance teams. During her time in college she started teaching at a local dance studio in her college town which jump started her career as a dance teacher. In 2012 she danced for a professional cheerleading for a pro arena football team Kansas Koyotes, which also assisted choreographing as well. Sam will be approaching her 11th year in teaching this year. She has experience in teaching Ballet, Jazz, Lyrical, Musical Theatre, Hip Hop, Acro, and competition coaching.

Michaela Stanley - Dance Instructor

Mary Ward - Dance Instructor

     Mary Love Ward holds an MFA in Dance Performance and Choreography from Florida State University, a BS in Biology with a minor degree in dance from Winthrop University, and is a certified Pilates trainer through the Physical Mind Institute. Ms. Ward began her professional dance career in Washington, DC performing for several seasons with two of the city’s established contemporary companies. As a company dancer with Carla & Company, she toured the north-east performing repertory from a variety of nationally recognized contemporary choreographers. While in DC she also danced with the post-modern based company Dance Antonini, which performed in the National Improvisation Festival and various site-specific works. More recently she has danced with Fuzion Dance Artists, Mary Love Dance Projects (MLDP) a research-based company she also directed, and Moving Testimony a ministry based dance ensemble. With MLDP she toured the east coast and appear in a broadcast Ted (X) production, which was made possible through an artistic residency at The Center for Contemporary Dance. Ms. Ward’s professional choreography has been presented nationally and abroad. As an educator, she has also been honored to have had her choreography commissioned for student dancers at Darton College, Daytona State College, and the pre-professional program at The Center for Contemporary Dance. Ms. Ward has taught dance at Valencia College, Florida State University, and served as co-director and professor of contemporary dance for St. Johns River State College dance major program from 2014-2019. She has also worked with dancers for several years as a Pilates trainer and has published research on this topic through The Method Pilates. As a classically trained dancer, she honors traditional forms in her teaching and choreography. She draws influence from the techniques of Lester Horton, Martha Graham, and Jose Limon. As a contemporary choreographer, she blends these aesthetics with more current somatic approaches and creates room for each dancer to be an expressive individual.

Cerina Trapp - Dance Instructor 

    Cerina Trapp has spent most of her life dancing. She joined Lisa Allen’s Dance Works when she was 4 years old and spent the next 16 years of her life at the studio. She began competing at the age of 7 and won many awards including platinum solo awards and a call back performance for her solo (choreographed by Lexie Fortenberry) in 2011 at Cathy Roe’s Ultimate Dance Competition. Cerina did a summer intensive with Laurie Picinich-Byrd at the Florida Ballet and danced in their production of The Nutcracker; she also performed as the Snow Queen in a local production of The Nutcracker.  She attended Douglas Anderson School of the Arts for her freshman and part of her sophomore year. During her years at Lisa Allen’s Dance Works she has worn many hats including being a teacher during the 2012 dance year and is excited to return to the place she has spent the majority of her life doing what she loves. While no one dance form is better than the other, Cerina is versed in them all and lyrical and hip hop rank as her favorites.

Pam Kato - Aerial Silk Instructor

     Aerial Dance is her passion. With many years of dance experience, taking it to the air has opened a whole new fun fitness challenge that creates strength, flexibility, and grace.  Pam has studied Aerial Dance with Aerial Icons Rebekah Leach and Juliana Hane in the Instructors Certification Course through Born to Fly Aerial. In addition, she attended training workshops with the amazing Susan Murphy, Gwynne Flannigan, and Andrea Fors. Along with teaching a variety of Aerial Classes, she has participated in bringing Aerial Dance to the productions of the musical “Hair” at the Amelia Community Theater and “Peter Pan” with the St. Mary’s Children’s Theater at the Theater by the Trax. Since age 3, she has been involved in dance, with an emphasis in Ballet. Beginning at LaPeer School of Dance in Michigan at a young age, through young adulthood at Suncoast Academy of Dance in Florida. Pam has studied and achieved degrees in Exercise Science, Emergency Medical Services and Nursing. A medical background of 20 + years gives me the knowledge and skill to also work with those with special medical/physical considerations, along with Certifications of Fitness Trainer, Specialist in Fitness Nutrition, and Youth Fitness Trainer obtained through the elite ISSA (International Sports science Association) College of Exercise Science.

Lana "Lexie" Fortenberry - Choeographer

     Lexie is a Graduate of DA School of the Arts and has traveled London, Scotland & France on talent scholarships. She has trained in the Art of Dance since the age of 2, assistant teacher at the age of 11 and student teacher/choreographer by the age of 13.  Lexie has won numerous awards for her innovative choreography. 

Amanda Phelps - Choeographer

     Amanda began dancing with Lisa in 2004 when she was in highschool. One year later she joined the Dazzler Competition Team and acted as an assistant teacher and choreographer. After graduating high school she continued her dance career in college, teaching at a Valdosta studio for five years. In 2014, she returned to LADW as a substitute teacher and competition choreographer. Now she choreographs for our competition team.

Kimberlee Witt - Choeographer

Kimberlee started dancing at Lisa Allen’s Dance Works when she was three. She joined the competition team at age 7 where she won numerous platinums, judges, and overall awards. She was also given multiple national invitations and scholarships. At age 8, Kimberlee auditioned and was selected to perform for a week with an Atlanta based dance company. At age 12, she performed in Oprah Whinfrey’s LoveTown TV series. Kimberlee attended high school at Douglas Anderson School of the Arts in Jacksonville, Florida where she performed in numerous dance concerts as well as taking master classes from well known artists like Alex Wong and Taylor 2 Dance Company. While in high school, Kimberlee performed in the Harlem Globe Trotters half time show. Kimberlee currently attends college at Kennesaw State University. She is a double major in Dance with a concentration in modern as well as an Elementary Education Major. While in college, she has been part of the KSU Dance Company for four consecutive semesters. In 2018, Kimberlee participated in a dance study abroad to Israel where she took master classes from the renowned Batsheva Dance Company. She now choreographs for our competition team