Team — Move Dance Studio

Cherese

Owner

Cherese has been dancing since the age of 2 and spent her youth training at the prestigious The Dance Club, where she developed a strong foundation in technique, performance, and discipline.

She attended Lone Peak High School, where she was a dedicated member of the Lone Peak Drill Team. During her junior year, she helped lead her team to a state championship title. In 2006, Cherese was crowned Miss Dance Drill Utah and went on to become a runner-up at the Miss Dance Drill USA pageant.

After high school, Cherese attended Brigham Young University, where she became a National Champion BYU Cougarette. Her passion for dance and teaching continued to grow, leading her to choreograph and teach dancers all across Utah for many years.

In 2016, Cherese fulfilled a lifelong dream and opened Move Dance Studio. She expanded in 2019 by launching Move Tumbling, offering even more opportunities for youth in the community. Today, her business has grown into Move Dance, Tumbling & Fitness, with two successful locations in Lehi and Highland. She is thrilled to be purchasing and continuing to expand the Highland location this year as she builds on her vision to create a positive, empowering space for dancers and athletes of all ages.

Cherese lives in Highland with her husband, Jackson, and their four energetic boys. Her heart is fully invested in helping young performers grow in confidence, skill, and passion—both on and off the stage.

Sami Jo

Explosion and Fusion Director

Sami Jo Carson grew up in Pleasant Grove, starting dance at the age of two. She grew up dancing at Dance Showcase Company and in high school was a member of the Pleasant Grove drill team and dance company where she served as President. In college, Sami was on Utah Valley Universities hip hop team, Mosaic, for two years.

Sami Jo has taught and choreographed for various studios in Utah County over the last 10 years and has been a director at Move Dance Studio for four years. She has taught and choreographed many award winning solos and group routines. She is passionate about training young dancers with correct technique, ensuring they build a strong foundation that enhances both performance quality and long term growth.

Currently, Sami coaches the drill team at Pleasant Grove High School, where she has coached for 7 years and has won four region titles and five top 5 overall placements in the 6A division. She also teaches Health and Hope Squad. As an educator, she believes in fostering a positive and disciplined environment where students can thrive. Sami Jo loves Move Dance Studio and is excited to share her love of dance with the next generation of dancers!

Emily

Explosion and Fusion Director

Emily began dancing at the age of three, training extensively in a wide range of styles including jazz, ballet, tap, lyrical, contemporary, acro, and more. Her passion for dance led to continue education in College at MCC and Brigham Young University, where she further developed technique, education, and performance skills.

Throughout college years, she was actively involved in the professional dance scene, performing with Ballet Arizona and various contemporary companies. She also had the opportunity to work in commercials, industrial performances, and musical theater productions such as Oklahoma! and Guys and Dolls.

After getting married, her love for dance found a new purpose in teaching. She discovered a deep passion for mentoring and inspiring the rising generation of dancers. She has had a long successful teaching career of over 31 years. Recognizing the importance of injury prevention and longevity in dance, Emily pursued additional certifications in several specialized methods including Progressive Ballet Technique (PBT), the Godfrey Method, the Move Method, and Stretch and Flexibility training for dancers.

For over 25 years, she has served as the director of elite competitive dance companies, where she had the privilege of coaching and guiding dancers to reach their full potential. Emily loves watching young artists grow in both skill and confidence as they learn to excel in the competitive world. Numerous of her students have gone on to pursue professional careers in dance and dance education, and it brings her immense joy to see them thrive in their passions.

Now, after 25 years of marriage and raising five wonderful children, Emily continues to find joy in sharing the art of dance with others. Dance is a constantly evolving art form, and she is committed to growing with it—both as a teacher, choreographer and a lifelong student

Kara

Sparks and Attack Director

Kara McGary’s love for dance began at the age of 3 and has been a defining part of her life ever since. She was a dedicated member of the Lehi High School Drill Team for four years, serving as an officer for three and co-captain her senior year. After high school, Kara continued her dance journey at Southern Utah University, where she performed and served as the secretary of the team throughout her time there.

Kara began teaching at 19 and has been sharing her passion with dancers ever since. She joined MOVE in 2018, where she continues to inspire students through her vibrant energy, strong technique focus, and heart-centered teaching style. With experience in jazz, lyrical, contemporary, hip hop, and technique, Kara is committed to helping dancers build confidence, discipline, and a deep love for the art of movement—no matter their age or level.

Annie

Ballet Director

Growing up in Northern Utah, Annie's ballet journey began at the Clytie Adams School of Ballet. This foundational training was enriched by summer intensives and opportunities to learn from talented local professionals. Her pre-professional studies flourished under the direction of Raymond Van Mason at Imagine Ballet Theatre (IBT), where she learned from distinguished international artists and enjoyed performing memorable roles in productions like The Nutcracker, Secret Garden, and Alice in Wonderland.

In 2009, Annie discovered her passion for educating competitive dancers when she began teaching ballet in West Jordan. She excelled at the unique challenge of integrating strong ballet technique into the diverse training of these dancers, carefully tailoring her classes for maximum benefit.

Annie's move to Pleasant Grove in 2017 led her to Move Dance in 2019. She currently serves as the Ballet Director, a role she has embraced by building a department of talented instructors and providing Move's dancers with a comprehensive ballet education. Committed to her own growth, Annie continues her training through programs like PBT and OUAB, with aspirations of becoming a RAD certified ballet teacher.

Chantel

Recreation Director/ Special Needs

Lexie

Instructor

Lexie has been teaching dance for over 12 years and has been a dedicated instructor at MOVE Dance Studio since its second year. Specializing in jazz, lyrical, and contemporary dance, she is especially passionate about choreography for the studio’s competitive teams. Though she began dancing at the age of 11—a later start than most—her dedication and love for the art led to a successful high school dance career. She danced all four years, served as company president during her junior and senior years, and advanced to the state round as a Sterling Scholar in dance.

For Lexie, teaching dance is more than just steps and technique—it’s a passion project. She is committed to mentoring young dancers, helping them grow both as performers and as individuals. She believes that dance instills body positivity, teamwork, discipline, and confidence, shaping not only great dancers but strong, empowered young women. Watching her students thrive both on and off the stage is the most rewarding part of her work.

Erin

Instructor

choreographer, and instructor with over 20 years of experience in the dance industry. Originally from South Jordan, Utah, she began her dance training at the age of four at The Winner School and Pulse 31 Dance Studios. She trained in a variety of styles, including jazz, ballet, hip-hop, lyrical, and tap.

During high school, Erin was a dedicated member of the Bingham High School Minerettes, where she served as team president her senior year. She continued her dance career at Brigham Young University as a member of the nationally renowned BYU Cougarettes, earning the role of dance captain for two years.

Erin’s leadership and expertise extended into coaching, where she led the Bingham High School Minerettes for four years. Under her guidance, the team achieved four Region titles, three State titles, and four National titles. In 2012, she was recognized as the UDDA 5A Coach of the Year.

Beyond coaching, Erin performed professionally as a Utah Jazz Dancer and has been a sought-after choreographer for dance studios and drill teams nationwide. Since 2016, she has been an instructor at Move Dance Studio. She is also currently the head drill team coach at Skyridge High School.

Audrey

Instructor

Courtney

Instructor

Courtney is a dedicated and passionate dance instructor with over 10 years of teaching experience, including 6 years at MOVE Studio. She began dancing competitively at a young age, training at Dance Showcase Company, and later became a member of her high school dance team. Courtney’s extensive background in dance, coupled with her commitment to nurturing young dancers, has made her a highly skilled educator.

Throughout her career, Courtney has focused on developing not only technical dance skills in her students but also qualities that will serve them in all areas of life. She strives to instill dependability, accountability, leadership, and confidence in her dancers, helping them grow both inside and outside the studio. Courtney’s passion for teaching goes beyond just choreography and technique; she takes pride in empowering her students and guiding them to reach their full potential as young women.

Madi

Instructor

Natalia

Instructor

Elena

Instructor

Metta

Instructor

Amanda

Ballet Instructor

Amanda began her dance training at Alabama Dance Academy in Birmingham, AL. She continued studying ballet, jazz, lyrical, and pointe for the next 12 years. She danced in conjunction with 1995 Miss America Heather Whitestone and the Alabama Ballet. In addition to local performances, Amanda has performed in the Bahamas, Disneyland Paris, Munich, Germany, and Atlanta, Georgia. She has danced in productions like The Nutcracker on Broadway, in the Hollywood Parade, and was invited to perform as a featured artist at the 2000 Summer Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia.

Amanda has performed in numerous notable productions including The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Les Sylphides, The Sleeping Beauty, Les Patineurs, and more. She received a ballet scholarship to Brigham Young University and graduated cum laude from Utah Valley University with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management.

Amanda served as the Artistic Director of a local dance studio for 12 years, where she nurtured and guided young dancers to achieve their full potential. She currently works as a Customer Success Executive at a software company. She resides in Lehi with her husband and four beautiful children.