Your dancer is guided by professional dancers, choreographers, fitness instructors, and educators.
EACH brings something unique to your child’s dance journey.
ALL share a passion for the art, a drive for excellence, and love of our dancers.
Corie Tyson earned her formal dance training in ballet, jazz, modern and tap at local studios, beginning at the age of 5. She started teaching at 18 and has trained dancers at many bay area studios over the last 20 years, including as a guest teacher at San Jose State University and at Dance Connection for 10+ years. Corie is excited to direct the studio she feels so passionately represents the delicate balance between a warm, family-oriented environment and an elite competitive training education.
Gillian teaches power yoga, yoga sculpt, and Pilates-inspired strength classes at yoga studios throughout the Bay Area. She is an energetic and dedicated instructor who curates classes that are upbeat, music-driven, and designed to challenge both body and mind. Gillian’s teaching style is rooted in joy and she believes in building physical strength while cultivating inner confidence.
Alexa is a passionate dancer, performer, and choreographer. Her 12 years as a competitive dancer drove her interest in joining a professional dance team. She auditioned for the 49ers Gold Rush Cheerleaders in 2012, and hit the ground running. That year she attended the Super Bowl, countless media events, and received the Rookie of The Year Award. While attending the 2013 Super Bowl, Alexa appeared on the Craig Ferguson Show, Enews, and Good Morning America. She was a captain on the 49ers Gold Rush, and has had the opportunity to help choreograph and set routines for the team. Alexa was selected to represent the San Francisco 49ers as the 2017 Pro Bowl Cheerleader in Orlando Florida. At the 49ers museum in Levis Stadium, Alexa is the host of a virtual reality dance video game. Throughout her five years on the team, she stayed active in the dance community by taking and teaching dance classes. She has set routines for local high school dance and cheer teams. Alexa choreographed for the 2017 Pro Action Dance Prep convention. She has performed with Train, Nico and Vinz, Snoop Dog, E40, and Jordin Sparks. Alexa can be seen in Trains “Mermaid” music video, as well as Clinton Sparks “Gold Rush Girl” video. She made an appearance on the television pilot “Friday Night Impossible” with Jerry Rice on Great American Country Network. She also made an appearance on CSN Bay Area for Sports Net Central. After her time on the 49ers Gold Rush, she signed with the Movement Talent Agency in Los Angeles. During her time in Los Angeles, she trained in many dance styles with some of the industry’s top choreographers and pursued her commercial dance dreams. She landed the lead role in a commercial for JustFab shoes, and also stared in a commercial for a local gym and spa. Alexa directed the 49er GoldRush Cheerleaders until 2022. Alexa was the Artistic Director of our popular DC Performing Company.
Joan's high-energy teaching style and ability to communicate concepts to all levels of learners have become well known at universities and dance studios across the country. She has deep knowledge of Vintage, Historical and Social Dance, Tap Dance, Musical Theatre Choreography and Theatredance Styles. She has been teaching at Vintage and Historical dance workshops nationally and internationally since 1991. Her work encompasses choreographing for musicals and operas at the College-Conservatory of Music in Cincinnati, six of them winning 1st place at the National Opera Awards.
As a recent graduate of Southern Utah University with a degree in biology, Sierra is staying in touch with one of her many passions. Sierra loves to be able to open student's minds to every style of dance as she performed in various styles of dance including ballet, tap, jazz,contemporary, lyrical and acrobatics. Working with students at every stage of life, Sierra encourages students to express themselves through movement and creativity.
Leo Morimune began his extensive training receiving full scholarship to San Francisco Ballet for 8 years. Graduated from the School of the Arts San Francisco, where he trained in Modern, Afro Haitian and Choreography. His professional dance career started at age 10 and transitioned to becoming a industry dancer/choreographer after moving to LA.
Isabella Marines is a California native who performed in the dance industry with studio and theatre companies. Since they were 2 years old, they have trained in various styles, including ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary, lyrical, musical theatre, and acrobatics. When they were 12, they began closely studying acrobatic safety and techniques and were mentored by Acrobatic Arts professionals. Since they were 16, Isabella has choreographed in California and in the Maryland-Virginia area for theatre productions, recreational dance, and competition dance routines. In their time choreographing for competition, multiple pieces have placed in the Top 10, Top 5, and Top 3 at regional and national competitions. For their education, they have an A.A. in Social and Behavioral and a B.A. in Organizational Communication which they use to adapt friendly lesson plans for all ages and backgrounds. At this time, they are also pursuing an A.S. in Paralegal Studies in hopes of entering family law to help people in their times of need.
A Southern California native, Frankie Mendoza was born in the small town of Brawley; where he quickly found a passion for the art of movement at a young age through freestyle. Though from a very small dance community, Mendoza set out to carve his path as an artist and individual in order to build an understanding as movement enthusiast on his own. He enjoys using concepts and techniques from all aspects of art to influence his eclectic style of movement in choreography. Aside from the new journey to musical theater, he continues as an artist and educator with his philosophy that dance reflects the art of expression through movement while emphasizing the journey of individual progression. He uses this philosophy to provide students with a new creative look and understanding of dance beyond their technical application as a way to open their minds to new waves of expression.
As the former SF Bay Area Director and Choreographer of dance companies Academy of Villains and Young Skull Club, Francis was integral in pioneering their shows at Universal Studios Orlando and California’s Great America. His television experience includes Showtime at the Apollo (FOX, contestant), America’s Got Talent (NBC, contestant), and Fake-Off (TruTv, Season 2 champion).
He was also an Assistant Choreographer for So You Think You Can Dance (FOX) and has choreographed and performed in television specials featured on NBC Bay Area and CBS Bay Area. Francis is a director and choreographer for Hip Hop Nutcracker (Fox Theater) and is deeply involved in the SF Bay Area community, donating his time and talent to support various causes from breast cancer to food insecurity to orphan and vulnerable children in Mozambique.
Brooke Wertwijn is a freelance dancer, teacher, and choreographer in the Bay Area. Originally from Minnesota, Brooke trained at Ashley Ballet Arts Academy directed by Ashley Burkland. She graduated from the University of Utah School of Dance with a B.F.A. in Ballet, Ballet Studio Teaching Certificate, and Business Minor. Brooke was a member of SALT Contemporary Dance’s Pre-Professional Training Company directed by Courtney Mazeika and a Trainee at Ballet Idaho. She was a Company Artist with San Jose Dance Theatre for the 2022-2024 seasons and was the Academy Director in 2024. She choreographed and directed a brand-new, full-length production of The Little Mermaid and co-directed the 59th Annual San Jose Nutcracker. She has performed internationally in the Czech Republic, South Korea, and Italy. Brooke is currently dancing with Natasha Carlitz Dance Ensemble and recently performed with Peninsula Ballet Theatre and eMotion Arts Dance. Brooke has taught at schools in Minnesota, Utah, Idaho, and California. She is an ABT® Certified Teacher, who has successfully completed the ABT® Teacher Training Intensive in Pre-Primary through Level 3 of the ABT® National Training Curriculum. Her choreography has been presented at the Minnesota Fringe Festival, Cathedral Dance Festival, American College Dance Association’s Northwest Conference, SHAPE Choreography Festival, University of Utah Ballet Showcase, The Ballet Alliance Festival, and Zohar Performance Series. Brooke loves to share the joy of dance through teaching, performing, and choreographing. When not dancing, she enjoys spending time gardening, reading, and crocheting.
Peter Hershey received his early training at the Seiskaya Ballet Academy in St. James, New York. He went on to attend both the School of American Ballet and The Juilliard School, also studying under New York-based teachers Francis Patrelle and Johan Renvall. Peter danced professionally with Ballet San Jose and has guested with several ballet companies nationwide. Peter is proud to represent the Dance Connection Ballet Company and run the ballet program at Dance Connection!
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Nikki began dancing at the age of two and quickly developed a lifelong passion for the art. Trained in jazz, tap, lyrical, contemporary, ballet, hip hop, tumbling, and acrobatics, she went on to perform professionally with companies such as Unity Dance before discovering her true love for teaching and choreography.
With over 15 years of experience directing competitive programs, Nikki’s choreography has received national recognition, including Industry Dance Awards, Top Choreographer Awards, Best in the West titles, and countless overall high scores. In 2018, she founded Notion Dance Concepts in Carlsbad, CA, where she built a thriving community of dancers and fostered technical excellence with creative artistry.
Now based in the Bay Area, Nikki continues to share her passion nationwide through her training programs, choreography, and as a judge for leading competitions including KAR, Rainbow, ULTRA, and Showstopper. She has also collaborated with major dance brands such as DanceOne and Capezio, further solidifying her role as an inspiring voice in the dance industry.
Cindy grew up dancing from a young age, studying all styles of dance, and has never stopped. She has been teaching dance for over 48 years to all ages and abilities, and is now seeing the second generation of her dance students. She has a fondness for working with young dancers, and an educational background in Early Childhood Development. Cindy founded Dance Connection in 1987, and it has grown to become one of the most popular dance schools on the Peninsula. One of the rewards of teaching dance is the relationships that develop over the years with the DC dancers and families. Cindy credits the outstanding faculty here at Dance Connection for the quality training every dancer receives, and is proud to train the second generation of Dance Connection dancers. She and her husband, Mark have three grown children and five grandchildren. Cindy is happy to support Corie Tyson in her new role directing the studio that she started over 37 years ago!Nikki has been a part of the dance world for over 20 years as a Dancer, Choreographer, Instructor and Director.
Jennifer received her ballet training in San Francisco with the Academy of Ballet, Dancers' Stage, Lanova Academy, City Ballet School and Boston Ballet School. She has performed with various Bay Area companies including the Peninsula Ballet Theater, San Francisco Dance Theater, and the Santa Clara Ballet. She performed in the San Francisco production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's "The Phantom of the Opera" for 4 1/2 years. Jennifer has two beautiful daughters, and has enjoyed teaching and watching students grow at Dance Connection since 2001.
