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, and teaches hundreds of young dancers at The Winner School in Salt Lake City.

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  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.

 

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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.

 

Bri Johnson

Bri  was proud to perform in both the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2002 Winter Olympic Winter Games under the direction of Kenny Ortega. Bree then won the title of Miss Dance Drill Team Utah, and went on to compete  at the Miss Dance Drill Team USA competition, there she was awarded the honor of Queen as well as Best Modeling and Choreography and her favorite of all Miss Congeniality. Following high school, Bree was signed by Royal Caribbean Cruise lines as a featured dancer. After leaving the Cruise ship she was televised on the third season of FOX television’s hit show, “So You Think You Can Dance”.  Bree auditioned and was selected to participate in the Edge Performing Arts Center scholarship program.  Since  graduating from Edge in 2008 Bree has performed on the MTV music awards with Rihanna. Additionally, Bree  has appeared in many national commercials for Verizon, Ford Lincoln, and recently completed a Subway Five    Dollar Foot Long commercial as Lead Dancer. Bree is represented by Clear Talent Agency out of Los Angeles.      Her most recent jobs have been, the hit promo The Fabulous Beekman Boys and the Basement Jaxx music    video and Hannah Montana.  She’s also worked with Miley Cyrus, Taylor Swift, Rascal Flatts and many more.     Bree has enjoyed using her talents to brighten her own life as well as those lives around her. 

 

 

 

Chalyn Dye

Chalyn has been dancing for 16 years training in Hip Hop, Jazz, Ballet, Contemorary, Lyrical, Musical Theater and Tap.  She is currently attending the University of Utah as a Health/Psychology major as well as teaching at The Winner School in Salt Lake City, Utah.  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.  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.

 

Cherese Emery

Cherese has been dancing since the age of three. She grew up training at The Dance Club in Orem. She was a member of Lone Peak High School Drill Team for 3 years. She was the captain for two of those years and led her team to a 4A state championship in 2005. Cherese was crowned Miss Dance Drill Utah in 2006 and she went on to becoming 4th runner up at the Miss Dance Drill USA pageant. Cherese attended Brigham Young University and became a National Champion BYU Cougarette for 2 years. She has been teaching dance for the past six years and is currently teaching many classes at The Dance Club, and Hi-light Dance Studio.

 

Christina Bluth

Christina became a member of Odyssey Dance Theater in 1998 and performed with them until 2008. She has had the opportunity to perform professionally all around the United States as well as Taiwan, the Philippines and Malaysia. Other performances include work with E. Excel, Polaris, Tahitian Noni, PBS and the ESPN Airwave Show. At the 2002 Winter Olympic Games, she directed and performed with the Soldier Hollow Spirit Team as well as the World Ski Championships in Germany. She has been teaching and directing dance companies for ten years and has taught many master classes and dance conventions around the country.

 

Christy St. Pierre

Christy grew up dancing in Colorado at the Starstruck Dance Academy. She has trained in Jazz, Ballet, Hip Hop, Pom, Lyrical and Contemporary. She was a member of the Highlands Ranch High School Varsity Pom Squad for four years. She was also a member of the Brigham Young University Cougarettes for four years where she won several national titles and was captain of the team for two years. She graduated from BYU with a bachelors in Home and Family Sciences. Christy has a variety of experience in choreographing for high school and college teams as well as studios. She also made an appearance on the FOX TV show "So You Think You Can Dance" during the Las Vegas audition     process in 2008.

 

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 Mower

Katie Mower trained at Hi-Light Dance under the direction of Heidi Nelsen. Katie danced on the drill team at Lone Peak High School where she served as Captain, made the All-State Drill Team, and also received the Academic All-State award. Katie was first runner-up in Utah's Jr. Miss, received the Regional Miss Senior Onstage NY title, and also was awarded the Regional Magic Performer at LA Dance Magic. Katie is currently dancing at Brigham Young University as a Cougarette, where she has worked with choreographers such as Justin Giles, Barry Youngblood, Lisa Odell, and most recently, Tabitha and Napolean D'umo.

 

 

Katie Beth Summerhays

Katie trained at The Winner School in Jazz, Ballet, Hip Hop, Tap, Lyrical and Contemporary. She has received several regional and national dance convention scholarships through New York City Dance Alliance, LA Dance Magic, West Coast Dance Explosion, Dance Attack, and others. She was a three year member and two year captain of the Murray High School Drill Team where she won many dance awards such as Miss Drill Team Utah 2003, Miss Utah Classic, as well as being a Dance Sterling Scholar State Finalist. Katie was also a member of the Brigham Young University Cougarettes for four years where she won several national titles and was captain of the team for two years.

She will be graduating from BYU with a bachelor’s degree in Art History and Curatorial  Science in December 2009.  Katie has worked  with several local studios, high schools, colleges and professional teams.

 

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.  Krissie Became a mother to Taylor McCall Edwards, 6 pounds, 13 ounces on June 12!!!  CONGRATULATIONS!

 

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. 

Lyndsey Hancock

Lyndsey has been dancing for 15 years training in Ballet, Jazz, Hip Hop, Contemporary and Lyrical.  She has won several scholarships at national conventions including NYCDA, NUVO, LA Dance Magic, JUMP and Dance Attack.  She also participated in the 2002 Jr. Olympics winning 8 team gold medals and 1 individual gold medal.  She was a member of the Hillcrest Drill Team for 3 years and helped them earn a state title in 2008 and 2 national titles, one in 2007 and the other in 2008 as the captain of the team. Lyndsey has choreographed many solo and high school routines.  She currently lives in Cedar City, Utah and attends Southern Utah University where she is the dance captain for the SUU    dance team.  She also teaches at Gravity Dance Center.

 

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.

          

Megan Cranney

Megan has been passionate about dance since she was a little girl and it has become her life and career.  She trained at The Dance Club, Center Stage and with Utah Regional Ballet.  Growing up in the competition world, she has won numerous regional and national awards including National Outstanding Dancer for New York City Dance Alliance by the age of 12.  She is trained in several disciplines of dance, but favors jazz/lyrical/contemporary.  She has danced professionally for the 2002 Winter Olympics, Tokyo Disney and has assisted many teachers in LA and New York.  She has taught and choreographed for multiple studios in Utah, Rhode Island and Massachusetts.  Her Choreography has taken national honors at many dance and drill competitions.  She is also a  certified personal trainer and loves to work with dancers on how to stretch and condition their bodies to maximize their strength and flexibility.  Recently she has returned to her schooling to finish a degree in Dance Education from Utah Valley University.  She currently resides in Spanish Fork, Utah with her husband and son.

 

 

 

We definitely had the time of our lives!!!  Thank you BDT for helping our team (Skyline) grow so much! This was exactly what we needed!!!   MARISSA FAUSETT

Oh my heck! I love BDT sooooo much! I love all of the majors! Thanks major Flex-It for wooping me into shape!! You made me so sore but I am glad!!  Thanks to all of the majors that helped me and my team (North Summit).  We got to know each other so much more because of BDT!  Thanks for everything, Your the BEST!!   CORTNIE COLEMAN