Our Directors

  Auxier began her training at the age of three in the Hartford Ballet dance studio in CT that housed the professional Hartford Ballet dance company.  From an early age she had the opportunity to train and perform with them in many works including the Kirk Peterson’s American Nutcracker Ballet at the prestigious Bushnell theatre. Growing up going to her neighboring state of New York to see all of the classical ballets performed by ABT, Harlem Ballet Theatre, and Broadway was the greatest gift. Her training is based in ballet, character, contemporary and jazz. She later moved to Utah and attended BYU where she received her Bachelors in dance teaching with a ballet emphasis. She has been teaching at classical and competitive dance studios ever since. She is thrilled to meet the students and advance their technique and passion for dance.  

Kristi grew up dancing in Salt Lake City, UT. She holds three degrees in dance. A BA from BYU, an MA from UCLA’s Department of World Arts and Cultures, and an MFA from the University of Utah. She has danced, choreographed, and taught most age levels around the world. Some of her best work has been seen at the Dance and Child International Festival in Brazil, the University of Hawaii, Eastern Connecticut State University, and the American College Dance Festival. She returned to Utah to serve as the Assistant Dean in the Colleges of Fine Arts and Education at the University of Utah. Her areas of specialty include teaching and working with underrepresented populations.  Outside of dance, she loves to travel, read, and play board games with her 2 sons and her husband. She is honored to choreograph and teach for Daje for the second year as a guest choreographer. 

Kobi started training at age ten in ballet and soon began to love many other styles as well to include contemporary, lyrical, and modern. 

Growing up in the overseas military community, she had the opportunity to train at many different studios where her family was stationed, allowing a unique learning experience from many instructors. Kobi has lived in Japan, Italy, Germany, and North Carolina. She has performed and choreographed for many events held in Okinawa, Japan. 

She began teaching summer workshops in Georgia and for the military community at Kadena Air Force Base overseas, teaching ages three to adult. 

To further her dance training, she attended Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina, graduating with a BA in Dance Studies with a minor in Photography. At App State, she was awarded the dance faculty scholarship and was able to perform and choreograph for university productions each semester. In addition, she attended a department held New York Dance Studies trip and a short-term study abroad to Cuba to be immersed in the dance scene there. 

Kobi has an affinity for teaching others to love dance, making her students feel welcomed and helping them grow! 

Jenn was born in Utah and started dance at the age of 7 with the Children’s Ballet Conservatory. She continued her training at New Jersey Ballet under directors Carolyn Clark and Edward Villella for 12

years. 

She had the privilege of performing in the Nutcracker at the Papermill Playhouse in Short Hills, and even had the honor of dancing on the stage of Radio City Music Hall in Manhattan. 

She first started teaching dance in high school and has continued to teach throughout her life. Most recently, she taught adult ballet classes in the community. While ballet is her first love, she expanded her training to include

classic Bob Fossé jazz, and even tap after being cast as the lead in the musical 42 nd Street. She has starred in several musicals including Footloose, Saturday’s Warrior, and Rilla of Green Gables and loves being on the stage

Kaitlyn Handley is a dance artist and performer currently residing in Saratoga Springs, Utah.  Raised in Utah and New Jersey she trained at Canyon View Arts Center School of Performing Arts, and Brigham Young University’s ballet programs.  Kaitlyn performed professionally with Kinuko Modern Dance Company, Gileadi Dance Company, and Atlas Dance Collective.  During this time Kaitlyn went on to study at Utah Valley University earning her Bachelor of Science in Dance Education in December 2017.  During her time at UVU, she performed on MosA.I.C, UVU’s hip hop dance company, and Synergy, UVU’s modern dance company. On top of this Kaitlyn has had many opportunities to perform all around different states.  Kaitlyn has had the opportunity to teach, direct, and choreograph at various studios all over, was dance company assistant for Park City High School from 2017-2018, created and directed a dance program at Ignite Entrepreneurship Academy 2018-2019, and was Wellness and Dance Director at Franklin Discovery Academy 2019-2022.  She now owns her own company Empirical Fitness and works with clients as a personal trainer and nutrition coach.  Kaitlyn is also artistic director of Allure Creative, a professional dance company based out of Saratoga Springs, UT. 

Emily grew up in Mesa, Arizona. She began dancing at 3 years old. She trained in jazz, hip-hop, lyrical, contemporary, ballet, drill, tumbling, and also competed in All-Star cheer. She won various team and solo awards in both Regional and National competitions. Emily attended Mountain View High School in Mesa and was on the Varsity Pom team. During her Junior and Senior year, their team was the only High School invited to attend a Pro Dance camp for professional and Collegiate dance teams. She earned a spot on the competition team and they won back to back State Championships and a National Title at the United Spirit Association Nationals. She served as Captain her Senior year.

During college, Emily was an instructor for the Universal Dance Association and taught Junior High and High School dance camps across the country. She attended BYU where she received a Bachelor's Degree in Sports Medicine and has been a board Certified Athletic Trainer for 8 years. She also coached tumbling, gymnastics, and cheer classes while interning with different sports teams for her program, including a year with the BYU Football team. Go Cougars! 

Emily has lived in Saratoga Springs for almost 5 years with her husband and 3 beautiful daughters. She is so excited to be part of the Daje team! 

Amanda started dancing at the age of three and has wanted to be a dance teacher her entire life. She has been trained at multiple dance studios in modern, contemporary, ballet, jazz, tap, hip hop, lyrical, tumbling and world. 

She held leadership positions on Lone Peak Dance Company where she choreographed several dances and worked with various well known professional dancers and choreographers from across the country. During high school she also was part of the pre-professional program, Step-Up, where she exclusively trained with current Cirque De Solei performer and past Ririe-Woodbury dancer, Caine Keenan. 

Amanda has competed at multiple levels, including winning National level awards and being one of a select few to perform in gala performances. She has taken multiple dance and dance education courses at Utah Valley University and Brigham Young University and is now currently on a local dance company performing all over Utah. 

Amanda started teaching at age fourteen and now has over fourteen years of experience, including teaching children with disabilities. A great passion for Amanda is to bring the love of dance to others and hopes to inspire young dancers to use dance as a physical and emotional outlet throughout their lives. One of her favorite things to watch, is the excitement of dancers as they go on stage to show what they have worked so hard on. When Amanda is not dancing she enjoys time with her husband and three children. She also enjoys crafting, reading and sports.

Brooklin is from Herriman, Utah and started dancing at the age of two. She fell in love dance right away. She grew up training in ballet, tap, jazz, hip-hop, lyrical and tumbling. She has won many prestigious dance awards throughout the years and danced with companies including Odyssey and Salt. She was even able to dance in Alex Boye’s music video “Bend not Break”. She had the opportunity to dance on the Herriman High Drill Team in high school. She was on the team for four years and was able to serve as captain her junior and senior year. She was a part of the all-state drill team all three years of high school. After graduation she then moved to Saint George to attend Utah Tech University. She recently graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Business Management. She was on the Utah Tech Blaze Dance Team all throughout college. As a Junior she was named apart of the All-American Collegiate Dance Team and as a senior served as President of the team. She was Miss Greater Zion 2022 and was able to compete in Miss Utah 2023. She is currently an assistant coach for Cedar Valley Drill Team and is very eager to teach and get to know all of you a Daje.

Sabrina Rodabough is a born and raised Utah dance artist. She was smitten by the artform at the start of her high school years, and during that time she soaked in all that she could dance, including training in modern, ballet, jazz, and hip hop. More recently, Sabrina has discovered a love for teaching dance to others. 

Sabrina holds her Bachelor of Fine Arts in

Modern/Contemporary Dance from Utah Valley University (UVU). As a student at UVU, she trained in Graham, Horton, Limon, and Humphrey techniques. She also had the privilege of performing as a member of Synergy Dance Company. During her time with Synergy, Sabrina

was chosen as an original cast member in a piece created by Francisco Gella. At UVU, she also had the opportunity to learn from several professional guest artists including Daniel Charon, Charlotte Boye-Christensen, Bill Evans, Andre Megerdichian, and others. 

Sabrina aspires to continue teaching, performing, and furthering her education in Physical and Movement Therapy

Jaclyn is from the Chicagoland area. At an early age, Jaclyn found a true passion for dance, specifically ballet. She trained at the most prestigious ballet schools in the area: Von Heidecke’s, Faubourg, and Academy of Dance Arts with Sherry Moray. From there, she went on to dance pre professionally with The Joffrey Ballet of Chicago. Throughout her training, she also developed a love for teaching. She loves investing in her students while providing them not only the best training, but in a loving and caring environment. Jaclyn has her Bachelors Degree in Mathematics for Secondary Education and now resides in Saratoga Springs with her husband and two sweet baby girls. 

Emily Shepard is from Dallas, Texas and currently attends Brigham Young University. She is studying Human Development in hopes of working in youth ministry. Emily started dancing at an early age. All of her years as a dance student involved performing in styles of jazz, ballet, pointe, contemporary, lyrical, hip hop, musical theatre, pom, and kick. She competed with an advanced studio-company until she started high school. After two years performing and competing as a member of the school dance team, she was selected to serve as a leadership officer for her junior and senior years. Emily currently participates in dance-based fitness such as barre and surge fit on a regular basis. She also still takes dance combo and technique classes every chance she gets. Emily is passionate about dance and thoroughly enjoys getting to teach students the art she loves!