Meet Our Teachers

a master’s degree in education. A longtime resident of the Laveen community, she has been actively involved for over 20 years. Melissa currently teaches Dance full-time at Heritage Academy, where she shares her passion for all styles of dance. Outside the studio, she enjoys cooking and traveling with her wonderful husband and four amazing children.

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dancer’s individuality, she honors the art form’s rich history and musicality in every class.

Serena began dancing at age three at Jack Dyville’s Dance Factory in Williston, North Dakota. She joined the prestigious Kids Company by fourth grade and advanced to A Company by eighth, earning numerous awards at competitions like International Dance Challenge and Spotlight Dance Cup. In 2002, she began teaching tap to grades 1–6 and became the studio’s tap specialist, with one of her groups earning 2nd Overall at the 2003 Dance Challenge Competition. As a five-time Miss North Dakota Scholarship Program participant, she earned High Score Preliminary Talent awards in 2006, 2007, 2009, and 2012 for her self-choreographed tap solos.

Serena earned her BA in Business Administration and Communication from the University of Jamestown (summa cum laude, 2010), her MBA from Grand Canyon University (2012), and her Doctorate in Leadership and Innovation from Arizona State University (2021). She holds certifications in Personal Fitness Training (AFAA), Zumba, Jazz Dance Technique & Syllabus (James Robey), and Youth Mental Health First Aid (2022). She completed the iTap Teacher Certificate Program (Level 1) in 2024 and earned her Tap Roots Teacher Certification in 2025, both focused on curriculum design, technique development, and classroom strategy for tap educators.

In 2011, Serena co-founded Kay Michael Lee Studio in Williston with her sister Sarah Johnson. The studio became a cornerstone of dance education in Western North Dakota until its closure in 2024.

With over a decade of teaching experience in both North Dakota and Arizona, Serena has choreographed for competitive and recreational tap programs across age groups and experience levels. Her work is recognized for its strong technique, musicality, and storytelling - earning top scores, scholarships, and judges’ choice awards at competitions across the country. She was adjunct faculty at Arizona State University in 2018 and has performed with Tap 24.7, Dance Fusion, and JAM & Company, an all-women tap ensemble known for its intricate choreography and collaborative spirit.

Now based in Tempe, Serena lives with her husband and two pups. She is thrilled to join the staff at Laveen Dance & Cheer and invites you to follow her tap dance adventures on Instagram at @serenataplife. 

experiences under my belt, I’ve been through my studio era, was classically trained and competed in such competitions. But, as I grew older my passion for street styles and hip hop increased dramatically so much that I joined a studio out in Mesa called “Jukebox” where two beautiful women named Leah and Raerae took me in and have nurtured me ever since. Dancing for me is not just expressive but it’s a way for people to feel closer to themselves and a culture that belongs to them. There is a rich history that was written by our forefathers and mothers when it comes to this culture even right here in Arizona, and it is still being written today by us. And, I always have strived to be the bridge to those worlds. To connect to the people that don’t know or don’t know how to know, through movement. For me competition in this dance world is healthy but that is just the sum of its parts. Dance, movement is sociable, it’s healing, it’s conversational it’s been an integral part of our society even since the times of our ancestors. I’ve competed and won awards at WOD (world of dance), I’ve competed at Vans HQ and met the creator of Vans shoes himself, I teach and direct at High schools and studios all over the valley, I’m a 2019 Gold medalist USA champion of HHI (Hip Hop international), I just recently was booked to be in a music video for pretty popular artist under the name “CG5” with his song Forbidden Feeling, and most recent “AZ vs Texas” champion. The list goes on, so I’ve put in the work. Don’t be afraid to come out and put some in with me!

helping young dancers reach their full potential while also fostering creativity and building confidence. Sid currently studies Exercise Science with an emphasis in Pre-Physical therapy at Grand Canyon University to hopefully one day work in sports medicine rehabilitation.