Meet your Dance FX Instructors & Staff

We are a team of dedicated and passionate instructors ready to guide you in your journey of dance! Each instructor brings a unique blend of expertise, creativity, and encouragement to the studio and your lessons. Whether you’re a beginner, or an experienced dancer, our team is here to help you reach your goals and make every lesson an enjoyable experience.

Sierra has been with Dance FX Studios since June of 2019 with her greatest accomplishment in dance being when she became Dance FX Studios Owner in October of 2020! She has always had a passion for dancing and for helping people. As a dance instructor, she is able to share her passion and empower others to do something she loves. She enjoys teaching all styles of dance as they each have their own personality. Her favorite styles to dance are West Coast Swing and Argentine Tango because they are very smooth and require more communication with her dance partner. Outside the studio, Sierra loves being outdoors and doing any activity that challenges her!

“Dance FX Studios has been an incredible experience for my husband and me as we ventured into the world of country swing dance. Sierra, our instructor, has been nothing short of amazing. Her patience, expertise, and enthusiasm have truly made our lessons enjoyable and productive. We came in as complete beginners, and with Sierra’s guidance, we’ve not only learned the basics but have also gained confidence on the dance floor. The atmosphere at Dance FX Studios is welcoming and fun, making each lesson something we look forward to. We couldn’t recommend Sierra and Dance FX Studios highly enough!“

–Olivia Karaszewski

Yeh has been an instructor for over 26 years. He comes from a Fred Astaire background and has competed across the world. He is the backbone of the Studio when it comes to experience and has co-created much of the Syllabus. He has a lot of his own students that will come to the Studio, but we also have the pleasure of sharing his knowledge with our Students! Outside the Studio, Yeh spends his time laying out at his pool, doing Martial Arts and practicing his Spanish.

“I feel grateful for my dancing to have Mr. JC Yeh as my instructor. Grateful for his knowledge, his ability to teach, his professionalism, his patience and his sense of humor. He honors the individual and what they need and want in their dancing, whether it’s social, performance, competitive, or away to be in tune with yourself through dancing.

I feel grateful because he cares and is passionate about his profession. He cares about you as an individual, your dancing, and your understanding of dance. He is not a surface teacher making you look good on the outside without truly giving you the knowledge within to understand the essence of movement in dance. He is able to convey his knowledge of dance in a fun and easy way. His teaching is multidimensional, so it doesn’t matter what type of learner you are; visual, auditory, kinesthetic … he is able to meet your learning needs.

I feel grateful for the friendships I have gained through learning to dance with Mr. Yeh. I have met so many wonderful people because they too share a love for dance. I may never have met them, if not for being a student of Mr. JC Yeh’s.“

-Betty Jo

Hailey has always had a passion for movement and rhythm. Her favorite dance styles, Salsa and Bachata, reflect her love for partner dancing and the unique connection it fosters between individuals. Having devoted most of her life to dance, she values the art form’s ability to create a distinctive form of communication and expression. As an instructor at our studio, Hailey brings not only her expertise in dance but also her infectious enthusiasm for the joy of movement.

“I found Dance FX Studios when attending a board game night at the same complex. I was interested in a class or two to see if dancing was something I may enjoy. I booked a class to see how they teach, it was a great first class and Hailey presented a plan to get where my interests lay for dancing. I booked the plan and never looked back. I saw progress every session with great encouragement and honest discussions on bad habits to avoid. Hailey continues to be a great teacher as I get better as a dancer. The proof is reiterated as I get compliments by others on my dance skills every night on the dance floor. I highly recommend Dance FX Studios for your first attempt in any dance classes.

Thank you Hailey for being patient and your kind words of encouragement!“

-B K

Nia is an experienced ballroom dancer turned instructor, shifting her focus to social dancing. She has taught at other Studios for the past 4 or so years and recently joined Dance FX Studios in 2023. In addition to that, in high school she was the president of their Swing Dance Club! Nia is honored every day to share what she loves with others, aiming to uplift and inspire her students. With first-hand experience of walking into a dance studio for the first time, she is here to guide you on your dance journey. Let’s dance, spread the joy, and connect through the power of social dancing!

“My wife, Setayesh, and I embarked on our journey at Dance FX by enrolling in the crash course wedding program. As the least qualified dancers to ever step into the studio, we were filled with apprehension. In fact, we were so nervous about our wedding consultation that we sat in our car, trying to muster the courage to go inside.

However, all our fears melted away the moment we met Nia. Not only is she a phenomenal instructor, but she is also a true artist in the craft of dancing. Throughout our lessons, she choreographed a beautiful two minute dance. It was truly fantastic and exceeded all our expectations!

Nia’s patience, expertise, and genuine passion for dance turned our initial anxiety into pure joy and confidence. Her ability to transform two complete novices into a graceful dancing couple is nothing short of miraculous.

We are so grateful for this transformative experience. Thank you, Nia, for making our wedding dance unforgettable“

-Bryan Tsiao

Morgan grew up in an athletic family and as a result played five different sports, but always had a strong desire to dance—something beyond just swaying back and forth or the cupid shuffle. Despite this wish, she never seemed to find the time to pursue it. Morgan recently moved to AZ from WA and began working at Dance FX Studios, where she finally had the opportunity to fulfill that long-time dream. From the moment she stepped foot on the dance floor, she instantly fell in love with dance, not only because it was the chance to explore something she’d always wanted to do but also because of the incredible people she gets to work with and learn from. Morgan likes dancing a variety of styles now, but really enjoys Bachata, West Coast Swing, and Line Dancing.

“I booked a Create your own group class on country line dancing with my friends and we had a blast. We were amazed how quickly the time went. Can’t wait to do it again!

Working with Morgan to book everything was so simple and she was quick to answer all our questions.”

-Jemma D

Gessica discovered dance in high school when it was offered as an elective, and it quickly became a core part of her life and one of her biggest passions. Dance offers Gessica a unique space for self-expression and connection—whether through group choreography or understanding a stranger’s emotions on the social dance floor. It’s an experience that can only be found on the dance floor. A lifelong Arizona resident, Gessica is currently pursuing a degree in technical theatre. When not focused on her studies or dancing, she love spending time outdoors, hiking, camping, spelunking, and especially going on road trips.

“My husband and I love coming here for our dance lessons. It’s a little date night activity for both of us, and we are learning so much. Gessica is our instructor and she’s awesome! She’s super easy to learn from, and she is just lovely. We recently learned country swing for our wedding, but now we are back and learning salsa and country 2-step. We honestly have so much fun coming and booked 30 classes for after our wedding is finished because we enjoy it so much!!!”

-Erika Kraus

Cassy grew up watching her mom dance Latin styles, which ignited a deep passion for movement from an early age. At just 8 years old, she began taking ballet, jazz and hip hop dance classes, and by 2022, she had transitioned into assisting and teaching country swing group lessons at a local country bar! It was during this time that Cassy discovered her true love for sharing the joy of dance with others and helping them experience its transformative power. For Cassy, dance has been a source of confidence, countless fun experiences, and lifelong friendships. It’s not just a unique form of self-expression for her, but also a continuous journey of learning and growth—one that never loses its excitement. Dance even allowed her to meet her fiancé on the dance floor, and now it’s a shared passion they enjoy together.

“My boyfriend and I stumbled upon this studio thanks to the new student offer, and it turned out to be one of the best decisions we’ve ever made. From the moment we walked through the doors, Cassy, our instructor, greeted us with warmth and enthusiasm. Her passion for dance is infectious, and her energy made us feel right at home.

We continued into the intro courses for country swing, salsa and waltz, and Cassy’s guidance and encouragement pushed us out of our comfort zones; so that now learning a new move is one of our favorite things to do as a couple. She has a unique talent for making each lesson fun, engaging, and tailored to us. It’s clear that Cassy was born to teach dance – her dedication to her craft and her students is truly inspiring.

Thanks to Cassy, dance has become the highlight of our week. We find ourselves looking forward to our lessons and the opportunity to learn and grow under her expertise. We feel incredibly fortunate to have found such an amazing instructor who has not only helped us improve our dance skills but has also enriched our lives in so many ways.

Three months ago you wouldn’t have caught us dead on the dance floor. Now, we feel confident enough to go out with others from the studio and just have fun on the dance floor.“

-Dustin Greenfield

Varsha has been dancing since age 5, competing in jazz, hip hop and lyrical styles with various studios over the years. In high school, she became team captain of her dance & cheer teams and choreographed routines for state competitions and even some theater productions. With six years of cheerleading experience, she was elected team captain in her final two years of college, honing her leadership and choreography skills. To Varsha, dance serves as a powerful outlet to express her emotions and tell compelling stories through movement. Beyond the artistic aspect, she values the opportunity it provides to connect with others and build lasting friendships. Having recently relocated to AZ from NE, Varsha is grateful to be a part of the Dance FX family and is excited to continue her dance journey in this supportive community.

“My husband and I had ZERO dance experience upon visiting Dance FX Studios for our first lesson with Varsha. While our confidence in our dance skills was lacking, Varsha continued to grace us with both compliments and constructive criticism throughout every lesson. I definitely feel heard and observed closely during our lessons, as the material is presented in a way that meets my learning style and I am always made to feel compitent! We are having so much fun learning country swing and continue to feel more confident and connected with each lesson.”

-Jena Yates