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"I like the studio and the instructors...all very nice!"
Our StudioDance Arts Academy was established in Boise in 1976 and is committed to giving each student a positive dancing experience while teaching fundamentals that will give support to their personal growth and self-confidence building.
Dance Arts Academy also offers a pre-professional performing and competition teams for dancers who love to perform and want to rise to the next level in their dancing abilities. These dancers perform year-round and have danced in regional and national competitions as well as performed in Walt Disney World and Disneyland on several occasions. |
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"A lovely, fun place for children to dance."
All students are given the opportunity to perform and show off what they have learned in class. We participate in many community events including parades, festivals, and showcases.
Dance Arts Academy is a member of the Boise Dance Teacher’s Association which upholds high standards in dance and ethical business practices.
Dance Arts Academy is a member of the Boise Dance Teacher’s Association which upholds high standards in dance and ethical business practices.
"Love it. My kids have been going to DAA for 9+ years.
Love the teachers, and they love going."
OUR VALUES
Love of Dance: Each student will experience the passion our teachers demonstrate so that they will see the joy dance brings and ultimately love and appreciate dance and the arts.
Feeling of Home: We want our studio to be a home away from home, where classmates and staff members become like family.
Personal Growth: Students will grow as dancers as well as responsible, caring, and humble young people.
Confidence: Dance and performance opportunities build confidence in students as well as through encouragement from faculty.
Technique: Proper and safe teaching methods are important to build strong dancers.
Feeling of Home: We want our studio to be a home away from home, where classmates and staff members become like family.
Personal Growth: Students will grow as dancers as well as responsible, caring, and humble young people.
Confidence: Dance and performance opportunities build confidence in students as well as through encouragement from faculty.
Technique: Proper and safe teaching methods are important to build strong dancers.
OUR FACULTY
"We love the teacher...she is awesome!"
Dotty Hancock, Owner/Director
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Dotty has a passion for dance education and is a wife, mom of a special needs daughter and a full of energy son! A Boise native, Dotty began dancing at the age of eight, taking classes in ballet, tap, jazz and baton from a dance studio in Algona, Iowa. She continued her dance training in Boise at Kathy Lee School of Dance through her senior year of high school, and was a member of the K. Lee Jazz-Tappers, the New Edition Dance Company and the Borah High School Lionettes. She continues her education by regularly attending national dance teacher and studio owner conventions and conferences and is always hungry to learn more about how to reach her students and fill them with the passion she has for dance!
While earning her bachelor’s degree in Communication from Boise State University (2001) she taught dance classes and coached gymnastics. In the spring of 2001, Dotty purchased Dance Arts Academy and has taken many groups of dancers to perform at Disneyland and Disney World. Dotty enjoys working with students of all ages, but specializes in dance education for little ones! Dotty is a member of the Boise Dance Teacher’s Association and has served as Secretary, Treasurer, and President. She is also a liccensed Zumbini instructor and a certified Rhythm Works Integrative Dance Instructor! |
"My daughter loves going and talks about Miss Dotty all the time. The studio is clean and welcoming, it reminds me of the studio I danced at as a kid."
Lexi Cardinale
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Lexi was born and raised in Northern California. She moved to Idaho in 2018 to attend Boise State University with a major in Health Science and a minor in Spanish. Her passion for dance started at the age of two when her mom forced her into a tap class. However, she blossomed from there and began to pick up more styles such as jazz, ballet and hip hop. Lexi received the majority or her dance training from Dixon Dance Studio but learned a lot from the workshops and conventions she attended all over California. Within the 16 years of dance training, Lexi spent about 8 of them competing and traveling to Nationals in Los Angeles. She has experience performing, competing and choreographing in all styles especially Hip Hop. Miss Lexi is our Hip Hop and Acro-Jazz teacher for all ages at Dance Arts. She also has several years of experience coaching gymnastics, high school cheer and yoga. Lexi has been with Dance Arts Academy since 2020.
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"The academy is committed to helping the students develop skills and passion for dancing through highly skilled and passionate teachers. DAA is highly organized for parents and I appreciate all the detailed info for recitals, rehearsals, etc. The front desk person was extremely helpful, as were the other parents when we joined DAA to help our daughter feel welcomed."
Jessica Cooper
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Miss Jessica is our Ballet, Pointe, Jazz and Lyrical teacher here at Dance Arts. She got her first taste of teaching at 14 years old, where her absent coach asked her to lead the company she was dancing in in warm-ups. From there she caught the bug, choreographing for her little sister’s ballet recital in the same year. She has studied under acclaimed local, national, and international dancers and instructors. She was the former director of the Dance Theatre Fairbanks’ Junior Company, as well as their Aurora Dance Ensemble; a high caliber performing group comprised of dancers aged 8-18, and even co-founded The Safety Dancers in her home state of Alaska, a performance group with the goal of local fundraising. She has always enjoyed to challenge her students--to see their lightbulb moments. She loves ballet and jazz, ballet especially, because of the difficulty and passion that they demand of her dancers. She has been teaching with Dance Arts Academy since 2015.
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Lori Gonzales
Lori is a native of northern California. She has placed high in ballroom competitions all along the west coast. She has earned her professional medals from The United States Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing. She has won several awards for her teaching skills and is one of the very few instructors in the state of Idaho who holds credentialing, earning a Highly Commended rating.
Lori has studied under some of the biggest names in competitive ballroom. Because she believes that great teachers need to be always working on their own dancing, still actively pursues coaching from some of Americas finest competitive dancers.
She is married to her husband, Charlie, and they have three children. While Lori does teach almost every night during the week, she stays home during the day to home educate their three children. She has been teaching both social and competitive Ballroom for over twenty years and has loved every minute of it!
Lori has studied under some of the biggest names in competitive ballroom. Because she believes that great teachers need to be always working on their own dancing, still actively pursues coaching from some of Americas finest competitive dancers.
She is married to her husband, Charlie, and they have three children. While Lori does teach almost every night during the week, she stays home during the day to home educate their three children. She has been teaching both social and competitive Ballroom for over twenty years and has loved every minute of it!
Emily Goethel
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Miss Emily began dancing at the age of 10 in Northern California and at 15 years old she joined the Folsom Lake Civic Ballet Company and iMPACT Contemporary Dance Company as a principal dancer under the umbrella of Stages Northern California Performing Arts. She performed at many community events, competitions across the state and in dedicated conservatory showcases. Emily moved to San Diego to pursue a BA in Broadcast Journalism at Point Loma Nazarene University, and has danced and performed with Butterworth Dance Company, Mesa College Dance Company, Bite Dance Company, Ooh La La Dance Company, The PGK Dance Project, Velours Rouge Entertainment, and Viola Entertainment. In 2016 she danced on an international tour to the Maldives and Thailand, and was part of a performance featured in a commercial for Allina Healthcare. In 2017 Emily performed site specific choreography with San Diego Dance Theater in the annual “Trolley Dances”, the performance was voted “Best of Trolley” out of 20 years of productions. Emily moved to Idaho in 2018 and serves as an International Dance Teaching Standards certified instructor and the Company Director at DAA. She teaches and choreographs jazz, lyrical, contemporary and musical theater. Some of her proudest coaching achievements include an “Overall Grand Champion” award, choreography award and many overall high point and judges choice awards for her dancers. Her award winning choreography was featured in the Idaho Screendance Film Festival and was chosen as an “Audience Favorite”. Emily loves being a part of the DAA family and fostering the love of dance in all of her students!
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Georgette Hobson
"Georgette is such an asset! She acknowledges and is friendly to the parents, she is always enthusiastic with the dancers." |
Georgette has teaching dance lessons for over 20 years and trained for twelve years in tap and jazz. Her specialty is tap and she also teaches the Darby's Dancers Adaptive Dance Class. She has a degree from Boise State University in Secondary Education- Physical Education with a minor in Health. Georgette is also a certified Rhythm Works Integrative Dance Instructor.
Georgette is a native of Boise, now residing in Meridian, and is married with three children. 
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Samantha Kelsay
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Samantha began dancing with Tap classes in Southern California at age 3. She started competitively dancing at age 10. She was a member of the Dance Electric Jr & Sr Teams, Take 5 & the youngest member to be accepted to The Dance Project group at Pat Harris School of Dance. She has also performed the Nutcracker with Ballet Idaho for 4 seasons. Winning a Scholarship through CSI IDAA, Samantha spent her summers attending Idaho Dance Arts Alliance dance camps & was invited to act as a choreographer & then as a judge for scholarship auditions for young dancers. In high school she was a member of the MHS Warriorette Dance Team & served as a captain her senior year. At 17, she was accepted to the Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle for their Ballet/Modern & Repertory Program. She also attended Boise State University where she performed & competed for the Harvey Neef Maneline Dancers for 3yrs & participated in their dance department & Repertory Showcases. Earning a Minor in Dance Education, Samantha produced, choreographed & performed many pieces that were displayed in showcases during her time at BSU. Miss Sam was among the 1st members of the performing troop The Hip Hop Shop, giving her the opportunity of performing in concert with Sir Mix-A-Lot & Nelly when they toured to Idaho. Samantha starting coaching the MHS Warriorette Dance Team in 2006 & led them to many local & national awards in the 6yrs as Head Coach. Miss Sam formed & coached the Ruby Competition team at Dance Arts Academy in 2017 where she led both the SR & JR teams, soloists & duos to multiple 1st place Overall awards, including Execution, Showmanship, Judges Choice, Choreography & Most Entertaining Routine Awards. Her award winning choreography was also chosen to be showcased at Treefort: Kidsfort Variety Show in 2018. Samantha is involved in judging local dance team competitions & has run the music for the District 3 competition for 4 years now. She specializes in Jazz, Lyrical, Contemporary, & Dance Team Technique. Miss Sam lives in Boise with her hubby & 2 children, whom you’ll see dancing all over our studio as well.
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Heidi Zahn Werries
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Heidi grew up in Minnesota and began training in ballet, tap, and jazz when she was a young girl at a small studio near her home. Heidi studied ballet during her high school years at Minnesota Dance Theatre. She also discovered acting, performing, and the magic of the American musical during high school and college. She attended Concordia College in St Paul Minnesota and majored in elementary education with a minor in theatre. Heidi danced professionally from 1992 until 1996 with a modern/lyrical dance company in Minneapolis. She began teaching dance and movement in 1994 to children in St Paul and later in Minneapolis. After moving to Idaho she established her own business bringing dance to schools, day cares, and, private homes from 1997-1999. Heidi also currently works at CapEd Credit Union as the IRA specialist.
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