Directors
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Emma Langford, MBA
Emma grew up dancing at Canyon View Arts Center (the former name for Encore Academy). She was a member of Riverton High's MDT program and completed an internship with CVAC as a ballet teacher. During this internship, she fell in love with teaching dance. After serving a church mission in Sao Paulo, Brazil, she earned her bachelor's degree in Business Experience Design and Management from Brigham Young University and then her Master of Business Administration (MBA). She lives in Herriman with her husband, Matt, and they are expecting their first baby girl in the spring of 2025. She enjoys cooking, traveling, reading, watching hockey, and spending time in the gym. She is thrilled to be blending her passion for good business with her love for dance by serving as the director of Encore Academy.
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Owner, Dance/Theater Director
Tiffany Barlow
Music Program Director
Violin/Viola Teacher
Tiffany is a seasoned music educator with over two decades of experience in both private and public school settings. She has a passion for nurturing musical talent and has been a dedicated private violin teacher for over 35 years. Throughout her career, Tiffany has specialized in orchestra, choir, bells, and ukulele bringing her unique blend of enthusiasm and skill to each endeavor. Tiffany's deep appreciation for music is evident in her teaching approach, supported by her minor in music from BYU. Her love for conducting has led her to orchestrate remarkable performances, including leading a group of 500 youth musicians for the Jordan River Temple Youth Celebration Orchestra in 2018 - an experience that remains a highlight of her career. Tiffany is thrilled to be collaborating with the talented teachers and students of Encore.
Dance and Theater Staff
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Kristi Burns, MA, MFA
Modern, Tall and Small
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 at 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 teach and work with dancers at Encore Academy for the Performing Arts.
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Eleni Lopez
Ballet, Pointe
Eleni grew up attending Diablo Ballet School in the San Francisco Bay Area starting at 3 years old. Throughout her time with Diablo Ballet she performed in various classical ballets including, Sleeping Beauty, Sylvia, La Bayadere, the Nutcracker, Don Quixote, and Copelia. Straight out of highschool Eleni was accepted into the Theatre Ballet Studio Company at Brigham Young University, while at BYU she performed in Swan Lake, Les Sylphides, a lead role in the debut of Robyn Hood, and various contemporary ballets with the company. After graduating in Sociocultural Anthropology at BYU she is excited to teach Encore Academy’s Ballet Company.
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Paige Haglund
Ballet, Tumbling/Acro
Bio Coming Soon
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Alexa Cunningham
Ballet, Modern
Alexa grew up in Louisiana and started dancing at the age of 2 at a local dance studio. She competitively danced at the same studio until she was 18. She attended N.O.C.C.A. for high school where she heavily focused on ballet, modern, African, and tap dance. She was also a part of a salsa/tango studio for a few years where we performed at a local Mexican restaurant. She attended the University of Southern Mississippi for 1.5 years, where she started building credits for my dance education degree. While there, she was a part of the football dance team as a Dixie Darling! She has been in Utah for about 6 years and has enjoyed being closer to family. Since moving here, she has been teaching at several different dance studios in Davis County. She graduated from Weber State University with her Dance Education degree in 2023 and I am currently teaches dance and yoga teacher at a junior high school. She has enjoyed her experience there and looks forward to teaching in years to come.
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Cassidy Halpin
Ballet. Modern, Jazz, Tap, Acro, Broadway, MDT Cohort
Cassidy is beyond excited to be on faculty at Encore Academy! Cassidy grew up in central NY where her parents owned a dance and performing arts studio that she attended as a child through high school. Cassidy attended several summer intensives focusing on classical ballet and modern technique. She then after graduating attended Nazareth University where she received a BFA in Musical Theater and Minor in Dance. During college Cassidy worked with several industry professionals as both cast member and associate roles for professionals including Parker Esse, Matthew Steffens, Bob Cline, and more. Cassidy spent her last semester of college in NYC after being accepted into the Broadway Dance Center Professional Semester Program. She has worked at several regional theaters across the country, danced in pre production for several broadway shows, and assisted many incredible industry professionals working as an associate choreographer. Cassidy has been teaching and choreographing for over 8 years for dancers ages 2-adult! Her choreography has been recognized by receiving several awards in the competitive dance industry. Cassidy has adjudication experience and is an Acrobatic Arts certified teacher.
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Abbie Mathews
Ballet, Jazz, Hip Hop, Tumbling/Acro
Abbie has been dancing since the age of 4 and was on the performing team at her studio. She started dancing competitively at the age of 10 and has earned many awards and titles. Abbie has trained in ballet, jazz, hip hop, contemporary, tap, and lyrical. She loves all dance genres, but her favorite is hip hop! She was on her high school dance team for three years and choreographed many dances for them. She continues to choreograph for the high school dance team. Abbie was part of a mentorship program at “The House” and was privileged to work with working choreographers in the dance industry. Abbie has been in dance music videos and commercials and has performed at several award ceremonies, Knotts Berry Farm, Disneyland, and Ventura County Fair. Abbie was part of the UVU Dance Team last year. She has had the opportunity to teach hip hop classes and just loves it! She wants to pass her joy and passion for dance to her students and is grateful for the opportunity to teach.
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Lesley Olsen
Jazz, Hip Hop
Lesley Gee is a dancer, choreographer, teacher, and UHSAA Certified Drill Judge. Lesley has been dancing for the past 23 years: training in ballet, pointe, modern, contemporary, tap, and hip-hop. After graduating from Murray High School in 2016, she earned her Associate of Arts from Snow College. She then transferred to Brigham Young University to complete her Bachelors in Dance. She has been a member of Murray Dance Company, Snow College Badgerettes, BYU Kinnect Dance Company, BYU Dance Ensemble, and Kinuko Modern Dance Company. She finds her true passion teaching the pure joy, confidence, and achievement dance can bring into a dancer’s life.
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Kaitlyn Salazar
Tap, Broadway, Acting, Voice
Kaitlyn Salazar is originally from Herriman, Utah and has been performing since she was 6 years old. She has performed on stages across the country: from national stages such as Radio City Music Hall to local stages like the Draper City Amphitheater- no matter the location, the magic of theatre stays the same. Her favorite roles include Belle in Beauty and the Beast, Penny in Hairspray, Lisa in Mamma Mia, Charlotte in Cinderella, and Jasmine in Aladdin. Salazar recently served as a title holder for the Miss America Organization as "Miss Herriman" and loves sharing her passions and talents with the youth of her community. She could not be more excited to join EAPA in assisting so many young performers in their quest of greatness.
Music Staff
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Yasmine Abuelhija
Cello
Yasmine is a passionate cellist who has performed with many different groups across Southern California and Utah. Her love for music has driven her to expand the reach of classical music in her community and use it to achieve meaningful impact. She is the founder of Giving Bach, a non-profit organization that brings music to senior homes in Salt Lake City, where she has worked with other muscians in collaboration to help share music with the community. Yasmine currently studies at the Univeristy of Utah where she performs with the university's permier orchestra, the Utah Philharmonia.
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Melodie Wride
Piano, Flute
Melodie Wride grew up in Granite, Utah, as part of a large musical family with 13 children, and began learning music at the age of seven. During high school, she attended the Gifted Music School Conservatory, a full-scholarship program for prestigious young musicians. There, she had the privilege of studying with renowned professors from institutions like Juilliard, the Paris Conservatory, Interlochen, and the Colburn School of Music. Additionally, she played as the second flutist in the Lyceum Philharmonic Orchestra, a 10-year winner of the Best of State award. Through this ensemble, she performed with notable artists such as Marie and David Osmond, Lexi Walker, and Jenny Oaks Baker. Melodie received a scholarship to study at Brigham Young University, where she is currently pursuing a degree in Music with a goal of becoming a Music Therapist. Her studies have afforded her the opportunity to perform internationally, including in countries such as France, Austria, Bulgaria, Spain, Portugal, and Korea. After serving a church mission in Indiana and Brazil, Melodie developed a deep passion for teaching and serving others. She is thrilled to join the Encore Academy, where she looks forward to enriching lives through the power of music.
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Rolando Santillan
Guitar, Drums
Ever since he picked up his first instrument in Lima, Peru, he knew music would be more than just a career – it would be his life's calling. For the past 15 years Rolando Santillan has been lucky enough to wear many musical hats: teacher, performer, and producer. After studying at the José María Arguedas National School of Folklore, he taught everyone from bouncing preschoolers to curious adults, in settings ranging from bustling universities to intimate private lessons. But teaching is just one part of his story. He is just as often found at home behind a drum kit, piano, or guitar, and he specializes in the heartbeat of Latin music – the cajon drum, congas, timbales, and bongos. Whether he's singing with bands across different genres or producing tracks in the studio, He's always chasing that perfect rhythm, that magical melody that makes music unforgettable.
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Lily McAfee
Viola
Lilly is a violist and senior in high school. She loves teaching her students and watching them fall in love with music. She plays clarinet in the marching band at her high school and is the historian for the Riverton instrumental music program. She plays in 4 ensembles with Riverton High school as well as various small groups in the community.
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Olivia Shelton
Acting, Voice
Olivia is so excited to be working with the amazing students of Encore Academy! She is currently in Hale Center Theater's Little Women as Amy (T/Th/S) while working toward a BFA in Musical Theatre from the University of Utah. She was recently named Utah’s 2023 Vocal Performance Sterling Scholar Runner Up. She has starred in several prodcutions such as Shrek (Fioana), Into the Woods (The Baker's Wife), The Diary of Anne Frank (Anne Frank), and more. Olivia lives and breathes everything musical theatre, and is ready to share her love for it!
Ambassadors and Interns
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Emery Strong
Emery Strong has been dancing for 6 years, 4 of them being at CVAC. She is so excited to dance at Encore and be an Ambassador.
Ambassador
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Macy Lapray
Ambassador
Macy Lapray has been dancing since she was 3 years old and has spent the last four years with CVAC, where she was a member of the Traveling Company. She is very excited for the new season with Encore and to be an Ambassador for the studio.
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Kaena Vierra
Kaena Vierra started dancing when she was 3 and has trained in Jazz, Hip Hop, Modern, Tap, and Ballet, with the last two years being on pointe. She has also trained in Tahitian and Hula. She has performed in the Nutcracker, at numerous festivals across Utah, and with Grammy winning performing artist Kalani Pe’a. She spent her last 8 years dancing at CVAC. She is excited to continue dancing at Encore, and even more excited to have the opportunity to be an Encore Ambassador.
Ambassador
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Kennedy Smith
My name is Kennedy and this is my first year dancing! I get to be and intern this year and I love helping as much as I can! I'm so excited to see what this season brings, and to improve as much as possible. I'm so grateful to be dancing at Encore and extra thankful for my teammates and teachers!