Artistic Director & Co-Owner/Team & Mini Team Coach
Joan Elias
Joan is the Artistic Director of Forever Dance and co-owner with Ellen and Andy Dauscher. Joan holds a BFA in Dance from East Carolina University, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude. After graduation, Joan started her professional career dancing at the Lone Star Dramas in Galveston, Texas. She worked her way up the ranks of the theatre as dancer, dance captain, assistant choreographer and choreographer of the musicals “The Lone Star”, “Annie Get Your Gun”, “Hello Dolly” and “South Pacific”. Joan danced for Houston Grand Opera in “Hansel and Gretel” and choreographed for the Galveston Island Opera House. Joan danced in San Francisco with the modern company, Gretchen Harding and Friends, which performed at the Palace of Fine Arts. She also danced professionally in Las Vegas, Atlantic City and Lake Tahoe with “Melinda, the First Lady of Magic”, “The Girls of Rock and Roll”, Desert Rose Productions and Caesar Palace Conventions. After settling down in Lake Tahoe to start her family, Joan found her passion for teaching, choreographing and coaching dancers of all ages.
Dance Instructor, Team and Mini Team Coach
Dino Elias
Dino has been hooked on dance since he won his first National competition at age 10! Dino specializes in Tap, Contemporary, Jazz Funk, and Musical Theater. In 2012, he attended Jacob's Pillow in the pre-professional tap program, studying with Diane Walker, Lane Alexander, Derek Grand, Brenda Buffalino, and Lisa LaTouche. In December 2013, Dino performed in the first all tap show ``Juba!``, at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. Dino choreographed and danced in ``Red Hot Superstars`` at the Grand Sierra Resort and in 2014 performed in the Muny's production of ``Billy Elliot`` in St. Louis, MO. Dino currently judges for Thunderstruck and KAR competitions, as well as teaches tap on the KAR Convention circuit. He enjoys choreographing and teaching master classes for studios throughout the West and East coasts. Dino has been recognized on the national level for his choreography and teaching abilities, including two nominations for the Industry Dance Awards. FD4REAL
Dance Instructor
Suzie Elias
Suzie Elias was born in Lake Tahoe, Nevada where she started dancing at the age of two. She grew up training every day in ballet, jazz, tap, contemporary, lyrical, hip-hop, and tumbling. Suzie danced competitively for 10+ years and now teaches and choreographs in the competition dance circuit. Her work has competed throughout Northern/Southern California, Nevada, and Virginia. She moved to Los Angeles in 2014 to pursue her professional dance career and is represented by Go 2 Talent Agency. Some of her credits include international/national tours with singer Vidya Vox, the NBA Clippers, LA Sparks, Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Joji, and Snoop Dogg. She has shot national commercials for Panda Express and Weinerschnitzel and her film/television credits include Pepsi, Takis, Disney XD, and Lady Dynamite. Her other work in the industry has been as a magician’s assistant for Krendl Magic and she holds the position of dance captain with Karmagraphy Entertainment Company.
Dance Instructor & Tot/Mini Team Coach
Katie Lauer
Katie a native of Carson City, NV, is trained in ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, lyrical and contemporary. She studied at Capital City Ballet in Boise, ID. Katie has performed as Clara and Snow Queen with Pinkerton Ballet Theatre's The Nutcracker, was an apprentice and company member with Sierra Nevada Ballet and has also danced with the University of Nevada Dance Team and Reno Bighorns Dance Team. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Management from the University of Nevada Reno. Katie has been teaching dance for 5 years and is currently a dancer and performer for Karen Burns Productions and BLV Productions in Reno and Lake Tahoe, NV.
Dance Instructor
Edeanna Olejniczak
Edeanna Olegniczak bio
Dance Instructor
Jessica Shull
As a Forever Dance alumni, Jessica grew up as a competitive dancer and is excited to be back with her Forever Dance family. After graduation, Jessica relocated to Los Angeles, to pursue her professional career as a dancer and choreographer joining the contemporary company, Emerge. Soon after, Jessica starred as one of the top six in Laurianne Gibson's TV show: BORN TO DANCE. This exposure opened doors for music videos, TV Shows such as Glee, NCIS, The Monique Show, performing along side Shakira in the Latin Grammys and working as assistant choreographer/dancer in Nick Cassavetes movie “Yellow”. Venturing out of the commercial world, Jessica worked as a lead performer for Norwegian Cruise and Bahamas Paradise. Jessica is currently an adjudicator on the competition circuit and most recently has been cast in commercials for Baby Bottle Pop, Girls Trip and Cuba Gooding Jr.'s recent movie Bayou Caviar.
Dance Instructor
Zoë Lacasse Kirstine
Zoë started her dance journey at the young age of four, finding her passion quickly for the art. She began dancing competitively at eight years old, there finding her undying love for Jazz, Contemporary and Lyrical. Throughout her days as a competitive dancer, Zoë has received many regional and national awards, as well as scholarships for solos, duos, trios and group numbers. She has danced professionally since the age of ten, with the Reno Philharmonic Orchestra, the Reno Fashion Show, Sierra Nevada Ballet and Karen Burns Productions. Zoë shares a strong love for teaching others, not just in the form of dance but in the Emergency Medical field as well. Along with being a passionate dancer and instructor, Zoë is also a full time Paramedic Student and aspiring critical care flight medic. Zoë is beyond excited to work with these young dancers and get the chance to watch them grow through the year. started her dance journey at the young age of four, finding her passion quickly for the art. She began dancing competitively at eight years old, there finding her undying love for Jazz, Contemporary and Lyrical. Throughout her days as a competitive dancer, Zoë has received many regional and national awards, as well as scholarships for solos, duos, trios and group numbers. She has danced professionally since the age of ten, with the Reno Philharmonic Orchestra, the Reno Fashion Show, Sierra Nevada Ballet and Karen Burns Productions. Zoë shares a strong love for teaching others, not just in the form of dance but in the Emergency Medical field as well. Along with being a passionate dancer and instructor, Zoë is also a full time Paramedic Student and aspiring critical care flight medic. Zoë is beyond excited to work with these young dancers and get the chance to watch them grow through the year.
Dance Instructor
Jaiden McComber
Jaiden McComber bio
Dance Instructor
Ky McGee
Ky McGee started her dance career at a young age, moving to Carson City Forever Dance studio once it opened up. She immediately felt at home. Not long after Ky started taking dance classes at Forever Dance, she joined the FDCC Mini Competition Team with her younger sister, Seren. Ky's favorite styles of dance are ballet, contemporary and musical theater. After graduating from both dance and high school in 2022, Ky is excited to start the next chapter of her life as a dance instructor at the studio who made her into the dancer she is today.
Dance Instructor
Branna Tedford
Branna Tedford has been a dancer at Forever Dance for 10 years but has been committed to dance for 14. She has been trained by Joan and Dino in all styles such as; Jazz, Tap, Contemporary, musical theater, ballroom, tumbling, ballet, and more. Branna is more than excited to join the amazing team of teachers here at Forever Dance!
Dance Instructor
Bella Flynn
Dancing at music festivals with her parents starting at a very young age kicked off Bella's love of dance. She started dance classes at age 3, with the last 5 of those years being at Forever Dance. A member of the Forever Dance Competitive Team, Bella says that her passion for dance really started when she took her first tap class with Dino Elias, and ever since that day she has loved tapping, which is why she is so excited to be teaching tap this year.
Dance Instructor
Lilly Dingman
Lilly has been dancing at Forever Dance for 12 years now, and has been competing with the competition team for 9 years. She is trained in ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary, baton, musical theatre, lyrical, hip hop, and tumbling. As a solosist, Lilly has won many 1st overalls, and has also proudly contributed to many group overalls too! With multiple years being mentored in the Teacher’s Assistant program, Lilly is thrilled to begin teaching Baton 1, Jr. Hip Hop 1, and Jazz 1! Lilly has always had a passion for dance and is so excited to share her passion with younger dancers at Forever Dance.
Dance Instructor
Morgan Canfield
Morgan
Dance Instructor
Emmanuel Pineda
Emmanuel Pineda bio
Dance Instructor
Kyra Gonzales
At a very young age Kyra was playing sports, but never could find a passion for the sport she was playing. At five years old, her mother signed her up for her very first dance class, and the rest is history. Kyra fell in love with the community and family of Forever Dance. Once she had found her new passion, she threw herself into dance head first and joined the competition team. Along with taking all her classes, she started being a teacher’s aide for any teacher that needed assistance and found a new passion for teaching. Kyra is super excited for this teaching opportunity and looks forward to having a blast in class with her students.
Dance Instructor
Zoe Martinez
Ever since she was little Zoe has had a passion for the performing arts, participating in as many acting workshops as she could and taking dance classes at her local studio. At 12 years old she took her first class at Forever Dance and immediately fell in love, training in every style she could. Zoe joined the competition team that same year and has found an amazing community through dance. Her greatest joy was found in performing a solo on stage. She is so excited to be a member of the Forever Dance staff, and share her love of dance with her students.
Aerial Silks/Lyra Instructor
Shannon Roberts
Shannon has had a passion for the arts and performance since she was a child organizing shows for friends and family when they would come to visit. She grew up in a small town in northwestern Pennsylvania where she was always involved in the arts, sports, and community activities. Shannon enjoyed attending gymnastics classes in her younger years. In high school, she performed in a handful of musicals. While attending Clarion University of Pennsylvania, she danced with the hip hop dance team and sang with the A Capella group. After graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in 2018, she taught Spanish at a public school in Pennsylvania for one year. Along with aerial arts, Shannon has a passion for education and traveling. She moved to Costa Rica in late 2019 where she was first introduced to aerial silks. In Costa Rica she performed on the silks at a beach club and local bar. She moved back to Pennsylvania where she continued training in Pittsburgh and performed on the silks for a private birthday party. Her family brought her to Carson City and she found a beautiful community to flourish in! She also had the opportunity to perform at the GSR for a company Christmas party. Shannon is a passionate continuous learner and strongly believes that life is too short to do anything but what you love most!
Aerial Silks/Lyra Instructor
Nikki Stewart
Nikki is from Reno, and has been teaching aerials for 3 years. She started off doing gymnastics as a child and started silks at 16 years old. She has worked with Amplified Entertainment performing aerial cube, aerial silks, aerial hammock and aerial chains. In her free time, she travels to beautiful outdoor locations and builds anchors in natural rock to hang silks. Nikki has a passion for teaching, health and performing aerial arts. With a background in the medical field, and working on a degree as a sonographer, her main goal with teaching our youth is to support their well-being while they accomplish difficult aerial sequences. Her aim is to inspire them to lead an active lifestyle, fueled by healthy foods, healthy body image and healthy imagination.