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

Robin Price

Robin Price grew up in Cincinnati and became a professional dancer at 15. Her career as a professional dancer lasted for over 25 years. Her credits include St Louis Muny Opera, Disney on Parade, The Carol Burnett Show, L.A. Civic light Opera, Paradise Island, Casino De Paris Dunes as principal dancer, Harrah’s Lake Tahoe, Jubilee Las Vegas, Hello Hollywood Hello as principal dancer. Over the years Robin has worked with some of the best choreographers including Onna White, Tom Hansen, Ron Lewis,Stanley Holden & Margaret Hills - Royal Ballet, Marc Breaux & Dee Dee Wood, Tommy Tune, & Zoya LeProvska - Bob Fosse’s assistant. Robin has a great love for dance, especially ballet. She has taught for
many years and really loves passing on her passion for dance.

Dance Instructor

Paulette Macera

Paulette started baton twirling at 8 years old. She twirled in high school during many halftime shows and parades, and also competed in baton twirling. Paulette has twirled for the Rockettes and has taught baton here and there throughout her life, later starting a group called the Silverstreaks, that twirled in many parades. She later took the Dance Team and Twirl Team to Japan, Taiwan and Korea to perform shows at the universities there. In Paulette's retirement years she started a senior ladies baton group for fun. The senior ladies group was invited to twirl in the Disneyland Christmas Parade. The audience enjoyed watching the ``ole broads`` perform.

Dance Instructor

Connie Thompson

Born and raised in the Carson City area, Connie is a 4th grade teacher at Bordewich Bray Elementary school, holding a BS in Healthcare Management, and a Masters in Education. An experienced dance mom with her two younger kids competing on the Forever Dance Team, Connie is part of our support staff for at Forever Dance Carson City and is the Team Liaison for the “Big Team” and the FDCC Mini and Tot Teams.

Dance Instructor

Cassidy Marchini

Cassidy Marchini's bio is coming.

Dance Instructor

Corinne Novotny

Beginning to dance at the age of 3, dancing has been a huge part of Corinne’s life. She was a member of the Forever Dance competition team for 13 years, and a part of the original Mini-Team. A well rounded dancer, she has been trained in ballet, contemporary, hip hop, jazz funk, modern, jazz, lyrical, musical theater, tumbling, partnering, and ballroom. During her many years competing with Forever Dance, she has taken home many top awards in regional and national competitions with her solos, duos, trios, groups, productions, including titles. Corinne has trained at the Edge, Millennium and Movement Lifestyle. She has danced professionally in the Reno Fashion Show and Red Hot Production’s, “The Michael Jackson Tribute”. This year, Corinne will be teaching Jr Hip Hop 1 & 2, Tot Musical Theater, Pre-Ballet, Pre-Tech, and Flexibility at FDCC, and is an assistant coach for Forever Dance’s Mini-Team.

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

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

Morgan Canfield

Morgan

Dance Instructor

Emmanuel Pineda

Emmanuel Pineda bio

Dance Instructor

Malia Nakamura

When Malia was 3 years old she started taking tot classes at Forever Dance. At 6 years old, she joined the Forever Dance competition team and has been competing ever since. Malia hasn't lost her love for dance that she found at a young age and is excited to share it with her students at her home studio.

Dance Instructor

Olive Hamner-Jillson

Olive Hamner-Jillson's bio is coming soon.

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.

Dance Instructor

Ava Galli

Ava Galli's bio is coming soon.

Dance Instructor

Kianna Nelson

Kianna Nelson's bio is coming soon.

Dance Instructor

Payton Thompson

Payton Thompson's bio is coming soon