Working with kids is Tanya’s passion and pure joy.  Tanya received her teaching certification in Chicago in 1991. She has been teaching since 1992 and started Life Dance Academy competition team shortly after that. Tanya has won several awards and scholarships as a dancer and has since led her own dancers to accomplish the same.  Tanya has been recognized regionally and nationally for her choreography and holds several Regional and National “Best Choreography" Awards. She has had the honor of working with choreographers from So You Think You Can Dance, MTV Music awards, and many music video choreographers. January 6th, 2024 Tanya was inducted into the Rock County Arts Hall of Fame honoring hersignificant contributions to the growth and well-being of the arts in Rock County.  Tanya has traveled doing Master classes and assisted at several Dance Conventions.  She had the honor of choreographing the opening number for the Stephen Wolf concert, a Janesville Gazette commercial and several community theater shows.  Tanya’s vision for Life Dance Academy is to instill self-confidence, accomplishment, artistry, and great dance technique to all ages and abilities.  Life Dance Academy is for all dancers beginner to Elite and will bring excellence to every child through teaching them with their own individual learning style. Tanya is committed to creating a safe place of positive reinforcements, self-expression, and individuality, challenging her dancers to be the best they can be.

Originally from Las Vegas, NV, she received her classical ballet training under the Royal Academy of Dance and studied Modern, Contemporary, Tap, Jazz, and Musical Theatre at the Las Vegas Academy of Performing Arts. In 2014 Taylor graduated from Point Park University with a B.A. in Dance. Her professional experience includes performing and serving as dance captain in multiple musicals including “Hairspray”, “West Side Story”, “Cats”, “How To Succeed In Business”, and “Beauty and The Beast”; working for Spirit Productions/Dublin Worldwide in “Dance Inferno”; and  performing as a Dancer/Aerialist for Royal Caribbean Productions. Since moving to Wisconsin in 2017, she has choreographed "Beauty and The Beast", "Bound: A Dance Drama", and "Godspell" at JPAC, was a company member and summer intensive instructor with Madison Contemporary Dance in 2023, and was a guest faculty member/choreographer at Beloit College in 2024. Taylor is also certified in P.M.A. Pilates Mat and Apparatus, Bootybarre, ADTA Acro Dance, Fascial Stretch Therapy and Neuro Kinetic Therapy.  She is so grateful that Life Dance Academy has become her home where she can pass on her life experience as a professional dancer and her knowledge of as a bodyworker to all of her students.

Ashley began dancing at the age of three in Cape Girardeau, MO.  She attended Webster University in St. Louis, MO, where she graduated with a BFA in Dance in 2007 and an MFA in Arts Management and Leadership in 2009.  While at Webster, Ashley developed three original choreographic pieces for her BFA capstone.  She also performed with the Webster University Dance Ensemble, several student-choreographed performances, and participated in ACDFA.  Ashley has danced in Paris, France as part of the Universal Dance Association's All-Star program.  During the summer of 2006, she attended the Ailey Summer Intensive in New York City, taking daily classes in ballet, Horton technique, and West African.

During her time in St. Louis, Ashley was the junior varsity coach and assistant varsity coach of the state-ranked Westminster Christian Academy dance team, and taught at Renee Johnson's Dance Studio and Renee's Dance Floor.  She has taught and choreographed for Studio One Dance Company in Wales, WI for the past four seasons. 

Courtney is a dancer and choreographer based in Madison, Wisconsin, specializing in Hip Hop and commercial styles of dance, as well as contemporary and floor work. She holds a BFA in Dance from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and is a certified Pilates Instructor. As a creator, Courtney emphasizes the use of isolations, foundational and dynamic movements. She values the community that dance creates between every mover and the use of artists' bodies as a means of communication. 

Elly  has been dancing since 2005 and joined Life Dance Academy in 2023. With a passion for movement and storytelling, she brings a unique blend of technical skill and creative expression to every class. Elly is committed to creating a supportive environment where dancers of all levels can thrive.
She began choreographing at 15, with work showcased across Wisconsin and Illinois. Her choreography has earned numerous top awards in the competition circuit, including the Outstanding Choreographer Award at age 17. In 2018, she was honored as Miss Dance Masters of Wisconsin.
She has trained extensively under Evan Knutson and has proudly assisted him at workshops and events throughout Wisconsin for over 10 years. This mentorship has greatly influenced her growth as both a performer and instructor. She has also danced with Sparrow Dance Company for six years and choreographed for the group over the last three. In 2023, she performed the featured role of Hot Chocolate Soloist in The Nutcracker with StageWorks Projects.
Certified through Rhythm Works Integrative Dance, Elly is proud to work with the No Limits program, providing inclusive dance education to students of all abilities. She continues to grow through workshops and professional development, always striving to share the joy and artistry of dance with every student.
We are thrilled to have Elly as part of the Life Dance Academy team!

Kallisty has danced with what is now Life Dance Academy since the age of 3. She has been competitively dancing since 2009. She has had the pleasure of working with numerous choreographers throughout the years, such as Mo Williams, Missy Lobes, Patrick Burns, and more. In 2015, Kallisty was awarded with a scholarship from Coast to Coast for a fantastic essay about what dance meant to her. In 2018, Kallisty went to Dupree Dance where she earned a scholarship giving her a full ride to the convention in Chicago. When Kallisty wasn't in competition or recreational classes for herself, she has assisted teaching classes at the studio. Kallisty loves sharing her passion for dance with all of her students! Having her students feel seen and accomplished is her greatest joy within the classroom.

~Bio Coming Soon~

Alyssa was born and raised in Peoria, Illinois where she danced her whole life. Alyssa started dancing at the age of 3 and joined the competition team by the age of 7. She took classes in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Hip Hop and Acro. When she went to high school, she began teaching at the dance studio as well as taking classes. Alyssa was on her college dance team all four years of college. Her Senior year of college, she was a co-captain of the dance team. She ran practices as well as choreographed and taught dances. Alyssa moved to Janesville about a year and a half ago. She was very sad to leave dancing, but very excited to have accepted a teaching position at Monroe Elementary School in Janesville teaching 2nd grade! It definitely helped make the move easier. After a year of being in Janesville, Alyssa was ready to start teaching her love of dance again! Alyssa loves watching her students have fun, grow and share that passion for dance that she has! Alyssa always comes to class with a smiling face, a positive attitude and great enthusiasm! Alyssa is SO excited to be a part of The Life Dance Academy Family and looks forward to seeing new smiling faces!

~Bio Coming Soon~

Life Dance Academy welcomes Morgan Schnulle to the family as our newest Acro Instructor. Morgan grew up participating in a variety of sports and activities including dance and cheer. She graduated from Concordia University of Wisconsin in December of 2023 with a degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education. While at Concordia, Morgan competed for three seasons on the Acrobatics and Tumbling team. Her favorite skill to compete was the bridge stunt. Since graduating, Morgan substitute teaches in the area and is a Middle School Cheer Coach at St. Pauls in Janesville. Morgan is a great addition to our dance family and she cannot wait to share her excitement for dance Acro and watch the students learn their new skills. 

Emma began dancing at the age of 6 when she took classes in Ballet, Jazz, Tap, and Tumbling at the Academy of Dance and Music (now known as Studio 17) in Carrollton, Virginia under Karissa Evans and Presley Shields. She has danced with what is now Life Dance Academy since the age of 10, and danced competitively in Jazz, Hip Hop, Lyrical, and Musical Theatre for several years. Emma attended Craig High School where she choreographed and danced on the POMS team for 3 years. When she had free time between POMS, recreational classes, or competition rehearsals, she assisted teaching classes at the studio. Emma began assisting the preschool and tiny tots classes in 2018 and fell in love with it. She has been teaching her own preschool combo classes and elementary ballet classes the past several years.  Emma has a love for children and works full-time at a daycare as well as teaching dance classes.

​​​

Isaac Knuteson (Perm, Ru) was adopted from Perm Russia, & started dancing at a local competition studio training in multiple styles of dance & attending national events at Nycda & Dupree Dance. He competed at Yagp & placed top 12 in contemporary in 2021. He then later started training heavily in ballet & trained with Madison Ballet as a pre professional/trainee, under the direction of Rachelle Fochs & Central Midwest Ballet with Marguerite Luksik. Isaac attended Nashville Ballet SI in 2021, then later becoming a pre-professional student for a few months, working with Nick Mulllikin, Anaïs Chalendard, Julia Eisen & Aeron Buchanan. In 2022 Isaac attended Miami City Ballet Si where he then became a pre-professional that year, where he worked with Lourdes Lopez & Herman Payne. Isaac then trained with Oklahoma City Ballet In the summer with Ryan Jolicoeeur-Nye, Oliver Muñoz, Jason Ambrose & Chloe Jenson, where he then became a Postgraduate student in 2023. He has attended multiple summer intensives including Milwaukee Ballet, Kanopy Dance, Des Moines Ballet, Point Park Dance, Visceral Dance Chicago & Symbiosis Arts under Braeden Barnes. Isaac was an assistant for Dupree Dance in 2021-2023, where he got to work with Terrill Mitchell, Kobi Rozenfeld & Addison Holmes. During his time being an assistant he got the opportunity to sign with Go2talent agency in L.A in 2023. Isaac then danced professionally with Water Street Dance Milwaukee under the direction of Morgan Williams for a season in 2023-2024, where he got to perform & work with multiple choreographers. Isaac has performed at “APAP”, “Trifecta Dance Festival”, “Collective Contemporary Awards”, “Wisconsin Dance Festival”, “Midwest Arts Expo” & “World Of Dance Chicago”. Isaac also danced professionally as a guest aritst for Madison Contemporary Dance in 2021 & New Brese Dance Company in 2023. He is currently an assistant for Showstoppers Dance convention, & assisted for Arielle Elonys, Nathaniel Trasoras, Mary Ann Lamb, & Alexie Agdeppa. He is featured in their magazine for the 2024-2025 season. Isaac has taught all around the Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, Eau Claire, Chicago, Texas & Minneapolis area. His choreography was nominated for the “Industry Dance Awards” in 2023 & 2024. Isaac is currently dancing professionally with Regenerative Beings in Texas under the direction of Brian Stevens, where he got to work with Alex Clair, Jennifer Milner & Tim Fox. Isaac is also dancing professionally with Nova Linea in Milwaukee under the direction of Jared Baker.

​Nora discovered her love for dance at the age of 7, beginning her training in Hip Hop, Jazz, Musical Theatre, and Ballet. Within a year, her dedication and talent led her to the competition stage, where she would remain a committed and enthusiastic competitor through her senior year of high school. Through the years of competition Nora expanded her repertoire to include Contemporary, Lyrical, Modern and Tap, building versatility and a strong technical foundation. Her commitment to excellence earned her numerous first-place wins, special awards, and national recognition in both trios and team performances. During high school, she was also a valued member of the pom, jazz, and hip-hop dance teams, further honing her performance skills and stage presence.
One of the highlights of her competitive career came at the World of Dance international competition in Los Angeles, where her team achieved the highest-scoring USA routine. While in Los Angeles, Nora sought additional training at several renowned and in-demand studios, training with advanced choreography and diverse teaching styles. Today, she continues her passion for performance hoping to help bringing the same energy and artistry to the stage that has defined her since childhood.
In addition to performing, Nora has shared her love of dance as an assistant teacher, working with students of all ages and abilities. She has also completed internships in early childhood education programs, blending her creativity with her love for connecting with and inspiring children. Striving for kindness, acceptance, and positivity, she fosters an environment where every dancer feels valued and supported.
Currently, Nora is pursuing a degree in Social Work with the goal of making a meaningful difference in the lives of children and families. She continues to train and stay current with the latest techniques and trends, committed to helping her students grow into confident, expressive performers while promoting a culture of encouragement and respect both in and out of the studio.

Benjamin Rose began his training in Houston at Vitacca Ballet School and The High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. After three summers at Houston Ballet School, he was accepted into the full-time day program, studying under the direction of Andrew Murphy.Upon graduating, he began his professional career as a Trainee with Ballet West in Salt Lake City, where he performed roles such as the lead male in George Balanchine’s Walpurgisnacht and “The Bear” in Willam Christensen’s The Nutcracker. During his time in Utah, he also appeared as a guest artist with the University of Utah and with companies across the country, including NorthStar Ballet in Alaska, Nevada Ballet Theatre in Las Vegas, AVA Ballet in Reno, and Queen City Ballet in Montana. Benjamin later joined Colorado Ballet’s Studio Company in Denver and performed with Feel the Movement, a contemporary dance project directed by Edgar Page. He went on to dance with Ballet Des Moines under the direction of Serkan Usta, and then moved to San Antonio to perform with Ballet San Antonio under Sofiane Sylve. There he was promoted to soloist in his first season, dancing roles such as Basilio in Don Quixote, the Nutcracker Prince in The Nutcracker, and Bottom in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Following his time in San Antonio, he joined Madison Ballet under the direction of Ja’ Malik, where he continued expanding his repertoire in both contemporary and classical works. In addition to his ballet career, Benjamin is also a professional ballroom dancer, competing in International Latin.

Tara is no stranger to the dance world.  All 3 of Tara's adult children have danced since they were small.  Tara attended Michigan State University where she obtained a Bachelor's Degree in Interior Design. She spent 10 years working in the architecture, design and facility management industries.  Her kindness, attention to detail, and positivity are the perfect match for our studio culture.  Tara will be your friendly face answering your questions, phone calls, emails and taking payments.  Tara is crucial to the ins and outs that make Life Dance all it can be.  She will always greet you with smile and will make sure you have all the information you need. Tara is warm and welcoming and goes above and beyond to get to know our families and dancers.  

Brianna's dance passion and experience comes from watching her own tiny dancer twirl since the wee age of 2 when her daughter began dancing at Life Dance Academy. Brianna attended college at University of Wisconsin-Whitewater where she obtained a Bachelor's Degree in Education. Brianna is a Middle and High School Teacher at Parkview Jr./Sr. High,  in Orfordville,WI.  Her talent and joy of working with kids expands beyond her own classroom and she is excited to bring her many talents and organization skills to Life Dance Academy along side our Office Manager Tara.