Meet the Staff

Alexis Valgardson-Levie Owner/Director!

Alexis Valgardson-Levie was born and raised in Provo Utah. Her dancing career started when she was 3 years old. Utah Academy Dance Studio was her home for 13 years, Dancing her way to their hightest competition team. While at Utah Academy she assisted dance classes , taught private lessons, and beginning classes. From there she danced and cheered at Provo High School, lettering each year. She held titles such as President, Historian, Cheer Co-Captain, and Captain, & Sterling Scholar. When she turned 16 she got hired on at ConfiDance Kids teaching jazz. After graduating from High School Alexis danced 2 years at Utah Valley State College, competing at competitions & holding the 2nd rank for nationals. Some of her favorite things to do while on the team were, dance at 1/2 time and being part of the song leading program. After 8 years of teaching dance to children aging from 4-13, Alexis decided to open her own studio specializing in Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Pointe, Contemporary, Lyrical, and Hip Hop. In Alexis' free time she loves hanging out with her husband Marc and 2 Daughter’s, Rylinn & Adilynn. Shopping and Scrapbooking also keep her pretty busy.

Kylie Bronk- Company Choreographer

Kylie Bronk is 18 Years old and has been dancing since the age of 2 1/2 and has loved every moment! She has grown up training in Ballet, Jazz, Hip hop, Lyrical, Contemporary, Modern, Novelty, Character, Tap, Tumbling and African. Kylie started out at Salem's best Cheer and Tumbling and then began to train at ConfiDance Kids for a couple years. She's been a member of Timpview High's Dance Company for 4 years, and was the V.P. Choreographer. For the past 10 years Kylie has been training with Dance Showcase Company where she developed her great love and passion for dance. She has been taught by world-renowned, Mia Michaels, Wade Robson, Danny Tidwell, Travis Wall, Benji Schwimmer, Marti Dew, Lauren Adams, Joelle Martinec, Alan Salazar, Kelene Johnson, Scott Thompson, Wes Veldink and many more. She has received many Scholarships and Awards/honors including, Numerous 1st place awards for soloist, Outstanding Performance All Star Kar Kid, Tremaine Scholarship to Dance at the Performing Arts Center in Los Angeles, Studio Dancer of the Year, Judges Choice awards, NYC Steps on Broadway Scholarship, EPIC Dance Scholarship and many more. Kylie has traveled to dance in many places including NYC, L.A. California, Las Vegas Nevada, Mexico, and Miami Florida. She has been teaching for 4 years now and enjoy making dancers feel inspired and confident. One of her future goals is to be on SYTYCD. Kylie recently graduated Timpview High School and is going to go to Utah Valley University to study to get her BFA in Dance. She is also going to be a part of the Synergy Dance Company at UVU. She's taught at ConfiDance Kids, Dance Showcase Company, and The Vibe and is thrilled to join FCDA's Faculty this year!

Ellie Stott- Ballet/Pointe Instructor

Ellie Stott was born in Kansas, but raised in St. George Utah. When she was 8 years old, her mom forgot to sign her up for softball in time, and instead put her in a ballet class and she hasn't stopped dancing since. She was trained at Westside Studio's in St. George Ut for 10 years, and later at Utah Valley University in Orem Ut for 2 years. She has received both honorable mentions and scholarships from many schools and workshops including the Ballet West Intensive, Chicago National Association of Dance Masters, and Utah Valley University. She has studied ballet now for 15 years, and even though she enjoys dancing modern, jazz, and a little hip hop, ballet is her passion. She began teaching when she was 15 years old, and loves watching her students come to understand the beauty in classical ballet, as well as the freedom in contemporary ballet. Steve, her husband, and Ellie just had a baby girl, Lillian, who has been dancing since day 1, even if she doesn't know it!

Sarah Plaunche- Ballet/Pointe Instructor

Sarah Plauché was born and raised in Orem, Utah. She began dancing when she was five years old at the Academy of Ballet, where she studied both ballet and jazz. At the age of thirteen she began training at The Dance Conservatory where her love for ballet was discovered. She was accepted into the summer intensive programs for Pacific Northwest Ballet and Ballet West where she had the opportunity to learn from various Ballet proffesionals. She is now aquiring a BFA in Ballet at Utah Valley University and will be graduating in 2011. Sarah has been teaching at Front and Center for a year and has loved working with the students. She has a passion for the details and beauty of Ballet technique and has enjoyed passing it on to younger dancers. Sarah recently got married in April, and has been loving every minute of it.

Riki Laws- Company Choreographer

Erika Laws, more commonly known as "Riki" was born and raised in Provo, Utah. She has been dancing since she was 5 years old at Jive, a dancer's place, and has been dancing on their elite team for the past few years. She has been teaching/assistanting ever since she was 14 years old at Confidance, Jive, and now Front and Center Dance Academy! She is currently attending Provo High School as a senior, and is loving every minute of it. She is a member of the PHS dance company, and has enjoyed being the Public Relations Officer and Public Relations Manager of the company in the last 4 years. She is also the PHS Varsity Cheer Captain and has loved being involved in the cheer program. While at Provo High she has been awarded the Sterling Scholar award in the Dance category and won region to continue on to the state competition. She has also been involved in student government, NHS, Hope Squad, and maintains a 4.0 GPA. In her free time she can be found reading, playing the piano, shopping, and playing with friends. As her senior year is wrapping up, she plans on going to BYU where she hopes to continue her dancing career. Riki is thrilled to be a teacher at FCDA this year, and couldn't be more excited to be a part of these young dancer's lives..

Natosha Webb- Teen Technique

Natosha Valgardson started dancing at 5 years old at Utah Academy, because of immune problems she was taken out at age 8. Natosha went back to Utah Academy when she was 14 for 1/2 a year, then she became a cheerleader at Provo High School her sophomore year and making the sophomore team she was made the Co-Captain. She tried out her Junior year but tore her hamstring 5 minutes before, so she didn't make it. At age 16 Natosha assisted for ConfiDance Kids for the little combo classes and some of her sisters older classes. She has taught and assisted at front & Center for 3 years now! Natosha just got married to Chad Webb in December 2009. They are living in Provo, where they love being married.

Hailie Johnson- Jr Company Assistant/Pointe I Teacher

My name is Hailie Johnson. I am 16 years old and I was born in Provo, Utah. When I was in fourth grade we moved to Lindon, Utah. I started dancing at ConfiDance Kids when I was six years old, where I started learning from Alexis. When Alexis opened her studio I tried out for and made the Sr. Company team. I danced at Front & Center Dance Academy for 2 years until I graduated in 09 I am a sophomore at Pleasant Grove High School. I enjoy school and love to challenge myself. I tried out for the Drill Team at my school and made it. I love dancing and Drill is very different from studio dancing and I am learning tons about new dance styles. I plan to graduate from High School and go to college to become a Physician’s Assistant. In my free time I love to dance and teach/assist at FCDA! I also enjoy listening to music, doing anything outdoors, photography, and watching movies. I also enjoy hanging out with my friends. I love my family and spending time with them is one of my favorite things to do! I love teaching at FCDA and I love helping people learn more about something I have a deep passion for, Dance!

Samantha Gomm- Super Stars Combo Assistant

Info Coming soon....

Madison Valgardson- Combo Class Assistant

Madison Started dancing at ConfiDance Kids when she was 4 years old. She has always wanted to dance just like her sister and decided to try out it out! After the first year of dancing she was moved onto a competition team and has been on one ever since. When Alexis (her sister) opened her studio, Madison was thrilledJ She always wanted to assist in classes and wants to be a teacher one day! Every year Madison has the opportunity to go and compete at dance competitions. She loves the atmosphere and the feeling she gets from placing, usually she places 1st or 2nd. This is a great accomplishment for herJ When Madison grows up she wants to be a dance teacher, but also has a soft spot for animals. She loves caring for them, one day she would like to be a veterinarian. Madison is also an over achiever and loves school. She is in the 6th grade at Amelia Earhart, Madison is a perfectionist and takes school and dance very serious. She loves to learn and enjoys schoolJ Madison loves being able to assist dance this year at Front & Center. She gets to help with the Super Stars and the Wee Hip Hop classes.

Savanna Caver- Express Combo Class Assistant

My name is Savanna Caver. I am 12 years old and I am currently on Senior Company at Front & Center! I was born in Provo, Utah. I am in 8th grade at Centennial Middle School. I started dancing when I was in preschool at the program that they had there. I met Alexis at a prior dance studio; she was my jazz and technique teacher. When Alexis decided to open her own studio, my mom and I decided that, that is where I would like to go. I tried out and made the Junior Company and then the next year I made it to Sr. Company; I love dancing at Front and Center and know hard work pays off! When I get into high school, I plan on trying out for their dance class. When I am older I want to be a professional dancer or a doctor, or both! In my spare time I love dancing and hanging out with my family and friends. I am so excited that I get to assist the Express combo class!

MaKayla Atkins- Jumpstart Combo Class Assistant

Makayla was born in Omaha, Nebraska, she moved to Utah when she was 13 months old. At 3yrs old her mom signed her up for dance class with the hope to give her confidence and grace, now Makayla has tons of confidence and is a beautiful dancer. Studio's that she has danced at are ConfiDance Kids & Front and Center Dance Academy. Makayla was also on the 8th grade Ballroom Dance Team at Dixon Jr. High. At the Provo High Ballroom Dance competition Makayla and her dance partner placed 5th. Makayla is able to dance Ballroom, Jazz, Ballet, Pointe Ballet, Hip Hop, Lyrical, she loves to dance. Makayla is working with the Jumpstart combo class as an assistant and she loves every minute of it, she enjoys being around kids and helping them with their dance steps. Makayla is very smart and when she grows up she wants to attend BYU and becomes a Doctor. Makayla has a very bubbly personality and is outgoing & funny, she has a lot of friends. Makayla is always laughing and doing something crazy, she is never afraid to try new things.