Staff

All About “Dance Illusion” and our Talented Staff!

“For Professional and Quality Instruction”

The Dance Illusion LLC has been in business since 2008 in beautiful Cache Valley. Our goal as a studio is to strongly improve the technique and knowledge of everyone of our students in a structured and positive environment. We pride ourselves in giving constant “personal attention” to all of our students, and we keep our class sizes appropriate to do so.

Our staff is very experienced with large bios to back up their knowledge and expertise. We LOVE to challenge our students and share our excitement for dance with them daily!

We have 6 different studios for our students to take class in. We offer regular weekly classes, at a moderate rate, as well as multiple competitive company teams. We will perform at community events, competitions, as well as have 2 recitals throughout the year.

Bios of Instructors:

	Lisa Preece grew up in the Ogden area and has over 35 years of dance experience, in over 12 styles of dance. She is the proud mother of 2 beautiful children and has lived in Cache Valley for the past 17 years. She is a former Utah State Aggiette, and former coach of the Logan Hi-Lo’s Drill Team. While coaching them for 6 years they won numerous National, State, and Region Championship titles. For 11 years she worked for the Universal Dance Association (largest instructional dance company in the U.S.) and has taught camps and conventions as a Head Instructor in over 20 states. She is a Nationally acclaimed judge who has judged UDA Nationals (featured on ESPN), in Orlando, Florida, USA Nationals in California, West Coast Championships, over 10 State Championships, and numerous other National and Local Invitationals. She was the Secretary for the Utah Dance and Drill Association and was voted the State Drill Team 2007 Coach of the Year Award. She is a certified Utah Dance & Drill Team Judge, has served on numerous committee boards for UDA, and was a UDA State Director for 5 years. Lisa has choreographed for the London New Year’s Day Parade, Houston Thanksgiving Day Parade, UDA College & High School National Champion Teams, Studios, All-Star Cheer Teams, and many Musical Theatre Productions. Lisa also has a huge love for Musical Theater and has performed in over 50 different musicals. She loves to continue her education as a dance teacher and owner and yearly attended Dance Teacher conferences like Rhee Gold’s Teacher Conference, Dance Teacher Web, Tremaine, and many more! She is now very excited to start her 15th year of Dance Illusion!
	Jane Miller began dancing at the age of 3. She has trained in ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, lyrical, contemporary, and acro tumbling. Growing up, she trained and competed with a local studio. In high school, Jane was a member of the drill team, and went onto serve as both Drill Mistress and Vice President. It was at this time she also began training at Dance Illusion under the direction of Lisa Preece. After graduation, she danced on the Utah State University Dance Company. She also worked as an instructor for the Universal Dance Association for 3 years and had the opportunity to work with many dance teams on the West Coast. At age 20, Jane became the head coach for the Logan High School Hi-Lo’s Drill Team. She led them to a region championship, state military title, and national military title. After two years of head coaching, Jane decided to pursue her nursing degree. She enjoys still being involved in drill team as a UHSAA certified drill team judge. She also had the opportunity to be the assistant coach for the Weber State University Dance Team in 2018 and helped them win an NDA national title in hip hop. Jane has been chosen as a guest/master teacher at many different events in styles including jazz, jazz technique, lyrical, and military. She has choreographed many award-winning routines for teams, small groups, solos, duets and trios in different states including Nevada, Washington, Idaho, and Utah. Jane also graduated with her Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing from Weber State University and works full time as a Registered Nurse. She is grateful for the opportunity she has to still share her love of dance with all of the sweet dancers she teaches, and is looking forward to her 13th year at Dance Illusion!
	Karlee Bowen is excited to start her 13th year with Dance Illusion. She is trained in lyrical, jazz, contemporary, basic ballet, and tap. Karlee is certified in Radar turns and leaps technique course. She’s choreographed and worked with many Drill teams throughout the state of Utah and Idaho. She is also the head coach at Ridgeline high school, she was excited for the opportunity to start and create the new program back in 2016. Since coaching, Ridgeline drill team has won 6 region titles, top 2 placements at state, as well as top 5 placements at state every year. Two years ago, Karlee was voted coach of the year. She loves sharing her passion and is excited to share more knowledge with the state. Karlee choreographs many routines for the studio, as well as several solos, duets, and trios. Her favorite style to teach is lyrical. She has so much love for the students and parents at the studio. She is always excited when a new year rolls around and she gets to work with new and old dancers. Karlee graduated from college with a degree in human movement. She uses her knowledge from college to help teach proper technique and strength as she knows the basics of how the body works and which muscles create movement and resistance during physical exercise. She loves sharing her anatomy terminology with her dancers. Karlee recently got married on a private beach in Puerto Vallarta. It was her dream day and can’t want to start this next chapter in her life as the new Mrs. Bowen.
	Liz Schwartz grew up in Smithfield Utah and has over 29 years of dance experience in both competitive and performance dance. Liz has five sisters and amazing parents who have always supported her in all she does. Aside from dance, Liz loves to travel with her husband and two daughters (Adelaide 7, Scotlynn 3). Since the age of three she has been in love with dance. At four years old Liz was competing in solo's all over the state of Utah. While competing in solos, she took many championships and overalls. In 2001 Liz was able to dance in the Salt Lake City Olympics. Since the Olympics she was cast in: Utah Festival Opera “Kismet” as an Arabian Princess dancer, High School drill & cheer team, and much more. Liz competed Nationally and placed 1st at nationals several times. She has been lucky to train under many amazing choreographers and teachers such as; Joe Tremaine, Brian Friedman, Wade Robson, Cris Judd, Laurie Johnson, Barry Youngblood, and many more. In 2015 Liz was asked to come start a dance program and provide its curriculum for a company in Brigham City Utah. She met a lot of great people through that program and loved being apart of it. Since then she has become an Utah State drill team judge and a member of the Utah Dance Judges Association. In 2021 she joined the drill team coaching staff at Ridgeline High School. Since joining the staff they have taken second at the State competition in the 4A division, as well as a fifth year repeat region championship. She loves the world of drill and all it has taught her. Along with coaching, she has choreographed for several high schools in cheer and musical theatre. She has found a new love to choreograph and work with groups outside of the studio world. She is excited to start her sixth year teaching at Dance Illusion!
	Jodie Lamb After a few years off, I am so excited to be back in the studio sharing my love of dance! I have over 35 years of experience teaching dance of all styles. I’ve coached high school Cheer and Drill for 20 years and now my life is full of fabulous people that I’ve met through dance. I have many years of experience in choreography, judging, educating and mentoring dancers and teachers, and designing/sewing Dancewear and costumes. I have an amazing husband, six kids, one son in law, and one grandson. Dance and my family and my family has been my life… I am so lucky! My goal this year is to help students train properly to prevent injuries, and help them realize that dance is not only athletic, but artistic. I want them to be passionate about their training and find a love for dance that will stay with them their whole life. Building confidence in every single dancer by finding their individual strengths will also be a priority for me. We have so much talent here at Dance Illusion, I feel so excited to become part of the process.
	Ashley Smith grew up in Cache Valley and has over 30 years of dance experience in a variety of styles. As a competitive dancer, Ashley was an undefeated soloist, earning numerous overall dividion titles and awards throughout her youth. She was a Junior Utah Jazz Dancer for three seasons, multiple Odyssey Dance Theater scholarship recipient, and had the opportunity to train alongside industry professionals as a Youth Apprentice with Tremaine Dance Convention. Ashley was a member of both her high school drill team and cheerleading spirit squad, and was recognized as her school's Dance Sterling Scholar. Additional performance credits include appearing in opening numbers for music icons The Beach Boys, Ty Herndon, Kelly Clarkson, as well as being cast as a dancer in Disney's High School Musical 2. Ashley began teaching dance in 2002 and joined Dance Illusion during its very first year as a studio. She has taught and choreographed in several states and previously served as a Universal Dance Association (UDA) Head Instructor, Choreography, Committee Board Member, and ESPN Nationals Judge. Outside of the dance world, Ashley is a Board-Certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and, most importantly, and proud mom of two. She loves sharing her lifelong passion for dance with the next generation and helping develop confidence, artistry, technique, and a genuine love for the arts.
	Gabriella Jensen returns to Dance Illusion with 17 years of training in ballet, ballroom, contemporary, lyrical, tap, commercial, and jazz. Her performance credits include principal roles in Swan Lake, Peter Pan, and Sleeping Beauty, as well as performing as an elite dancer with Royal Caribbean's theaer productions and appearing in multiple music videos. She is excited to come back to Dance Illusion as an instructor.
	Michelle Bartlett is beyond excited to start her fifth year with Dance Illusion! Michelle grew up training, assisting, and teaching in styles including jazz, hip hop, lyrical, contemporary, ballet, pointe, character, acro tumbling, and, her favorite, tap! She also assisted a local middle school dance team for two of their seasons working on their pom and hip hop routines. Since becoming a part of the Dance Illusion family, Michelle's team and solo choreography has placed in category and division overalls at regional and national competitions with specialty awards for choreography, costuming, technique, showmanship, and creativity. When not at the studio, Michelle is a Masters student at Utah State University studying history! She is also an apprentice with Tap into the Network and performed in their Tonality show in Atlanta, Georgia last summer. Michelle is so grateful to be part of an amazing studio and cannot wait to start what she already knows will be an amazing year!
	Kylie Thomas was trained in jazz, hip hop, contemporary, ballet, modern, and acro tumbling. In high school she won various region and state titles, including all state and top corp. She has been able to take on multiple leadership positions throughout her high school and college dance experience, which included the positions as USU Dance Company President & Ridgeline Drill Team Co-Captain. She received her bachelors degree from Utah State University in Human Development as well as a health coaching & dance injury prevention certification. Her love for dance also extends to a love for teaching. She’s been a dance instructor for 6 years which has given her opportunities to work for companies such as EPIC Drill and Cheer Productions, Utah State University, Dance Illusion, and various other studios.
	Hello! My name is Miranda Butterfield! I am so excited for another year at Dance Illusion. I have been around the studio for 11 years, 8 of those being a student here myself! On top of dancing I was also a competitive tumbler and then continued onto high school and did cheer and was able to be a captain my senior year. I have a passion for dance and helping little kids grow that same passion! When I'm not coaching I am probably working my other job of being a teacher aide to become a school teacher myself! I love being with friends and family, shopping, walks outside, organizing and staying busy! I am excited for another great season!
	My name is LeAnn Ravsten and this is my second year teaching at Dance Illusion! I grew up dancing for 22 years of my life and have received training in ballet, pointe, jazz, hip hop, contemporary and ballroom. I’ve participated in Ballet West's Nutcracker performances as a Page. I was on my high school’s ballroom team for two years and was a captain for the team my senior year. I danced on Utah State’s Dance Company for two years and was a captain for the dance company my second year! I just recently graduated from Utah State with a bachelor’s degree in Data Analytics and a double minor in Statistics and Anticipatory Intelligence. I’m excited to be at Dance Illusion and looking forward to the amazing dance year ahead of us!
	Hi, I'm Londyn Hardy! I've been dancing for 16 years and have been a part of Dance Illusion for 10 years. Growing up, I trained in a variety of styles and learned to love each one more and more. I was also a member of the Green Canyon High School drill team for 3 years and their cheer team for 1 year. I also had the opportunity to be on the USU Spirit Squad for 1 year. Dance Illusion has truly been my second home and has played such a big role in shaping who I am today. I love being able to now share my passion for dance through teaching and help dancers grow in both their technique and confidence. I am so grateful to be a part of the Dance Illusion family and can't wait for another amazing year!
	Hi my name is Savannah McKenna, and I have been dancing since I was a little girl!! I danced competitively at Groove the Academy in Bountiful all growing up. My favorite styles have always been ballet and contemporary. In high school I danced on the Farmington High drill team where I won 2 state championships! After high school I moved up to Logan and danced on the Utah State spirit squad as an Aggiette for 2 years and it was such an amazing experience! I started teaching at Dance Illusion last year and I am excited to teach ballet again this year!
	Hi, I'm Hailey Harding! Originally from Colorado, I am now a student at Utah State! I grew up dancing at Tempo School of Performing Arts where I had the opportunity to train, and I also taught there for many years. I have performed in my home studio's Nutcracker as the Sugar Plum fairy, along with being on the competition team for 5 years. We participated in many competitions and conventions where I mainly competed in lyrical. I've attended BYU's contemporary summer intensive, and ArtÉmotion in partnership with Ballet West. I can't wait to start my first year teaching here!
	Hallie Jo Hyde has been dancing since the age of three and is proud to be one of Dance Illusion's original dancers! Her love for teaching began at age 14, when she started teaching dancers in her own basement studio, and she has been teaching in a professional setting since 2019. With experience in competitve dance, cheer, and collegiate training in ballet, modern, and other styles, she brings both a deep love for the art form and a strong technical foundation to her classes. She loves getting to know each dancer and watching them grow, not only in their technique but in their confidence and who they are as a person. She believes dance is such a healthy outlet for both the mind and body, and she loves encouraging dancers to take care of both! Proper technique, hard work, and having fun are always the main focus of her classes. In addition to teaching, she's also a professionally trained Spray Tan artist and is excited to offer custom Spray Tans to friends at the studio this year! Outside the studio, she's the biggest animal lover, an avid reader, and someone who loves celebrating any chance she gets!
	This is Maggie Liddle's first year teaching at Dance Illusion, and she couldn't be more excited. Maggie has been dancing since the age of 3 and has trained in Ballet, Jazz, Hip Hop, Tap, Contemporary, Lyrical, and Musical Theatre. She has competed and attended conventions all across Utah, both in solo and group categories. She has performed with multiple dance organizations across the states, such as SALT, Lythgoe Family Productions, and Odyssey Dance Theatre. She has attended numerous masterclasses and conventions over the years, and performed in countless events both in Utah and Tennessee. Maggie served as the president of Ridgeline Theatre Society and worked as Head Choreographer for productions there, as wel as Dance Captain. Dance-and performance in general-have been longtime passions of Maggie's, bringing light to her life for as long as she can remember. She can't wait to help share and foster the joy of expression through dance with these beautiful students.
	Hello! My name is Sophie Lo and I am beyond excited for my first year at Dance Illusion! Orginally from Salt Lake, I am now a student at Utah State. I grew up dancing at The Collective PAC and Artistic Dance Project. I am trained in Ballet, Jazz, Hip Hop, Tap, Lyrical, Contemporary, Musical Theater and Ballroom, but my favorites are contemporary and lyricsl. I have attended various conventions around the country, and I have performed in Utah, Florida, and California. I was the 2025-2026 National Dancer of the Year for Hollywood Connection, as well as the caption for their national pre-professional teen company! I am so excited to join the Dance Illusion Family!