Rendee Combs has spent a lifetime in dance, beginning her training at the age of five and teaching by the age of 14. She trained under the direction of Wanda Manville at Tempe Dance Academy, where she was a company dancer and received numerous awards throughout her youth.

Rendee continued her dance career at the University of Arizona as a member of the U of A Pom Line from 1991–1995. During her four years as a “Wildcat Pommie,” she performed at football and basketball games, on national television, and at major events including the 1993 Fiesta Bowl and the 1994 NCAA Final Four.

Her passion for teaching led Rendee to become a studio owner and director. She founded Desert West Dance Academy in the West Valley and spent 20 years growing the studio from a small program in a rented classroom into one of Arizona’s premier dance studios. Under her direction, dancers performed throughout the Valley and earned numerous regional and national competition awards. Many of her former students have gone on to perform professionally, appear in musicals, commercials and videos, join collegiate and professional performance teams, and become dance educators themselves. She is especially proud that two of her former dancers followed in her footsteps as members of the University of Arizona Pom Line.

Today, Rendee is proud to be on her second journey as a studio owner at AZ Dance District in North Central Phoenix. After decades of teaching, her heart remains in the same place it was when she began at 14: enriching the lives of young people through dance.

Rendee believes that great dance training is about much more than steps, performances, or awards. She wants her students to develop the work ethic, self-belief, resilience, and character that will stay with them long after they leave the studio. That philosophy is reflected in the heart of AZ Dance District and its motto: Technique. Confidence. Character.

An award-winning choreographer and certified member of Dance Masters of Arizona, Rendee has performed, taught, choreographed, and competed throughout Arizona, across the United States, and internationally. She has also served as a judge for high school and collegiate competitions and tryouts throughout Arizona.

While Rendee is proud of her accomplishments throughout her career, she considers the relationships she has built and the generations of dancers she has had the privilege to teach her greatest success. She feels incredibly fortunate to continue doing what she has loved since childhood—sharing her passion for dance while helping young people become confident dancers and, even more importantly, confident people.

Paula Carr has been teaching in the Valley for more than 27 years as well as the Owner/Director of the Paula Carr Dance Academy for 20 years.

Paula started dancing at the age of two right here in the Valley and continued at Camelback High School and through college at the University of Arizona. She minored in dance and performed for three fun years on the Arizona Pomline with studio owner, Rendee.

Laura Costa grew up in Phoenix and has been dancing since the age of four.  She has had extensive training and education through local dance studios in all styles of dance, predominantly in Jazz, Tap, Ballet and Modern Dance through the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts School of Music, Dance and Theatre.  In addition Laura is a certified Mind Body Mat Pilates trainer and a Rainbow Yoga Kids/Family certified instructor.

Laura served as the Studio Manager for Cannedy Performing Arts Centre from 2001-2017.  As director and mentor of the Student Teaching Apprenticeship Program, Laura helped to develop many dance teachers and professionals.  Throughout her 16 years at Cannedy Laura worked with dancers of all ages and skill sets; from toddlers in creative movement, to adult beginner Tap, teen advanced competitive Jazz and everything in between.  She created the Tiny Dancers program allowing children to participate in dance at the age of two (some still in diapers and using pacifiers) and more easily transition into preschool dance.

Born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona, Nikki Lifshitz discovered her love for dance at the age of 10 and hasn’t stopped dancing since. Throughout her training, Nikki has studied a wide variety of styles, including jazz, ballet, hip hop, acro, contemporary, musical theater, and more. She spent several years competing as a member of both an elite competition team and an elite hip hop competition team.

After graduating high school and stepping away from the competition world, Nikki began pursuing her bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice at Arizona State University while continuing to keep dance an important part of her life.

When she’s not dancing or studying, Nikki loves reading, spending time with friends and family, and settling in for a good movie.

Logan’s hometown is Calhoun, Louisiana and her dance journey started at the age of three where she received elementary dance skills under the instruction of Missy Crain for a few years. At the age of 12, she started taking classes at a local studio, Linda Lavender School of Dance (LLSD) where she discovered a passion for dance that changed her life. Logan trained extensively in ballet, tap, jazz, pointe, hip hop, and contemporary/lyrical under Linda Lavender and her faculty’s instruction. 

She became a competitive dancer at the age of 13 as well as a member of the Twin City Ballet company that was accompanied with LLSD, where she performed for the community on multiple occasions, including classical ballets such as the Nutcracker. She traveled for competitions as well as dance festivals to perform and compete and was selected as one of five dancers to perform on live television for the Miss Louisiana Pageant.

Logan began assisting with teaching at LLSD in 2020 and that led her to fall in love with teaching students the beautiful art of dance. In 2022, she moved to Phoenix, AZ and found her new dance home at AZ Dance District! 

Caroline Sias is a dancer, choreographer, and teacher who grew up in Detroit, Michigan as a competitive studio dancer. She continued her education at Grand Canyon University, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Dance Performance.

Her training includes Millennium Dance Complex, Release Detroit, Eisenhower Dance Detroit’s NewDANCEfest, and Messengerz’s Dance Company intensives. Caroline attended NewDANCEfest as a dancer and returned the following year as a choreographer.

During college, Caroline had the opportunity to work with and learn from many guest choreographers and artists. Faculty nominated several of her choreography works for the American College Dance Association conference. Caroline is passionate about teaching and creating a positive environment where dancers can grow in their technique, confidence, and love for dance. 

Originally from San Jose, California, Kaylee Feierfeil has a lifelong passion for dance and loves sharing that passion with the next generation of dancers!

She currently attends Grand Canyon University, where she is a fourth-year member and Captain of the GCU Dance Team.

Kaylee brings her energy, experience, and love of dance into the classroom and is passionate about helping dancers grow in both their skills and confidence.

Based in Phoenix, Arizona, Travon is a passionate dancer, choreographer, and educator dedicated to continuous growth in the art of dance. He has choreographed for NBA teams, collaborated with dance conventions and productions, and teaches at a variety of studios across the Valley.

Known for his energetic teaching style and commitment to inspiring others, Travon believes that dance is a lifelong journey of learning and development. Whether creating choreography, training students, or expanding his own artistry, he is always eager to learn more and push himself to new levels.

Vince started as a competitive gymnast in High School and has since been a girls gymnastics instructor for 14 years. Vince is a certified acrobatics instructor by Dance Masters of America. When not teaching, he enjoys camping and traveling with his family.