Meet The Team
Ovation Dance is proud to have passionate, well educated instructors with varying certifications and degrees in the field of dance & movement. Our team is dedicated to our student's safety, technical proficiency, and overall health & well being. Scroll down to get to know some of our instructors!
KIAH CARPENTER
Director/Lead Instructor - Hip Hop, Jazz, Acrobatics, Tap, Ballet, Modern, Contemporary & Competition
Kiah Carpenter is dedicated to fostering a love for dance in her students while promoting personal growth and creativity. Beginning her own dance journey at an early age, Kiah trained in a diverse range of styles, including Modern, Tap, Ballet, Jazz, Hip-Hop, Lyrical, Contemporary, Musical Theater, and Improvisation. Kiah earned her B.A. in Dance with a focus on Pedagogy and Composition from Columbia College Chicago and is a certified Acrobatic Arts Instructor.
From 2013 to 2016, Kiah served as the Grammar/Logic Dance Instructor at Xavier Charter School and has coached numerous award-winning dancers across studios and schools. Her artistic endeavors include performances featured on HBO's We're Here and choreography for the Inspirata Dance Project. She has also directed/choreographed productions for Magic Valley Repertory Theatre, Magic Valley Little Theater, and JUMP Co., with notable credits in Chicago, Cabaret, and Cinderella.
In 2024, Kiah became the Artistic Director of the Inspirata Dance Project, empowering dancers to embrace their creativity and fostering community and collaboration among her students.
Kiah hopes to create a friendly space for all students to explore their creativity. She teaches discipline, teamwork, and confidence, while encouraging community and collaboration. Kiah is committed to making sure every student feels included and can develop their own artistic voice.
ALLY MORA
Instructor- Hip Hop, Jazz, Acrobatics, Tap, Contemporary, Performance Groups
Miss Ally was born in Twin Falls and grew up in the dance studio. She was known to always be at dance and loving every bit of it. She started dancing at the age of two and has been dancing ever since. Going off to college she became a member of the CSI Golden Girls for three years and was the captain for two of those years. She has danced professionally with the Inspirata Dance Project and received her AA in Dance and Social Work. Her passion is teaching all ages and putting a smile on each one of her students' faces. Her goal is to give her students an outlet to feel safe and be able to let go and be able to express themselves through movement.
KRISTIAN TURNER
Instructor- Tiny's, Mini's, Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Acrobatics, Contemporary, Performance Groups & Competition
Kristian Turner started her exciting dance journey at the age of 9, where she studied numerous styles of dance, including lyrical/contemporary, ballet, modern, hip hop, jazz, funk, and tap. Dance is Kristian’s longtime passion, as she has been dancing/performing for over 20 years and instructing for 17 years. While attending CSI in Twin Falls, Kristian was a member and captain of their Golden Girls Dance Team. Kristian, her husband, and their two kids, live on a farm in Hansen with a small "zoo" and enjoy spending time together outdoors when the weather is beautiful. She continues to perform as a member/collaborator of Inspirata Dance Project & in theatre productions with Magic Valley Repertory Theatre. She has also trained in Aerial Dance at CSI under Cindy Jones.
Shalen Smith
Instructor- Tiny Dancers, Mini's
Hello there, my name is Shalen but you can call me Miss Shay! I have been dancing since I was a little girl and danced in a California studio for many years as well as being a part of their performing group. When I graduated high school I moved to Idaho in 2016 to study Dance and AG. I graduated from the College Of Southern Idaho with my AA in Dance. I have tried all genres but hip hop and lyrical are my favorite. I knew I wanted to be a dance teacher when I got to assist my very first class at the age of 10! I currently work at the Animal Shelter as well as being the Dance Coach at South Hills Middle School. I am so excited to be back in the studio because I love how dance allows anyone to express themselves in and outside the box!
Hannah Adams
Instructor- Ballet, Pointe
Hi, my name is Hannah Adams. I started dancing at five years old one hour away from Twin at Center Stage Studios in Rupert. From there my dance journey took me to Georgia where I trained at the Atlanta Ballet Center for Dance Education. There I had the privilege of working under incredible choreographers such as Helen Pickett and John McFall. I studied nutrition, dance history, and various forms of dance. I also worked with patrons, was an assistant teacher, and worked as a stagehand in multiple productions. At the age of fifteen I had my choreographic debut at the Georgia Tech Ferst Center. I married the love of my life in 2017 and have since been teaching and sharing my love of dance with the next generation of artists.
Hannah Gaston
Instructor- Move & Bloom Program
Hannah began dancing at 15 and has pursued a life filled with movement ever since. She has been trained under the Cecchetti style of ballet and enjoys giving that knowledge back to the next generation. She enjoys using different props and objects with movement to create new shapes, inspiration, and creativity. She believes in teaching dance with compassion, patience, and most important, fun!
Sophia Kapeleris
Assistant Teacher
Sophia Kapeleris is a passionate dancer who has been dancing for 14 years. With seven years of experience as a competitive dancer, she is thrilled to share her knowledge and passion as an assistant teacher this year. Sophia is deeply committed to helping her students develop their own skills and love for dance, and she takes great pride in inspiring them to reach new heights in their own journeys.
Allison Donahue
Assistant Teacher
Coming Soon!
Jolene Heath
Instructor- Move & Bloom Program
Hi friends, my name is Jolene, and my dancers call me Miss Jo! I’ve loved to dance ever since my first Ballet class at 3 years old. I went on to study Dance at CSI while also pursuing a degree in Business. I've been teaching throughout the past 10 years, and I absolutely love being a part of a dancer’s journey! Not only do we learn skills and technique in the studio, but more importantly: teamwork, creativity, expression, and FUN! Outside of the Studio, you can find me adventuring with my husband and daughter (most likely going out for ice cream!) and enjoying being back with our family in Twin Falls.
Nikki O'Neil
Administrative Assistant
Ian O'Neil
Studio Assistant
Ian started his dance career at age 11 and hasn't stopped dancing since. After graduating from high school and completing his training at Ovation Dance, Ian is thrilled to join the team as the Studio Assistant, bringing his boundless energy and expertise to help others pursue their own dance dreams. He loves all styles of dance but his favorite is hip hop or lyrical. When not dancing he enjoys chicken tenders and dark chocolate Hershey's when he's not dancing!
Sosana Carpenter
Musical Theater, Ballroom, Lighting Designer, Costumes, Ovation On Stage Director/Choreographer
Studio Ambassadors
Shyann O'Neil
Teaching Assistant
Kiara Turner
Teaching Assistant
Annalise Woolley
Teaching Assistant
Lori Kapeleris
Teaching Assistant
Kat Ladwig
Teaching Assistant
Ellery Rowlands
Teaching Assistant
Bella O'Neil
Teaching Assistant
Mia West
Teaching Assistant
Laurelyn Ditlefsen
Classroom Assistant
Anna Kapeleris
Classroom Assistant