Our Teachers

Our teachers are simply incredible. They are highly trained, dedicated professionals with hearts of gold. They not only inspire a love of dance movement and fitness, but they also foster an inclusive environment that builds confidence and determination.

KAYLA WILLIAMS
CONTEMPORARY, JAZZ, ENSEMBLES

Kayla's dance journey began in jazz, then branched into ballet, hip hop, tap, modern, and contemporary. She has a B.S. in Dance from the University of Idaho, an M.A in Teaching from Oregon State University, and specializes in fitness and injury prevention. Kayla has taught across Central Oregon, Idaho, and even Shanghai, China, and cultivates a passion for dance and the arts in her students. She has performed with many great dance artists including Bill T. Jones, Sherry Zunker, Christopher K Morgan, and Susan Hadley. She has been with SDA since 2013.

SHANNON ABERO GUERRERO
HIP HOP

Shannon discovered her love for dance during high school in San Jose. After graduating with a BA from California State University, Long Beach she toured with the Asian Singers, Memoirs of a Geisha, appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and worked with Nike. She performed at Monsters of Hip Hop, The House of Blues in LA, and was a member of the Funkenometry Dance Company. She has trained with Wade Robson and Tabitha and Napoleon (So You Think You Can Dance), and Marty Kudelka (Justin Timberlake’s choreographer). She moved with her family to Bend in 2011 and sharing her love of dance with SDA since 2013.

ASHLEY GAONA
HIP HOP, TAP

Born and raised in Bend, Ashley is know for her musicality, which she honed at COCC while studying music education and conducting, and while singing in several productions of the Obsidian Opera. She has studied at DNCR Academy and with world-renowned hip hop choreographers. She danced with Dirtball, the Hot Shots, Globetrotters, and Lady Dice. She has taught at Sisters Dance Academy since 2018. She truly believes she has the best job in the world because there is nothing better than spreading the joy of dance.

DENISSE CHURCHILL
JAZZ, ACRO

Stretch your heart, mind, and hamstrings! For 17 years, Denisse studied with Zayda Liardo in her hometown of Guayaquil, Ecuador, learning flamenco, Spanish dance, ballet, jazz, acro, and tap. She also spent 10 years training in ballet technique at the School of Arts Raymond Mauge Thorniel in Ecuador. Denisse has primarily taught jazz and flamenco for many years and often incorporates acro dance elements into her choreography. She loves the movement of the human body and introducing her students to dance as an art discipline and helping them set and accomplish goals, no matter how small or large. She is persistent, driven and passionate in all she does, including owning and running two businesses.

AVA WILEY
CONTEMPORARY, JAZZ

Ava is a master of dynamic and inventive movement and technique across genres. She has quickly established herself at Sisters Dance Academy since joining in 2024. Ava grew up dancing at The Vibe in Bend and graduated Bend High School and then Oregon State University. Beyond dance, Ava is also an avid photographer including outdoor dance-themed portraits.

COLBY ROBERTS
HIP HOP

Colby has been training at the Sisters Dance Academy since the age of three in every style offered! She has been a member of the competitive dance teams since 2019, competing in hip hop, contemporary, and jazz. In 2022, she began assisting Miss Shannon’s 7-9 year hip hop class, and substitute teaching for several hip hop classes. She is an incredible dancer, with high expectations of herself and her students, and is excited to be teaching.

JENICA COGDILL
OFFICE MANAGER

Jenica grew up dancing and has always loved being involved in the arts, dance, and stage management. She started managing the backstage production of SDA recitals when her daughter began dancing with Miss Lonnie in 2017. In 2022, she stepped in to help run the front office. In 2023, she took a break from her career in digital experience management for global companies such as Google, Facebook, and Nike. to launch Central Oregon’s only dance store: Move It Dancewear in Bend.