Academy of Dance
"Where Every Child's A Star"
Meet the Team
Owner/Instructor
Carla Olson
Carla started dancing when she was six, exploring Ballet, Tap, and Jazz. By the time she was 15, she was already sharing her love for dance by teaching others. She studied dance at Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle and further advanced her training at Dupree Dance Academy in Hollywood studying under well-known mentors like Michael Rooney, Jackie Sleight, and Carol Connors. Alongside her dance journey, she earned a BA in Business Administration from the University of Portland. Throughout her business career, she remained committed to dance, continuing her studies at Spectrum Dance Theatre in Seattle with Dale Merrill. In 1997, she opened the Academy of Dance, driven by a deep passion for children and their growth—not only as dancers but as confident, well-rounded individuals. She is dedicated to nurturing both their artistic talents and personal development every step of the way.
Studio Manager
Alicia Peerson
As the Studio Manager, Alicia brings organization, care, and a genuine love for studio life into everything she does. A devoted mom of three and longtime member of our dance family, she is the go‑to person for everything that keeps the studio running — schedules, events, props, costumes, communication, and all the behind‑the‑scenes details that make the magic happen. She truly lives and breathes dance life and brings her heart, organization, and warmth to the studio every single day. The studio is unbelievably thankful for all she has dedicated and contributed over the years, and we know her impact will continue to shape our community for many years to come.
Synergy Co-Director
Instructor/Choreographer
Katie Kelly
Katie is a seasoned dancer, educator, and fitness professional with a lifelong passion for movement. She began dancing at age four and went on to compete nationally in multiple styles, earning scholarships and working with renowned choreographers. A well-rounded athlete and founding member of a hip-hop company, Katie began teaching dance at sixteen, creating acro and pom programs early in her career. She studied Dance and Education at the University of Washington and later earned a Master’s in Exercise Science. With over a decade of experience in dance, fitness, and wellness, Katie is now the Synergy team director and a Pilates instructor, bringing her energy, expertise, and love of movement to the Academy of Dance community.
Ballet Director
Instructor/Choreographer
Sawyer Cayo
Sawyer began dancing at the age of four and has over 13 years of training in Ballet, Pointe, Lyrical, Contemporary, Jazz, Musical Theater, and Hip Hop. A former member of the Synergy competition team, she has earned multiple awards and performed extensively in the community. Her passion for dance education began in 2018 as an apprentice, and she has been teaching ever since. Sawyer enjoys choreographing for all ages and styles, using dance as a creative outlet to help dancers express themselves. She finds fulfillment in inspiring young dancers to pursue their passion and reach their goals.
Synergy Assistant Director
Instructor/Choreographer
Nicole Cleveland
Nicole began dancing in ballet at a young age, later adding jazz, tap, drill team, and cheerleading, and competing on a California-based dance team. After earning her BA in Business Administration from Washington State University, she returned to dance when her daughter began ballet. A certified group fitness instructor in Surge Fitness, Surge Strength, and TRX, Nicole also trains in Academy of Dance’s adult ballet/lyrical class and is passionate about inspiring young dancers. Married to her high school sweetheart, she enjoys life with their two children, traveling, the outdoors, church, and finding the best coffee.
Support Staff
Niki Read
Niki has been part of the Academy of Dance community since her two daughters first stepped into their Ballet/Tap classes. Over the years, she has watched them grow into dedicated members of the Synergy Dance Team, deepening her connection to the studio along the way.
As a friendly and familiar face at the front desk, Niki welcomes students and families with genuine warmth and care. Her presence helps create the supportive, family‑focused environment that makes the Academy of Dance feel like home.
Instructor/Choreographer
Kate Simmons
From an early age, Kate’s passion for performing shone through. Though she once embraced a tomboy persona, ballet, tap, and jazz quickly captured her heart. A talented musician, she plays piano, guitar, and ukulele, and has performed in musical theatre throughout high school and college. Originally a business major, Kate’s focus returned to the performing arts, later developing a deep love for Hip Hop and its rhythmic complexity.
A wife and mother of four, she enjoys sewing, creating clothing patterns, and designing costumes for Academy of Dance’s ballet productions, including Beauty and the Beast, The Nutcracker, Peter Pan, and Cinderella. Kate began choreographing with her five siblings and now shares her creativity with the talented students of Academy of Dance.
Instructor/Choreographer
Perry Bevington
Originally from Mesa, AZ, Perry began ballet at age 4 with her twin sister, training with Ballet Etudes before moving to Washington at 16 to study at Pacific Northwest Ballet on scholarship. She also trained with the School of American Ballet, Oregon Ballet Theatre, City Ballet of San Diego, Cincinnati Ballet, and Nevada Ballet Theatre, performing roles such as Dew Drop in The Nutcracker and Winter Fairy in Cinderella. After injuries ended her performing career, Perry became a certified STOTT Pilates Instructor, using her expertise to develop dancers’ technique and prevent injuries.
Instructor/Choreographer
Jacqueline Payne
Jacqueline began dancing at age 2, first taught by her mother before training at Academy of Dance in multiple styles. A member of Synergy Dance Company for 11 years, she earned scholarships and judge’s choice awards, and also trained in gymnastics and performed at Tacoma Musical Playhouse. With 6 years as a Teacher’s Assistant and Apprentice at Academy of Dance and 8 years leading children in her church, Jacqueline is passionate about helping students grow in skill, confidence, and love for dance in a supportive environment.
Instructor/Choreographer
Emily Psyk
Emily Psyk, a homeschooling mother of four, has 12 years of ballet training, primarily with Pacific Northwest Ballet in Seattle, where she also explored jazz, modern, and folk dance. She began dancing at age 3 and taught ballet classes for young girls in high school before pausing her dance career to focus on college. Emily earned her Bachelor of Science in Family Studies and Human Development from the University of Arizona, later working in early childhood education and project management. After moving to Kitsap in 2019 and enrolling her oldest daughter at Academy of Dance, Emily’s love for ballet was reignited, and she is thrilled to return as an instructor.
Instructor/Choreographer
Naleah Peerson
Naleah Peerson has been a part of the AOD family since she began dancing at the young age of three. In the 10 years that Naleah spent as a member of Synergy Dance Company, she earned numerous awards, scholarships, and top competition placements. After high school, she attended the prestigious CLI Conservatory in Massachusetts, where she learned from leading professionals in the dance industry. Trained in multiple styles—including Ballet, Contemporary, Jazz, Lyrical, Tap, Hip Hop, Ballroom, Musical Theater, Jazz Funk, and Pointe—she has danced professionally as a member of Odyssey Dance Theater in Utah and continues to train and pursue professional dance opportunities. As an instructor and choreographer, she is passionate about sharing her love for dance and helping her students showcase their strengths. Naleah is proud to be an award-winning choreographer and is dedicated to inspiring students of all ages, fostering both strong technique and artistry within a supportive environment.
Instructor/Choreographer
Zoe Quiett
Zoe began dancing at age one in Mom and Me classes and trained at Academy of Dance, where she joined Synergy Dance Company and won the Regional Icon award at Hollywood Connection in 2014. She spent over six years at The Dance Gallery, performing, competing, and assisting classes, and also danced on the SKHS dance team. After gaining national competition experience, Zoe shifted her focus from competing to sharing her love of dance and is excited to return to Academy of Dance as an instructor.
Instructor/Choreographer
Adyson Leonhardt
Adyson, a 2024 graduate of South Kitsap High School, has been dancing since age three and has trained in Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Martha Graham Technique, Musical Theater, Lyrical/Contemporary, and Tap. She also has a passion for working with children, with experience in babysitting and volunteering at church camps. Adyson strives to create a safe, supportive, and fun environment where students can build confidence, creativity, and a lifelong love of dance.
Instructor/Choreographer
Mary Branigan
Mary has been dancing at Academy of Dance since age four, training in ballet, pointe, lyrical, contemporary, and jazz for over 13 years. A longtime member of Synergy Dance Company, she has earned numerous scholarships and awards while cherishing the friendships and growth that come with performing. With five years as a Teacher Assistant and one year as an Apprentice, Mary discovered her passion for teaching and now strives to help students build confidence, creativity, and technique while inspiring a lifelong love of dance.
Instructor/Choreographer
Emily Olson
Emily has been teaching dance for a collective twelve years. She graduated from Western Washington University in 2010 with a degree in Dance with an emphasis in choreography. Emily has trained heavily in Ballet and Modern at Western but has trained in Tap, Jazz, Contemporary and Musical Theater as well. Emily has a passion for working with kids and creating beautiful works of art. She is delighted to get back to teaching and to join the Academy of Dance family!
Instructor/Choreographer
Sarah Crockett
Sarah started dancing at the young age of three. She danced competitively in the Pacific Northwest until she was 18 years old, at which time she went on to dance at Pacific University. Her time at college allowed her to cultivate a growing passion for choreography. After graduation, she taught contemporary and hip hop while attending graduate school. During this time, she was able to expand on her passion for choreography and fell in love with teaching and encouraging young students to pursue their own passions.
Sarah has her Doctor of Chiropractic degree, as well as a Masters of Science in Sports Medicine. She loves to work with dancers and gymnasts, and focuses a lot of her efforts on injury prevention. In her spare time, Sarah enjoys reading, golfing, climbing, and spending time with her cat, Boo.
Instructor/ Choreographer
Sabrina Lee
Sabrina is originally from Monroe, UT. She started dancing at the age of four and began
competing with clogging teams when she was in fourth grade. She continued
performing and competing throughout her high school years, including touring with her
dance studio from Branson to Nashville. She was also a member of her high school and
college drill teams where she continued improving and expanding her skills and her love of dance. Sabrina began assisting and then teaching her own clogging classes during high school. After dancing with Snow College Bergerettes for two years, Sabrina
transferred to Southern Utah University where she completed her Bachelor of
Accounting degree. Her break from dance was a busy time as she married and later six
children joined her family. Graduate school took them to Maine, and then her husband’s
job took them to Wyoming. While in Wyoming, her youngest daughter started dancing and Sabrina was able to get back into the studio and teach again. She loves dancing and being able to bring the joy of dance to others.
Instructor/ Choreographer
Kierstin Ross
Kierstin Ross trained in many dance styles for over 15 years but focused on her love ballet for the majority of that time. She began to develop her passion for dance at The Culture House in Olathe, Kansas, but further honed in on her ballet technique at St Lucie Ballet in Port St Lucie, Florida. She attended a variety of ballet competitions over the years, receiving awards and high remarks for her contemporary choreography. She also had the honor of performing in many productions and galas around the state of Florida with esteemed artists and talented dancers.
Some of her favorite roles and variations were “Dewdrop” from The Nutcracker, “Aurora” in The Awakening of Flora, and “Aurora” from The Sleeping Beauty. Kierstin has had the joy of teaching dancers of all ages, across a variety of styles, helping them to explore music and movement as well as prepare for competitions and performances. Completing her degree in Mechanical Engineering and beginning a family has only ignited her love of dance more as she continues to understand movement through a new perspective. Kierstin looks forward to continuing to share her passion for dance as she returns to teaching!
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Instructor/ Choreographer
Natalie Peerson
As an Academy of Dance student from the age of four, Natalie is a passionate and dedicated dancer with many years of competitive and performance experience. Trained in a wide variety of styles, she has earned numerous top overall awards, scholarships, and titles at regional dance competitions and conventions.
Natalie spent many years working as a teacher’s assistant and apprentice instructor, helping lead classes for dancers of all ages and skill levels. Through these roles, she developed a passion for mentoring young dancers, creating choreography, and providing a positive learning environment where students feel encouraged and confident.
Whether in the studio or on stage, Natalie is committed to inspiring the next generation of performers through passion, discipline, and fun.
Support Staff
Mackenzie Olson
Mackenzie has supported Academy of Dance in many roles over the years—front desk, rehearsals, prop building, and backstage help. Now a proud mom to two dancers, she loves being part of the Academy of Dance family and contributing to the behind‑the‑scenes magic.
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Show weekends are her favorite, and she’s continually inspired by the dancers’ hard work and the joy they bring to every performance.
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Instructor Apprentices
Our Instructor Apprentice program is designed for dedicated dancers who are ready to take the next step in their dance journey. Apprentices work alongside our faculty to develop teaching skills, strengthen technique, and learn how to support younger dancers in a positive, encouraging environment.
Chloe Read
Clara Miner
Greta Gibbons
