Jolie Arts Dance Center

Bios

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  Leeza Fullmer

  Owner and Jazz Instructor

  Leeza Fullmer has been training in Jazz, Contemporary, Ballet, Tumbling, and Hip Hop for over 20 years. She trained at multiple studios all over Salt Lake and Utah County. She also continued her education by taking dance classes at Dixie State University. Since 2015, she has participated in the summer dance group "The Starry Eyed" having the opportunity to keep up with her own technique and learn new choreography. Leeza was also a member of Spanish Fork Dance Company for two years and served as her high school dance company's Vice President her senior year. She won Sterling Scholar in Dance at Spanish Fork High School in 2011. She has also judged Timeview High School Sterling Scholars for Dance. Leeza has won many awards for dance and her choreography at national competitions such as NYCDA, Onstage New York and Dance America. Leeza has choreographed for many studios and Maple Mountain and Spanish Fork High School. She loves to do fun and innovative choreography including "Where the Wild Things Are", "Corpse Bride", "Nightmare Before Christmas", and the Japanase fairy tale "Princess Peony". In Summer 2017, she had the opportunity to choreograph and film her first dance film "Found" for Starry Eyed's dance film showcase with proceeds going to Suicide Prevention and the Chris Atwood Foundation. ​ Leeza has been teaching dance for eight years at multiple studios. She loves jazz and contemporary but has also taught ballet and tumbling. She was Academy of Ballet's Junior Jazz Company Director for two years. From 2014-2017, she has been Academy of Ballet's Jazz Department Director as well as Senior Jazz Company Director, helping grow the jazz program as well as making programs, show orders and putting showcases together. ​ Leeza put together Dance For a Life in 2013 and 2014, bringing together many studios to perform. All proceeds went to the Children's Miracle Network. She is hoping to bring it back soon. ​ In 2014-2015, Leeza was working on her Surgical Assistant Certification allowing her to take numerous Anatomy and Physiology classes,and first aid/ CPR certifications. She has used this knowledge to learn how to use your body in certain ways based on your body type to make the most out of your dance experience and prevent injuries. She plans to work towards her business degree.

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  Maria Jo Stephens

  Ballet and Jazz Instructor

  Maria Stephens started dancing at the age of three, and has loved it ever since. She has trained with multiple studios in Salt Lake and Utah counties; including 2x National Champion Dance Crew, The Surge, and Ballet West Academy. She has trained in ballet, pointe, jazz, contemporary, modern, hip hop, ballroom, tap, world dance, and gymnastics. She focused her efforts into ballet. She trained at Ballet West Academy on a merit scholarship; performing lead and soloist roles in ballets like Pinocchio: Awake my Soul, Snow Maiden, Nutcracker, and many more. Maria is currently taking advanced level dance classes at Utah Valley University. She competed with Ballet West Academy at Youth American Grand Prix International semifinals in 2016, where they took 1st place and was invited to compete at International Finals. Outside of ballet she has won 1st in national competitions for multiple solos and is nationally ranked for the Youth Latin Pre-championships, and Youth Division 1 Cabaret, alongside Johnathan Tanner. She is also her high school 2016 Sterling Scholar for Dance and went to State semifinals. Her choreography has won judges choice awards and superior rankings at Dance Company Festival Adjudication and SALT Choreography Festival, on multiple occasions. She has performed in music videos for Dinah-Jane Hansen from “Fifth Harmony”, Alex Boye, and Sammie Cummings. Alongside The Surge, she was invited to attend auditions and callbacks for National Television Shows like "America's Got Talent" and "World of Dance". Partnered with Zion Willis, they made judges callbacks for "So You Think You Can Dance". She now teaches jazz, ballet, tap, tumbling, and hip hop. Maria was the director for the junior jazz company at Academy of Ballet from 2015-2017

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  Sophia Hanks

  Ballet Instructor

  ophia Dunn Hanks danced for 17 years at Academy of Ballet. She was a member of both Ballet Utah and Athena Dance Company which are the two highest ballet and jazz companies there. She spent three years as a soloist for Ballet Utah. Her roles include Giselle, Kitri in Don Quixote, Odile in Swan Lake, Sugar Plum Fairy, and Paquita. She then went to Ballet West Academy and spent two semesters on their most advanced level and pre-professional program. ​ Sophia also danced at Pioneer High School under Odyssey's Darryl Yeager. She was in the highest level in both the ballet and jazz classes. ​ Sophia was the Ballet Utah Senior Company choreographer for Academy of Ballet for two years, choreographing original pieces such as Peter Pan, Alice in Wonderland and more. She was also the mini jazz and ballet director for a few years. ​ Sophia auditioned for Disney four times, making it to the final rounds twice. ​ Sophia is a licensed massage therapist. We are so lucky to have her as our studio in house massage therapist.