Studio 3 Performing Arts was created by Artistic Director Emma England, who has been a key contributor to dance and musical theater programs in the valley for several years. Her extensive background in music, theater, and dance make Studio 3 a unique “triple-threat” experience for students and families in the community

Emma has been a “triple threat” herself for more than 20 years. An accomplished singer, percussionist, and classical pianist, she has won several state and national awards for her performances and original compositions. Emma attended the prestigious Millie Lewis AMTC Competition, where she took 1st place Dance Duet, 2nd overall Broadway Singer, and took honorable mentions in 4 other categories! She was also awarded the Role Model of the Year Award for her dedication and commitment to her students, who took 1st place overall in the Group Performance category and were awarded the coveted Agency of the Year award. Emma has also passed her teaching exams through the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music in London and has trained across the country at Princeton, Kansas State, and Arizona State Universities.  Emma has also been a member of the Arizona All State Band & Orchestras, where she was 1^st in the state for orchestral percussion.

Emma also plays a large role in the dance and theater communities. She is trained in ballet, pointe, modern, jazz, contemporary, tap, and hip hop, and has performed in numerous community musicals and dance companies across the state. She is currently performing professionally in Broadway Palm West's production of "Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat." After receiving her BFA in Dance Education from Arizona State University in 2005, Emma began teaching dance in the Tempe Unified School District, first at Tempe High and Mountain Pointe High School, and later Corona del Sol High School.

Emma is currently the Owner and Artistic Director at Studio 3 Performing Arts, and couldn’t be happier! A lifelong dream, she wants to open up performing experiences to as many students as possible, and help them make memories that will last a lifetime!

Ashley J. Moore is a native of Alabama. She began her fundamental training from the Alabama School of Fine Arts in Birmingham, Alabama where she intensely studied ballet, jazz, modern, and contemporary. Upon graduation, Ashley was accepted into the University of Alabama dance program where she received a B.A. in dance. Having studied under many world renowned teachers and choreographers such as Dame Sonia Arova, Desmond Richardson, Thaddeus Davis, Fernando Bujones, Donald Byrd, and Sharon Story, receiving many scholarships from companies such as Dayton Contemporary Dance Company and Atlanta Ballet, and having rave reviews for her artistic talent and choreography along the way, Ashley is happy to join the Studio 3 family in the desert heat

Rachael Jacobs was born performing! She has been active in musical theater programs and productions since the age of 3. Rachael started in the Talent Team program, and soon caught the performing bug! She participated in every class, workshop, and show she could, and soon became a seasoned performer. Trained in jazz, ballet, tap, hip hop, and lyrical, Rachael has performed with many different musical theater and dance companies across the Valley, including One Image Dance Company, Totality Musical Theater Ensemble, Class Act Dance Company, and Ovation.

Rachael has won many awards and scholarships throughout her career. She is currently on academic scholarship at Arizona State University, studying Photography and Dance. She attended the prestigious Millie Lewis ATMC Competition, where she was a Finalist for Top Commercial Model! She also took a 1st place finish in the dance duet category (with Emma! :) and honorable mentions in Broadway Singer and Monologue Competitions. She was also a part of the group that took 1st overall in the Group Performance category and the coveted “Agency of the Year” award. Rachael has toured the world, performing in Europe, Hawaii, New York, Washington DC, and California, and is excited to be home at Studio 3.

Ebony J. Tucker is a MFA candidate in Theatre for Youth at Arizona State and is excited to become a part of the Studio3 family.  This “Georgia Peach” is a graduate from the University of West Georgia with a BA in Theatre and the University of Alabama with an MFA in Theatre Management/Arts Administration. In undergrad, she became a member of Alpha Psi Omega National Honorary Theatre Society.

Ebony finds pleasure in positively impacting the lives of children.  Her areas of interest and instruction include directing, playwriting, acting, improvisation, puppetry, and theatre education. Other areas of training include stepping, African dance, and singing. She has taught youth performing arts classes for the Alabama Shakespeare Festival and Christian Youth Theatre Atlanta.  Her experience with children ranges from Pre-K to 12^th grade with organizations such as YMCA, Children and Youth Services Atlanta, and Globe’s Learning Center.

Ebony co-facilitated a workshop for the Arizona State Thespian Festival, entitled " Play Your Cards Right: Performing Status" .  She is also a presenter at the American Alliance for Theatre and Education conference for career development.  One thing few people know about Ebony is that her first role in a musical was "mean green plant" in an original play Keeper of the Cookies.

Kelsey Kebric began her dance career at the age of 3. She is proficient in many styles of dance, and enjoys passing her love of dance to her students. Kelsey received much of her dance training from Dance Connection Too, where she trained in jazz, ballet, tap, lyrical, hip hop, and tumbling. She was also involved with cheer and gymnastics, which broadened her experiences and augmented her dance training. A competitive dancer, her groups often took platinum awards at competitions and became renowned for their cutting edge choreography. Attending these competitions and conventions gave Kelsey the opportunity to train under some of the most well-respected choreographers and dancers, including Mia Michaels, Brian Friedman, and Ray Leaper. Most recently, Kelsey danced with One Image Dance Company and professional song & dance company, Ovation.

Grace Gallagher is excited to share her love and passion for dance with her students at Studio 3. She grew up in Hickory Corners, Mighigan, where she studied a variety of dance styles. She is currently studying dance and dietetics at Arizona State University, where she is a part of the ASU Hip Hop Coalition. She is also a member of professional dance company EPIK, where she performs a variety of dance styles, her favorites being contemporary, R&B hip hop, and punking.  Grace was honored with a scholarship to study at the prestigious Broadway Dance Center in New York City this summer. She is interning with top choreographers and dancers and can't wait to return to Arizona to share with her students all she has learned.

BIO COMING SOON

Sarah “Saza” Dimmick received her BFA in dance education from Arizona State University, and has taught on the dance faculties of Arizona State University and Glendale Community College, Dobson High School and Willow Canyon High School. Most recently, Saza served as School Administrator of Experience Arts School, a Christian arts school in Mesa, AZ, and Manager of Creative Arts at City of Grace Church.

Saza loves to choreograph, and has created pieces for the Seattle Supersonics (NBA), the Golden State Warriors (NBA), the Portland Trailblazers (NBA), the Phoenix Suns (NBA), the Seattle Storm (WNBA), the Phoenix Mercury (WNBA), the Miss Teen Arizona Pageant, an episode for MTV’s “My Super Sweet 16,” and live performances for up and coming R&B artist Renee. Her performance credits also include works by David Dorfman, Cliff Keuter, Yvonne Rainer, FLUX Dance Project, ODC Theater (SF), the NBA Allstar Games, NBA Celebrity Games and live performances for hip hop artist Queen Yonasda. She also toured as a dancer and co-choreographer for the drum and dance group, Street Jam, and was a member and co-choreographer for the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury Hip Hop Squad for seven years. In the media, Saza was a featured dancer in a national commercial for On-Demand television, including one for local Cox Communications, and has spoken and performed on the news many times.

Saza has taught and presented curriculum throughout the US, including the Dance and the Child International (DACI) conference and the National Dance Education Organization (NDEO) national conferences four times. She has lectured and taught at universities in New York, Pennsylvania, Michigan, California, as well as Arizona. Saza has received many awards for her teaching ability, including the prestigious Artsbridge America Scholarship, the National Dance Education Organization (NDEO) 2004 Student Scholarship, and the Arizona State University Intercollegiate Athletics Board’s Award for Most Inspirational Faculty Member. She has been featured in Dance Teacher, Dance Spirit and Dance magazines.

Aldy Montufar graduated in 2007 with a BFA in Music Education from the University of Arizona. His principal instruments are trumpet and percussion, but he loves to play many others. He currently directs the general music and band programs at Lincoln Elementary and Guerrero Elementary Schools in Mesa, but he has also directed High School and Junior High band programs. Aldy is a lead musician and composer in the band, the Tryst, who tours the country each year with their eclectic jazz funk style. As a member of the International Association of Jazz Educators, he also received a full scholarship to travel to Thailand with the International Trumpet Guild to study and perform.

Mandie Smithmier received her BA in Multi-Age Music Education with a Vocal Concentration, and a minor in Percussion from Cedarville University in Ohio. She has professional performance experience both vocally and in plays and musicals, and has even sung, by invitation, at Carnegie Hall in New York City. She has taught voice in a classroom setting as well as in her own private studio for over five years, and has also directed many teen and children’s choirs. Her other teaching experiences include courses on music theory, sight singing, private percussion lessons, and her favorite, eight years as the instructor of the Brighton High School Drumline. She is also a pianist and has worked as an accompanist and musical director for musical theater productions. Mandie has spent time in Durban, South Africa, touring with a music and drama team as well as working with children affected by the AIDS/HIV epidemic there. Her hope is to one day return to Durban to work and teach full time. She loves being an educator, and hopes to inspire her students with life lessons in discipline, commitment, and most importantly, how fun it can be to work hard to reach your goals. She is very excited to be welcomed into the Studio 3 family!

Abigail Kimball is currently pursuing her Doctorate in Vocal Studies at Arizona State University. She received her Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance at the University of Arizona and  Masters of Music from Arizona State University. She has an extensive performing career, from classical studies to jazz and pop music. She also has a passion for musical theater, and has performed in many productions throughout her career. She has directed several performing companies and teaches private and group voice technique to students of all ages.