About Starz - Starz Dance School

Starz in Motion

Located at 1880 South Alma School Road in Chandler, Starz In Motion offers a quality dance education in a family oriented, positive, and nurturing environment that treats every dancer, parent, and instructor with the utmost respect. It is our goal to make you feel like you are a member of our dance family!!

The studio is committed to providing energetic, fun and high caliber training to dancers of all ages, abilities and interests. We offer instruction to girls and boys in Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Hip Hop, Lyrical, Contemporary, Musical Theater Jazz, Tap, Acrobatics/Tumbling, Creative Movement and Pom for ages 2½ to Adult, at levels from Beginner through Advanced.

For the dancer who wishes to take their dance education to the next level, dancers can become part of our Starz Dance Company. Company members perform at local venues throughout the year and have the opportunity to attend regional competitions. Both recreational and company dancers are taught by a professional faculty with a personal approach to help each student reach their highest potential.

We Offer

Acrobatics & Tumbling
Ballet & Pointe
Creative Motion
Hip-Hop
Lyrical / Contemporary
Jazz & Musical Theatre
Pom/Tumble
Tap
Turns & Leaps

Dance Educators

All classes are taught by a professional faculty with a personal approach to help each student reach their highest potential. Whether students are considering a career in dance, seeking personal fulfillment, or just want to have fun, they are encouraged to develop self-confidence, form lasting friendships, and cultivate an appreciation for the arts.

Mariann Paul

Owner & Artistic Director

Mariann Paul

Owner & Artistic Director

Mariann Paul received her early training with Helena Baron, and Paul Sutherland and Brunilda Ruiz of the Joffrey Ballet. As a principal dancer with the Baron Ballet Company she has performed at the PNC Bank Arts Center and in New Jersey and regional dance festivals throughout the Northeast. She has won numerous awards for choreography at competitions, and has been an adjudicator for the Star Systems National Talent Competition. Always open to new ideas and innovations in dance, she has attended the Vaganova Seminar at the Pennsylvania Academy of Ballet Society, Jazz Dance World Congress, David Howard Ballet Workshop, Broadway Dance Center Teacher’s Workshop, Rhee Gold’s DanceLife Teacher Conference, the Dance Teacher Summit and the IDEA Conference. As the owner and artistic director of a successful dance studio in New Jersey for over 40 years, Miss Mariann brings a wealth of experience and knowledge of dance and the dance community to Starz Dance School.

Katelyn Williamson

Studio & Company Director

Katelyn Williamson

Studio & Company Director

Katelyn Williamson's passion for dance began in Pocatello, Idaho, where she studied an impressive range of styles, including Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Hip Hop, Contemporary, Acrobatics, Lyrical, and Clogging. For the past decade, she's shared her love of dance with aspiring students throughout the United States and Canada. Katelyn has trained and worked alongside esteemed faculty members, including Elvira Dale – a Russian Prima Ballerina, Gina Underwood, Chelsea Thedinga, and Lydia Sakolsky-Basquill, in the areas of choreography, instruction, and studio management. Katelyn's coaching experience encompasses a wide range of skill levels, from novice through pre-professional dancers. Her award-winning choreography has been recognized by various studios and high schools. Additionally, she holds certifications in Progressive Ballet Technique, mUvmethod Level 1&2, and is a 200-hour Yoga Certified instructor. As the owner of Holistic Injury Prevention and Flexibility Coaching, Katelyn aims to equip students with the necessary tools and knowledge to push past their physical and mental limitations and maximize their potential while minimizing pain, strain, and injury. Katelyn is thrilled for another great season at Starz In Motion as the Studio & Company Director, where she can continue to share her passion for dance and inspire students to achieve their goals.

Emalee Schneider

Office Manager & Community Outreach Director

Emalee Schneider

Office Manager & Community Outreach Director

Emalee Schneider started as a Baton Twirler at the age of 5 in New Jersey where she was given the title of Northeastern State Champion in Dance Twirl. Emalee switched gears at the age of 8 into dance in North Carolina and has been dancing ever since. Upon moving to Arizona in 2013, Emalee attended Hamilton High School and was on the Varsity Dance Team for 4 years. During her time on the dance team, they brought home 1st Place Awards in Jazz at UDA State and placed in the Top 3 multiple times in Hip Hop. While on Hamilton Dance Company, Emalee and her team also traveled to Florida for UDA Nationals and placed in the top 20. During High School, Emalee got the opportunity to go on a European Dance Tour with her dance studio where she danced through Austria, Amsterdam, Disney Paris, Italy, and Switzerland putting on performances for the natives. Emalee attended Arizona State University and received her Bachelors in Clinical Exercise Science with a Minor in Business. She also just graduated from ASU with her Masters in Strength & Conditioning. Emalee's motto is to make sure that her dancers take care of their body by using proper technique and practicing proper mental practices that will make them the best dancer they can be. Emalee is excited for another year here at Starz implementing the importance of injury prevention and teaching all the new and returning dancers and helping them accomplish their goals in the studio and out of the studio.

Brynn Nicholson

Studio Director Assistant & Content Creator

Brynn Nicholson

Studio Director Assistant & Content Creator

Brynn has been dancing since she was 4 years old at a dance studio in New Jersey, where she grew up. She grew up on competitive and performance dance teams. She is now on a high school varsity Pom/Dance team. With this team, she won a division state championship title and 1st place regional awards! Brynn is grateful she gets to experience a new perspective of dance at the studio! She is also excited to get the opportunity to share her passion for dance and continue her dance journey with Starz!

Ashley Jerger

Dance Educator

Ashley Jerger

Dance Educator

Ashley Jerger was born and raised in Tempe, Arizona. She began her dance training at the age of 3, instantly fell in love with dance and knew it would always be part of her life. She trained in Ballet, Jazz, Modern, Lyrical, Pointe & Pom. Ashley competed regionally and nationally at competitions all over the country. She won several awards including Miss Starbound 2 years in a row & was offered dance scholarships to collegiate dance programs. Ashley attended Corona del Sol High School where she was part of the Senior Company dance team and won choreographer of the year her Junior & Senior years. After high school she attended Arizona State University and earned her bachelor’s & Master's in Education with a Minor in Dance. During her years at ASU, she taught dance classes at studios all over the valley. Her competition choreography received several awards including Best Choreography, Best Costume and top overall in the division. Ashley was also the Head Varsity Pom Coach at Corona del Sol High School for 10 years and won Coach of the Year at the Universal Dance Association summer camps. Ashley has been teaching dance for 15 years. She loves her students as well as creating a dance environment where they can learn, grow & become the best dancer they can be.

Ashley Christine Smith

Dance Educator

Ashley Christine Smith

Dance Educator

Ashley Christine Smith began her dance training at the age of two in Dallas and Phoenix.

She received a scholarship to attend Point Park University in Pittsburgh, PA and graduated cum laude with a B.A. degree in Dance. After graduation, Ashley received a full scholarship to study and perform at the Giordano Dance School in Evanston, IL as a member of the Giordano 3 Company. She has had the privilege of working with well-known choreographers such as Doug Caldwell, Mandy Moore, Eddie Ocampo, Brian Friedman, Harrison McEldowney, Nick Pupillo, Nan Giordano, Sherry Zunker, Autumn Eckman, Jessica Deahr, Joel Hall, William Gill, Richard Smith, and countless others.

As a professional dancer, Ashley has performed internationally with DisneyLive!’s “Mickey’s Rockin Road Show”.

Ashley recently completed her MFA in Dance Choreography at Jacksonville University, FL (May 2022). She loves to inspire and motivate dancers and students to be their best and is ecstatic to share her love of dance, fitness, and creativity with those around her!

Jaden Stubbs

Dance Educator

Jaden Stubbs

Dance Educator

Jaden Stubbs has been involved in the dance world since age two. She grew up as a competitive dancer and continued in high school as a member of the Hamilton Dance Team and Varsity Pom Line. Jaden is currently attending Grand Canyon University (graduating in December 2022) where she was a member the GCU Dance Team for three years and a 2x National Game Day Champion. Her love and passion for dance has continued as a dance instructor and choreographer.

Lisa Grossi

Dance Educator

Lisa Grossi

Dance Educator

Lisa Grossi was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona, where she received the majority of her dance training at a local studio. She competed with her studio as well as her High School dance team. As a mother of 3 girls, teaching the younger age children has become her passion. She loves to see the joy that it sparks in them and to watch them learn and grow as they begin their own dance journey. "Dance not only builds lifelong skills, but it also builds lifelong confidence and relationships."

Megan Davis

Dance Educator

Megan Davis

Dance Educator

Megan Davis, originally from Saegertown PA, started her dance training at Allegro Dance Arts under the instruction of Gretchen Myers. While at Allegro, she competed and attended many conventions. At the age of 12, she moved to Pittsburgh to study pre-professionally in classical ballet where she trained and resided with Cynthia Castillo and Damien Martinez Coro. She proceeded to compete in Youth American Grand Prix (YAGP) and Universal Ballet Competition (UBC) where she was awarded many scholarships and overall placements, as well as, the best choreographer award. In 2021, Megan signed her first professional contract with Minnesota Ballet in Duluth, Minnesota. While there, she danced many corpse de ballet roles as well as principal roles. The Duluth News Tribune Raved “Dew Drop Fairy Megan Davis was most impressive. Her precision on pointe was finely tuned. Davis confidently suspended her renverse and attacked her Italian fouettés while she and her waltzing flowers swept across the stage in mesmerizing patterns.” Most recently, Davis was a choreographer for Oil Region Ballet Company in Franklin, PA where she worked for almost 2 seasons. Megan is super excited to be apart of this new team and can’t wait to see what the future holds!

Starz in Motion

We Offer

Dance Educators

Mariann Paul

Katelyn Williamson

Emalee Schneider

Brynn Nicholson

Ashley Jerger

Ashley Christine Smith

Jaden Stubbs

Lisa Grossi

Megan Davis

Come see what makes our dance school different.

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