About Starz

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.

Dexton Bushman

Front Office & Dance Educator

Dexton Bushman

Front Office & Dance Educator

Dexton Bushman began his dance training at the age of ten. He has studied all forms of dance, with his favorites being contemporary and jazz. He grew up a competitive dancer who trained at multiple studios in the Phoenix metro area. He spent the last 3 years training and competing with Chandler Dance Center, receiving various awards, at both regional and national levels, as a performer in group and solo routines.

Dexton graduated from Heritage Academy Maricopa in 2025, where he was a member of the Heritage Dance Company for 4 years and was an immensely important part of the team and program. He had the privilege of being a Dance teachers assistant (TA) under the guidance of Ms. Ashley Christine Smith, the Heritage Academy Maricopa Dance program director, choreographer and educator. Being a Teacher Assistant, Dexton learned about what it takes to have a great presence for scholars to create successful productions and dance pieces.

Dexton has had the opportunity to learn and train with various choreographers such as Mark Villaver, Lacey Schwimmer, Kassidi Sasser, Sasha Vincett and several others.

Through all of his own dance experience and training, Dexton found a love for choreographing. Dexton is passionate about creating original works utilizing his own unique style that he has crafted over the years.

Dexton is attending Scottsdale Community College where he will further his education and training as a dance major.

Lane Blue

Dance Educator

Lane Blue

Dance Educator

Lane Blue was born and raised in Yuma, AZ where at the age of 10, he began studying dance with The Dancers Workshop and Yuma Ballet Theatre. Training in Ballet, Jazz and Hip Hop, Lane became a well rounded dancer and upon graduating high school in 2007, was accepted into and awarded a scholarship to the University of Arizona’s School of Dance. While attending University Lane was casted as a lead male in George Balancine’s The Four Temperament’s set by the Balanchine Trust’s Elise Borne, James Clouser’s Carmena Burana and Melissa Lowe’s The Operetta among others. Upon graduation in 2011 Lane was awarded the Outstanding Senior Award from the University of Arizona’s School of Dance and graduated Cum Lade. Lane’s professional dance career spanned 15 years with many different dance companies including, Jose Mateo Ballet Theatre, Odyssey Dance Theatre, Art.If.Act. Dance Project and Arizona Theatre Company. From 2013-2022 Lane was a signed dancer with The Movement Talent Agency and credits include Americas’ Got Talent, Recycled Percussion Live at Plant Hollywood, Utah Jazz, Disney, Sky Vodka, Jimmy Kimmel Live, Super Bowl Li, Holland America and TIk-Tok Live, among others. Lane has taught at many studios and schools throughout the U.S. including Arizona Classical Ballet, Tucson Music and Dance Academy, Classic Image Dance, Western Arkansas Ballet, Creative Dance Arts, Sky High Dance Academy, Dance Republic and Innerlight Dance. Upon wrapping up his profession career in 2022, Lane has accepted and full time position teaching dance in Phoenix, Arizona where he is currently residing.

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!

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."

Ivan Khudoliy

Dance Educator

Ivan Khudoliy

Dance Educator

Ivan Khudoliy is a professional ballroom dancer originally from Ukraine, where he began his dance journey at the age of 7. He has performed internationally, including as a premier ballroom dance couple alongside his wife, Alisa Seleznova, aboard Royal Caribbean’s Independence of the Seas.

Since relocating to the United States in 2018, Ivan and Alisa have been based in Phoenix, AZ, where they continue to compete, teach, and inspire dancers of all ages.

2024 Dance Vision National Champions in International Latin
Semi-finalists at the Blackpool Dance Festival (England)
Semi-finalists at the WDC AL European Championships

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.

Starz in Motion

We Offer

Dance Educators

Mariann Paul

Dexton Bushman

Lane Blue

Megan Davis

Lisa Grossi

Ivan Khudoliy

Ashley Christine Smith

Jaden Stubbs

Come see what makes our dance school different.

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