CAROUSEL DANCE STUDIO - Key Persons

Amanda Carr is so excited to be back teaching at Carousel! Amanda grew up in Los Angeles, CA dancing and doing musical theatre. She is now working as a professional dancer, with credits in tv, film, theatre, and live stage shows. Some of her recent credits include "Beauty and the Beast", "Sister Act the Musical", "Oklahoma", "Bye Bye Birdie", "The League" on FX, The Queen Mary's Chill, and shows at Six Flags Magic Mountain.

Anna was born and raised in Chicago, IL where she studied multiple styles of dance with SoleUnique Dance Company. During her formative years, she attended rigorous dance programs, notably with The Royal Winnipeg Ballet and Hubbard Street Dance Company.In 2017, Anna graduated from Loyola Marymount University with a Bachelor of Arts degree Show More Anna was born and raised in Chicago, IL where she studied multiple styles of dance with SoleUnique Dance Company. During her formative years, she attended rigorous dance programs, notably with The Royal Winnipeg Ballet and Hubbard Street Dance Company.In 2017, Anna graduated from Loyola Marymount University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Dance. While there, she studied under Jason Myhre, John Todd, Lillian Barbeito, and Roz Leblanc Loo. Anna's rigor and depth has created a versatile skill set allowing her to flourish in both concert and commercial work. Residing in Los Angeles, Anna is mentored by choreographers such as Dana Foglia and Cat Rendic. Anna will be featured in a documentary about Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company's famous work, D-Man in the Waters premiering in 2021. Signed with MSA Talent Agency, she has performed with multiple artists including Dua Lipa, Lady Gaga, Paula Abdul, Jennifer Lopez, Jeremih and many more. Most recently, Anna can be seen on Disney+ A Celebration of the Music from Coco and Apple's "Shot On iPhone" campaign dancing in Lady Gaga's music video, Stupid Love. Show Less

Chelsea was born and raised in Woodland Hills, California and began dancing at Carousel at the age of 7. She joined Carousel Dance Company in 1998 and continued until 2002. She then transitioned to staff member when she began working as Carousel's office manager 18 years ago. She truly loves managing the studio, building relationships wit Born and raised in South Florida, Ariana began dancing at age 3. Over the years she enjoyed several artistic and athletic passions from gymnastics, swimming, and soccer, to photography, design, and journalism. In her high school's Early Childhood Program, she worked hands on in a preschool and earned her CDA(Credential). She started teach

Born and raised in Florida, Emily began her dance training at the age of 8 and instantly fell in love with the craft. Growing up through the competition and convention circuit she trained with some of the most admired educators in the industry which made her come to realize that she wanted to dance and choreograph as a career. She started

Born and raised in South Florida, Ariana began dancing at age 3. Over the years she enjoyed several artistic and athletic passions from gymnastics, swimming, and soccer, to photography, design, and journalism. In her high school's Early Childhood Program, she worked hands on in a preschool and earned her CDA(Credential). She started teach

Job Titles:

• Staff Member

"Born In A Trunk"- Miss Karen's parents were on a song and dance team in Vaudeville and owners and operators of 2 successful Ohio dance studios, so she was literally "born in a trunk." Dance instruction as a child began in Cleveland, Ohio and continued through the teen years in Chicago, Boston and finally New York. Miss Karen performed i Born in Hollywood, Natalie went straight from the hospital to her Mother's dance studio. At Sixteen she moved to New York to work with Alvin Ailey and Dance Theater of Harlem, while in NY she was chosen to be a Radio City Rockette- the youngest in history. Ms. Willes's performance credits include Broadway's Movin Out, Saturday Night Fever

Kayley began dancing at the age of 4, immediately falling into a deep passion with dance. She spent most of her time at Curtis Studio of Dance in her home town, Carpinteria, where she trained in all styles of dance offered, competed with the Competition Corps & was a class assistant. She was introduced to Carousel Dance Studio when she wa

Lolly Simoni Mitchell began dancing with Carousel Dance Studio at the age of three. She joined the dance company at age eight and spent ten years attending competitions and performing with the dance team at events honoring Gregory Hines, Dick Van Dyke, June Allyson, and Milton Berle. Lolly attended university at Harvey Mudd College in Claremont California where she double majored in Digital/Electrical Engineering and Human Movement Studies with a focus on Biomechanics. Her thesis focused on the impact of dance on the human body using Laban Movement Analysis, and she uses this focus to help her students learn healthy movement patterns. In college Lolly danced with the Inland Pacific Ballet Company and co-founded an on campus tap company called On Tap working with choreographers Lynn Dally, Chloe Arnold and Gregg Russell during her tenure. She taught Ballet, Pointe, Tap, Turns, and Jazz at Dance Academy USA in Cupertino from 2011-2017, and coached Body Weight Movement at Mad Dawg Fitness in Redwood City from 2015-2017. In Summer of 2017 she returned to the Valley and Carousel and is happy to be home and back in the studio.

Rebecca's life has been spent dancing on the floors of Carousel Dance Studio. She started dancing at the age of 4, and from the moment she met Karen and Natalie Willes they have been family. She is professionally trained in all genres of dance and has danced throughout the world. Over the years, Rebecca has danced for some of the world's m

Coming from Los Angeles, California Roman Vasquez has had the opportunity to work for artists such as Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Lopez, Jessica Simpson, Celine Dion, BackStreet Boys, Eva Longoria, Roselyn Sanchez, Anastasia, just to name a few. Other television/film and video credits include American Music Awards, MTV Music Awards, Kids Show More Coming from Los Angeles, California Roman Vasquez has had the opportunity to work for artists such as Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Lopez, Jessica Simpson, Celine Dion, BackStreet Boys, Eva Longoria, Roselyn Sanchez, Anastasia, just to name a few. Other television/film and video credits include American Music Awards, MTV Music Awards, Kids Choice Awards , Pepsi, Sprite, EL Pollo Loco, Days of Our Lives, Rock the Reception, Bring it On 5, Indiana Jones 4, Mobbed and Alvin and the Chipmunks 3d. Stage shows including EFX with Michael Crawford and David Cassidy, Splash, Christina Aguilera Tour, Jessica Simpson Promo stage show.He has also choreographed and performed with companies such as Nike, FUBU, Adidas, Red-kin and Paul Mitchell. Roman Vasquez continues to choreograph and teach across the country on workshops and dance conventions. Show Less