Faculty / Choreographers

Meet our amazing, award-winning faculty.

Kailin Metz

Instructor / Choreographer

Kailin teaches ballet, technique, and contemporary at Gotta Dance. Kailin is one of our contemporary choreographers for our competition team​.

Mikaylah Harp

Guest Instructor / Choreographer

Mikaylah teaches ballet, jazz, contemporary, and hip hop at Gotta Dance. Mikaylah has choreographed contemporary and jazz routines for our competition team​

Joe Nugent

Ballet Instructor 

Joe Nugent was trained on full scholarship at The Pennsylvania Ballet and The University of North Carolina School of the Arts. He feels fortunate to have studied with renowned teachers such as Lupe Serrano, Yvonne Patterson, Duncan Noble, Andrew Papp, Gyula Pandi, and Melissa Hayden.
He danced professionally with The Pennsylvania Ballet, Ballet Arizona,and The Ft. Worth Dallas Ballet.
Possessed of a wide range as a dancer, Mr. Nugent moved easily from character roles such as The Evil Stepsister in Cinderella, classical roles including the Sugarplum Cavalier in "The Nutcracker", to The Hoofer in Balanchine's "Slaughter on Tenth Avenue".  Balanchine's "Western Symphony", "Tziganne", "Square Dance", "Scotch Symphony", and "Who Cares" also rank among his favorites.
As a ballet teacher,his high energy style and sense of humor drive a class focused on placement, musicality, and proper mechanics.
Teaching credits include Pasadena Dance Theater, Ballet Pacifica, Ballet Arizona, and guest spots at Cal Arts University.


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Denise Aranda

Instructor / Choreographer

Bio coming soon!

Bailey Richardson

Instructor / Choreographer

Bailey is a Gotta Dance alumni that graduated in 2017. She has been training at GDC since she was five, danced competitively for 13 years, and competed on the Mountain Ridge varsity pom squad all 4 years of high school, Bailey has been an instructional assistant and has assisted with choreography for the last five years. We are so excited that she has decided to come back and teach for us.​

Brittany Chadd

Guest Instructor / Choreographer

Brittany took her first official dance class at the young age of 2 and performed on
stage for the first time at 3 years of age. She has enjoyed training, competing,
performing, choreographing and teaching ever since. Brittany grew up in Southern
California training in ballet, jazz, lyrical, tap, contemporary and hip hop in some of
the Nation’s strongest studios and conventions.
Brittany is an accomplished dancer, choreographer and teacher that is currently
represented by Go2Talent Agency. In addition to being a proud Murrieta Dance
Project Alumni, Brittany has also enjoyed dancing and working on projects such as
IM5, HeyDay Footwear, IVIVAA Athletic Wear, Radio Disney and “The Fast Lane” (Pilot).
Brittany is also a proud alumni of the GRV Family/GRaVy Babies and an original
member of MAKER EMPIRE’s TROUBLE MAKERS under the direction of Beau Fournier
winning World of Dance San Diego 2012 & ranked 4th in the United States at Hip Hop
International 2012.
Brittany’s training, musicality, movement and work ethic have enabled her to work
with some of the most amazing and inspiring dancers and choreographers in dance
today.
Brittany’s passion for dance and love of life are evident both in and out of the
classroom. She is so excited to share her passion with the talented dancers at the
Community Live workshops!
Empower. Impact. Inspire.

Makenna Madden

Guest Instructor / Choreographer

Makenna is a Gotta Dance alumni. She graduated in 2015, and went to dance as an aerialist for Royal Caribbean cruise line. Makenna teaches and choreographs dances for us when she is not performing while cruising the world.

All Boys Hip Hop Crew

Instructors

Our All Boys Hip Hop Crew staff consists of the dancers and choreographers of All The Kings Men an all male hip hop crew in the valley.

Guest Faculty / Choreographers

Several amazing guest choreographers and master class instructors visit Gotta Dance every year. Choreographers such as Ricky Maalouf, Alyssa Johnson, Nikole Thomas, Krista Barker, Kaitlyn Conley, and Kesley Metz have all done work for us this year.  We also have several amazing guest / master instructors visit our studio. This year we have had the opportunity to work with Scott Fowler, Tricia Miranda, Taylor Shultz, Blake McGrath, Kelly Gearhart, Intense Dancers Project, Ricky Maalouf, Alyssa Johnson, Angelica DeWitt, and Jason Gorman.