Alicia Bravo
Co-Owner/Director/InstructorAlicia Bravo brings over 20 years of diverse dance training and performance experience to her role as a passionate educator and choreographer. She is well-versed in ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, acro, lyrical, and contemporary, and her teaching reflects a rich blend of classical technique and modern creativity.
Alicia trained intensively at Ballet Arizona while attending Arizona School for the Arts, where she focused on ballet, pointe, and modern dance. She also spent nine years as a member of elite competitive teams, earning numerous awards and scholarships for her performance and choreography. Her dedication to growth led her to study at prestigious studios across the country, including The Edge Performing Arts Center in Los Angeles and Broadway Dance Center in New York City.
Alicia's choreography and leadership have reached both stage and sideline. She choreographed and directed works for Agua Fria High School’s Dance and Drama Department in 2012 and 2013, and most recently served as Varsity Pom Coach in 2024. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Physical Education and Health from Rocky Mountain College, where she graduated with honors and minored in Business Management. She also holds a Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential.
Her performance career includes dancing with Terpsichore Modern Dance Company in Billings, Montana, and cheering professionally as a dancer for the Indoor Football League’s Billings Wolves from 2014 to 2016. Alicia has taught and judged for dance studios, gyms, and high schools across Arizona and Montana since 2013.
Currently, she serves as a PE teacher at Edison School of Innovation, where she also coaches Spiritline and leads their dance innovator hour. Alicia is certified through Acrobatic Arts and continues to teach multiple styles with an emphasis on safe technique, self-expression, and growth.
Alicia’s deep love for dance, creative vision, and dedication to empowering dancers.

Leticia Clamor
Co-Owner/Director/Instructor
​Leticia has been immersed in the West Valley dance scene since childhood, training at various studios and developing a deep love for movement and performance. As a young teen, she discovered her passion for choreography, taking on leadership roles in both her performance lines and pom squad, where her creativity and dedication began to shine.
Her talent led her to perform internationally in London’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and to study under a variety of renowned dance artists. Leticia continued her dance education in college as a member of The Moving Company at Scottsdale Community College, Glendale Community College Dance Company, and Grand Canyon University’s Dance Company.
Leticia is a firm believer in ongoing dance education and constantly seeks opportunities to grow as both a dancer and teacher. Her choreography has been recognized throughout the Valley, and she has had the privilege of teaching a wide range of classes to students across the West Valley community.
She views the arts as a powerful tool for enrichment and connection, enhancing the lives of dancers and their families while fostering cultural awareness and community building. Leticia is committed to providing high-quality dance instruction, nurturing each dancer’s unique talent and creativity, and inspiring them to reach their fullest potential.

Anastacia Robb
Co-Owner/Office Manager
​Anastacia is the heart of the Bravo Dance Family's front office, bringing a unique blend of discipline, experience, and warmth to everything she does. A West Valley native, she spent over 17 years training and performing in dance, developing a deep appreciation for the structure, creativity, and community that dance fosters.
After graduating high school, Anastacia was awarded a full-ride ROTC scholarship to attend Arizona State University, demonstrating her strong leadership skills and dedication. She now serves her state working for the Arizona Department of Education, where she continues her commitment to supporting students and families across Arizona.
​At Bravo, Anastacia is our go-to expert for registration, policies, and studio procedures. She ensures that every family feels informed, supported, and welcomed—bringing clarity and care to every interaction. Her dual background in dance and administration makes her an invaluable part of the team, keeping things running smoothly behind the scenes so our dancers can shine.
Whether helping a new parent navigate their first season or guiding returning families through the year, Anastacia is always ready to lend a hand with professionalism and heart.

Michael Clamor
Office StaffMichael fell in love with dance when he fell in love with his wife, Ms. Leticia—the two first met in their high school step class, and their shared passion for rhythm and movement has been part of their journey ever since.
By day, Michael serves as a Regional Director at Action Behavior Center, bringing leadership, organization, and a heart for families to his work. By night, he’s a valued member of the Bravo Dance Family front desk team—supporting studio operations, welcoming families, and helping things run smoothly behind the scenes.
​A proud dance dad and soccer dad, Michael can often be found juggling schedules, cheering from the sidelines, and making sure his kids get where they need to go. His upbeat energy and friendly presence make him a familiar and appreciated face at the studio.

Araceli Alvarado
Front Desk/Spanish TranslatorAraceli brings warmth, professionalism, and a strong background in early childhood education to her role at the Bravo Dance Family front desk. With many years of experience as a preschool teacher, she has a natural talent for working with children and families, and a deep understanding of the importance of communication and care.
Now in her second year with BDF, Araceli is excited to continue growing in the dance community while supporting students and their families. As a bilingual team member, she plays a vital role in assisting our Spanish-speaking families, ensuring everyone feels welcomed, informed, and connected.
A proud mother of two, Araceli is passionate about helping families navigate their dance journey with ease and enthusiasm. Whether she’s greeting you with a smile or helping behind the scenes, she’s here to make every visit to the studio a smooth and positive experience.

Amber Hawkins
Front Desk
With over four years of experience in customer service, education, and behavioral support, she is passionate about helping others and creating positive experiences. She has worked with children, guided students on education pathways, and provided individualized support to those in need. Whether assisting students, customers, or colleagues, she strives to bring a welcoming and supportive approach to everything she does.

Valerie Moore-Colvert
Instructor​
Valerie's first word as a child was "go" and she has been going ever since. She received her Bachelor's in Dance Performance and Psychology at Ball State University. She also had a global dance career performing in Japan, England, Ghana, and throughout the United States. Valerie made Chicago her home for 15 years where she co-founded Rebound Dance, a not for profit production company, and was resident choreographer for two musical theater companies. She taught ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, and modern at various school in Chicago and her hometown studio in Michigan. In 2009, Valerie fell in love with classical Pilates and received her comprehensive certification. In 2019, Valerie received Pilates Method Alliance certificate, a true honor.

Valerie believes anyone and everyone can learn how to dance! And dance class does not just teach dance- hard work, leadership, dedication, creativity, the list goes on and on. Ms. Valerie then moved to Arizona and met the Bravo ladies right away. They bonded immediately and Valerie has always been part of the family.

​Niamey Thomas
Instructor​
Niamey Thomas is a Creative, Educator and Storyteller. Graduate of Arizona State University (ASU) with a BA in Communication, Minor in Dance and Certificate in Brazilian Studies.
With her strong faith background and love for the community she graduated from
Elevate International Antioch Discipleship and Arts program in 2017 where she learned how to be a disciple implementing projects and initiatives to enrich the community through Art. A graduate from AmeriCorps Public Ally program in 2018 where she continued to strengthen community efforts and engagement.
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Niamey has been dancing for eighteen years; she has been a member of the WNBA Phoenix Mercury Hip-Hop Squad, Anomalous dance crew, Arizona Raw Talent and many more. She has performed all around the valley, Chicago, Atlanta to name a few cities and has trained with amazing world-renowned choreographers. She has taught many dance residencies in Phoenix, Mesa, and Tempe. Creator of Artists’ for Change an artist’s development program that focuses on community arts advocacy and networking. With the goal of infusing community and self-awareness by using arts. Currently Niamey is on a new journey of being Adjunct Faculty at Grand Canyon University (GCU). She is the CEO and Founder of A Young Realist (LYR), which focuses on providing art that questions the status quo through storytelling. LYR focuses on providing education, knowledge and resources for communities of color. Niamey has curated “The Show”, Artists for Change VOL 1, 2, & 3, and host #LYRillestsessions. Niamey has hosted/MC many events within the community and is a dynamic Speaker, Teacher, and Facilitator. She is an Artist and writer for “The I Am Root Co.” (A collective of artists), a Youth Dance Director at Prayer Assembly COGIC.

​Grant Torino
Instructor​
Grant Torino has been dancing for 18 years and has taught for 8yrs. His love for dance started by watching his older cousins get down with various street styles from break dancing, popping and house. In high school he was introduced to more choreography. From there he began performing and competing with teams such as: Future Shock San Jose, The Company and The Tribe Crew. He has performed and competed in events such as Body Rock, Prelude, World of Dance, Bridge, Complex and Hip Hop Nutcracker.

Grant Torino was born and raised in San Jose, Ca. He is currently enlisted in the Air Force and is stationed here at Luke AFB.
Prior to joining the Air Force and making his way out to Arizona, he was a man with many hats. He was a massage & sports therapist and youth boxing coach at UFC Gym San Jose. He was a dance teacher and director for the hip hop program at DAU in Cupertino, Ca. Upon arriving and a year later he picked up where he left off with dance and coaching at his new homes here at Bravo Dance Studio and Knockout Fitness.

Monica Bravo
Instructor​
Monica Bravo brings over 20 years of experience teaching Preschool Dance and a lifelong passion for movement and cultural expression to the Bravo Dance Family. She began her dance journey as a professional dancer with Ballet Folklorico Azteca in Phoenix, AZ, where she developed a deep love for traditional Mexican dance and storytelling through movement.
As a young mother, Monica transitioned into the field of Early Childhood Education, specializing in Music & Movement and Creative Dance. She dedicated over a decade to serving families through Head Start and Early Head Start, becoming a respected early childhood expert. Her background includes leading programs in elementary schools, high school child development courses, and Girl Scout camps, always with a focus on fostering creativity, coordination, and confidence in young children.
​Monica currently leads our Toddler & Me classes, where she combines her extensive knowledge of child development with joyful, age-appropriate dance experiences. She also directs our Ballet Folklorico performance class, sharing her cultural heritage and performance expertise with a new generation of dancers.
A proud grandmother of 10 grandchildren (and counting), Monica brings warmth, patience, and heart to everything she does. Her classes are not only educational and developmentally enriching, but also full of fun, rhythm, and connection.
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Mattie Thielke
Instructor
Mattie has been dancing for 18  years and teaching for over 7 years.  Born and raised in Denver, Colorado, she grew her skills and talent in both the competitive and collegiate dance world. After attending many workshops and intensives at colleges across Colorado, she knew she wanted to study the art at a higher level. This eventually brought her down to pursue her passion in college at Grand Canyon University. After a few years learning at the collegiate level, she decided to pursue her other passion of writing in order to turn that into a career. Although she is working as a writer professionally, she still makes time for dance. Bringing together all sides of her creative talent and sharing that with students has been her greatest passion of hers for many years.
Mattie has training in a variety of styles, most notably jazz, lyrical, ballet, tap, modern, hip hop, contemporary and pointe. She hopes to inspire the next generation of students to always keep dancing. Dance has an ability to create light and love with every movement. That feeling carries over into all parts of life, making grey skies blue again and making the world magical. Sharing that feeling and preparing dancers with exceptional technique allows students to thrive. She is excited to create a safe environment to help foster learning and connect with students at Bravo Dance Family.

Gabby Barragan
Instructor
Gabriana Barragan is a passionate and dedicated dancer, choreographer, and early childhood educator. With over 17 years of dance experience, she brings both performance excellence and a nurturing spirit to every class she leads.
Gabriana currently works as a Preschool Teacher Assistant at Countryside Elementary, where her patience, creativity, and love for children shine daily. She is also an accomplished performer, now in her third season as a Sidewinder dancer for the Arizona Rattlers with the IFL, where she performs at a professional level and represents the team at community events.
She is currently training and performing with the Wight Noise adult dance company, continuing to challenge herself artistically while staying connected to the local dance community. For the past three years, Gabriana has been a valued member of the Bravo Dance Family, where she not only teaches but also contributes her choreography to our competitive teams, inspiring young dancers with her vibrant style and dedication.
Gabriana is known for her energetic presence, strong technique, and ability to motivate dancers of all ages to reach their full potential.

Alexis Tarpley
Instructor​
Hailing from Avondale, Arizona, Alexis brings a lifelong passion for dance and education to everything she does. She currently serves as a dedicated teacher aide at an elementary school, working with students from preschool through 5th grade.
Alexis began dancing at the age of five in local studios, quickly falling in love with the art form. Her journey continued through high school, where she honed her skills and confirmed that dance was her true calling. With a deep love for competitions, conventions, and community, she thrives in environments that challenge and inspire her.
​Now a dance major at Grand Canyon University, Alexis stays active in the dance world by attending drop-in classes and participating in a variety of events. Her enthusiasm, experience, and vibrant spirit make her a dynamic presence both in and out of the studio.

Nikki Nixon
Instructor
Nicolette Nixon was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona, and brings a passion for teaching that is rooted in dedication, encouragement, and positive support. Her goal as an instructor is to mentor and guide each student toward reaching their full potential, both in and out of the studio.
Nicolette’s love for dance began as a young student at "On Stage" Dance Academy. By fifth grade, she joined her first cheer team and went on to perform with Pom, Cheer, Spiritline, and Dance Teams throughout high school. In 2001, she began her teaching career at Leap of Faith Dance Academy.
She specializes in Tap, Jazz, Acro, Strength & Stretch, Contemporary, and Cheer, and has extensive experience as an assistant director, event coordinator, instructor, and cheer coach.
Currently, Nicolette works as a paraprofessional teacher at an elementary school and coaches the Sonoran Foothills Bobcats Spiritline. She is passionate about helping students express emotion and creativity through dance and is excited to share her knowledge and experience with the next generation of dancers.

Noel Yarmolovich
Instructor
Noel fell in love with dance when she was just three years old and she hasn’t stopped dancing since! She has grown up training in ballet, jazz, lyrical, musical theatre, contemporary, acro, and more! Noel was on her high school’s pom team and has had the opportunity to train with esteemed choreographers across the state as well as dance professors at the University of Arizona. Throughout college, she danced in several semi-professional musicals at Arts Express Theater in Tucson, such as A Chorus Line, White Christmas, and Catch Me if You Can! Noel is very excited to be a part of this team teaching lyrical, ballet, musical theatre, and jazz and can’t wait for the upcoming season! ​

Tarance “T” Artis
Instructor
​Tarance “T” Artis grew up in Denver, Colorado and started his Dance training at 8 years old. He attended Denver School of The Arts as a Dance Major and was a part of the competition/convention circuit for most of his childhood. At 16 “T” was accepted into The Kirov international Ballet Boarding school in Washington DC on a full $25,000 scholarship, where he spent 1 year training hard in Ballet technique. After leaving Kirov, “T” then moved to Arizona where he taught classes at local dance studios for a few years before moving to Los Angeles at age 19, to pursue a professional Dance career in the Hollywood film/tv industry. Some of “T’s” professional Dance credits include work with Rupaul, Pussycat dolls, Kacey musgraves, Miley Cyrus, Kesha, Lizzo, Chalene Johnson and more! Aside from Dance, “T” found himself becoming quite successful as a Drag Queen entertainer. Under stage name Barbie’s Addiction, he was able to combine his love for Dance, stage performance, makeup and costume at venues all over California. And was able to take his talents in Drag over seas to China for a 3 month show contract in 2013. After 15 years working hard in Los Angeles, “T” is now back in Arizona to get back to his roots of Teaching the next generation of Dancers the power and importance of Technique and stage performance!

Yamileika Vargas
Instructor
Yamileika Vargas is a creative and passionate dancer and choreographer with a diverse background in performance and instruction across multiple dance genres. Known for her vibrant energy, technical precision, and strong classroom leadership, she thrives on inspiring dancers of all levels to grow artistically and confidently.
Currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Dance Education at Grand Canyon University, Yamileika combines her academic training with real-world experience to create a well-rounded, engaging teaching approach. Her ability to communicate using technical dance vocabulary and visual demonstrations allows her to effectively connect with students of varying abilities and styles.

Elsa Robb
Instructor
​Elsa Robb is a dedicated and passionate dance instructor who finds immense joy in nurturing beginner dancers. With over a year of teaching experience, she brings warmth, patience, and a strong technical foundation to every class. Elsa has been dancing since the age of three, immersing herself in a variety of styles and growing up in the studio environment that shaped her love for movement.
Her dance journey has taken her beyond the studio and across the globe—most notably to Poland, where she had the incredible opportunity to perform internationally. This experience broadened her appreciation for the cultural and expressive power of dance.
Elsa is especially drawn to the excitement and curiosity of new dancers. She excels at building confidence and fostering a supportive atmosphere, ensuring each student feels seen, encouraged, and capable. Her teaching style is grounded in kindness and a genuine passion for helping young dancers take their first steps toward artistic growth.

Alexis "Lexi" Barrs
Instructor
Lexi Barrs is a dedicated and enthusiastic dance instructor who thrives in creating a safe, engaging, and inspiring environment for young dancers. With a background in early childhood engagement and performance preparation, Lexi blends strong communication skills with a compassionate approach to teaching.
She has experience instructing children in foundational dance techniques, ensuring each dancer feels supported and clearly understands class objectives. Lexie has also played a key role in recital preparations—helping maintain studio expectations, all while fostering a sense of fun and structure.

Maddie Nimmer
Instructor
Maddie Nimmer is a passionate and dedicated young dance educator stepping into her first year of teaching Creative Dance at Bravo Dance Family. With a strong foundation built over the past five years as a BDF Competitive Dancer as well as been dancing since a young age, Maddie brings both technical skill and a love for performance into every class she leads.
For the past two years, Maddie has been a valued member of the BDF Teacher Assistant Program, where she developed her classroom leadership, communication, and mentorship skills by working alongside experienced instructors. Her enthusiasm, patience, and natural ability to connect with younger dancers have made her a standout role model within the studio.
Maddie is thrilled to take this next step in her dance journey, inspiring the next generation of movers and sharing the joy, creativity, and confidence that dance has given her.