Centre Stage
1225 Oakley Ave
Burley, Idaho 83318

Phone:
(208) 678-4117 or
(208) 678-3970

Email Us
Centre Stage Dance Studio

FACULTY

Updated August 3, 2020 - Photos by Jessica Ruffell.


Introducing the staff and faculty at Centre Stage Studios.


Jennifer Sager - All Ballet Classes, Jazz Performing Groups

Jennifer Sager

All Ballet Classes, Jazz Performing Groups


Jennifer received ballet training in London, England through the Royal Academy of Dance, and continued in Toronto, Canada under Diana Joblova-Vorps. She started jazz training in England and then continued in Los Angeles with instructors from The Edge and Tremaine studios along with Jackie Sleight and Dave Carter & Rhonda Sevey. Jennifer was also a member of the Canadian Junior Ballet Company, a BYU Cougarette for two and a half years and a Songleader for one year. She performed in musical theatre productions as a dancer.

Jennifer has been the owner of Centre Stage Studios in Burley, Idaho since 1976. Her students have participated in the annual "Nutcracker" ballet since 1989. Through the Nutcracker Foundation, Jennifer initiated a performing arts Scholarship program that has awarded numerous scholarships to promising dancers interested in attending workshops. They have also been able to bring in top name choreographers to the studio.

Students of Centre Stage have performed on Carnival Cruise Lines and NFL football game half times, Disneyland, Knotts Berry Farm and Catalina Island. Each year, Centre Stage students bring home numerous trophies from area and out of state competitions. We would love to have you visit our studio to see our student's trophies proudly displayed in our viewing area. Centre Stage dancers are truly champions, not only in dance, but also in character.

Jennifer notes that teaching dance to all ages has been very rewarding as she's watched girls learn a talent and with it, self confidence. Especially cherished are the personal relationships she has made throughout the years with the girls and their families.
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Melissa Lynch - Munchkins, QT P’Tuties, Jazz Performing Groups

Melissa Lynch

Combo Director and Jazz Companies


Melissa started dancing at the age of 3. She grew up dancing at Centre Stage and trained in ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, musical theatre, modern, and tumbling. She had the opportunity to dance a halftime performance at an NFL game, and also to perform at Disneyland and Knotts Berry Farm.

Melissa always knew she wanted to teach and loves teaching at Centre Stage. She has been teaching at Centre Stage for the past 14 years and has taught all ages from age 2 to 18! Right now Melissa is the Combo Director and Jazz Director and teaches production routines with her mom. Melissa is married to Tim Lynch and they have 3 boys, Parker, Paxton, and Sager.

Melissa has found her niche in life in teaching dance. She is brilliant at working with all ages, particularly the younger girls, in breaking down the choreography and technique and instilling a love of dance in each of her students.
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Bria Ruffell

Bria Ruffell

Instructor


Bria has been dancing for 20 years and has found a love for performing and teaching! She has trained extensively in ballet, tap, jazz, ballroom, and many more styles. At 15 she joined Odyssey Dance Theater's pre-professional company, O2. She continued on to dance with them for 3 years giving her the opportunity to dance in many shows including, Thriller, Redux Nutcracker, and MJ.

After graduating high school, she went on to teach English to children in China, Thailand, and Montenegro. There she found that she had a love for being with children and teaching. Bria has been teaching in St.George for the last few years and is so excited to be at Centre Stage Studios!
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Sarah Clark - Instructor

Sarah Clark

Instructor


Sarah found a love for dance and gymnastics when she began cheerleading in Junior High School. She continued to cheer and take gymnastics through her junior year in high school and served as the captain of her high school cheer squad her junior year. For her senior year she decided to take a break from cheerleading and danced for the Declo Stingerettes instead. After high school, Sarah attended ISU and then CSI to pursue her nursing degree. She graduated college in 2003 with her Associates of Science Nursing Degree. While at CSI Sarah was a member of the CSI Golden Eagles cheerleading team and was also a gymnastics coach at Rainbow Gymnastics/Gym Mania.

Sarah loves dance and gymnastics. She is very excited for the opportunity to get to know Centre Stage girls and work with them. She currently works part time as a registered nurse at Cassia Regional Medical Center in the ER and PACU departments where she has worked for over 12 years. When she’s not working Sarah loves spending time with her husband David and their three daughters Emma, Ellie, and Clara who dance at Centre Stage.

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Alexi Ruffell - Ballroom Instructor

Alexi Ruffell

Ballroom Instructor


Alexi began her ballet, jazz, contemporary, hip-hop, and tap training at Centre Stage Studios in Nampa, Idaho at the age of 2. Since then she has trained at Utah Academy, Pioneer High School, The Pointe Academy, and Brigham Young University. She has had the opportunity to train with Rhonda Sevey, Tiffany Carpenter, Derryl Yeager, Suzi Wood, Aimee Lohner, and Connie Burton. At the age of 6 she added ballroom dancing and instantly fell in love. She has since continued her training in other styles, but has focused on competitive ballroom dancing in Standard, Latin, and Smooth.

She was a member of the BYU Youth Ballroom program for 7 years concluding with her last 3 years on the undefeated Latin and Standard United States formation team. She was also a member of the BYU Touring Company for 2 years in which she has had the opportunity to compete at the prestigious Blackpool Competition and to perform with the company in South America. She has since graduated and is currently a Professional Smooth Competitor and Coach.


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Kilie White - Teacher

Kilie White

Teacher


Kilie began dancing at the age of three. She danced at Centre Stage for 15 years. She competed in performing groups: Minis, Kids, Junior Company, Senior Company, and made The Company group at the age of 13. Along with performing competitively in jazz, contemporary, hip hop, tap, and musical theater, she was also trained in ballet and pointe and performed in the annual production of "The Nutcracker". With it being her favorite production to be a part of, some of her roles included the Arabian Soloist, Dew Drop Fairy, and Snow Queen. During her senior year, the spring ballet recital was the production of "Under the Sea", and she was given the role of Ariel. She choreographed multiple duos and solos as well as held private dance lessons for younger dancers at the studio. She also cheered during high school and was part of the cheer team which received the title of 4A State Champions in 2014.

Kilie attended the University of Idaho where she continued to grow as a dancer by taking ballet, pointe, and contemporary classes. She was an active member of the Delta Gamma Fraternity and held multiple leadership positions during her four years on campus and continues to stay as an active alumna. She double majored in accounting and finance and moved to Boise to work at a public accounting firm as an auditor.

With a change of heart, Kilie decided to make the career switch to education. She has now moved back to her hometown of Rupert and is currently a math teacher at Minico High School. She is excited to continue her love and passion for dance by teaching back here at Centre Stage Studios.

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Student Teachers

Student Teachers - Kate Jones, Emma Clark, Jackobi Christiansen

Kate Jones

Emma Clark

Jackobi Christiansen



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