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AMP'd UP Teachers

AMP’d UP Master Teachers

AMP Quicklinks:  AMP’d UP Workshops  |  AMP Tour Dates  |  Contact Us

Krista Barker

Krista Barker

Jazz | Lyrical | Contemporary

Krista has been dancing since the age of 4. Her performances have taken her all over the United States, Canada, and Japan. She has had the opportunity to showcase her passion for dance through television, videos, concert tours, and live stage performances. In addition to Krista’s own talents as a performer, her award winning choreography has been featured on SYTYCD, America’s Best Dance Crew, Hip Hop International, live stage performances, and at schools, night clubs, and national competitions. She specializes in stylized jazz, technique, lyrical, contemporary, fitness and competitive choreography. Krista is an original member and Director of Automatic Response, and has been a proud member since 2005. They have been featured on season 1‘s America’s Best Dance Crew, Apollo presents American Icons and numerous stage production shows. “To inspire, and be inspired” is what Krista lives by, and she is a proud new mentor, teacher and choreographer for Kim Mcswain’s “Changing Lives” program. Just recently Krista launched AMP Dance Competition, to inspire kids to use their love for dance to make change in the community. Credits Include: Aaron Carter Jukebox Tour, Aaron Carter Japan Tour, Britney Spears Onyx Tour, Star Search, FAMEUS, West Coast Dance Explosion, Conversations of Lust, American Icons Live as Janet Jackson, America’s Best Dance Crew, The Goddess Concept, AMP Dance Competition, Purple, C(her)ish, British Invasion, Changing Lives, Top Jazz Choreographer for Break the Floor 2017.

Annie Gratton

Annie Gratton

Jazz | Lyrical | Musical Theatre

Originally from Quebec, Canada, Annie was raised in Phoenix, AZ and grew up training competitively in all styles of dance. She is trained in Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Lyrical, Contemporary, Hip Hop, and Musical Theatre. Annie spent a year on the Arizona State University Dance Team performing at sporting events and competing at the National level. Since moving to Los Angeles in 2012, Annie has worked for Tyce Diorio dancing in “The Gyspy Awads” and as an assistant on “So You Think You Can Dance” . Performed on the Latin Grammy Awards with “Calle 13” for Spencer Liff, “Pearl the Show” at the Lincoln Center in NYC for Daniel Ezralow , “Premios de la Radio Awards”, the feature film “TED 2” for Rob Ashford, and The “2017 Grammys” for Katy Perry. One of her most recent credits include dancing in NBC’s “Hairspray Live”, and dancing in the Lythgoe Family Panto “Beauty & the Beast, A Christmas Rose” choreographed by Many Moore! She is also on Faculty at “Hollywood Dance Jamz” dance convention, and a jazz director at Revolution Dance Center in Montrose, CA ! She LOVES being able to relate to all of the young dancers at the studio and across the country and showing them that ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE with passion and hard work!

Bonita Saldana

Bonita Saldana

Hip Hop

Combining her unique flavor, dynamic performance, and distinguished resume, Bonita Saldaña’s influence is recognized from the streets to the stage. Hailing from Phoenix, Arizona, her professional career originated as a member of the Phoenix Mercury Hip- Hop Squad and the Phoenix Suns Dance Team. Also known as, “Bgirl Bonita”, she has performed with artists such as: Jason Derulo, P. Diddy, Black Eyed Peas, Sean Kingston, Fergie, Jamiroquai and is a member of three of the most legendary, world- famous and credible names in Hip-Hop dance: The Rock Steady Crew, The Groovaloos and The Beat Freaks. She has also been featured on Disney’s Shake It Up, Nickolodeon’s Fresh Beat Band, American Idol, Dancing with the Stars and MTV’s Made. Bonita has been teaching, performing, and judging nationally and internationally for 16 years. She is grateful for the launch of her dance school, StudanceLAB.com, in Phoenix, Arizona a studio with strong roots, passionate students, and expert educators. 

Brenna Brocket

Brenna Brocket

Pilates

Brenna Brocket was born and raised in Gilbert, Arizona. She started dancing when she was three years old and has been hooked ever since. She grew up training and competing in all styles such as Jazz, Ballet, Tap, Contemporary, Modern, Hip-Hop, etc. This later led her to The University of Arizona where she received a BFA degree in Dance. 

While in Tucson she had the opportunity to train and perform several different styles on stage. During her sophomore year of college she experienced a spinal fracture during a show. Although fracturing her spine wasn’t a fun experience, it was because of this that she discovered a new found passion for Pilates . Through the UA Dance program she was able to receive Fletcher Pilates training to help rehab her spine and get her back on stage quicker. During her senior year of college she was given the opportunity to go through the Foundational Training program to become a Fletcher Pilates Teacher. By the end of 2021 Brenna will have finished the Fletcher Professional Training Program, helping her to better understand the body and be the best teacher she can be.

Since 2016, she has been dancing with the LA dance company MusEffect, which has allowed her to live and work in both LA and AZ. Through MusEffect Brenna is able to use her artform of dance to help give back to the community. 

In 2018 she was apart of the NBA Phoenix Suns Dancers for the 2018-2019 NBA season. With the Suns she was given the opportunity to dance and work with several choreographers including Tyce Diorio, Lacey Schwimmer, Matt Stephanina, Anthony Garza, Tribe 99, Ade Obayomi, Heather Morris and many more. With the Suns she performed with artists Coolio and Lumidee

While she loves performing, teaching is such a big passion of Brenna’s! Since she was 16 years old she has had a love of working with younger dancers and helping train the future generation of movers. Merging dance and pilates is a new passion of hers, which allows her to help kids better understand their muscles and help avoid injuries in the future. She is looking forward to opening up her own pilates space in October 2021. She hopes to make everyone feel their best so that they can dance their best. 

Re'Sean Pates

Re'Sean Pates

Singer/Dancer/Choreographer

Re’Sean Pates is a triple threat; singer/dancer/choreographer, working in the entertainment industry & internationally for the last 13 years. His most recent credits include dancing for Shania Twain In her Las Vegas “Let’s Go” Residency! He also was a background vocalist & dancer with Shania Twain on her 2018 NOW World Tour, along with being the Associate Choreographer & dancer for Shania’s  “Life’s About to Get Good” music video. Other credits include NBC’s “Hairspray Live” as Jackie, Associate Choreographer to Daniel Ezralow for Katy Perry’s “Chained to the Rhythm” music video & her 2017 promo tour (2017 Grammys, 2017 Brit Awards, Londons’s BBC Big Radio Music Festival, 2017 Met Gala, 2017 Brandcast). He has also worked on FOX’S hit tv show “Glee” [seasons 3-6] as a Dalton Academy Warbler, Apple Sports Watch commercial, Daniel Ezralow’s 3 world tours (OPEN Italy & US Tour, Pearl live at the Lincoln Center & Canadian Tour, Primo Passo), & many others. 
Taylor Schultz

Taylor Schultz

Contemporary

Taylor Shultz is the Creator and Artistic Director of Synergy Dance Alliance, based out of Phoenix, Arizona. Taylor creates unique workshops and intensives every month to provide artists with connections and mentorships to facilitate connections for training dancers into the working world. In addition to owning and operating her own Company Taylor is a principal dancer with Los Angeles professional dance company MusEffect and also spends her time touring with the teaching staff of Muse Dance Company. Taylor’s choreographic works can be seen across the globe on both stage and screen alike. Taylor is best known for her storytelling abilities and creating works that focus both on the artistry and athleticism of her dancers. Her unique approach to bridging dancers from the world of education into the industry makes her sought after worldwide. To empower young artists Taylor uses innovative choreography, Writing workshops, acting classes, and adjudicating at competition. Taylor is excited to be touring with AMP and bringing her unique perspective to the judging panel this season.
 
Andrea Coffey

Andrea Coffey

Tap | Hip Hop

ANDREA COFFEY… started dancing at the age of three in Aurora, Colorado, and started competing at the age of nine. She trained in Ballet, Pointe, Lyrical, Modern, Contemporary, and Jazz along with her specialties: Tap and Hip Hop. At the age of thirteen, she participated in a week long tap intensive under the instruction of Jason Samuel-Smith, Dormeshia Sumbry-Edwards, and Elka Samuel-Smith, and performed her solo in the closing showcase at the Cleo Parker Robinson Theater in Denver. Andrea has trained through a hip hop scholarship program at Debbie Reynolds Dance Studio in Los Angeles, and has also studied tap at The Edge in LA and Broadway Dance Center in New York City. Andrea majored in Sociology and Communications at Arizona State University where she was also a dancer and Co-Captain of the ASU Hip-Hop Coalition whom she performed with during the halftime show for the Phoenix Suns and at the 2009 ASU Commencement with guest speaker President Barak Obama.
 
In 2011, Andrea was also featured in the Just Dance 3 commercial. She has performed with Tap 24/7 in their annual National Tap Dance Day show and in the Motor City Soles Showcase at the Motor City Tap Festival in Detroit along with Chloe Arnold and Gregg Russell. Andrea has taught master classes and/or set tap choreography in Washington, Arizona, Missouri, Kansas, Virginia, Texas, Orlando and throughout Colorado. She has received awards and accolades for her choreography regionally and nationally. Currently, Andrea is a 4th year adjudicator for Starquest International where she has judged regional and national competitions, as well as taught Hip Hop, Tap, and Jazz Funk Master Classes. In between judging and teaching Andrea is also preparing for Tap 24/7’s annual National Tap Dance Day Showcase, which will take place in Phoenix Arizona. She loves sharing her passion of dance with children and strives to train dancers to be their best selves inside and outside of the studio.

AMP Quicklinks:  AMP’d UP Workshops  |  AMP Tour Dates  |  Contact Us

Buffalo, NY - 3/21 to 3/23/2025
Milwaukee, WI - 3/21 to 3/23/2025
Seattle, WA - 3/28 to 3/30/2025
Minneapolis, MN - 4/4 to 4/6/2025
Phoenix (2), AZ 4/4 to 4/6/2025
Chicago, IL - 4/11 to 4/13/2025
Cedar Rapids, IA - 4/25 to 4/27/2025
Raleigh, NC - 4/25 to 4/27/2025