Alle Weaver
Alle Weaver, Owner and Artistic Director of Momentum Dance Center, brings a dynamic background in dance, gymnastics, cheerleading, and twirling to her studio. With over 13 years of performance and training experience, Alle has worked under junior Olympians, national titleholders, and acclaimed choreographers affiliated with UCLA, USC, Usher, and the Cavalier Girls.
In addition to her extensive performance background, Alle has more than 10 years of experience as an educator and choreographer across a variety of dance styles. Her teaching philosophy encourages students to explore their own creativity while building strong technical foundations. She believes in fostering a positive and empowering environment where dancers gain both skill and confidence.
Alle’s favorite part of teaching is witnessing the joy and pride on her students’ faces when they finally master a challenging trick — a moment she describes as truly magical.
Sydney Hoover
Momentum Dance Center’s Assistant Director (and former owner) Sydney Hoover, is a dancer, choreographer, and dance educator with 25 years of dance experience. She is an Edison High School graduate (2015), and received her BFA in Dance from Columbia College Chicago (2019). In her early years, she trained at Broadway Performing Arts Center with Emily Casale, Dana Smialowski, and Courtney Bakula in contemporary, ballet, jazz, and tap. She trained at the collegiate and professional levels with Paige Cunningham, Darrell Jones, Carrie Hanson, Dardi McGinley-Gallivan, and Jimmy Payne in modern, contemporary, ballet, West African, tap, jazz, choreography, and Brain-Compatible Dance Education. She has received life-long mentorship from broadway performers, Radio City Rockettes, and business-in-dance moguls. Shephard was given her first teaching opportunity at the age of 13; with 15 years of experience, she uses her method of education to inspire creativity and growth within students of all ages.
Even with Shephard’s well-rounded dance education, she feels most at home teaching dance. She uses Brain-Compatible Dance Education modeled by Anne Green Gilbert, and believes the connection of mind and body is the most powerful resource a human can tap into. Taking her passion for the art of dance and merging it with her desire for exceptional dance training, Shephard will ensure your child receives only the best of the dance experience: quality technique and creative training in a safe and supportive environment.
Mariah Pierson
Mariah Pierson began dancing at 2 years old, and continued through her senior year of high school; she danced competitively for a total of 5 years. In addition to being a dancer, Mariah has over 7 years of experience with instructing acro, ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary, and hip hop. She has a passion for teaching in all mediums, with dance being her favorite. She enjoys seeing students take her choreography and use their creativity and passion to make it their own.