Sydney Shephard
Momentum Dance Center’s owner and artistic director, Sydney Shephard, 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.
Alle Weaver
Alle Weaver is a former dancer, gymnast, cheerleader, and twirler with over 13 years experience. She has trained under junior Olympians, title winners, and has worked with choreographers from UCLA, USC, Usher, and the Cavalier Girls. Alle has over 5 years of experience with educating and choreographing in various techniques. Alle's method of teaching is to allow her students to use their creativity within their pieces and develop their skills with confidence. Her favorite part of teaching is seeing her student's face light up when they finally "nail" their tricks.
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.