Meet our Team of Instructors
Where technique & choreography are put first
Sarah Dayley:
Sarah has been teaching, coaching & Choreographing Dance in Portland OR and Vancouver WA for more than 12 years. Her passion is music, dance, and working with the youth. She stresses proper technique, and her "Dayley Dance Academy Performing group" shows it, they have just returned from a duel performance at Disneyland. She currently coaches the Pacific Middle School Dance team, and just recently began consulting for the Union High School Dance Team.
Victoria Raia:
Victoria has studied ballet since age 2 with various groups and companies such as, Vancouver Dance Theater, Columbia Dance Ensemble, Ballet West, Brigham Young University, Dance Fusion NW, Oregon Ballet Theater, Washington State Ballet, Academy of Ballet Arts, and Ballet Magnificat. She has danced as a principle dancer for Vancouver Dance Theater and was a cast member at Walt Disney World from 2006-2007. She is trained in classical ballet, pointe, jazz, modern, lyrical, character, Flamenco, African and Pilates. Her passion is dance and stage performance.
Tiffany Tangen:
Tiffany is currently a company member/choreographer for the Pure Dance Company in Portland Oregon, assistant coach/choreographer for the Mt. View Lightning Dance Team in Vancouver Washington, an instructor for Thunderbird Dance Camp since 2003 and is an alumni of George Fox University. She received her dance training at Terpsichoria Dance Studio in Clackamas, Oregon and was a 4 year member and captain of the Mt. View Lightning Dance Team, where she was chosen for the Emily Beth Haight Scholarship in 2003. She specializes in tap, jazz, contemporary and lyrical dance styles and workshops.
Ashley Hayward:
Ashley has trained in ballet, lyrical, contemporary and hip hop dance styles with various studios and workshops such as Brian Friedman, The Pulse, and Monsters of Hip Hop. She was the 2007 scholarship recipient for The Pulse in Denver and has danced with many companies and events including: Nonsense Dance Co, The Detail Performance, Dance Vision, The Fresh Vibe Dance Crew, Red Carpet Entertainment, and Hip Hop Portland. She currently is teaching Hip Hop in and around the Portland area, as well continuing as a vocal and dance performer
Diedre Murdoch:
Diedre is a recent graduate of BYU with an emphasis in dance and health science. She has earned the level of Distinction; the highest honors in the Royal Academy of Dance examinations, and has trained in jazz, modern, contemporary, world, ballroom, and tap styles. Diedre has six years of teaching experience at various studios and with BYU as an adjunct faculty member with the university. For the past four years she has toured with a team called Dance Alliance and was assistant director of the company’s recent tour to Russia. She has also choreographed and directed for her collegiate contemporary team several times.
Kennedy Rushing:
Kennedy is a Scholar Athlete at Union High School and a captain of the Union Titan Dance Team. She has been dancing and training since 6th grade, where she was on the Pacific Middle School dance team, coached by Sarah Dayley. Kennedy has attended the Dayley Dance Academy since 2007 and is currently studying ballet, pointe, jazz, contemporary and hip hop styles. She has been teaching at the Academy for 1 year now and has choreographed several hip hop routines for ages 4-13. She is the director of a summer cheer/dance camp for 3 years running now, with over 20 kids involved and has earned the honor of Thunderbird All-Star by the Thunderbird dance camp staff.
Mackenzie Dayley:
Mackenzie is a Senior at Union High School and a captain of the Union Titan Dance Team. She has been dancing since age 6, training at various studios, including: Jaquie Kunzman Ballet in Oregon City and Pure Energy Performers in Vancouver. She has been a dance team member since grade 6 and has danced at the Dayley Dance Academy since 2007. She is currently studying ballet, pointe, jazz, contemporary and hip hop styles. Mackenzie has earned the honor of Thunderbird All-Star by the Thunderbird dance camp staff and is working with Betsy Schott to choreograph and act as a youth representative for the 2010 LDS youth dance festival in Vancouver.
