Our Staff

Cristina acquired CPAA in September of 2022 after a year of collaboration with its founder, Mary White. A lifelong dancer trained in ballet and contemporary since the age of 7, she took the entrepreneurial path after receiving her B.A. in 1996. In addition to CPAA, She operates a successful family business located in Lake Tahoe, Reno, The Bay, and San Diego. Following the path of CPAA’s mission statement, her passion is to take both her skills in business and the discipline from years of dance training to lead a team of teachers, artists, and students who thrive in the arts!

Cristina Elmore

Owner
Managing Director

Mary White-Phlek is a Carlsbad native that began her performing arts journey at the age of 3. She spent her childhood immersed in the Dance and Theatre world and found that her true joy was when she was up onstage in front of an audience. Mary began teaching and choreographing at the age of 16 and went on to receive her BA in Dance from UCSD. She is also spent several year touring throughout San Diego and L.A. as a singer/song writer.

Mary White

Founder

Competition Administration

Choreographer|Dance Instructor

Kimberly grew up in Orange County, dancing at Pacific Dance and Jimmie DeFore Dance Center. While in college at CSU, Fullerton, Kimberly fell in love with fitness which she would later teach as a personal trainer and fitness instructor around California and abroad. Kimberly is certified in mat Pilates, yoga (200hr), Acrobatic Arts, and holds a Masters in School Counseling.

Kimberly Plum

Studio Operations Director

Choreographer| Dance Instructor

Shannon holds an MA in Performance Psychology, a BFA in Dance Performance, a Minor in Integrated Educational Studies, and is a certified PBT instructor. Shannon is formally trained in ballet, jazz, modern, and tap. Her performance credits include original works of Merce Cunningham, the LA Tap Festival, and a variety of performances at Chapman University including excerpts of Memphis and That’s Entertainment! Shannon has won numerous awards for her choreography.

Shannon Mueller

Conservatory Director

Choreographer| Dance Instructor

Dewey’s family traces back five generations of Carlsbad history. As a youth, he dedicated over ten years performing for regional theatre’s in San Diego County, including Carlsbad Community Theatre, and Moonlight Amphitheater. He trained at Dance Arts with Lewis McKay, and took voice from James Cook. Dewey then attended Boston Conservatory where he majored in Musical Theatre with a minor in Dance, setting him on a trajectory towards artistic growth.

Dewey Decking

Theatre Director

Choreographer| Studio Support Manager

Lauren Jackson is an accomplished dancer, choreographer, Certified Personal Trainer, and energetic teacher who has been training since the age of two. She received the majority of her training at various competitive and ballet-focused studios throughout Southern California. Her love for dance has led her to perform at many venues including World of Dance, The Claire Trevor Theatre, San Diego White Box Dance Theatre, and numerous college campuses.

Lauren Jackson

Competition Administration

Choreographer |Dance Instructor

Delanee is from Orange County, California, and started dancing at the age of 3! She grew up training and competitive dancing at West Coast School of the arts, where she was trained in Ballet, Jazz, Lyrical, Contemporary, Modern, and Musical Theater, all up until the age of 18. Once she graduated, she continued on to the Lady Hornets Dance Team at Fullerton Junior College.

Delanee Guajardo

Competition Administration

Choreographer|Dance Instructor

Born and raised in southern California, Christine began dancing and doing gymnastics at the age of 4. She trained at SCATS Olympic gym (with Cathy Rigby) for 10 years and has had a wide range of ballet training in varied styles including, Balanchine, Joffrey, Kirov and Royal Ballet. She has also had extensive training in many styles of Jazz, with her first love being lyrical.

Christine Kollar

Choreographer|Dance Instructor

Liv Isaacs-Nollet was born and raised in San Diego where she trained under Maxine Mahon at California Ballet School. At eleven, she began her contemporary dance training with her mother, San Diego’s iconic modern dance founder, Jean Isaacs. She continued her ballet training and performed with Starlight Musical Theater, San Diego Repertory Theater and the La Jolla Playhouse. She was also highly influenced by Bill de Young and Risa Steinberg, whose early influence and the Limon technique became a grounding force. Liv went on to receive her BFA in Dance from SUNY Purchase where she worked with Kevin Wynn, Larry Clark, and Hernando Cortez.

Liv Isaacs-Nollet

Choreographer|Dance Instructor

Brittany grew up dancing in Encinitas under the Direction of Leslie Craig. Brittany has attended summer intensives at State Street Ballet, Santa Barbara, and taken summer classes from Larry Rosenburg. Brittany received her BA in dance from California State University, Fullerton. Under the department direction of Gladys Kares, Brittany began her modern training. She trained in Limon, Horton, and Graham from instructors Debra Noble, Alvin Rangel, and Lisa D Long; as well as keeping up her Ballet training with Muriel Joyce.

Brittany May

Dance Instructor

Freddie started dancing at the young age of 5. His love for dance flourished fast and he soon became a member of the Dance Unlimited competition team when he was 6. Freddie did train in ballet and tap but his love and focus is hip-hop. He continued to dance competitively under the direction of Erin Riley-Carrasco, Eddie Barcello and Cheyenne Kibblewhite for the next twelve years. Freddie won several top honors as a competitive dancer including scholarships to the Pulse convention, Scholarships to dance with Dave Scott and Debbie Allen. He has also danced in LA as a guest in Carnival “A Choreographers Showcase in 2008 and 2013.

Freddie Thompson

Choreographer|Dance Instructor

Peggy Seipp-Roy, danced professionally as a Principle dancer with Companies throughout the US and Europe. Companies such as Minnesota Dance Theatre, James Sewell Ballet, TU Dance, Moving Spaces (Germany), as well as guest appearances with dancers from LINES Ballet and Complexions throughout the US and Europe.Peggy began her training at the Minnesota Dance Theatre, before joining the School of the American Ballet, and Royal Winnipeg. Peggy holds a BA in Speech Communication/Theater Arts, and Secondary Education from the University of St. Thomas, and received her certification in Stott Pilates from Stott Pilates in Montreal.

Peggy Seipp-Roy

Dance Instructor

Alexis Coates is a studio and collegiately trained dancer from all across North County, San Diego. She grew up competitively and was captain of her high school’s varsity dance team. She previously was inducted into the National Honor Society of Dance Arts and was represented by professional tap dance company, California Rhythm Project. Currently, she teaches at a few local dance studios, is the assistant coach for Fallbrook High School’s varsity pom team, a full time student, and works in hospitality on the side!

Alexis Coates

Choreographer|Dance Instructor

Clarence Matthew Peters has been dancing for 12+ years. He has received variety of his training from Culture Shock San Diego, Studio FX, and MiraCosta College. He specializes in Hip Hop foundations and Urban choreography but also has trained within other genres of dance like Modern and Jazz. Clarence has taught at a different variety of studios all over the Oceanside, Vista and San Marcos areas. Currently, he is attending MiraCosta College, furthering his training and knowledge within the world of dance.

Clarence Mathews Peters

Dance Instructor

Emilia has grown up dancing from the age of three. She grew up training in all styles of dance and grew up in the studio competition environment. She was on her high school’s competitive POM team and danced all four years of high school. She is currently teaching at a few different studios across North County and is going to school to pursue a degree in Elementary Education. Emilia is so excited to share her passion for dance with all her students.

Emilia Garza

Dance Instructor

Lily Sood discovered her passion for dance at the age of 4, igniting a lifelong love with movement and expression. Growing up Lily did competition with her local studio for many years earning many scholarships and overall awards. She later was on a pre-professional team, and competed an extra season after graduating High school. Lily began her teaching journey when she was 16 starting at her home studio, and soon teaching at other local studios. She is so excited to share her love of dance at CPAA.

Lily Sood

Dance Instructor

Delaney has been dancing since she was 3 years old! She was borna and raised in San Marcos, California and is a recent graduate from San Marcos High School as class of 2023 where she danced on the San Marcos Dance Team for three years. While in high school her team got the opportunity to win National Championships two years in a row with their Hip Hop team. She has been dancingand training at Carlsbad Performing Arts Academy for eleven years and performed on the competition team for ten years. She’s currently attending Palomar College. Delaney is so excited to share her love of dance with her students here at CPAA.

Delaney Kempka

Dance Instructor

Ida was born and raised in Scottsdale, Arizona. She grew up dancing at Plumb Performing Arts Center, where she trained in ballet, jazz, modern, contemporary, tap, musical theatre and hip-hop. She also trained and performed with The School of Ballet Arizona’s Pre-Professional Program, as well as in plays and musicals with her high school’s theatre department. Ida attended Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles where she trained in the Dance program, performed in shows with both LMU Dance and LMU Theatre Arts, and studied to become an elementary school teacher. She graduated from LMU with her B.A. in Education and Learning Sciences, a Concentration in Dance, and her CA Multiple Subject Teaching Credential. Ida is so thrilled to be joining the CPAA family!

Ida Jackson

Dance Instructor

Ellie has been training with CPAA for 15 years and has been a competition member for 10. She is a current member of the Lancer Dancers.

Ellie Seid

Dance Instructor

Hailey Treleaven

Theatre Instructor

Marisa Taylor Scott is an Oceanside native and has been traipsing around the theatrical world for over 22 years. With a BFA in Acting, Minor in Musical Theatre and Directing, Marisa has performed on stages locally, nationally and internationally. Growing up in North County, she has a passion for bringing more arts to the place that she grew up in! Marisa has taught and directed all around San Diego (favorite directing credits include: Finding Nemo JR, Descendants, Glory Days, James and the Giant Peach), and is thrilled to be with the CPAA team! Her directing and teaching philosophy is to cultivate a safe and creative environment for all to thrive and be the brightest they can be!

Marisa Scott

Theatre Instructor

Ashlee Cinco is a dancer, performer, teacher and choreographer that calls North County San Diego home. She danced professionally for 10+ years with a Los Angeles-based contemporary ballet company, that performed across the country. She also did commercial dance work for MTV, Redbull and Jetta. During that time she received her certifications in both Pilates and GYROTONIC Expansion System. Fueled by her love of movement, Ashlee created Cinco Movement – a space where she imparts her expertise teaching dance, Pilates and GYROTONIC. Her dance classes are in residence at CPAA, as well as her private dance lessons.

Ashlee Cinco

Dance Instructor

Autumn grew up dancing and danced on her highschool dance teams. She is currently enrolled at CSUSM and plans to graduate Fall 2025 with a degree in Liberal Studies. While working at CPAA she hopes to spread encouragement, support, and love to all of our performers!

Autumn Mckissick

Front Desk Support

Jessica Peterson

Bookkeeper