Dance Connection 2 Faculty

MaryAnna Gooch is the originator and present owner of the Dance Connection 2, along with her daughters, Tally, and Chelsea. MaryAnna’s dance training comes from Highschool & College modern dance, and pom&cheer spirit squads. MaryAnna developed the Dynamite Express Dance and Drill Team in 1986 and from this beginning the Dance Connection 2 Dance Studio had its start.

Many, many, young ladies over two decades, have enjoyed the experience of performing throughout the Valley of the Sun and across the US, in parades and halftime shows for various sporting events, and festivals with this award winning dance team. One of her greatest joys is to have the pleasure of teaching the daughters, and granddaughters of some of these past students. MaryAnna especially enjoys teaching the youngest dancers, the 2 to 6 year olds. She feels a big responsibility to have this first dance experience be a very rewarding and enjoyable time for each of them.

MaryAnna also gives back to the community. Just recently her, along with the Dance Connection 2 team, raised over $7,000 for The Hope Kids Foundation. She was able to help so many kids in need!

MaryAnna wants the Dance Connection 2 to fill the needs of all recreational dancers, as well as beginning “performers” gaining their first experiences, and a place for serious dance students to gain the technique, and training to become a professional dancer.

Chelsea Gooch Foster is enjoying being a wife and busy mom of three children, all the while continuing her goals as a Dance Teacher in the family business… She began her dance training at the age of three. Every since she was little, she loved to make home dance videos for her brothers when they were away on their missions. Chelsea has since performed in ballet ensembles, marched in parades, competed in countless regional and national competitions, and participated in many workshops with professional dance choreographers. She has had the opportunity to appear in instructional dance videos and even a music video with Legendary Country Music artist, Glenn Campbell.

Chelsea recently retired from the Mesa Arizona Easter Pageant, where she served for over 10 years. She performed various dancing roles and went on to direct/choreograph for the Pageant. Because of her versatile entertainment and directing experience, she believes in creating moving performances where audiences can feel the genuine passion and purpose. In fact, she prides herself in instilling into her students the art of story telling through song and dance.

Chelsea has been teaching dance at DC2 for over 15 years, toddlers on up. Her current focus is Co-Directing our advanced Company. She has choreographed many award-winning numbers and continues to branch out, exploring new styles that know no boundaries. Chelsea wishes to inspire young dancers to be the best they can be and more importantly, to follow their dreams.

Chelsea feels strongly about serving others and the community through sharing the gift of dance. She played a key roll in raising thousands for dollars for the Hope Kids Foundation. She gathered the dance members of the DC2 Company and created a heart warming, once-in-a-lifetime experience for kids with life threatening illnesses.

Tally Gooch Nikolaus started her dance training at the young age of 3yrs old. She started off as a Mesa Star under the direction of her mother, MaryAnna Gooch. (This is where it all began!) She has fond memories of Donny & Marie Osmond in the 4th of July Firework Celebration at ASU stadium, when she was performing with the Mesa Stars. At 10 yrs old while touring in Russia, she had the opportunity to meet Lisa & Lori Waddell and join their dance company at Dance Connection. She performed on Star Search at age 12 in 1990 while at DC. After Dance Connection 2 opened, she started teaching Dynamite Express & DC2 Company at the age of 16.

After dancing many years in DC2’s senior company she auditioned for the Phoenix Sun’s Dance Team. She became a Phoenix Sun’s Dancer then choreographed for the team her second year. Wanting to challenge herself more she had the opportunity to audition for the “Radio City Christmas Spectacular” as a Radio City Rockette. Tally became a Rockette and was part of the Broadway show for 5 years in various cities such as Branson, MO; Cincinnati, OH; and Phoenix, AZ.

Meanwhile, she married her high school sweetheart, Mountain View’s all-star Nathan Nikolaus in 2000. They now have two little boys, Deacon and Baron. She enjoys balancing being a mom, wife and teaching/directing the DC2 Company. Tally has many opportunities to choreograph award wining numbers at Dance Connection 2.

Tanya Norman took her first dance class at Dance Connection 2 was with Miss MaryAnna’s beginning jazz class. She was turning 9 at the time of her first dance recital. Her passion for dance grew quickly and she wanted to become more involved. After her second dance recital she tried out for the drill team and became a Dynamite Express member. In 2001 at the age of 13 she danced with their junior company and competed in her first nationals in Hollywood. Tanya danced for the next couple years in junior company improving and growing as a dancer, and by age 15 she moved up into their senior company.

She has built her progress and talent through excellent and amazing teachers and choreographers. Tanya Norman was chosen as the 2005 dance scholarship winner for her dedication, hard work and integrity. She continued to gain experience by also dancing for Highland High Schools One Image Dance Company throughout high school. Her senior year ended with two honorable awards for Outstanding Choreographer & Senior of 2006. After her last nationals competing with such an amazing and award winning company, she decided it wasn’t over yet and continued her journey at DC2 by teaching. She was one of the assistant teachers for the Dynamite Express team for the next two years and is now directing the performing dance team!

Peggy Reggio start her career at the age of 5 yrs. old in Las Vegas, NV at Carter’s Dance Academy. She has trained in Tap, Jazz, Ballet and Tumbling. Peggy continued her training through College where she was accepted into the Musical Theater Department at Wagner University in Staten Island NY. She earned her early childhood elementary Bachelors degree along with a minor in dance at Wagner College.

After graduating from college she moved to Arizona and taught Kindergarten for 7 years helping to implement the first all day kindergarten program in Chandler, Az. While teaching she also earned her masters degree in early education, curriculum designs. She was the director and coordinator of the cheer program at Sanborn Elementary for 3 years. She then took a leave of absence after the birth of her second daughter. Peggy started teaching dance at DC2 in 2004.

In 2005 Peggy Reggio helped coordinate and develop the Performing Arts Kids’ Klub (PAAK) at Dance Connection 2. It has been successful for 4 years. Peggy resides in Chandler with her husband and two children whom are both members of the DC2 Company.

Peggy truly enjoys working with children and watching them grow academically, socially and being introduced to the art of dance. She believes that all students can learn in her classroom by combining the elements of effective instruction with a variety of teaching styles, such as cooperative learning, discovery learning and shared decision making. These styles of teaching help to create a positive, productive, and fun classroom that can maximize a student’s ability to learn.

Megan began her dance training at the young age of three at DC2 and started teaching part-time at age 16. Megan was a member of the Dynamite Express Drill team for DC2 and at age 5 became a member of the “Sugar Babes” Dance Company. Her training continued for 19 years with various programs including the Oklahoma City University Dance Program, various studios, and at the High School of Performing Arts where she spent summers in NY with NYCDA as a teen. She has done many professional performances including the industrial for Discovery Toys, benefit performances in conjunction with Alice Cooper, Ballet Arizona Nutcracker fundraiser, and performed in Alice Coopers Christmas Pudding show at the Dodge Theater.

While in high school, Megan was a member of the Highland High school “One Image” Dance Company where she won the Choreographer of the year and was Vice President of the company. Megan continued dancing in college on the nationally ranked Arizona State Spirit Squad and competed yearly at the ESPN UDA College Nationals. Her senior year, Megan was a member of Team USA dance where ASU took the gold at Worlds. Megan performed at all football and basketball games, traveled with the teams, and accumulated many community hours doing appearances while a member of the team.

Megan graduated from ASU in 2013 with honors and dual degrees in Supply Chain Management and Marketing. Along with teaching, Megan works full time at Boeing and is continuing her education with a Masters in Supply Chain Management that she hopes to achieve in 2017. Megan has been a teacher at Dance Connection Too since 2010 teaching various rec classes, Dynamite Express, and company. Although Megan has been very busy working full time, continuing her education, and recently marrying her high school Sweetheart, she cannot imagine life without dance. Dance has always been a passion for Megan and she hopes to instill that passion in those she teaches.

Heather Rhyneer has over 20 years teaching experience in the East Valley working with dance studios, dance companies and high school dance teams. Heather has judged for numerous dance competitions all over the U.S at a regional and national level. She specializes in Tap, Jazz, Musical Theater, Lyrical and Technique classes. Heather’s choreography has won numerous awards both regionally and nationally. Dancers that have trained under her expertise have won regional and national titles, numerous scholarships and many overall awards. Heather has guided many students into their professional dance career. These students have gone on to work on stage, in print, in arenas, on television and in motion pictures. Her students have performed all over the globe; California, Florida Las Vegas, New York, Chicago, on the open seas and as far away as Japan. Heather Rhyneer has a huge love for dance and dancers’ success both on and off the stage.

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Jennifer Kahler began dancing in Arizona at the age of 3. She came to DC2 when she was 14 and has called it home ever since!!! She was an assistant for Dynamite Express during high school, while she was also a member of the DC2 Senior Company.  Jennifer was awarded the DC2 scholarship in 2000 and has always been so proud she was trusted with the honor and all that it stands for.

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Nicole Page has well over 20 years Dance experience in many different styles including Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Ballroom, and Hip Hop. Nicole has danced on various different companies and has performed in numerous performances, competitions and half time shows. She is currently in school to obtain her Master’s degree in dance education and criminology. Nicole has 2 girls who are also members of DC2! Nicole thoroughly enjoys sharing her passion for dance with students of all ages!

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Lindy Kate Andrew has been teaching dance for the past 23 years, and instructs in every style of dance.   Lindy’s dancers have won numerous high point awards, dance titles, scholarships, and several of her dancers have gone on to dance with the Phoenix Suns, Phoenix Cardinals, Disney Cruise Lines, and Disneyland .  Lindy has received most of her training in Arizona, but has traveled all over the United States and has received personal instruction with well-known teachers/choreographers such as Joe Tremaine, Barbara Duffy, Rhonda Miller, Savion Glover and the late Mr. Gregory Hines. Lindy was the the Artistic Director for Dance Express in Mesa, AZ for 18 years, and now is the director of Dynamite Express Dance Team at Dance Connection 2 in Chandler, AZ!  Besides teaching full time Lindy is also a costume designer, and a mother of two beautiful girls and one handsome son! While traveling all over the country teaching master classes and doing choreography, Lindy loves to share her love and passion for dance, and hopes to bring that to every student she is lucky enough to teach.

Jake McWilliams, an Arizona Native, has created an extensive career in the dance industry.  Jake has taught for over 20 years throughout North America.  His other talents have landed him in front of many dancers and studios alike photographing them.  Jake has 3 children he shares with “his better half” Hollie.

Jake has danced professionally since the age of 16 with the late Gregory Hines.  He shared his experiences with him with other dancers while teaching on multiple naitonal convention tours.  While in college Jake traveled with multiple conventions and other competitions managing and producing events.

Jake’s photography and love for dance has spiked a new trend for his future in the dance industry.  His family is his most prized possession and creates the universe he lives in.  He loves his 3 boys!

Georgi Rusafov is a graduate of the National Dance High School in Sofia, Bulgaria studying under Peter Koldamov. After graduation he joined the National Opera and Ballet Sofia Bulgaria. Mr.Rusafov received advanced Vaganova master education for teaching ballet and choreography at the Bulgarian National Music Conservatory (P.Vladigerov). Mr. Rusafov has won several ballet awards and has participated in the International Ballet Competitions – Varna, and Helsinki. Mr.Rusafov has performed as a soloist and principal dancer with the Bulgarian National Opera and Ballet, and Estonia National Ballet. He was a principal dancer with Milwaukee Ballet, Northern Plains Ballet and Omaha Ballet Theater and company member with Ballet Arizona. Toured in Spain, Greece, Egypt, Germany, Holland, Italy, and all over the United States as a star principal dancer. Mr.Rusafov also is Master Ballet Class teacher. He has taught Master Ballet Workshops at New Mexico, Washington DC, Florida, New York and manyother places at USA and Europe.

Jeremy Gatlin is a native of Nashville,Tennessee where he grew up tap dancing from childhood into high school and soon after attended Brigham Young University graduating with a dance degree in 2005. He danced with the BYU Ballroom Dance Company from 2000-2005 (US/Europe Tours). In 2005, the company won the Blackpool British Formation Championships. After school, Jeremy began his competitive ballroom dance career with partner Anna Harwood. Awards: 2007 US Professional Rising Star Rhythm Champions, 2011 North American Rhythm Champions, 2012 World Rhythm Showdance Champions on PBS as well as becoming a World Rhythm Finalist in 2011-2012. Jeremy continues to teach dance, participate in competitions, and judge throughout the US.

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