A performing arts collective composed of versatile local artists and creators in Reno, NV.
Stay connected for upcoming endeavors! 

Brandon Dabu

Founder and Co-Director

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Brandon Dabu is a dancer, choreographer and teacher based in Reno, Nevada. As a kid, Brandon always loved to dance. Some of his earlier memories of dance include teaching himself the basic techniques of waving just because he was so mesmerized by the way bodies could move so fluidly. Soon after graduating from college, he stepped into a dance studio on a consistent basis and hasn't looked back. He embraced his strong love for dance and began to really express his true self through this art form. As a student and teacher he enjoys training and pushing himself to better his craft, takes what he learns and discovers, and shares that knowledge with the individuals he teaches. He believes in continuously growing together, bringing each other up, and sharing kind, loving and positive energy with one another in order to create an optimal learning environment that leads to consistent growth! He continues to work hard as a dancer, choreographer, teacher and director, integrating his unique style in telling stories through movement. 

Sierra Taylor-Cline

Founder and Co-Director

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Sierra Taylor-Cline, a dancer and choreographer originally from Las Vegas, NV, has been sharing her expertise in northern Nevada since 2012. She embarked on her dance journey at the age of eight, mastering various dance styles during her youth and early adulthood. Her dedication to the performing arts and creative direction shines through in all her endeavors, as she continuously seeks new avenues to showcase her talent. Sierra has showcased her skills with multiple dance companies and productions, while also instructing at local dance studios, fueling her love for choreography and performance. She mentors young dancers in competitive settings and choreographs for diverse projects across Northern Nevada. Proficient in hip hop, heels, jazz, contemporary, and commercial dance, she excels in conveying emotions through her performances, captivating audiences with her artistic flair.

Kelly August

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Born in Las Vegas, NV Kelly has been a member of the dance community since the age of 2. Starting with ballet, she continued her formal training with the Nevada Ballet Theater while competing alongside Center Stage Dance Academy. Furthering her academic training in dance, she studied at the Las Vegas Academy for Performing arts before moving to Reno, NV to attend University of Nevada, Reno for Geology, Hydro-geology, and Dance. Kelly has a large range of performance experience in  academic, burlesque, and commercial settings along with back of house, production, and planning for large scale performances, such as Hip Hop International and International Aerobic Championship. She teaches a range of styles including jazz, ballet, hip hop, heels, contemporary, latin, modern, and burlesque. In 2023, Kelly founded ConfiDance, a training program in various styles to help grow and educate the dance community in technique. You can find her work at Art In Motion, Xscape P.A.C., Ethaerial Studios and The Reno Empire. Kelly is also a co-director of Revelation, a local Cha-Cha Company. Passionate and driven, she draws inspiration from all movement and art.
 

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Ramón Martinez-Huerta

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Ray has been dancing his entire life but found a new love for it once he stepped into a studio. He began his formal dance training in 2016 and has since then dedicated his time and energy into pursuing his passion. Shortly after joining his first dance crew, he began to teach classes and choreograph his own original pieces. He then discovered his love for performing, and became a force to be reckoned with in the dance community. His style is unique and fueled with power and passion. He prides himself in bringing flavorful twists to styles like Hip-Hop and Reggaeton, and believes that anything is possible once you step outside of your comfort zone.

Marissa Poe

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Marissa began dance training at a young age, studying under Cassie Brockway in Jazz and Tap. She studied ballet from many great teachers from the Gardnerville area. Her recent dance projects have lead her to perform at the El Dorado Casino as well as The Silver Legacy. She has performed in Palm Springs at many Latin Dance Festivals with The Reno Empire Heels Team. Her dance journey has also lead her to become a jewelry designer In the Reno area, and she debuted her jewelery line for The Reno Fashion Show 2022 and has since created two fashion shows that have included dancers as well. She always has, and will continue to thrive in the creative space as an individual indigenous artist.

Alex Moya

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Alex was born and raised in Northern Nevada. After joining the army, he graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno. Alex started dancing in 2020 and has since then focused on developing his skill in a variety of styles. Alex is inspired by and has gained training from industry professionals such as Dexter Carr and Scott Nicholson. He has performed in multiple shows including Midtown Mixtape, Hard Rock Male Revue, and the La India Yuridia US tour. Alex currently teaches Hip-Hop, R&B, and K-Pop classes at The Reno Empire.

Lucero Martinez

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Lucero grew up with a love for arts and performing. Her journey began with plays, talent shows, and choir. Her love for singing led her to a studio in 2019 where she would unlock another layer to her star quality. Lucero believes we are all capable of anything through passion, patience, and dedication. Her recent performances include Reno Dance Mix, and La India Yuridia US tour. She continues to push and cross train in various styles at The Reno Empire including Ballet, Salsa, Batchata, Heels, and Jazz. She is most passionate about expressing her movement through Hip Hop and Contemporary. Lucero is inspired by raw emotion and vulnerability. She knows sharing experiences and inspiring each other through a shared passion is what the dance community is all about.

Joel Benavente

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Joel has always had a passion for the creative arts but it wasn’t until he attended college in 2015 when his passion for dance was sparked. Joel’s main style of dance is hip hop with influences from contemporary, jazz funk, and step and stroll style. Joel has choreographed and competed in a winning step competition performance as well as has performed with a former Reno dance crew on various local events. He has also choreographed and competed in the University of Nevada, Reno Stroll for Tots performances, winning several audience and crowd choice awards. He has taught beginning, intermediate, and advanced hip hop classes for all ages for various studios around the Reno area. He takes pride in giving 100% in training, in classes, and especially when he hits the stage. Joel has continued to be inspired by many different choreographers such as Ysabelle Capitule, Parris Goebel, Aliya Janell, and TJ Medal and hopes to hit even bigger dance goals in the future.

Shannise Mora

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Shannise Mora is a passionate and dedicated dancer with over ten years of experience in various dance styles. Beginning from age fifteen, she embarked on a journey into the world of dance, quickly finding her rhythm and grace. She has performed in various shows and productions throughout Reno, NV and continues to dive into her dance training on a regular basis. Throughout her career, Shannise has honed her skills in hip hop, heels, contemporary and reggaetón, taking classes taught by various members of Entity Movement. She is well-known for captivating audiences with her fluid movement and expressive performances. She has embraced the diversity of dance, constantly pushing boundaries and exploring new avenues of expression.

Alisha Johnston

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Alisha has been dancing for 16 years here in Reno, NV. Her training started at Art In Motion , where she would eventually start teaching and choreographing. In 2015, she pursued this and and continued her training at Truckee Meadows Community College where she earned her AA in Dance. As a young dancer she participated in some local Artown performances with TNT & PDC Cheer & Dance. More recently, she performed in The Reno Dance Mix in early 2023. Much of her inspiration comes from the teachers who helped fuel her love of dance, including; Monique Bowman, Sierra Taylor-Cline, Kimberly Gomolka, and John Mojica. Other inspirations include Galen Hooks, Mia Michaels, Makenzie Dustman, Jason Williams, and Lucy Vallely.

Alex Kaskie

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Alex Kaskie has grown up in the local area and started training in dance at age 20. His career in theatre and dance starts with performing various musical theatre roles in local theatre and even being a company member of Sierra Nevada Ballet. Motivated and determined to learn more, Alex moved to Las Vegas where he focused his training to the many styles of hiphop. Eventually, Alex became apart of hiphop mega crew, Meccamee, allowing him to train and perform industry gigs and performances with industry name dancers and crews. With a change of scenery, Alex moves to the midwest where he toured the country performing in magic shows, country variety shows and Christmas variety shows. Now at age 35, Alex still choreographs and performs locally as well as teaching for many dance students in the Reno/Carson/Tahoe/Gardnerville area.

Salvador "Chava" Medina

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Salvador Medina was born in Tijuana, Mexico, introducing himself to the dance world first, as a gymnast. Soon after, he found himself wanting to learn more and combine the two skills. He has showcased his talent throughout Mexico perfoming in events such as UPA, Hip Hop International, Feel The Bounce, and Expression Dance. Soon after, he moved to Mexico City to further pursue his dance training. There, he joined a team called "BRAVOS" directed by Dany Zadquiel, one of the greatest dance exponents in Mexico City. After living in Mexico City, he moved back to Tijuana and started teaching and training Afro. Currently living in Reno Nevada and pursuing a college degree, he is continuing his training at The Reno Empire and often takes classes in Los Angeles.

Jerolyn Palacios

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Jerolyn Kailani Palacios, a dancer and choreographer from California has been dancing since she was 5 years old. She started her journey as a hula dancer for 15 years, performing in competitions and luaus all over the Bay Area. Some of her earliest memories of learning different dance styles stemmed from falling in love with Korean music. She couldn’t afford some of the dance classes in the area or drive to them, so she would use her small mirror, an old speaker, and her parent’s garage and learn anything and everything she could online. Whether it was a new dance from a Korean song or a hip hop choreography from her favorite competitions; Jerolyn never stopped learning new mediums and pushing herself to different heights. Since entering college in 2018, she has explored different dance styles like reggaeton, hip hop, heels, bachata, and salsa. Her continuous love of dance did not stop during COVID, taking that time to learn from choreographers all around the world online. She shares her love of dance with anyone around her and continues to elevate her style in all ways possible.