Facebook-f Instagram
Free Trial
TEAMS HUB
Welcome To Gotta Dance Company

About Us

Our team at Gotta Dance Company of dedicated and experienced teachers is crucial in creating a positive and effective learning environment for our dancers. Each teacher’s unique perspective and expertise provide valuable insights and help our students develop a well-rounded approach to dance. Our team is committed to bringing out the best in each student.

With the guidance of our passionate and knowledgeable teachers, our students develop their skills and reach their full potential both on and off the dance floor.

MEET OUR TEAM...

Click each Headshot for full Biography

Trish Madden

Owner-CEO

Bailey Richardson

Company Director

Makenna Madden

Company Co-Director

Denise Aranda

Hip Hop Director

Mandy Hauser

Club Director

Kailin Metz

Club and Company Instructor/Choreographer

Stephanie Knudson

Ballet Director

Sydney Knudson Mitchell

Recreational Program Director

Megan Neese

Just 4 Kix Instructor

Paige Powell

Instructor

Trinity Gracia

Instructor

Cammy Ebel

Public Relations Director and Instructor

Lori Damanti

Business Manager

Allie Richards

Office Manager

Tristan Madden

Executive Assistant

Trish Madden

Owner-CEO

Trish Madden is a passionate dance instructor and entrepreneur who has dedicated over 30 years of her life to teaching children the joy of dance. Born and raised in Sandusky, Ohio, Trish discovered her love for dance at a young age and opened her first dance studio in her hometown.

In 2000, Trish made the decision to relocate to Arizona and pursue her passion for dance in a new environment. She founded Gotta Dance Company, which has been operating for 19 successful seasons under her leadership.

Trish is also an experienced competitive pom coach, having led her teams to win two national titles and six state championships. Her expertise and dedication to the art of dance have earned her a reputation as a top instructor in the field.

Beyond her impressive accomplishments as a dance instructor, Trish is also known for her amazing personality and the special bond she forms with her students. Her students at Gotta Dance Company absolutely adore her, and her positive attitude and infectious enthusiasm inspire them to achieve their full potential.

Trish’s commitment to excellence and her passion for dance have made her a beloved figure in the dance community. She continues to inspire and uplift her students, and her legacy as a top dance instructor will undoubtedly live on for years to come.

Close

Bailey Richardson

Company Director

Bailey is a Phoenix native whose love for dance began at a young age. She discovered her passion for teaching dance early on and pursued it by joining Gotta Dance Company at the age of five. Bailey continued to dance competitively with Gotta Dance throughout her senior year, developing her skills and deepening her commitment to the art form.

After graduating high school, Bailey joined Gotta Dance as a full-time teacher, instructing students in all styles of dance. Over the past four years, she has honed her teaching skills, connecting with students of all ages and backgrounds and fostering a love of dance in each of them. Bailey’s hard work and dedication have earned her the role of Company Director at Gotta Dance, a position she holds with great pride.

As Company Director, Bailey is committed to helping her students perform at their best and excel on stage. She takes great joy in watching them grow and develop as dancers, and is always there to offer guidance, support, and encouragement. Bailey’s commitment to her students and her passion for dance have made her an invaluable member of the Gotta Dance community, and she continues to inspire and motivate dancers of all ages to pursue their dreams.

Close

Makenna Madden

Company Co-Director

Meet Makenna Madden, an accomplished dancer and passionate educator. Born in Ohio, Makenna moved to Arizona at a young age, where she began her dance journey at the age of 2. Makenna’s training covers a wide range of dance styles, including Ballet, Jazz, Acro, Tap, Contemporary, Lyrical, and Hip Hop. Makenna’s dedication and talent led her to become involved in competitive dance at Gotta Dance Company for 13 years, where she developed her skills and passion for dance.

Makenna’s achievements didn’t stop there – she went on to join the high school dance team and was eventually named captain of the Pom team, leading them to win multiple state, regional, and national titles. After graduating high school, Makenna pursued her passion for dance by attending CGCC as a dance major, where she continued to hone her skills in ballet and modern. During this time, Makenna also started teaching weekly classes and choreography at Gotta Dance Company.

Makenna’s career as a professional dancer took off when she was offered a dream job traveling around the world with Royal Caribbean as a Dancer, Tumbler, and Aerialist. She worked with Royal Caribbean for 5 years, while continuing to teach and choreograph at Gotta Dance Company.
In 2020, Makenna decided to bring her extensive dance knowledge and experience back to Gotta Dance Company, working full time as an educator and choreographer, specializing in Acrobatics, Yoga, and Technique. Makenna is dedicated to inspiring, educating, and helping the next generation of dancers grow into beautiful, strong individuals, both on and off the dance floor

Close

Denise Aranda

Hip Hop Director

Despite starting her dance career later in life, Denise began training in Jazz, Salsa, Ballet, Lyrical, and Hip Hop at the age of 13. It wasn’t long before her passion for Hip Hop took hold, and she has since explored different genres such as Locking, House, Krump, and Whacking.

Denise’s dedication to Hip Hop has resulted in numerous awards with local AZ Hip Hop Crews at both Regional and National events, where she has achieved high overall score placements. As a choreographer, she has achieved similar success, receiving recognition at both Regional and National events. Denise has also been invited to work as a Guest Choreographer for local High School Dance programs in Arizona.

As a Hip Hop Director and Dance Teacher, Denise understands the importance of creating a comfortable and inspiring environment for her students. She is passionate about ensuring that her students feel confident and motivated, and encourages them to use their voices. Denise takes pride in seeing her students succeed, and loves to see them enjoy the fruits of their hard work and dedication to dance.

Close

Mandy Hauser

Fine Arts Club Director

Meet Mandy, a Gotta Dance Alumni who began dancing on the studio’s competition team in 2013. She has trained in many dance styles including Lyrical, Contemporary, Hip Hop, Ballet, Tap, Jazz, and Ballroom since the age of 5. Her time spent as a dancer at Gotta Dance sparked her true love for dance, as well as her passion for teaching the next generation of dancers. This passion is why she began assisting studio classes at the age of 15 until she began teaching her own classes during her final year on Gotta Dance’s Senior Company in 2020. 

Mandy studied dance at Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle, Washington before returning to Gotta Dance to continue her love for teaching. With a special knack for training and inspiring young dancers. Mandy teaches many of the Hot Shotz, Mommy and Me, and Just for Kix classes offered at Gotta Dance Company. Along with those, she is teaching Jazz, Lyrical, Contemporary, Hip Hop, and Ballroom to dancer’s of all ages and levels. 

We’re excited to announce that Mandy will be leading our brand new Fine Arts program as Program Director. With her wealth of experience and expertise in the arts, we’re confident that she’ll bring a fresh and innovative approach to our program, and help our students explore their creativity and develop their skills in exciting new ways.

 
Close

Kailin Metz

Club and Company Instructor/Choreographer

Kailin is a native of Phoenix, Arizona with a deep-rooted passion for dance. Her training began at Dance Connection Scottsdale and Arizona School for the Arts, where she studied ballet, modern, contemporary and jazz. Kailin’s passion for dance led her to pursue further education, including studying Gaga, Progressive Ballet Technique, and spending a summer with Hubbard Street Dance Chicago.

As a professional dancer, Kailin has had a successful career, having danced with Royal Flux for six years and currently performing with The Dana Metz Company. Kailin is also an accomplished choreographer and dance teacher, working at several studios across Arizona to share her passion with the next generation of dancers.

Kailin’s dedication to dance is reflected in her choreography and teaching, as she strives to inspire and challenge her students to reach their full potential. Her expertise in various dance styles and techniques, combined with her creative vision, make her a sought-after instructor and choreographer in the Arizona dance community.

Kailin’s commitment to dance and her desire to share her passion with others make her an integral part of the Arizona dance scene. She continues to push the boundaries of what is possible through her own performances, while also inspiring the next generation of dancers to reach for their dreams.

 

Close

Stephanie Knudson

Ballet Director

Stephanie’s early education and love for dance started in the suburbs of Chicago at Paula Aubrey’s School of Dance. She went on to receive her Bachelor’s Degree in Dance from the University of Idaho and further, a Master’s of Science in Recreation Therapy from the University of Florida. She continues her education constantly through courses from PBT, Ellove’ Technique, and Lisa Howell. She has had a wide range of experience in her professional dance career, starting in Florida as a Miami Heat Dancer and a Character Dancer at Walt Disney World. As a dance educator, Stephanie has held many titles such as the Competition Director for East County Performing Arts Center in Brentwood, California and Ballet Director for Hermitage Dance Academy and Dance Classics in Nashville, TN.

For the past 20 years, she has been a teacher and choreographer specializing in technique, private lessons, curriculum building, and choreography cleaning.

Stephanie’s students have helped to add to her list of accomplishments winning choreography awards from numerous national competitions. She also co-founded and led The Ballet Company of East County as the Artistic Director which puts on, amongst other productions, an elaborate and very successful interpretation of The Nutcracker each year. Through her vast dance career what she is most proud of are her students that have gone on to work on Broadway, for the Raiders and the Kings, Disney, shows in Las Vegas, with major music artists, and of course the dancers who teach and choreograph now!

Today, Stephanie is proud to make Arizona her new home. Her true passion is coaching and growing dancers. She can’t wait to do so at Gotta Dance Co! When not in the studio, she teaches with Axiom Dance Convention in the fall and judges for numerous dance competitions across the United States.

She prides herself on spreading love and passion for what ballet can do for the competition dancer, as well as educating other dance teachers on growing strong technique programs. She is currently the Stand Out Choreographer for Starz Dance Competition, having the opportunity to teach master classes and create the opening number for all of their National finals!

Close

Sydney Knudson Mitchell

Company Instructor

Sydney has been dancing since the age of two and grew up a competitive dancer. She holds two Bachelor’s of Science degrees in Dance and Organizational Sciences as well as a Basi Pilates Certification. Sydney is currently a full time staff member at Legacy Dance Championships and the Assistant Director of Axiom Dance Convention. She participated in two tours of the Pacific Northwest with the dance and music collaboration of Dancers, Drummers, Dreamers. As a young adult she traveled the United States and Australia teaching master classes and setting outside choreography, winning numerous awards including- National Musical Theater Choreographer of the year. In collaboration with her work at Legacy and Axiom, Sydney has years of experience in teaching in studio, dance team, and convention settings as well as adjudicating on the competitive circuit. Sydney’s passion is educating dancers on true foundational technique built on strength and education.

Close

Megan Neese

Just 4 Kix Instructor

Megan Neese started her competitive dance training at Gotta Dance Company, at the age of 12, in styles that included contemporary, jazz, ballet, hip-hop, ballroom, modern, etc. She has been able to continue her dance education at Grand Canyon University, where she has received her B.A. in Dance Education. While studying there, her choreography has received many awards and she was able to perform in the American College Dance Association Gala. Alongside her studies, she teaches and choreographs at local dance studios and high schools. Additionally, she trains with local companies such as Bodies Contemporary Dance Company. She has participated in multiple dance industrial jobs with Strong Productions, trained with Zion Dance Project on full scholarship, and was a part of IAF’s mentorship program led by Chehon Wespi-Tschopp. In addition, she got the opportunity to perform in the Halftime Show with Rihanna led by choreographer Parris Goebel. She is currently signed with Go 2 Talent Agency.

Close

Paige Powell

Dancer

Paige Powell is a passionate performer and dedicated educator with 20 years of experience in dance and musical theatre. Professionally trained in the Royal Academy of Dance Syllabus, she excels in ballet and tap, as well as singing and acting. Paige has showcased her talents internationally with Kinisi Dance Company, Soul Dance Company, and at Disneyland Paris, while also performing in numerous amateur theatre productions. Beyond her performances, Paige is committed to fostering the next generation of artists. She loves teaching children the importance of stage presence and expressive performance, empowering them to find their voices. Her creativity and expertise have also earned her recognition as an award-winning choreographer for youth theatre in Australia, making her a valued figure in both the performing arts and education.

Close

Trinity Gracia

Dancer

Trinity Gracia started dancing when she was 12, training mainly ballet, contemporary, jazz and hip hop. She trained with Arizona Conservatory for Arts and Academics for 6 years, as well as with Diamond Dance works for 4 years. Trinity has extensive performance experience, dancing in approximately 7 shows a year with her school, including AZ Wolftrap fundraisers and professional productions. She was also the team captain of her dance program in high school. In 2017 Trinity became a member of a professional contemporary company in Phoenix called Halo Movement Collective. In 2019 she traveled to France and trained in ballet and contemporary to expand her knowledge of dance at an international level. Trinity attended Grand Canyon University and received her Bachelors of Arts degree in Dance Performance. More recently her choreography was selected for ACDA gala and also selected as an alternate for Nationals in 2023. Currently, Trinity is continuing her teaching career simultaneously with dancing professional as a company member for the Desert Dance Theatre, Bodies Contemporary Company, & the Nhan Ho Project.

Close

Cammy Ebel

Public Relations Director and Instructor

Cammy grew up in Arizona and began her dance training at Gotta Dance Company when she was 3 years old. She competed with her studio for 4 years where she was able to train under many well-known choreographers and teachers. Her dance training focused primarily in jazz, musical theatre, and contemporary, but she also learned modern, tap, hip hop, ballroom, and acro techniques as well as cheerleading for 6 years. In high school she won many state and national awards with her involvement with her pom and cheer teams as well as performing and choreographing musicals at Desert Foothills Theater and TheaterWorks in the West Valley of Phoenix. She was selected as a UCA All American 4 times and UDA All American 3 times and was able to perform in the London New Years Day parade twice. She was also accepted into the Rockette’s Summer Intensive in 2016 and was offered a role dancing in Disneyland parades in 2017! After moving to Southern California in 2017, Cammy had her first professional debut with the statewide tour of West Side Story with Theatre Royale. She also had the opportunity to perform with Avocado Dance Theatre, Fine Arts Network, and Mt. San Jacinto Community College while in Southern California. Cammy graduated from California State University, Chico in December 2021 with a degree in Graphic Design. During her time at CSU Chico she was a member of the Expressions dance team for 4 years. She was the Expressions president for 2 years and now coaches for the team! She was able to initiate the growth of the team from a recreational sports club to a competitive collegiate dance team for the first time ever in 2021. The team is now ranked 6th in the nation at USA Nationals. After performing and teaching all around the country and even in the United Kingdom, Cammy is excited to share her knowledge and passion for dance with the lovely families at GDC! It’s very special and full circle being back at the place that my dance journey began 20+ years ago!

Close

Lori Damanti

Business Manager

Lori Damanti is an integral part of the Gotta Dance Company team, with a remarkable attention to detail and a passion for keeping the studio running smoothly. She is a self-proclaimed “numbers girl” and has an impressive skill set when it comes to organizing everything from the studio’s calendar to tuition, costumes, and competition fees.

Lori’s exceptional work ethic and unparalleled organizational skills have earned her a reputation as an indispensable member of the team. Her ability to keep everything in order ensures that the studio’s dance families are well-informed throughout the season, and that there are no surprises when it comes to schedules or fees.

Beyond her impressive organizational skills, Lori takes great pride in connecting with the families at Gotta Dance Company and is always willing to lend a helping hand or answer any questions they may have. Her dedication to the studio’s success and her commitment to excellence make her an invaluable member of the team.

In addition to her work at the studio, Lori is also a passionate advocate for her work as a real estate agent and is dedicated to supporting families in her community. Her skills and expertise have had a profound impact on the success of Gotta Dance Company, and her contributions have helped to ensure that the studio remains a vibrant and thriving community for dancers of all ages and skill levels.

Close

Allie Richards

Office Manager

Allie Richards joined the Gotta Dance family in 2019 when both of her daughters began dancing at the studio. Since then, she has cherished being a part of the studio community and feels incredibly grateful to have a job that is so rewarding. Allie holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education and a Master’s Degree in Multicultural Education, and loves that she is still working with kids in her capacity as Office Manager.

What Allie finds most fulfilling about her role as Office Manager is the opportunity to work with the incredible families at Gotta Dance Company and watch the amazing students grow and learn every day. She is deeply passionate about helping families, dancers, and instructors in any way she can to ensure a wonderful experience at the studio. Allie’s door is always open, and she is always happy to help in any way possible.

Whether you need assistance with registration, have a question about class schedules, or simply want to say hello, Allie is always there to lend a hand. She takes great pride in serving the Gotta Dance community and is committed to making every interaction a positive and memorable one.

Close

Tristan Madden

Executive Assistant

Tristan Madden is a vital member of the Gotta Dance Company team, known for his amazing presence and can-do attitude. As an assistant to the owner, Tristan takes on a variety of tasks around the studio, from website coding and registration to ordering supplies and everything in between. No task is too small for Tristan, and his contributions have been instrumental in the continued success of Gotta Dance Company.

Tristan’s diverse skill set and positive attitude make him a valuable asset to the studio. His technical expertise in website coding and registration have streamlined processes and made it easier for students and parents to register for classes and stay up-to-date on studio news and events.

In addition to his technical skills, Tristan’s infectious personality and positive energy have made him a favorite among students and parents alike. The students at Gotta Dance Company love Mr. Tristan and look forward to seeing him around the studio. Even the dads enjoy watching sports when Tristan is in charge!

Tristan’s dedication and hard work have contributed greatly to the success of Gotta Dance Company, and his presence has had a positive impact on everyone he interacts with. He is a shining example of the studio’s commitment to excellence and dedication to creating a positive and supportive environment for all who enter its doors. 

Close