Meet the Faculty
Don Francis
Founder & Artistic Director
With over 20 years of experience in dance education, Sandra holds a BFA in Dance and has performed and choreographed nationally and internationally. Dance has always been at the heart of her work, and her passion lies in developing strong, expressive, and confident movers through thoughtful, intentional training.
Sandra's journey into yoga deeply transformed the way she teaches, bringing a heightened focus on body awareness, mindfulness, and sustainable movement practices into the studio. Her mission is to help individuals reach their fullest potential by creating environments where students and clients can truly thrive. She is a certified yoga therapist through the International Association of Yoga Therapists, and loves bringing this integrative approach to her community.
Recently stepping into the role of first time parenthood, now motherhood has added an even deeper layer of perspective to her work, strengthening her commitment to nurturing, supportive spaces for every dancer and client she serves.
Ashley Jones
Dance Instructor
Originally from Buffalo, New York, Keta has been dancing since the age of five. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Dance and Theater from Buffalo State College and has had the opportunity to perform and teach both nationally and internationally.
After relocating to Kingman in 2014, Keta has dedicated herself to growing and inspiring the local dance community. Her passion lies in blending the strong foundations of established dance techniques with a supportive, encouraging environment where every dancer can build confidence, discover their artistry, and pursue their goals.
Whether she's teaching a first dance class or mentoring advanced performers, Keta believes dance is about more than technique—it's about creating a space where every dancer feels challenged, supported, and empowered to thrive.
Tess Brown
Dance Instructor
Laura Evans
Laura Evans was born in Lake Havasu City, raised in Parker and is a member of the Colorado River Indian Tribes. She graduated from Arizona State University with her fine arts degree in choreography. At ASU, the emphasis was contemporary ballet and modern dance.
Since graduating, Laura has taught dance and workshops around the area. She has choreographed for the Miss Indian Arizona pageants in Parker and Phoenix. In her spare time Laura plays her clarinet with the Kingman Orchestra, Kingman polka band and the Lake Havasu City Symphonic Winds Band. She is married, has two kiddos and is ready to have dance as part of her daily life again.
Lisa Rose
Dance Instructor
Mollie Marquez
Mollie was born and raised here in Kingman. She graduated from NAU with her Bachelor’s in elementary education. She now teaches fourth grade. She began her dance journey at age six at Kingman Dance Factory where Miss Sandra was one of her teachers. Mollie danced competitively in all dance styles. Tap was Mollie’s favorite and won Nationals in 2013 with her tap solo.
“I am looking forward to being part of this staff and working with the students!”
We are so excited to have Mollie come around full circle from student to teacher. She is such a light and we are delighted to have her on board!
Tess Brown
Acro & Dance Instructor
Keona Villeso
Keona was born and raised in Kingman, Arizona, and began dancing at just three years old. She trained for 12 years at Kingman Dance Factory, where she had the privilege of learning from instructors like Sandra, who helped shape her foundation in dance and fueled her passion and drive for excellence in performance.
Keona graduated from Grand Canyon University with a Bachelor of Science in Sociology. While at GCU, she served as the captain of the stunt team, further developing her leadership skills and passion for stunting.
This season, Keona will be teaching a variety of classes, including Turns and Leaps, Acro, and Power Up: Stunt and Tumbling and choreography for our competition team!
We are thrilled to have her bring her energy, experience, and love for dance and athleticism to our students!
Lisa Rose
Dance Instructor
Elizabeth Fikes
We’re thrilled to welcome our newest Ballet Instructor, Miss Liza Semikov, who will be teaching both our Junior and Senior Ballet levels.
Elizabeth (Liza) grew up in Fort Worth, Texas, where she studied classical ballet under her parents, Svetlana Stanova and Nikolai Semikov, founders of SSBA Fort Worth (2001–2013). Before founding their ballet school in Texas, Liza’s parents studied ballet in Russia at the Moscow Classical Ballet Academy, bringing with them a rich foundation of classical training and artistry. Before opening SSBA, her mother, Svetlana, also served as the Artistic Director of Ballet Arlington (1998–2001), following her earlier work leading Ballet Art of Arlington, Texas.
It’s safe to say that Liza has been surrounded by ballet her entire life, starting her training at just three years old!
Now a proud three-year resident of Kingman, AZ, Liza loves spending time off-roading with her husband and enjoying her other passions; cooking and caring for her lively home filled with three dogs, two cats, and three fish tanks!
Tess Brown
Acro & Dance Instructor
Emma Green
Emma’s gymnastics journey began at the age of five, and by the time she was nine, she had discovered a passion for dance. As an alumni of Home Within Movement, Emma has returned to our teaching staff, where she instructs Beginning Acro and Little Sparks Move & Groove. She finds great joy in watching her students grow in confidence and happiness as they master new skills and reach their goals.
In addition to coaching, Emma is a full time student at Mohave Community College, where she is pursuing a degree in dental hygiene.
Guest Faculty
Jenna Wurtzberger
Growing up as a competitive dancer in Minnesota, Jenna Wurtzberger has carved a unique path as an educator, adjudicator, and entrepreneur. She holds a BFA in Dance, a BA in Psychology from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and an MFA in Dance from Temple University. Jenna's choreography, celebrated for its innovation, has earned accolades nationally and internationally.
Jenna’s performance repertoire spans the United States, Germany, South Korea, and the Caribbean, performing modern, jazz, and contemporary works by some of the most prominent concert dance choreographers. She has imparted her knowledge as a Teaching Artist for the Philadelphia Ballet and Kansas City Ballet and served on the faculty at Temple University, Missouri Valley College, Cottey College, and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
In dance adjudication, Jenna brings her expertise to multiple national competitions, ensuring high standards and constructive feedback for aspiring dancers. Her leadership as the Regional Director of NACHMO Las Vegas fosters a supportive platform for dancers to share original work.
Jenna’s unwavering commitment to the holistic well-being of the dance community is evident in her 500-hour Yoga Teaching Certification, which places a strong emphasis on trauma-informed practices and recovery coaching.
As the owner of the Bomiart Movement Society, she provides essential social-emotional learning resources for dancers and dance studios, blending her passion for dance with her deep-rooted commitment to mental health and community support.
Tess Brown
Guest Faculty
Brooke Sahawneh
Brooke's passion for dance started when she was just 9 years old. Brooke graduated from the CLI Dance Conservatory in Massachusetts where she had the pleasure of training with a multitude of choreographers in a variety of genres such as Teddy Forance, Akira Uchida, and Riley Watts. She currently resides in Texas continuing her dance studies in the Joffrey Ballet School Trainee Program. She aspires to dance with a professional contemporary company. She loves to teach and share her passion to help guide dancers connect body, mind, and soul. It's inspiring to see how movement can help in finding themselves as individuals.
Tess Brown
Guest Faculty
Aaliyah Kufeld
Aaliyah's dance journey started when she was just 5 years old. She is an aspiring professional dancer, and hopes to share her passion with her students. She is currently training under professional dancers/performers in Vegas as well as taking virtual dance classes from well-known artists in New York City and Canada. She has grown passionate for teaching, as it’s an amazing experience to witness dancers reach their goals and develop their own flare.
Tess Brown
Guest Faculty
Cheryl Snow
Cheryl’s career has taken her from the stages of Las Vegas, where she has performed in a wide range of industrials and theatrical productions, to international venues. She has had the privilege of dancing with the contemporary dance company, SampleDance, and her choreography has garnered recognition, leading to works showcased worldwide.
Notably, Cheryl co-choreographed for the prestigious Cirque Du Soleil Choreographers Showcase, as well as for workshops and studios across the nation. She has also had the honor of serving as a judge for dance competitions and choreography events throughout the country.
As the co-owner and director of the award-winning Evolve Dance Center in Las Vegas, Cheryl continues to inspire, educate, and cultivate talent. Her unwavering passion for dance and dedication to the art form only grows stronger with each passing day.
Tess Brown
Administrative Support Assistant
Jaime Cook
Jaime was born in Phoenix, but lived in California for most of her childhood. After graduating from Chico State University, California with her BA in Liberal Studies she moved to Kingman 17 years ago. Her and her husband started their family in 2013 and now have two fun and loving children. Jaime worked at Kingman Regional Medical Center for 17 years, earning her MS in Human Services along the way and recently changed careers by joining the KUSD team so she could spend more time with her children. She was introduced to Sandra a few years ago and has loved watching her dancer blossom under her instruction. Jaime brings heart to Home Within Movement because she's always laughing, can relate to almost everyone, whether they're a student or a parent and she cares for all the dancers as if they were her own. When asked to describe herself Jaime said, "I'm really just a mom who loves to watch her daughter on stage. I've always been the type to lend a hand when help is needed and also lend an ear if you need someone to talk to. I am really happy that I can be a part of such a wonderful studio because I can see how big of a difference this place has made for my dancer; her confidence has grown as much as her dance technique and I can't wait to see what the future holds."
We are beyond thankful for all the support Jaime provides behind the scenes!
