Jenny Rogers
Owner/Director
Jenny Rogers was able to fulfill her life-long dream when 24 years ago, she and her husband purchased the Safford Dance Academy (SDA). As an Alumni of the very studio she now directs, Jenny seeks to inspire each dancer just as she was inspired by her teachers. Jenny has spent the last 30+ years teaching dance in many capacities. She loves to teach all ages of dance from the little 3 & 4 year-olds through her college age students. She loves the interaction and happiness she finds with each and every age group she has the opportunity to teach. She finds joy in all kinds of movement and teaches many genres including jazz, tap, clogging, pom, lyrical, contemporary and ballet. She has had many wonderful opportunities to study with well known master teachers and continually seeks to take classes at workshops and conventions including Tremaine, Jump, Nuvo, West Coast Dance Explosion, Hollywood Connection, Radix, Jazzdance Showcase, and Dance Life Teacher Conference. Jenny has been blessed with three children, Bodie, Callie and Gavin and an amazingly supportive husband, Isaac. Together, they strive to make SDA a place where children can learn to love dance and to be inspired to become beautiful people.
Rena De La Cruz Holguin
​
Instructor
Rena started dance training at Safford Dance Academy (SDA) when she was five. She studied several dance styles such as ballet, tap, jazz, hip-hop, lyrical, contemporary, clogging, pointe, swing and salsa. She started teaching dance classes when she was sixteen and has been teaching at the academy ever since. After high school, she continued her education through Eastern Arizona College (EAC)where she received an AA degree in Theater Arts. During her time at EAC, Rena continued to study ballet and theater dance as an assistant choreographer and teacher under the direction of Rachael Jacob. She also performed in several of the college's main stage plays as a featured dancer. Some of these plays included Anything Goes, South Pacific, Cry for Love, and A Portrait of a Hunchback. Rena studied ballet and modern dance through Arizona State University in 2006. In 2008, she traveled to Australia where she took contemporary, jazz and hip-hop classes in Adelaide. She also joined a cheer and stunting team, which took second place at the Adelaide State Cheer Competition. After her adventure in Australia, Rena furthered her education through Northern Arizona University pursuing her passion for teaching. In 2012, she earned her Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education, graduating with honors. Now, Rena continues to teach ballet and other forms of dance at SDA and EAC. Rena truly has a passion for teaching and inspiring students to express themselves creatively by getting up to dance! Throughout her life, she has studied and continues to glean all styles of dance by going to conventions held under the direction of top notch teachers such as Joe Tremaine, Denise Wall, Greg Russell, Roni Mahler, etc. Rena is truly dedicated to her profession and wants to continue to grow and become the best she can be, not only for herself, but for all her students that she sincerely loves. She wants to be an inspiration . . . as well as . . . to be inspired.
Kacie Lee Shelton
Instructor
Kacie started dancing at age seven and enjoyed ballet, tap, jazz, hip-hop, contemporary and clogging. Kacie started teaching at age 16. She was also a cheerleader/dancer in high school for four years. She was spiritline captain and elected as an All-American dancer her senior year. She has been a choreographer for the Thatcher High School Spiritline and Show Choir during her high school experience. Later, she attended Maricopa Community College as a dance major and was a member of the MCC dance company. Currently, she is attending Eastern Arizona College and teaching contemporary, ballet, jazz and tap at the Safford Dance Academy.
Shannan Miller
Instructor
Shannan started dancing at Safford Dance Academy at the age of six. She studied many dance styles including ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, hip-hop, contemporary, clogging, pointe and also trained in gymnastics. From her first step onto the dance floor she fell in love with all things dance. She was also a member of her high school dance team for 3 years. Shannan stared choreographing at the age of 15. At the age of 18 she captured the title of Arizona State Cinderella Teen where she was able to perform around the state of Arizona. Teaching dance is one of the highlights of her life, watching young dancers reach their goals is the one of the most rewarding experiences she's ever felt! If she isn't teaching or choreographing she is staying busy chasing after her two young boys Drake and Owen.
Sadie Viera
Instructor
​
Sadie's journey began at the age of 3 in Denver, Colorado where she first fell in love with dance. Training at the Academy of Colorado Ballet laid a solid foundation for her dance career and she had the incredible opportunity to perform professionally in "The Nutcracker" for two years. While attending there she recieved multiple scholarships for her dedication and performance to help her succeed in her dance journey. Starting her competitive dance journey at age 7, she spent the next decade honing her skills and competing at various national events across the United States. Her training continued at Center Stage Stars, where she was inspired by instructors who also choreographed for the Jabbawockeez. Additionally, she was fortunate to learn from Jessica Starr, Byan Freeman, and Blake McGrath (Muse Studio) and recieved invaluable guidance from these successful instructors and was able to appear on an MTV segment. Her dance career is highlighted by several achievements, including the Miss Photogenic title multiple times and securing a photo shoot opportunity with a photographer from "America's Next Top Model." She also had the honor of performing at Disneyland, adding a magical touch to her experience. Since moving to Safford in 2012, she concluded her competitive career but has continued to nurture her passion for dance. Her extensive background includes Vaganova Ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, modern, contemporary, lyrical, and pointe. She is excited to share her diverse experience and enthusiasm with her students, guiding them to discover their own love for dance.
Lexi Henderson
Instructor
Lexi began dancing when she was five years old and has had a passion for it ever since. After moving from Florida at the age of nine, she was enrolled at Safford Dance Academy where her love for dance would continue to grow and last a lifetime. Safford Dance Academy quickly became a place that felt like home and attending her dance classes was a great light in her life. Dancing both on and off the stage has provided Lexi with some of her most special childhood experiences. After graduating from Thatcher High school in 2021, Lexi wanted to help other children have some of the same amazing experiences with dance. Getting to teach has been her dream come true as Lexi continues her education at Eastern Arizona College.
Reyanna Ogas
Instructor
​
Reyanna began dance training at 3 years old and enjoyed many different styles including Jazz, Hip Hop, Ballet, and Contemporary. She was captain of Safford High School Advance Dance for 3 years of high school. She was also co-captain during the 2020-2021 season at Safford Dance Academy. She started assisting at SDA her Junior Year of High School and has enjoyed teaching ever since. In 2022 Reyanna was a dance major at Grand Canyon University and studied Modern, Ballet, and Hip Hop. Durning her time in the valley she taught Jazz, Hip Hop, and Pom at Norterra Canyon Elementary School. She is now studying at Eastern Arizona College to earn her associates degree in elementary education. She is the owner of Reyanna Rose Photography and is currently an assistant choreography for Jody Judd at Safford High School. Safford Dance Academy is her second family and she is so happy to be teaching and sharing her love for dance with her incredible students.
Kristin Adams
Kristin is married to the love of her life and has two of the most beautiful children. She started dancing over a decade ago. While in High School she won a dance scholarship which allowed her to develp one of her favorite passions, and was she was able to dance on a competition team. After she returned home from serving a mission in New Zealand, she continued dancing, taking college dance classes and teaching. This year will be her sixth year teaching at Safford Dance Academy. She enjoys teaching the little ones and considers it the most enriching energy ever spent. Dance has inspired her to find beauty in everything and to work hard in all that she does. Outside of dance, you'll find her on some adventure or another even if that adventure is in a book.