Mecinna Price- Artistic Director/Dance Director
Mecinna grew up in Pocatello studying dance first with Nancy Merrell at the age of 3. When Marius Zirra first came to Pocatello, Mecinna took up training with him and continued through her teen years also training with Sandi Francis.
Once in college, Mecinna danced on ISU's dance team along with running her own studio on Main Street in downtown Pocatello. After 7 years running her studio, Mecinna began traveling with her husband and children. In the years that followed she taught in Kirksville Missouri, Logan Utah, Quincy Illinois, was ballet director for a studio in Brigham City Utah, and more notably, took time off from teaching to study with the Southold Theatre of Dance for 3 years in South Bend, Indiana.
Mecinna is the CEO of Price Products, a company that invents and manufactures children's products worldwide. She mentors other inventors in establishing their products and company guidelines.
Mecinna also has 5 children and is married to Dr. Jared Price. She teaches all ballet classes and adult fitness.
Jodi McHugh-Foundation Event Coordinator/Creative (ages 3 - 5)
Jodi McHugh was born in Pocatello and began dancing at the age of three studying various styles of dance throughout her training. Through Jr. high and high school Jodi was active in dance teams and began teaching at Mecinna's Elite Technique after graduating high school, teaching ballet and jazz classes for all ages and levels. In 2004-2005 Jodi coached the Highland Lassies and has judged various dance competitions, try-outs and Jr. Miss pageants. She now has three children and manages an information technology company for her husband, Sean McHugh. Jodi will be teaching creative movement and jazz classes
Cassia Myers-Cheer, Tumbling
Cassia grew up dancing and cheering in Pocatello. She began her teaching with her sisters at Mecinna's Elite Technique. Cassia is an All American and All Star ranked Cheerleader and has competed nationally, having her high school team featured on ESPN. After High School she went to CSI on a cheer scholarship and continued teaching dance classes. She has spent the past 9 years in Twin Falls where she taught and co-directed for Julies' Jazzworks Dance Studio. Cassia was also the cheerleading coach at the College of Southern Idaho and has run a private summer cheer and dance camp business for 10 years where she teaches and choreographs for teams and schools all around Southern Idaho. She choreographs floor routines for Magic Valley Gymnastics, many of her gymnasts have place nationaly with her routines. Cassia also does private choreography for soloists and competition teams in both cheer and dance. She teaches all genres of dance including; jazz, ballet, hip hop, lyrical, tap, clogging, tumbling, and cheer. She loves teaching children and strives to teach with patience and discipline. She is Married to William Myers and has two sons, Dawson 4, and Sawyer, 1. She is glad to be back in the Portnuf Valley and excited to meet new dancers and share her talents with more children.
Kellsey Ball, Office Manager, Creative Dance
Kellsey Ball was born in Phoenix Arizona, at the age of five she moved to Pocatello, Kellsey later began dancing with Mecinna’s Elite Technique at the age of seven. She continued training in ballet, clogging, jazz and hip hop at the Dance Factory. Kellsey has participated in various competitions, workshops and performances throughout the years, as well as winning many awards and scholarships. Kellsey's accomplishments and her extreme love for dance led to her being asked to teach ballet, jazz, hip hop and clogging at the age of fourteen, while she was still training as a dancer at the Dance Factory. Kellsey’s classes always placed very high at competitions throughout the western United States. She was also a member of her High School dance team while attending Century High School in Pocatello. She currently is attending Idaho State University, majoring in nursing with a minor in business management. Kellsey is extremely excited to be able to share her passion and love for dance as a member of the Gateway Foundation staff.
Dana Atkins- Children's Musical Theatre and Teen Musical Theatre, Voice
Dana has been singing, dancing, and performing as long as she can remember. She grew up in Idaho Falls where she participated in various singing groups, dance companies, and musicals. Her parents always encouraged her to use and develop her talents and did their best to give her every opportunity to do so.
After highschool, Dana attended Western Wyoming Community College as a Musical Theatre major. She graduated from WWCC with an Associate's Degree in Musical Theatre. While at WWCC, Dana had the opportunity to perform with the resident modern dance company, Desert Dance Theatre.
After completing her studies at WWCC, Dana spent a summer in Cisco, Texas as a guest artist for the Big Country Dinner Theater. While there, Dana played the role of Prudie Cupp in the musical "Pump Boys and Dinettes."
Dana currently resides in Pocatello with her husband Bryan. She recently completed her studies at Idaho State University with a Bachelor's degree in music. While at ISU, Dana was involved with the Chamber and Concert Choirs. She has also performed with I-Move, ISU's contemporary dance company.
Dana began teaching for the Gateway Foundation in August 2006 as a Children's Musical Theatre and Dance teacher.
Dana's credits include her dream role of Cinderella in the Gateway Foundation's 2006 production of "Into the Woods." Other favorite roles include Kolokolo Bird in "Just So," Blanche Ingram in "Jane Eyre," and Carrie Pipperidge in "Carousel."
Geoffrey Bennett-Sturdy Beggars
Geoffrey is an actor with over 25 years professional experience. He has performed in varied locales, including: Tokyo, Buenos Aires, Sun City-South Africa, Las Vegas, and New York City.
He comes to us most recently from Boise, where he performed and taught with the Idaho Shakespeare Festival, Funny Business Improv Troupe, Eagle Performing Arts Center, and Boise Contemporary Theater, as well as directing for Open Door Theater.
Currently he is in his 3rd year teaching and directing for the Gateway Foundation. From contemporary musicals to classical tragedy, puppetry to stage combat, fire-eating to set building, if it happens on stage, chances are, he's had a hand in it.
Renee Porter, Children's Musical Theatre
Renee was born and raised in the Army, living all over the world. She comes from a very musical and dramatic family. She started and fell in love with the stage as a young girl and has had it a part of her life ever since. She was very active in school and Gateway productions where she gained experience in all aspects of theatre, including assistant directing. She studied theatre for two years at ISU. She has been involved with the Gateway Foundation for many years acting on the stage and has really enjoyed working with the kids and behind the scenes with CMT. Renee is also married to Steven Porter and has one son, Braiden, and a daughter due in September.
Elizabeth DeLoach, Kindermusik and Piano
Liz DeLoach was born and raised in Pocatello. She comes from a very musical family, and enjoys all kinds of music from pop to classical. Liz has been playing the piano since she was 5 years old, and presently teaches piano lessons and accompanies various groups. She has been singing in school and church choirs since the age of 11. Liz studied music, elementary education, and psychology at Idaho State University. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology in 2001.
Liz has almost 12 years of experience teaching music to children, through private piano lessons and church music programs. She has taught in Louisiana, New Mexico, and is glad to be back in her home state of Idaho. She is now sharing her love of music at home with her 4 children.
Liz is excited to be joining the Gateway Foundation and combining her love of children, music, and learning by teaching Kindermusik® classes. Liz is a trained and licensed Kindermusik® educator and she looks forward to this opportunity to bring the joy of music into the lives of children, and to help parents enhance their children's development through music. She also plans to expand Gateway’s Kindermusik® program.
Stacy Aplington- Tumbling
Stacy was born here in Pocatello and has lived here her whole life. She is married to Heath Aplington and has two children. She started her dance instruction at the age of five and continued for eleven years. She studied ballet, jazz, tap, and hip hop during those years and was also involved in several performing companies. Stacy was also on her junior high cheerleading team and Highland High School's cheerleading team. Since highschool she has judged various cheer competitions and tryouts. She loves teaching young children and looks forward to teaching again at the Gateway.
Tyler Allen- Jazz/Hip-Hop
Tyler Allen was raised in a dance studio with a professional dancer for a mother and 2 professional dancers as sisters. She has danced all of her life including numerous dance scholarships, performances with her studio and training with the many professional dancers as part of the dance company including: Darren Eastwald (New Orleans), Colin (N.Y.C), Alan McCormick (Canada), and Mike Rhoades (N.Y.C) She was chosen with her sister Parris as part of an elite 10 member intense workshop given by O.G. Dance Master, Choreographer Historian and Urban Dance Scholar and co-founder of O.G. Dance group Chain Reaction, Thomas “T-Bopper” Guzman-Sanchez and O.G. Dance Master, Choreographer and co-founder of O.G. Dance group Chain Reaction Paul “Cool Pockets” Guzman-Sanchez. (7 Levels of Popping and Locking in L.A., CA)
Her many years of dance instruction served her well while participating with the Award winning Pocatello Indianettes Dance Team.
Her love of dance and the art of education of dance has brought her back to the studio and her first love.
Laura Davis-Children and Adult Ballroom
Laura began dancing at the age of three years old. As a youngster she performed with The Dance Factory and Provo stars Drill Team in Provo, Utah. Her technical training in Tap, Jazz, and movement was with Roland Butler in Salt lake City area and Center Stage Dance Co. In Provo, Utah. She also danced with ISU.
Laura was pushed into Ballroom because of a dare from one of her friends and was hooked from lesson one. She has performed/competed all over the country including Disney Land and Disney World. While she loved performing, she enjoys the technical aspect of the sport. She trained with Elaine S. Hansen (UVCC Ballroom Dance Team), Emerson Lyman (Technique and past director BYU Ballroom Dance Co.) and Buddy Schwimmer (West Coast Swing and Two- Step).
Laura is Married and has five children.
LaChere Vawdry-Clogging-Ultimate Dance Force
LaChere Vawdrey, professional dance instructor and choreographer for Pocatello’s Ultimate Dance Force. LaChere is no novice or rookie in the dance world. Having developed her dance roots in the northern Utah clogging world, LaChere received her first dance instruction from Tammy Hunt, Julie Steele, Jennifer Paige Powers, and from the grandfather of clogging, Brian Steele.
She was invited to join the Steele Family Senior Dance Squad at the tender age of 12 and placed 4th over all at the national dance competition in Nashville Tennessee at age 13. She enjoyed a brief performing arts contract with TNN and the old television comedy show, 'Hee-Haw.' She performed on three separate occasions with the Steele Family Cloggers on The Nashville Network.
In Silver Dollar City, Missouri, LaChere was awarded the overall female individual and duet dancer at the 1991 Silver Dollar City Dance Championships. She rests amongst the most decorated clogging and power tap dancers and instructors in the United States. She has toured with the Brigham Young University Folk Dancers and performed for national and international audiences. She served as one of six clogging choreographers for the ‘Western Suite Performance’ of the 2002 Opening Ceremonies of the Winter Olympics in SLC, working side-by-side with Kenny Ortega, Executive Producer of High School Musical.
For the last 15 years, LaChere has lead her own dance troupes in performances and competitions throughout the United States, and was recently honored as the Most Valuable Performer in both the female freestyle and short duet categories at the 2009 Western Nationals Dance Championships. She was also named Director of the Year at the same competition.
She currently coaches 70 dancers from Pocatello, Idaho and collaborates with her sisters, ‘The Fab Five,’ when competing in 'pro' divisions. Her most prized accomplishment is her rockin’ marriage to Randy, her best duet partner yet! Together, they have 3 beautiful children, Preston, Mallori, and Wade, who are quickly honing their mother’s craft of stage presence, power-tap and entertainment.
