Staff

Debbie Sager has been training dancers for over 26 years! She has a Bachelors of Arts Degree in Dance, with secondary and professional teaching credentials and degrees. Debbie has extensive training and performance experience in jazz, ballet, tap, and modern dance, as well as Ballroom Dance.

Debbie has choreographed local events such as the Miss Meridian Pageant and has judged many dance events, including high school dance teamcompetitions.

“I know you’ll find us to be a kind, family-friendly studio, with excellent professional dance instruction. We know that DANCE is the only art form where the PERSON is the art, so the PERSON, rather than a painting or sculptor, is being evaluated, critiqued, etc. HOW a dancer is taught/treated, is as important as WHAT a dancer is being taught. We, at Dance Unlimited, are very sensitive to that, and treat each and every dancer with kindness and dignity.”

Amber McKendrick has been a student of dance since the age of four. She has training in Jazz, Ballet, Tap, and other forms of dance.

Amber was a three year member of Centennial High School’s Sweet Liberty Dance Team, and was captain her senior year. She has received many dance awards, both locally and nationally. Amber went on to dance for the award winning Harvey Neef Mane Line Dancers at Boise State University, competing with her team nationally.

Amber has been the assistant coach for Centennial High School’s Sweet Liberty Dance Team, and Boise High School’s Brave Sensation. She has enjoyed choreographing for many high schools and studio dance teams, as well as solo pieces. She is also a much sought-after dance competition judge.

Amber teaches all ages of dancers at Dance Unlimited and has been training the award winning Competition Dance Teams for many years!

Amber and her Husband, Jason are the proud parents of two wonderful children.

Tamra Nefzger: Tamra began her dance education at the age of three and has continued her training and performing experience in ballet, jazz, lyrical, modern, contemporary and hip hop. Tamra started as an assistant teacher at the age of 12 and has been teaching ever since. She brings a wealth of knowledge and a genuine love of the art to her students.

Tamra started as a studio dancer and has trained with names like Joe Tremaine and Doug Caldwell. She went on to become a four year member and Captain of the Idaho Falls High School Tigerettes. She continued her training, performing and competing with the Harvey Neef Mane Line Dancers at Boise tate University, for three years. While on the team, she traveled and competed nationally, winning thirdplace one year and a national championship title twice. Throughout her competition career, she was an award winning dancer who earned many accolades for her work. Tamra was a member of the Idaho Stallions Dance Team for one season and was a four year member of the Idaho Stampede Spirit Dance Team. She continues to serve as a choreographer and consultant for the squad.

Tamra has been teaching and choreographing for many years in Idaho. As an instructor for UDA dance camps, she has traveled all over the Pacific Northwest as a teacher for all ages and all styles of dance. She has been a faculty member at two of the most well known studios in the Boise area for the past ten years. Tamra has experience in all areas of dance: teaching, performing, choreography, judging, and continues her own personal education in any way she can.

Tamra is currently the Head Coach of the award winning Elite Competition Team at Dance Unlimited. She is also the Assistant Coach for the award winning Mountain View High School Millennium Dance Team and Kuna High School Dance team. She educates and choreographs for various groups and individuals throughout the area. Tamra looks forward to helping her students develop a love for dance and a passion for the art.

Carmen Santy: Hello my name is Carmen Santy. I have been dancing since I was twelve years old and continue to dance as much as I can. I love Jazz, Lyrical, and Hip-Hop! I have taken winning teams to competitions and have choreographed solos, duos, trios and teams.

I was a dancer for the Boise Burn arena football team for two years and am currently a dancer for the Idaho Stampede Basketball team. I am privileged to be part of the faculty here at Dance Unlimited and hope to see you busting a move in my hip-hop classes.

Bridgette Rutz began her dance training at the age of three studying ballet and jazz. Right away she was a very serious student, always taking as many classes as she could and exploring all of the different styles dance has to offer. Her passion for dance translated into a love for performing and competing that took her around the Northwest to attend competitions and conventions.

In high school Bridgette was a three year member of the Capital High Golden Girls and served as an officer her junior year and as a captain her senior year. After high school Bridgette attended Boise State where she was a four year member of the Harvey Neef Maneline Dancers. Being a member ofManeline took her to Nationals in Las Vegas and Orlando, performances at the Forth Worth Bowl in Texas and Liberty Bowl in Tennessee as well as to California for intensive dance training.

After graduating from college in 2005 Bridgette became a member of the Idaho Stampede Spirit. Bridgette served as the assistant coach to the Capital High Golden Girls from 2005-2007 where she choreographed several award winning routines.

For several years, Bridgette has been a member of our faculty here at Dance Unlimited. She thoroughly enjoys training dancers and being a part of her students' development.

Christina Shell is an award-winning dancer and choreographer who has been dancing for most of her life. Trained professionally in jazz, hip hop, ballet and modern, Christina brings a wealth of dance skill to her students at Dance Unlimited. Christina’s experience spans studio, school teams and professional exposure to create a well-rounded portfolio that lends a distinct style to her choreography.

Christina was the Captain of the award-winning Hillcrest Knightline dancer and went on to travel the United States to train and work with amazing choreographers such as Doug Caldwell, Mia Michaels, Mandy Moore, and Wade Robsin.

Christina has choreographed for a number of studios and high school teams, as well as solos and duets. Her choreography has won numerous awards at competitions such as Spotlight and Stars Regionals. And in 2007, she choreographed the talent for Miss Meridian.

Christina is currently the Head Coach at both Mt. View and Kuna High schools. She took the Mt. View High School Dance team to its first State Championship in Military in 2008 and plans to continue developing the team’s talents.

When she’s not creating new moves or sharing her passion for dance, Christina enjoys spending time with her family.

A dancer all of her life, Katie was born and raised in Orofino, Idaho. She began studying ballet, tap, and jazz in Lewiston and Moscow, Idaho with the Festival Dance Academy. Katie went on to dance with the Eugene Ballet Company for five years. She has continued her career while dancing under some of the most well known dancers and choreographers in the area.

Katie spent two years performing with the Idaho Dance Theatre under the direction of Marla Hansen and Carl Rowe. Katie branched out and danced asa member of the Idaho Stampede Spirit Dancers for one season. Returning to her roots, she recently danced for the Drop Dance Collective under the direction of Leah Stevens-Clark.

Katie currently dances with the Off Center Dance Project and teaches Ballet at Boise State University, and the College of Idaho.

Katie graduated from Boise State University where she earned a BA in Theatre with dance emphasis, Cum Laude. Katie is thrilled to be part of our Ballet faculty at Dance Unlimited, working with our advanced dancers.

Darby has been dancing since the age of three. She has been trained in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Hip-Hop, and Lyrical. Darby also has a large Cheerleading background. Darby began teaching at the age of fifteen and has found Tap to be one of her favorite disciplines.

Darby's love of dance has taken her to many dance competitions through the years. She has performed four different roles in the Nutcracker Ballet and choreographed numerous cheerleading competition numbers for schools in Ada and Canyon County.

Darby was the principal choreographer for the 2010 BSU Community Involvement Service Project, Shakespeare in Action. To continue her involvement in the profession, Darby has danced and cheered professionally for the Boise Burn Arena Football league.

Darby is very excited to bring her love of tap and choreography to Dance Unlimited.

Leah Loper was born and raised in Boise, Idaho and has been dancing at Dance Unlimited since she was 7 years old. She is trained in jazz, modern, and hip hop, but her passion is Ballet! Leah danced the lead role in Dance Unlimited's production of the Nutcracker Ballet.

Leah has been competing for 8 years and has won many awards such as outstanding senior performer at the 2010 Nexus Competition. She is currently attending an arts-based high school where she trains in dance on a daily basis and enjoys learning dance history, as well.

Leah is a member of our top competition dance team; the Synergy Team. She also studies Ballet Pointe at BSU.

Leah began assistant teaching at Dance Unlimited and now teaches her own Ballet Level 1 and 2 classes. Leah's love of Ballet shines through as she teaches and trains ballerinas.

Rachel Stott has been training as a dancer at Dance Unlimited for eleven years. She has been a member of our Showcase and Premiere Competition Dance Teams and is currently a member of our Synergy Competition Dance Team.

Rachel has been a member of the Millennium dance team at Mountain View High School for three years and has served as Assistant Drill Mistress for two years. Rachel is an award winning soloist and has been the 5A soloists champion at ISI and PNW and is currently Miss PNW 2010.

For the past several years and currently, Rachel is a member of the Advanced Ballet Pointe class at Boise State University, training with Marla Hansen. Rachel has also been involved in many dance camps to further her dance training and expertise, including Boise Dance Fest, CSI, and Dance Utah with Odyssey.

Rachel performed the role of the Snow Queen in Dance Unlimited's production of the Nutcracker Ballet, as well as a role in our Alice in Wonderland production.

When Rachel is not turning and leaping on the dance floor, she enjoys playing the piano, singing, and being with family and friends.