Breanna Pinedo, Director
Breanna began her dance education at the age of 4 with Elite Dance Company in Liberty, Missouri learning the fundamentals of dance from Stacy Braden. She then began competing with Priscilla and Dana’s School of Dance in Gladstone, MO underneath the instruction of Priscilla Bates Brogoto, Dana McGuire, Teri Day, Joni Hall, Andi Abernathy, and Stephanie Ruch. Her freshman year of High School, Breanna began training with Powerhouse Dance in Olathe, KS dancing under the instruction of Carrie Schmidt, Crystal Robins, and Abby Hopkins. Following onward, Breanna's junior and senior year of High School she attended The Luzicka School of Ballet under the instruction of Hannah and Luke Luzicka. All the while, during her high school years, Breanna was a part of the Liberty North Golden Girls Dance Team. During this time she received 3 All American awards and 1st overall at Lee's Summit North Invitational, making her a Missouri State Champion in Division 3 Dance. She has worked in studios all over the Topeka, Lawrence, Kansas City and Liberty areas in various styles and instructed 3 years competitively at Ignition Dance Academy alongside Quinn Self and Austin Boyles in Topeka, Kansas. Breanna has owned & directed Refine The Studio since July of 2019, receiving numerous choreography and judges awards for her work.
Hayden Robertson, Faculty
Hannah has been training for the past 20 years in and around her hometown of Parkville/Kansas City. She competed most of her youth with Jennifer’s Rising Dance Stars under the direction of Jennifer Eliot. She has worked with numerous choreographers including Tokyo, Mandy Pruett-Borgelt, Quinn Self, and others. She is a standing member of the Collaboration Laboratory Dance Company in Kansas City, a pre-professional company. Hannah has assisted Mandy Pruett-Borgelt in choreographing for international teams through her association with Universal Dance Association. During high school, Hannah was captain of her high school dance team at Park Hill South, Southside Girls, and a member all 4 years. Hannah had the privilege of teaching at Catherine’s Dance Studio in Parkville her senior year. During college at Missouri State University, Hannah performed with MoState Movement for two years. Additionally, Hannah led her sorority, Alpha Chi Omega, choreographing and performing during the annual Greek Jam competition. She has choreographed solos and duos with Jennifer’s Rising Dance Stars the past few years while also instructing numerous competitive dancers through private lessons. The past two years, Hannah has also taught for Studio 10 in Liberty, Missouri. Hannah brings with her a great knowledge of competition dance, choreography skills, performance skills, and is excited to share her joy of dance with Refine the Studio.
Shalise Hannibal, Faculty
Shalise began her dance education at the age of 2 at Dance Xcel under the instruction of Candace Starr. She danced competitively in the Johnson County Kansas area for 14 years and has worked with numerous choreographers. While competing at Perception Dance Company in her high school years, She was also a member of the Varsity Olathe North Eaglettes dance team and named Captain her senior year, winning 3 Pom National Championships at NDA Nationals.
After high school, Shalise was a member of the Johnson County Golden Girls, who competed at NDA nationals in Daytona Florida. Since graduation she has taught at many dance studios and has choreographed for numerous dance teams. She is so excited to join the Refine family and share love and passion to the next generation of dancers.
MaKenzie Liberty, Faculty
Kenzie began her dance education at the age of 4 with Studio 320 in Kearney, Missouri underneath the instruction of Tara Meinert, Andrea Lyngar, Kelsi Hoyt, Kylie Gormly, and Erin Stipanovich. She started competitive dance at the age of 6 and continued until she graduated. Kenzie taught technique and combo class ,at Studio 320, her senior year. Also doing private lessons. She was a member of the Kearney Golden Girls all 4 years of high school and was captain her senior year. She has received All American and pin it forward awards from UDA camp. Kenzie was also a member of kinfigure kollective, directors Caleb Brauner and Carly Lawrence, and IPush with the director of Manuel Lucky Harvey. She attended Step It Up summer intensive in Los Angeles, CA. Directors are Hannah Stedman and Kelly Dolan. Also the RAGE dance complex summer intensive in Granada Hills, CA. Director is Tiffany Rojas. Then Peridance summer intensive in New York, NY. Director is Rachel Hettinger. Kenzie was a Dance league convention assistant and company member. She auditioned, rehearsed and preformed with the Moscow Ballets Great Russian nutcracker. Kenzie danced in Bevls commercial video and modeled for Bevl. She started working for Dance Out competition this last year and traveled to many cities working the boutique. After her senior year she had to get bio lateral hip surgery. After recovering for over a year now she is able to start teaching and getting back into dance herself to continue her professional dance career.
Emily Dillman, Faculty
Emily began her dance education at the age of eight with Studio 10 Dance in Liberty Mo under the direction of Cassie Puressner. As she continued her education here she also began teaching classes to her younger peers. She stayed with Studio 10 the entirety of her youth. Also at this time she was apart of the liberty north dance team for 4 years serving as captain her senior year. Upon graduating high-school she attended the University of Missouri Kansas City where she trained in the conservatory of arts as a dance major. Here she furthered her dance education under the training of Deeanna Heiet, Gary Abbott, Tobin James, Michael Blake, Ronald Tice, and Caroline Dham. In her time here she performed works set by renown choreographers including Kevin Iega Jeff, Christopher Huggins, and Ray Mercer. Emily has also done professional work with companies including Wylliams Henry Contemporary Dance Company. During her time at UMKC Emily was also on the Kansas City Dance Team for two years under the direction of Britany Hinote. In her time with this team she competed at nationals placing 12th in the nation. Additionally Emily was apart of the Chiefs Cheerleader Training Team under the direction Sarah Owings and Lauren Boyd. Graduating in May 2022 Emily has earned her Bachelors of Fine Arts and has pursued a career in free-lance dance throughout Kansas City while working towards obtaining her certification in yoga.
Kaylee Blystone, Faculty
Kaylee started leaping and twirling in the studio at the age of 4 at Cathy’s Creative Dance in Independence, Missouri. There she studied all styles but specifically Cecchetti Ballet in which she carries a Level 5 Professional status. She joined the competitive side at age 10 and trained under some of the most world renowned choreographers including; Barry Youngblood, Kavita Rao, Rumor Noel, Terrill Mitchell, Dein Perry, Autumn Miller, Addison Holmes, and more! During her time as a competitive dancer, she received many prestigious awards, scholarships and offers to Dance Colleges in L.A. Kaylee participated on the HS Dance Team and also adored her time on the Theatre stage. She starred in the Musical Chicago as Velma Kelly which was an experience she will never forget. Her love for performing has brought many other opportunities such as performing in Halloween Haunt at Worlds Of Fun and becoming a Company Performer at Kansas City Contemporary Company which she understudied as a young dancer. Outside of performing, Kaylee loves choreographing in both, a recreational and competitive setting with an emphasis on building positive, loving relationships with her students.