Laura Martin

Director/Instructor

Laura started Dance Crew in late 2006, while finishing her studies at the University of Utah. Her passion for dance, teaching and her studio has been the main driving force behind Dance Crew’s year over year growth.

With more than 20 years of experience in dance and having trained and excelled in a wide array of styles from urban to traditional contemporary, Laura stands out from other studio directors as she continues to train and perform with different professional dance companies in Utah (League of Urban Dance - LOUD, Transfusion Hype, Underground Crew). She doesn’t just direct dance, she lives it.

From the lobby to the final bow, Laura’s devotion to Dance Crew is present in every decision made. Her directing style translates into Dance Crew’s distinctiveness. Dance Crew has received numerous awards in its short history, including originality, style, uniqueness, most entertaining, best overall and more, and Laura’s choreography has been awarded multiple times in regional competitions. 

Dance Crew gives its dancers an experience they would not get at any of the other many studios in Utah. Laura wants her students to not only continue to progress and succeed in dance, but also to experience the teamwork, fun, joy and passion in the art of dance and performing.

Crystal Shimizu

Assistant Director/Instructor

Crystal entered the dance room at the age of 3 and has never looked back. Throughout her dance career Crystal has graced dance floors across the state, including Power Plus Productions and West High School Drill team in which she served as the Co-Captain for two of her four year career. Crystal’s dance background includes ballet, jazz, hip hop and modern. She performed in both Dance Crew productions, A Journey and Truth or Dare.
 

Currently, she is a proud mother of 2, full time Manager at Elase Spa, company member of League of Urban Dance and instructor at Dance Crew. 

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Crystal has been a stand out coach from the beginning when she started with Dance Crew in 2006 when we first opened. Her passion for dance, kind heart and witty personality makes all of our students love taking her class.  

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This year she is excited to take on even more and serve as Assistant Director of Dance Crew.

Leslie Babalis

Instructor

This is Leslie's third year on our staff! You may also know her as "Grace"', the lead role in our production, A Journey.  She was also one of the lead roles in our Truth or Dare production last Halloween season. Leslie can do it all, tumble, hip hop, ballet, jazz and her favorite, contemporary.  Leslie is a long time Dance Crew student, mother of two children and pure dynamite on stage. She dances with the utmost strength and energy, always going 110%. Leslie is honored to be back teaching and is loving every minute of it.

Olivia Slaughter

Instructor

We are excited to have Olivia Slaughter on our staff again this year!  Olivia has been an exceptional student at Dance Crew for the past 6 years.  She currently dances on and is the captain of both of our contemporary and hip hop competitive teams.  She has received numerous awards such as MVP, Most Dedicated, and Spotlight Dancer. Last season at the So You Think You Can Dance convention she was handpicked by the famous Hailee Payne for a full scholarship to next year's convention.  Olivia competed a first place winning solo last year and will be competing in the duet events again this year.  She was also the star role of "Christina" in our production of A Journey and a lead dancer in our production of Truth or dare this past October.  At the young age of 14, Olivia possesses a level of maturity, dedication and talent well beyond her years.  We are excited to see her coaching and choreographer skills develop as she assists in the training of our younger dancers.

Heng Samnang

Instructor

Hip Hop and Breakdancing instructor!