LAURA ANDREWS
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
Instuctor
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.
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.
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