Owner Jeanine Nielson has been teaching dance since she was 17 years old. She began her training in 1975 at the age of three and loved it from the beginning. When in 9th grade, she began training at then SUSC with Gwen Grimes and the college students in their classical ballet classes. For the next 6 years she trained with Gwen and Burch Mann taking all the dance classes available at SUSC. During that time, she was a Drill Mistress (Captain) of her Dance Team at Cedar High for the two years she was on the team. She competed in the “Miss Dance/ Drill Team Utah” her Junior and Senior years where she placed 3rd attendant and 2nd attendant respectively.
She went on to the National “Miss Drill Team USA” Competition where she placed 11th her first year and 4th attendant her Senior year of High School. She went on to Nagoya, Japan where she placed 3rd attendant and received the Broadcasting award at the “Miss Dance/ Drill Team International” Competition. While she was a Junior in High School, she began teaching at “Dansworks Studio” here in Cedar City. She taught there for 11 years where she was able to teach many wonderful children in tap, jazz and Performance Teams. She was the assistant Mohey Tawa Advisor at Cedar High School for two years and then moved to SUU where she spent the next 4 years as the Waukeenyan Dance Team Advisor. Jeanine has taught “Coaching Dance Teams and Drill Teams” as well as other classes at Southern Utah University for many years.
Jeanine is Currently an assistant coach of Mohey Tawa, the Cedar High School Drill Team.
Jeanine began her own studio (The Point) in Enoch in 2000 and expanded to Cedar City in 2007. Jeanine is married to Ken Nielson (also from Cedar City) and has 5 children, she also has 5 grandchildren. She loves her students and strives to give them a wonderful, positive experience at The Point/Elite Cheer. Because of her early teaching experiences, many of her students are children of her former students. She feels blessed to be able to share her love of dance with children and knows what an important part she and her staff play in a student’s life. Good Role Models are more important than ever these days and she strives to hire a teaching staff that will not only teach your children to dance correctly, but to be outstanding students, friends and citizens as they grow and develop. Jeanine’s roots are here in Cedar City, she has been here since the age of 8 and loves Cedar City. Dance is a huge part of her life as she is was able to share her love of dance with her two daughters as well as all of her students. Her philosophy in teaching is to give a positive for a critique so her students know what they have done well and what they can improve on. The Point always has age appropriate routines and costumes, while still keeping in with current dance styles.
Elisha Church:
Elisha’s dance education started under the direction of Kellie Benson (AFHS color guard advisor/trained at Ballet West) when she was a member of the American Fork High School Color Guard. She studied under Toni Bosch @ snow college where she was selected as the student choreographer for the spring production. She finished her education at SUU with a degree in nutrition and 4 yrs of studying ballet and modern under Gwen Grimes, Kay Anderson, Paul Ocampo, and Shauna Mendini. Elisha started dancing with Cedar City Junior Ballet in 2003, and continues to perform with CCJB. (Leading role of Swanhilda in Coppelia, Bluebird and Fairy of Song soloist in Sleeping Beauty, Autumn and Summer Fairy solo roles in Cinderella, Hermia in A Midsummer Nights Dream, and a leading role in Skaters.) She also studied ballet for a semester at University of Utah with various ballet instructors associated with Ballet West and Ballet Utah.
Elisha started teaching ballet in 2003 at Premier Dance in Beaver UT, under the direction of Amanda Riley. Elisha has been teaching the advanced ballet and pointe classes at The Ballet School since 2006. She teaches ballet at The Point Dance Studio and another local studio. Her classes are focused on improving dancer’s overall ability through ballet technique, the foundation of dance. She enjoys working with the youth and sharing her passion for ballet and performance.
Kim Miner:
Kimberly Miner has lived in the Cedar CIty area most of her life, She grew up dancing with Jeanine at Dansworks studio. She was a member of Cedar High School’s Mohey Tawa for her Junior and Senior years. She loves teaching dance and sharing her love with her students. Kim has been on staff at The Point Dance Studio for over 15 years, she has taught classes in Preschool, jazz, hip hop and lyrical and currently teaches many preschool & combo classes. She focuses on proper technique in all facets of dance, as she shares her love for dance with those she teaches
Kylee Chaston:
Kylee Chaston was a member of Elite Cheer (formerly Excel Cheer) when she was younger. She cheered for 4 years at Canyon View High School. She has choreographed both cheer and dance routines for groups and solos. Kylee married her high school sweetheart and is the mom to three darling kids. She has lived in Cedar City her entire life and is so excited to be coaching her 6th year of cheer and Tumbling at Elite. Kylee is also an assistant cheer coach at Cedar High School. Kylee loves all things cheer and dance related.
Shellee Younkin:
Shellee has a BA in Theatre Arts with a dance minor from The Ohio State University. She is currently working on a Masters in Arts Administration at Southern Utah University. She loves dancing whenever she can and in whatever style. She has studied Bartenieff Fundamentals, Dalcroze Eurhythmics, stage combat, Musical theater dance with Randy Skinner, Labanotation and Laban Movement analysis, tap, jazz, ballet, modern, contemporary, Limon, Niklaus, Donald McKayle, Maddox, Fosse, Kenneth’s Laws of physics, and Holla Jazz dance styles. Shellee is knowledgeable in kinesiology and anatomy. Shellee Younkin is also E-RYT 200 and RYT 500 yoga instructor. She has choreographed for several musicals at Ohio State University and most recently for Cedar Valley Community Theatre’s production of Cinderella. She had the chance to teach tap, jazz and and ballet at Artisan Dance studio in Columbus area prior to moving to Cedar City in June 2019. You might see her in a dance class at SUU, performing at Simonfest and Cedar Valley Community Theatre or spending time with her husband and two kids.
Sierra Hinton:
Sierra Hinton began dancing at the age of three and has never stopped since! Growing up in St. George, Utah, she trained in ballet and jazz at Westside Studio of Performing Arts. In high school, Sierra was a member of Dixie High School’s drill team, The Jetettes, during her sophomore through senior years, helping lead the team to 3A state championships her junior and senior years. She also served as team secretary and was honored as Dixie High’s Sterling Scholar in Dance her senior year.
Sierra continued her education at Southern Utah University, graduating in 2021 with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. She is married to Tyson Hinton and has a daughter who now dances at the studio—usually in Sierra’s own classes!
Sierra has been teaching at The Point since 2017, where she instructs ballet, contemporary, modern, jazz, preschool, and Tiny Twos classes. She choreographs many solos/duets and trios each season for her students. She is passionate about creating a positive and supportive environment for her students, giving each dancer personalized correction and instruction so they feel valued and seen. Sierra emphasizes proper technique and consistent practice, helping her students build a strong foundation while developing a love for dance.
Jennifer Ekker:
Jennifer Ekker began gymnastics at age seven and continued tumbling through high school as a Canyon View Falcon cheerleader. She is now a Human Resources Director and the proud mom of two, RanDee and Jett.
For the past decade, Jenny has coached athletes in the Cinderella program, choreographing cheer, dance, and tumbling routines—including the well-known “Cinderella Cheer,” still performed by competitors today. She currently coaches cheer at Canyon View High School and Elite Cheer Athletics where she focuses on developing not only athletic skills but also confidence, strength, and self-belief in every athlete she mentors
Stephanie Johnson:
Kristi Jensen:
Kristi's passion for dance has only grown over the years, and she’s thrilled to share that love with the next generation. A proud mom, her daughters have danced at The Point since they were little—continuing the family’s tradition of dance.
In 2022, Kristi joined The Point as a dance teacher, where she brings energy, joy, and years of experience to every class she leads. Her warm, enthusiastic teaching style reflects her lifelong love of dance and her genuine connection with young dancers.
Dalice Martinez Garrlardo:
Dalice Martínez is a tumbling and cheer coach. She cheered for 5 years lettering in 4 years and began coaching in 2020 at Fergus high school in Lewistown Montana. Dalice also chose to gain a license as an EMT to provide better care for family, friends and students. She is the proud wife of Aniel Martínez and a loving mother of two children. She has coached Spirit teams and tumbling at Elite Cheer for two years.
Maddy Gray:
Maddy began dancing at The Point when she was 7 years old, she trained in Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Contemporary, Hip Hop and Tumbling. Over the years she gained a love for dance and she enjoys sharing that love with anyone she can. She began teaching classes at The Point in 2021 and has choreographed routines for soloists and teams. She graduated from Cedar High School where she was a 4 year member of Cedar High Mohey Tawa Drill Team. She served as a Senior Captain on Mohey. Her favorite styles are Hip Hop and Contemporary. Maddy has choreographed many winning solo routines and company dance team routines, she currently teaches company dance teams and several technique classes, as well as the preschool and combo classes.
Jordan Walch:
Jordan was raised in Henderson, NV where she began cheering in Jr high up until she graduated High school in 2008. Jordan started working for Gymcats in Henderson, NV in 2006 where she helped with the cheer program that was just getting started, she eventually helped them get a competitive program started as well. While she was there, she was also trained to teach beginning gymnastics classes and she has since trained in upper levels as well. Jordan married her best friend and moved to Enterprise, they have 4 little girls. They love doing anything outside like hiking, camping, and riding horses.
Lahela Hoopii:
Sami and Gage Kevern:
Sami started her dance career at the age of 5 and found her love of ballroom when she was 11. Gage has been dancing ballroom and hip hop since he was 6. They met on the SUU Ballroom Dance Company, got married in 2020 and continue to dance with each other any chance they get!
Combined, they have 30+ years of competitive ballroom experience including national titles, international performances, and now teaching local classes for teens and adults. We are thrilled to have this amazing duo teaching our ballroom students!
Kynlee Sperry:
Ally Marks:
Ally Marks grew up in Spanish Fork, Utah and has been dancing for 18 years, starting with studio training. She was on the Spanish Fork Drill Team for three years and was military captain her senior year.
Ally is now on my third and final year on the SUU Dance Team, and had the opportunity to be a sideline captain last year. She has been teaching and choreographing for five years. I currently coaching the Mohey Tawa Drill Team!
Ally loves dance and is so excited to continue her passions through teaching!
Lexi Blawat:
Lexi Blawat is from Gilbert Arizona. She was born and raised in Arizona and started dancing at the age of two at Dance Connection 2. At age 5 she made their performance team and began performing in halftime shows and parades. At age 6 she made their company team and got to compete in many different styles. She was on a company team for 11 years and loved every single year. Lexi attended Highland High School and was on the Pom team for 3 years where they competed Game day and Pom routines at USA and UDA competitions and went to UDA nationals in Florida. Lexi is now a current student at SUU hoping to get her degree in nursing. Lexi is also a member of the SUU dance team! Her senior year she began to teach and assist classes at the studio since she's always wanted to teach kids. She loved getting to bond with the kids and to watch them grow and improve throughout the year. Teaching has become a passion of hers and she is so grateful to have been given the opportunity to continue it. She is so excited for this year!
Campbel Allen:
Campbel Allen has been dancing since she was five years old. She has 6 years of ballet training with a professional dancer/instructor, and 11 years of training at The Point in lyrical, contemporary, jazz, and hip hop. Campbel loves competing as a soloist and with her studio team, where she has won numerous awards. She was a four year member of the Cedar High Drill Team and served as a senior captain. Campbel is no a member of thr SUU Dance Team and is attending Southern Utah University.
Keya Tesch:
Savanna Vasquez:
Emelyn Clegg:
Sheridyn Hoyt:
She is very involved in her community with organizing events, mentoring young girls, and creating programs that focus on building self-esteem and mental health awareness. Her passion for service continues to guide everything she does.
Sheridyn is now a student at Southern Utah University, working toward her degree in nursing while staying active in the dance world. She is thrilled to be teaching at The Point Dance Studio and loves watching her students grow! She’s excited to continue sharing her love for dance, leadership, and community with the next generation!
RanDee Ekker:
RanDee Ekker began tumbling at the age of four and soon discovered her passion for performance while competing in the Cinderella Pageant, where she showcased cheer as her talent. By age ten, she earned a place on the Elite Cheer Athletics competition team, where she excelled. During her time with Elite, RanDee received numerous awards, helped her team capture a state championship, and was recognized as the state’s top jumper.
Now a sophomore at Canyon View High School, RanDee is a varsity cheerleader and proudly serves as JV Captain. Her love for cheer extends beyond performance—she has choreographed routines that have gone on to win national titles. Looking ahead, RanDee is eager to share her knowledge and passion by coaching and mentoring young athletes, helping them grow in both skill and confidence.
RanDee Ekker:
