For 56 years, Leigh’s School of Dance has been a place allowing dancers to grow in confidence, creativity, and community. What began as a small neighborhood studio has grown into a place where generations of families have discovered a love for dance.
We believe dance is about more than learning steps. Our goal is to foster an encouraging environment where every dancer feels welcomed, challenged, and proud of their progress. Whether a child is stepping into their very first class or continuing their dance journey, we strive to make every experience positive and inspiring.
Some of Our Studio Awards
Our studio has earned awards for excellence in dance and numerous awards at competitions. These honors reflect our dancers’ hard work and our commitment to high-quality training.
About US
Our Founder
Leigh Allen founded our studio in 1970 with a simple vision: create a place where dancers could learn strong technique while feeling supported and inspired.
Today, the studio continues that tradition, training new generations of dancers while maintaining the same family atmosphere that has defined Leigh’s for decades.
Our Mission
At Leigh’s School of Dance, we strive to provide quality, professional dance training to students of every level. We are committed to making dance a positive experience for all dancers. We welcome all ages. We love to share our passion for dance with anyone who wants to experience the joy and art of dance – whether they are just beginning, highly advanced or somewhere in-between. At Leigh’s, we work hard to ensure every dancer feels like a success!
Leigh’s School of Dance is a place where students are encouraged to make a connection between academic knowledge and physical experience. We encourage students to think creatively and to have a healthy understanding of their bodies.
Our Staff
At Leigh’s School of Dance, our staff is a team of experienced educators aiming to help every dancer grow. We create a warm, caring, family environment where students build skills and a love for dance.
Each member of our faculty brings their own unique style and expertise, working together to ensure every dancer feels challenged, valued, and excited to learn.
Leigh Allen
We are celebrating 56 incredible years of inspiring dancers, creating memories, and sharing the joy of movement with our community. Miss Leigh started her studio in 1970, and has proudly trained generations of dancers, from tiny twirlers to polished performers. With sparkles, smiles and spirit, Miss Leigh is helping us dance our way into the future one step at a time.
Nyree Allen
Nyree began her career assisting her mother in dance class when she was 12 years old. She moved to California to pursue her love of dance. She taught at a studio and was a middle school dance coach in the Los Angeles area for 10 years. With many years of experience in dance and education, Nyree has cultivated a studio culture that blends technical excellence with laughter and love. Nyree is dedicated to nurturing the growth of every student, from beginner to competitive dancers. She is happy to be sharing her love of dance here at Leighs School of Dance.
Shannon Dahlman
Shannon has been dancing since she was two years old. She graduated with her Bachelors of Science in Dance from Illinois State University. She has been trained in Ballet, Jazz, Modern, Contemporary, Lyrical and Team Dance. This is her fourth year teaching at Leigh’s and she is super excited to share her passion of dance!
Madison Davis
She started dancing at the age of 5 and started competitive dancing at the age of 12. She danced at Dance In Motion in Abilene Kansas for a total of 8 years. For two years she danced with the Abilene High School Dance Team before moving to Alaska. In Alaska Ms. Maddy auditioned for a dance program through Anchorage West High. Her first year she took an advanced ballet class followed the next year by a contemporary repertoire class. She also took drop in classes at Alaska Theatre of Dance. She has traveled many different places for her dance education including Broadway Dance Center in New York and Millennium Dance Complex in California. She has taken master classes from popular professional dancers around the world! Ms. Maddy started her business Poetry In Movement at 19 teaching: Ballet, Pre Pointe, Pointe, Jazz, Lyrical, Contemporary, Hip Hop, & Tumbling. Poetry in Motion competed all five years and won numerous, overall placements, judges choice awards, and one of their proudest, sportsmanship award at Dance Effect! She was recently accepted to be in hip hop company, Ipush in KC training under Lukky Harvey! Ms. Maddy is excited to relocate and work in a bigger city!
Sarah Ediger
Sarah started dancing at the age of 4 at Poetry in Motion dance productions, (formerly Judy’s School of Dance). She quickly fell in love with tap, but also studied ballet, jazz, modern, musical theater, pointe, and more while she danced competitively there for 10 years. Growing up, her favorite part of dancing was getting to do tap duets every year with her twin sister. After she completed her college studies Sarah moved to the KC area and got involved with dance again, via musicals in local theaters. She joined the adult tap class at Leigh’s last year, and it reignited her love of tap! She is so excited to share tap dance with a new generation and to help keep it alive in the dance world!I began dancing when I was seven years old at a local dance studio, and instantly fell in love with it. I started dancing competitively at age nine, and grew up in the world of competitions and conventions. I trained in ballet, tap, jazz, acrobatics, lyrical, contemporary, modern, pointe and hip-hop; and had the opportunity during my youth to take classes and learn choreography from many different industry professionals. My favorite styles are ballet, tap, contemporary and acro! My goal is to provide students with a strong technical dance foundation, while cultivating a fun and safe dance classroom where students build confidence and continue to grow. This is my first year at Leigh’s School of Dance and I can’t wait to share my love of dance!
Kendal Erwin
I began dancing when I was seven years old at a local dance studio, and instantly fell in love with it. I started dancing competitively at age nine, and grew up in the world of competitions and conventions. I trained in ballet, tap, jazz, acrobatics, lyrical, contemporary, modern, pointe and hip-hop; and had the opportunity during my youth to take classes and learn choreography from many different industry professionals. My favorite styles are ballet, tap, contemporary and acro! My goal is to provide students with a strong technical dance foundation, while cultivating a fun and safe dance classroom where students build confidence and continue to grow. This is my first year at Leigh’s School of Dance and I can’t wait to share my love of dance!
Madeline Evenson
Madeline (Maddy) Evenson has been dancing for seventeen years and teaching for the last six. Growing up in Minnesota, Maddy was a competitive studio dancer who trained in jazz, tap, ballet, pointe, hip-hop, lyrical, and contemporary dance. Her favorite to teach is ballet, and her favorites to choreograph are jazz, lyrical/contemporary, and tap!
She is currently attending the University of Kansas, double-majoring in astronomy and physics, as well as pursuing a minor in dance. At KU, Maddy is a member of two on-campus dance companies: the University Dance Company and the Jayhawk Tap Company. Maddy is thrilled to be joining the Leigh’s School of Dance family!
Siouxxsie Friend
Siouxxsie started dancing at the age of 4. She trained in a variety of styles of dance, however, tap is her absolute favorite. Even with moving to different states throughout her childhood, Siouxxsie always found a dance studio in the area to continue to learn from and constantly work on improving her dancing feet. Siouxxsie has been an assistant teacher for 2 years, and a part of the adult class here at LSOD. She has a passion for teaching and inspiring children. Siouxxsie is beyond excited to start her 2nd year teaching at LSOD!
Trysten Glenn
Trysten is a dedicated teacher who brings energy, encouragement, and a love of movement to every class.
Passionate about helping students grow, Trysten creates a positive space where dancers can build confidence, technique, and creativity. With a focus on both strong technique and self-expression, Trysten aims to make every dancer feel seen, challenged, and inspired.
Trysten has been dancing at Leigh’s since she was 9 years old and is thrilled to be sharing her love for dance with the littles!
Julie Kevins
Julie has been actively involved in the dance/theatre world for over 35 years. Julie started dancing at the age of 5, training in Ballet, Tap,Jazz and Pointe. Julie has two daughters who share her love for the arts. Julie has spent the last 21 years as a Dance/Theatre Mom, holding numerous positions at her daughter’s studio and theatre school. She is excited to be apart of the LSOD Family and loves being a part of educating artists, nurturing children, and developing leaders.
Tyler King
Tyler began dancing at the age of 5 and immediately fell in love with the world of dance. He danced competitively through KC area studios, but found his home at Leigh’s school of dance. Tyler was a member of the Award- Winning star team where he won many titles like Mr dance at dance champs nationals!
He started assisting at the studio in his high school years which is where he found his love for teaching! After high school Tyler moved to Florida where he was a competitive director for Starbound performers under his direction they won 8 uda national championships and 4 U.S open championships as well as many overalls and choreography awards.
Tyler does choreography for studios and high school dance teams throughout the country as well as judging for national competitions. Tyler has a passion for sharing what he has learned with his love of dance and getting to help children work to achieve their goals!
Annalee Petersen
Annalee began her dance journey around 20 years ago when she started at Leigh’s School of Dance at 3 years old. When she was a freshman in high school, she took her dance career a step further and decided to become an assistant. Once she graduated from high school and took a year off of dance, she realized dance was her passion and became a teacher at age 21. She says she is so grateful to be able to teach at the studio she danced at and hopes to inspire the next generation of LSOD dancers.
Stacy Sneed
Stacy has been part of the Leigh’s family for many years. Stacy started her dance journey taking recreation class that led to her joining the competition team. Through high school Stacy was Miss Leigh’s dance assistant. This is when Stacy discovered her joy of teaching. She has been instructing classes for 14 years now. Stacy is full of fun and energy. Introducing old school styles with the latest trends in jazz and hip hop.