Meet our Team
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- Owner/ Founder
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- Director
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 Dahlam- Competitive Director
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!
Julie Kevins- Administrative Staff
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.
Madison Davis- Instructor
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- Instructor
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!
Kendal Erwin- Instructor
Kendal began dancing when she was seven years old and instantly fell in love with it. She started dancing competitively at age nine, and grew up in the world of competitions and conventions. She trained in various styles; including ballet, tap, jazz, acrobatics, lyrical, contemporary, pointe and hip-hop. During her youth, she had the opportunity to take class and learn choreography from many industry professionals. After high school, Kendal attended Iowa State University where she completed a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Relations with a minor in Fashion Design. She continues to stay active in dance through drop-in classes at the Kansas City Ballet and she actively trains in aerial arts. Her favorite styles of dance are ballet, tap, contemporary and acro! Her goal is to provide students with a strong technical dance foundation while cultivating a fun, safe dance classroom where dancers can build confidence.
Madeline Evanson- Instructor
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- Instructor
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- Instructor
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!
Tyler King- Instructor
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 through his love of dance and getting to help children work to achieve their goals!