Meet Our Instructors

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Miss Alicia started dancing at age 2. She began assisting classes at age 13 and teaching classes at 17. She coached our studio Junior Company and directed our Company Team.  She purchased the  studio in 2018, at the age of 24.

Miss Alicia brings with her years of dance, teaching, choreography and competition experience.

Miss Alicia refers to the studio as her "Happy Place." She recognizes the classroom as an escape from reality where the students can bring visions to life. She hopes to make the studio a "Happy Place" for all of our students.

Miss Brittney grew up in Lancaster, CA where her mom, who also dances, enrolled her in dance classes at AV Dance Studio 81  when she was 3 years old. Her first dance teacher was Lidia Landon Michael . She continued dancing through High School on QHHS dance team and on AVD81 Competition Team. She continued on to coach QHHS Dance Team for 2 1/2 years and has choreographed for multiple community theater shows in the AV. 

Miss Brittney started assisting classes then eventually began teaching at AVD81 in 2006 and Turning Pointe in 2009. She began coaching our competition team in 2015. She currently teaches, Lyrical, Jazz, Tap, and coaches the  Competition team here at AVD81. She is an award-winning choreographer with extensive experience. She also works at PRMC as a Radiologic Tech.  

Miss Brittney is always excited to share her love of dance with her students. 

 Originally from the suburbs of Chicago, Miss Colleen began Irish step dancing at the age of five and soon fell in love with the rhythm, energy, and tradition of the art form. Dance remained a big part of her life through high school and college, shaping who she is and bringing her so much joy. After moving with her family to Palmdale, she took a brief break, but her passion for Irish dance never left. 

Colleen is now thrilled to be teaching and sharing the joy, excitement, and spirit of Irish dance with the Antelope Valley community! 

Miss Maddie Dent grew up in Lancaster, California. She began taking dance classes at the age of 4 at Extensions Dance Studio. She came to AV Dance Studio 81 when she was 10 years old. She showed great interest and talent in Hip Hop. In 2016, she joined the AVD81 Competition Team. She remained on our Hip  Hop Competition Dance team for 3 years. While on team, she became an assistant and is now teaching Hip Hop, Lyrical and Jazz Classes at AVD81. She also sometimes teaches pop-up classes in Heels and K-Pop.

She is currently pursuing her BA in Elementary Education through Western Governers University and is an instructional aide for AVUHSD.

Miss Maddie continues to take as many dance classes as she can.  She has always loved dancing and feels very grateful for the opportunity to teach others the art of dance. 

 Miss Jonah first started taking dance classes when she was in high school at AV Dance Studio 81, with an emphasis in Hip Hop. Since then, she has gotten her Bachelor’s in Theatre Arts, joined community theatre, and has grown with dance through various dance studios and opportunities. Jonah also teaches at Dance House Studio as a Hip Hop and Heels instructor. She is very excited to come back to AVD 81 as a Musical Theatre instructor and share her passion for theatre!   

Mr. Lorenzo Guerrero has been dancing for 20 years; starting with Krumping and leading into Breaking/Breakdancing. He eventually learned Popping and Animated styles with the help of a Krumping background.  He has been teaching for a little under 16 years and absolutely loves teaching at AV Dance Studio 81’ where he teaches Hip Hop, Contemporary, Tumbling/Acro, Open, and is an instructor for our Company team.  He is currently dancing with Snowglobe Perspective's competing adult team; Snowtorious.

Miss Laura grew up in Palmdale, CA. She first began performing when she joined her high school band and Colorguard program. She continued performing through college, taking her first dance classes under the instruction of Kathy Bingham, Cindy Littlefield and Kathleen Burnett.

Miss Laura previously coached Colorguard at Quartz Hill High School from 1997-2017 and at Littlerock High School from 2011-2016. She started assisting classes in 2017 and began teaching at AVD'81 in 2018. Both of her sons dance at AVD'81 and her son Wyatt currently competes on our Competition team. She currently teaches Ballet and Combo classes.

Miss Laura is happy to be a part of the AVDance Studio 81 family. She looks forward to passing on her love of dance to her students and hopes they find as much joy in it as she does. 

Miss Karrah has been dancing since she was 3 years old and grew up in Lancaster, CA. Her dance journey with AVD81 began in 2015. She has been an assistant since she was 17 in 2018. She enjoys all styles of dance but particularly loves jazz and ballet. She also has experience musical theater and performed in many shows between middle school and high school. In her free time she enjoys spending quality time with her family and friends.

Miss Katelyn started dancing at the age of four, She found AVD at the age of 7. She has been assisting since the age of 13 and is excited to teach and pass down her passion for dance! She joined the competition team at 10 years old and  competed until she was 18 years old. 

Miss Katelyn is currently an ElectroTap assistant with NRG Dance Project.  In the past, she received KAR Protege (2024).

Miss Katelyn loves to dance and can’t wait to teach the younger students and pass down her passion and love for her craft.

 Sarah Mann started taking dance class when she was three years old. Around the age of 8 or 9 she found that ballet was the type of dance that she was truly passionate about. To Sarah, tap and jazz weren’t as exciting anymore, so she decided to take all the ballet classes she could and eventually made it on to pointe.

When Sarah left for college, she decided that ballet was something that she would have to continue, it was part of her soul. She danced under the direction of Pamela McCray and Shanda Hanson with the Staunton Academy of Ballet. AV Dance Studio '81 was where Sarah took her first dance class. With the exception SAB and Masters classes, it is the only studio she has danced with.

When not in the dance studio…Sarah earned her B.A. in communication from Mary Baldwin University, in Virginia and worked in Washington, DC upon graduation. In 2010 she moved back to AV where she began working for a member of the State Legislature. In 2017 she earned her M.A. in communication from Johns Hopkins University. She is currently the Director of Public Relations and Philanthropy for a local charter school in Palmdale. 

Miss Brandi started dancing at AV Dance Studio 81 at the age of 3, continuing until about 7 years old, when she transitioned to competitive gymnastics. She competed in gymnastics all the way through her NCAA Division 1 team at UC Davis. She coached gymnastics (including tumbling classes) for 7 years post college. She has a passion for teaching kids fun and safe ways to tumble while helping them reach their individual goals and build confidence.  

Miss Maddy McMahn grew up in Lancaster, California. She started dancing in 2015 at the age of 12 and joined AVD 81 in 2019. Though her dance journey didn’t start at AVD, she would quickly learn that was exactly where she loved to be. She began assisting soon after in 2021. 

She grew up doing all types of dance but finds herself drawn to hip hop and jazz. She hopes to share her love for dance with everyone she teaches and hopes that it brings them as much joy and comfort as it brought her growing up.  

Lidia was born to John and Lidia Landon on April 24, 1957. She has one brother, John, and one sister, Tina.

Lidia’s early training was under Joyce Pearson, who was the owner of Caravan School of Dance in Lancaster (The future A.V Dance Studio ’81).

During her teen years, Lidia was an assistant instructor at Caravan. Lidia also studied under many well-known L.A. teachers, including Joe Tremaine and Roland Dupree’. Lidia has taught at several dance camps and conventions, as well as at Antelope Valley College.

Lidia is a graduate of Antelope Valley College and of Cal State University in Fullerton. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre with a concentration inDance. 

After graduation, Lidia bought into Caravan School of Dance and became partners with her good friend, Cyndi Lund Gallegos. The new

ownership took place in 1981, hence the name “A.V. Dance Studio ‘81.”

Lidia has performed in and choreographed many local theatre productions, including Cabaret, A Chorus Line, Kiss Me Kate, The Boyfriend, Cinderella, Can Can, Oliver, Fiddler On the Roof, and Anything Goes. She was a featured dancer in the Movie “UFORIA” and a two time winner on the OriginalTV series “The Gong Show”.

1981 was also special in another way for Lidia. That is when she married her sweetheart, Greg Michael. Greg and Lidia have been blest with six beautiful children. It was after the birth of child #6 that Lidia finally realized God was

calling her to be a full time Mom and only a part time dance instructor. So, in 2005 Lidia sold A.V. Dance Studio ’81 to her student and friend, Candice Douglas.

Currently, Lidia fills her days with “Mom” and “Nana” duties and is very involved in religious education at her church, Saint Serra Parish. However, she still finds time to teach a few dance classes here at the studio, and truly enjoys her time with her students.

Miss Kelsey began dancing at AVD when she was 17, after spending her childhood as a competitive gymnast since she was 4. She began assisting at the age of 18 and quickly found a passion for helping young dancers grow, gain confidence, and fall in love with dance. She loves creating a fun and encouraging environment where every dancer feels comfortable being themselves. When Miss Kelsey is not teaching, she spends her time taking classes at the studio where her favorite styles are jazz and contemporary. She also began assisting the AVD’s competition team this past year and is looking forward to the future years to come! 

Miss Judy Ortiz, who celebrates her birthday on May 7th, was born in Lancaster, CA and raised in Palmdale, CA. She started dancing at the age of 3 at local dance studios in Palmdale through-out her childhood and pre teen years. At the age of 14 Judy enrolled at Caravan School of Dance in Lancaster (which was to become AV Dance Studio 81) and her teacher was Susie Pearson. This is where she continued to dance through high school taking Jazz, Tap, and Ballet. 

After high school Judy attended Antelope Valley College where she continued with dance classes.

In 1981, Lidia Landon Michael and Cindy Lund purchased the studio and it became "AV Dance Studio 81." Among her instructors were Lidia Landon Michael, Cindy Lund, Sue Becker, Rhonda Gonzales, Sonja Beck, and famous professional Choreogapher, Tina Landon. 

Judy, along with other students, attended dance competitions in the Los Angeles area under the direction and choreogaphy of Tina Landon and they won many 1st Place Awards.

In 1985 Judy became an instructor at AVD 81, teaching Jazz, Tap, and Ballet and eventually Lyrical and Character dances. Her daughter started dancing at that time at the age of 3. They have become a 3 generation dance family to this studio: Her daughter Tami Ortiz Gonzales, and granddaughters Sereen Irula (Ortiz) and Giselle Gonzales.

In/around 1995 Judy became a Dance Competition Team Coach and Choreograher. With the experience she has acquired she has won numerous awards through-out the years for the dances she has choreograghed. Winning Top 1st Places, Special Judges Awards, Choreography award and placing 1st, 2nd, 3rd, Overall High Scores. 

Lidia eventually sold the studio to Candice Beatty who moved it to its present location on Lancaster Blvd. and became very successful for 13 Years. Candice then sold the studio to long time dancer and friend Alicia Springer in 2018.

Outside the dance studio Judy is a "Heart Monitor Technician" where she monitors and interprets heart rhythms on EKG strips of patients at Palmdale Regional Medical Center.

"I would like to say I love our studio and the success it's become through the years. I have made some life long friends. We are very family oriented and a fun place to dance. I am very proud to have been a part of it though-out the years and many years to come."

 Miss Jeanah has danced at AV Dance Studio 81 since she was 3 years old. She joined their competition team at 14, and went on to teach at 18. After a small break to pursue a degree in Early Childhood Education, she is back and ready to teach dance again! She loves all styles, but has a particular passion for Hip Hop, Contemporary, and Jazz. Dance is a creative outlet for Miss Jeanah, where she can experiment with different concepts. In her free time, she concentrates on her schooling, reading, and spending time with her nieces.  

Forestall Sabino Jr. is a passionate and dedicated hip hop dancer whose journey began in middle school, rooted in the styles of popping, locking, and choreography. His early training with high school dance teams led him to the collegiate team ORG, based in Garden Grove at Bee Hive Studios, where his love for the dance community truly flourished.

Throughout his college years, Forestall competed with renowned teams such as Family Bizness, Snowtorious, and Skopos, earning accolades including a 3rd place finish at World of Dance with Snowtorious. His competitive resume includes performances at VIBE, Prelude NorCal and Las Vegas (2019), BRIDGE 2020, SHARP, MaxT Out, Ultimate Brawl 2018, and Fusion 2019. He later became Director of Family Bizness, where he helped shape the team’s creative direction and mentorship.

Forestall’s teaching experience includes AV Dance Studio 81 in Lancaster, CA, and Elements Dance Space in Pasadena, CA, where he co-directed the junior division team HITLIST. His work with HITLIST involved choreography, training, and competition preparation, helping young dancers grow in both skill and confidence.

Outside of competition seasons, Forestall has collaborated on side projects with teams like Project Frostbite and DK & Friends, continuing to expand his creative reach. For him, dance is more than movement—it’s a safe space for self-expression, mindfulness, and connection. He finds purpose in sharing his passion with others and building lasting relationships within the dance community.

Miss Amber has been dancing at AVD'81 since she was 2 years old. Both her mother and sister  danced at AVD'81. She has been teaching going on 11 years and was an assistant for 5 years before that. Miss Amber primarily teaches ballet but she has also taught and taken other styles.

She is also a company member of the Antelope Valley Ballet. As a company member, she has to maintain her ballet technique ongoing and continues to take multiple classes. She has recently been seen dancing with "Dancing with the AV Stars" as a pro dancer. She enjoys getting to pass on the things she has learned to her students and watching them grow as dancers and people. 

Miss Megan started dancing at the age of three and started competing at age five. She has danced at New World Dance in Santa Clarita, under the direction of Terry Bixler. She danced on the dance team in jr high and was the captain of her dance team in high school. Megan started teaching and choreographing during high school for Hillview jr highs dance team.  She has also danced at AV Dance Studio 81, under the direction of Lidia Landon Michaels, AVPAC, under the direction of Marleen Hall, AVC, under the direction of Cindy Littlefield, and Dance Evolutions, under the direction of Keri Sullivan. 


When Miss Megan is not dancing she is spending time with her family including her two little boys. Megan is thrilled to be a part of the AV Dance Studio 81 family and loves getting to share her passion of dance with the next generation of dancers. 

Miss Georgina began dancing at the age of 4 and fell in love with it right away. She continued dancing in Orange County until she moved to the AV at the age of 11 and signed up for classes at AVD81 shortly after moving here. 

Miss Georgina continued dancing in high school and was on her high school colorguard team. Before graduating High School, she began choreographing for a local high school drumline and teaching dance technique for colorguard at Highland High School and Antelope Valley High School.

After taking some time off for college and starting a family, Miss Georgina returned to classes at AVD81 as an adult. Her daughter grew up dancing at AVD81 and competition team and is now an instructor. Her son is currently still taking classes at AVD81.

Miss Georgina is our homeschool program coordinator and executive director of AVD81 Parent Organization, 501c3 non profit. She is a major supporter of the arts and is also currently serving as a board member of Palmdale Repertory Theatre.