About VidaDance Studio

We inspire confidence and joy through dance classes.

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We are a community of people who love belonging, having fun, and feeling encouraged. We believe in our motto: Dream | Inspire | Empower | Sparkle.

We provide incredible opportunities for personal growth, whether that is checking off an item on your bucket list or trying out a new dance skill. More importantly, we empower each individual who walks through our doors. We do this by ensuring each student feels encouraged, inspired, and motivated, not only while learning dance steps, but also through our self-defense, safety, body image, and nutrition components. We help build strong individuals who are talented, confident, and ready to tackle anything that comes their way.

We are the only YPAD (Youth Protection Advocates in Dance) certified dance school in Kansas. VidaDance Studio is also BeyondDance certified (as the founding dance studio of this personal development program). Every dance teacher here has extensive professional dance performing and teaching experience, and loves being a dance teacher!

Registration is ongoing throughout the year, and we are always welcoming new students through our online course options. It’s never too late to start pursuing your dream!

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“The owner, Lindsey, is very precise and intuitive. As a teacher she is able to spot and bring to the attention of the dancer and parents issues that could possibly turn into future injuries. Her years of experience as a dancer has made her disciplined and to effectively multitask. She is also remarkable at customer service. This might be because of her dance background that she approaches everyone with grace, respect and a beautiful smile or it might be that she just cares.” (Denise J.)

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“I would highly recommend VidaDance Studio for providing both excellent quality dance training as well as a healthy, positive, and nourishing atmosphere!”

Ashley T., Adult Student

“Had a great experience! Would highly recommend to dancers of all backgrounds. Very satisfied with the lessons we took.”

Chaz D. , Adult Student

“Love the pointe class tonight! My teacher is patient and professional. Everyone is so nice and kind. I am so excited and can’t wait to join the studio next week.”

Irene C. , Adult Student

“I’ve learned so much and the small class environment is great!”

Madi T.

“Great teaching! So positive and kind.”

Mandy P., Parent

“My daughter loved her classes at VidaDance. They were smaller in size so they were perfect for her.”

Nancy W., Parent

“The teachers are amazing to work with and very patient with the kids. The communication was awesome. So glad we found VidaDance!”

Nichol B. , Parent

“I feel comfortable and I am always excited to dig right in! I would definitely recommend VidaDance! I have only taken tap lessons but I am sure everything they offer is incredible.”

Lindsey F., Adult Student

Our Staff

SOPHIE YANCEYDance Teacher

Sophie is a graduate of the Conservatory of Music and Dance at the University of Missouri – Kansas City with an emphasis in ballet and modern. She was raised in Independence, Missouri and began dancing at the age of three under the instruction of Christine Palmer at the Craig Dance Studio of Independence. Sophie also danced with several other studios in the Kansas City area, including the Dramatic Truth School of the Arts. She co-founded the dance ministry at her home church. Sophie has loved to dance since she was a child, and particularly enjoys choreography and teaching. She danced competitively as a teenager, and began teaching and choreographing for other dancers at a young age as well. Sophie was thrilled to have coached several worship dance troupes and solos that participated in National Fine Arts with the Assemblies of God. Sophie was the first person to receive the Award of Merit in worship dance at the 2009 Southern Missouri District Fine Arts competition. As a young adult she had the opportunity to attend intensives at the Kansas City Ballet, Dramatic Truth School of the Arts, and Deeply Rooted Dance Theater in Chicago. She was recently seen in Deanna Hiett’s modern piece, “Ecifircas,” and Gary Abbott’s “Breaking the Damn 2014.” Sophie was honored to have been chosen as part of a small group of UMKC students that were asked to perform in Alvin Ailey’s “Memoria” in the fall of 2014. Sophie danced professionally with Dramatic Truth Ballet Theater for one season, performing lead roles in the company’s original ballets “Dethroning the Prince,” “Mystery of Christmas,” and “Passionate Pursuit.” In addition to teaching at VidaDance Studio, Sophie performs professionally with VidaDance Company. At the studio, she teaches kids’ and adult dance classes, including hip hop, jazz, tap, creative movement, and ballet classes.

SONJA SCHULZDance Teacher / Director of VidaEnsemble & VidaCommunity

Sonja Schulz is a dancer, aerialist, teacher, choreographer and artist, originally from Elk Grove Village, IL. She is a recent graduate from the University of Iowa where she earned her BFA in Dance, BA in Economics and 200-hour Hatha Yoga Teacher Training Certification. Her background and interests include training in dance techniques, aerial apparatus, gymnastics, Alexander Technique, and has run two marathons and counting! While at the University of Iowa, Sonja was an active leadership member of UI Dance Marathon, the Undergraduate Dance Organization and an instructor with the University of Iowa Youth Ballet program for over three years, teaching all age ranges. She was awarded the Kathy Foss Bakkum Scholarship and Iowa Center for the Arts Scholarship twice during her time as an undergrad. Within the UI Department of Dance, she had the opportunity to perform and collaborate in works by many renowned choreographers. She also had the opportunity to perform “Leave it on the Field,” choreographed by Monica Bill Barnes & Company for Dance Gala 2017, along with excerpts from “You Are Here,” choreographed by Jane Comfort & Company, while being a part of Dancers in Company during her sophomore year. In her last semester of undergrad, she had the privilege of performing in graduate thesis projects of Ailey Picasso, Marc Macaranas and Eduard Forehand, and presented and performed her own BFA Capstone Project, “A Gradual Flight of Embracement,” in the BFA Concert, “Rooting Upwards.” Sonja is excited to be in Kansas City as a new performer with Quixotic, teaching classes at VidaDance Studio, and directing the community ensemble groups! She is grateful and thrilled to continue exploring within the dance and aerial arts and bringing them together in her career.

KRYSTAL BRYANDance Teacher

Krystal began her dance training at Jo Noth’s White Oak Dance Academy in Blue Springs, Missouri. After graduating high school, she received both dance and academic scholarships to attend Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri where she earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts with a major in Dance. While she was at Stephens, she had the opportunity to choreograph many of her own pieces, one of which was chosen to be taken to the American College Dance Festival. Krystal has been a professional dancer with VidaDance for five years, and was recently promoted to the role of Creative Director. She has also danced with City in Motion as well as Gurukul, a professional East Indian dance company. In 2017, Krystal premiered her first full-length show, “The Yellow Wallpaper,” at the Kansas City Fringe Festival, that was later performed at a benefit concert she co-produced to raise money for victims of flooding around the world. With VidaDance, Krystal co-choreographed and co-directed RISE, the company’s social justice awareness full-length work about human trafficking. She has also choreographed several other pieces for the company, including another full-length show, “Turning the Page,” that is premiering in 2019 at the KC Fringe Festival. She has taught for studios all over the Kansas City area, and teaches adult and kids’ dance classes at VidaDance Studio, including modern, ballet, jazz, creative movement, tap classes, and Barre60 (a dance fitness class method in which she holds her certification).

JAMI ROBBENDance Teacher/Administrative Assistant

Jami started gymnastics at age nine and moved on to dance a few years later with Eagles Gymnastics’ dance fusion, training mostly in lyrical and jazz. She was a former student at VidaDance Studio, training in ballet, modern, jazz, tap, and hip hop. She danced with her high school dance team for two years, and competed regularly in regional competitions. She has placed in the top five overall in competitions, including winning first overall at Talent on Parade. She has also received a Perfect Showmanship Award at New York City Dance Alliance and has been invited to compete in TOP Starz Performance Group with Talent on Parade Nationals for four years in a row. She is a budding choreographer, who has set two pieces on VidaDance Company members for National Dance Week Kansas City as part of its Catalyst program in 2017 & 2018, and has had two of her pieces performed in VidaDance Company shows at the KC Fringe Festival in 2016 & 2017. She is attending the University of Missouri and plans to obtain her degree in journalism, and maybe eventually open up her own studio. Jami also dances with the Mizzou Club Dance, traveling across the country to compete. Jami began her student apprenticeship with VidaDance in December 2015, and in May 2018, was promoted to a full professional company member. She has taught for The Dance Academy and Dance Arts in Columbia, Missouri, and at VidaDance Studio, Jami teaches classes for kids and adults in ballet, jazz, and tap.

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LINDSEY DINNEENOwner/Director

Lindsey Smith Dinneen absolutely loves to dance. When she was three years old, she watched a video of “The Nutcracker” and was immediately enchanted–with the beautiful costumes, of course! Her mom enrolled her in a summer ballet dance camp when she was four, and she has danced through life ever since. It comes as no surprise she would eventually start a dance studio. She is delighted to be passing along her love of dance to her students! Her passion is helping all of her students, young and old, experienced and first-timers, discover a love of dance in a way that is encouraging, supportive, and delightful.

Lindsey founded VidaDance Studio in 2016, and founded the professional VidaDance Company in 2015 with a mission to make dance accessible to everyone. It premiered at the Kansas City Fringe Festival that July. The company has also performed at the Kansas City Ballet Dance Day, at the Arts Inspired Network’s “Illuminate the Arts,” at National Dance Week St. Louis, City in Motion’s “Dance in the Park,” Grand DanceFest in St. Louis, Maura Garcia’s “Full Moon Dances,” the Jewish Community Center’s “Open Stage at the J,” the Kansas City Chalk & Walk Festival, the Overland Park Arboretum’s “Enchanted Faire,” City Center Church’s “Brilliance Ignite!” and the Leawood Arts Council’s “Into the Woods Fall Festival.” More information about the company and its upcoming performances can be found at www.vidadancecompany.com.

In 2013, Lindsey became a ballet expert for Nike’s Livestrong.com and filmed the how-to video series “Dance & Conditioning.” She has been a judge for Olathe’s Got Talent twice and for the Miss Sweetheart of Summer pageant, has been a featured performer at Dining with the Olathe Stars, and co-choreographed and danced in the Willow Tree promotional video for Susan Lordi’s sculpture “Around You” with Hanan Misko.

In addition to directing VidaDance Company and running VidaDance Studio, Lindsey continues to dance and choreography professionally with her company, and is an adjunct professor at Johnson County Community College, teaching adult continuing education dance classes in tap, jazz, and ballet. She has also taught creative movement, ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, contemporary and improvisation, leaps and turns, and acrobatics classes for all ages and levels at dance schools nationwide.

In 2018, Lindsey co-choreographed and co-produced RISE with VidaDance’s Creative Director, Krystal Bryan, and Kansas City Aerial Arts to bring awareness to human trafficking. They partnered with local anti-trafficking organizations Veronica’s Voice, The Stop Trafficking Project, and Exodus Cry, and premiered RISE at the Kansas City Fringe Festival.

Lindsey is originally from Northern Virginia, where she began her formal training at the Ravel Dance Studio. At the age of 13, she was invited to join the studio’s pre-professional Company, and performed multiple featured roles in “Cinderella,” “Swan Lake,” “Coppélia,” “Giselle,” “The Nutcracker,” and as Aurora in “The Sleeping Beauty.”

She then attended Mercyhurst College on scholarship, where she graduated magna cum laude with a B.A. in Dance. While there, she trained in ballet, pointe, pas de deux, modern, jazz, tap, and conditioning, and attended a summer intensive in New York City with the American Ballet Theater. At Mercyhurst, she choreographed “Cry Freedom,” a piece about human trafficking that premiered at “Raw Edges XIII,” and was also presented at the Project Abolition benefit concert she produced. Her piece “If” has been performed at school lecture/demonstrations and was invited to be presented at the National Dance Association’s annual conference gala in San Diego in April 2011. During her time at college, Lindsey was presented with multiple awards, including the National Dance Association 2010 Student Literary Award & its 2011 Plaudit Award for contribution to the dance field. She also participated in the American College Dance Festival in 2010, performed in the Erie Festival of Dance twice, and in “The Nutcracker” with Lake Erie Ballet.

Lindsey was a senior company member and soloist with Störling Dance Theater, and danced professionally with the company for four years. She was featured in Mona Störling-Enna’s “Ave Verum” and “For Those Who Mourn,” Tobin James’ “Janjara,” was a soloist in “The Prodigal Daughter,” and performed the lead role in “Hung Out to Dry.” She then danced with Dramatic Truth Ballet Theatre for one year and performed the lead role in “The Mystery of Christmas” and was a soloist in several other short ballets, including “Brilliance.” Lindsey was also a founding member of Anazao Dance and also co-founder and dancer with Communitas.

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