Meet Our Dance Teachers

Dance Attack! Performing Arts offers dance classes in Los Gatos, CA. We are proud to be a family-friendly dance studio for students of all ages who choose to enhance their skills, build their confidence, and improve their technique. Whether you are looking to dance competitively or recreationally, our team of instructors are experienced in a variety of dance styles. They are passionate about sharing their love of dance and are proud to teach a range of disciplines including Hip Hop, Tap, Jazz, Contemporary, Lyrical, Ballet, and Acro.

Kimberly Griffin (KG) – Performing Company Co-Director, Tap Director

A Bay Area native, Kimberly Griffin trained in tap, jazz, contemporary, modern, and ballet at a competitive studio where she was lucky enough to discover her passion for teaching earlier than most. Kim was privileged to work under renowned instructors such as Sam Weber, Ryan Lohoff, Michelle Miner, Namita Kapoor, and Angela Carter to name a few who helped shape her choreography and teaching style. With over 15 years of teaching experience, she has created award-winning dances, been honored with several choreography awards, and coached numerous title award recipients.

In 2015, Kimberly also joined Debbie Sternbach’s professional company, Fascinating Rhythm Productions. She won the first “So You Think You Can Tap” contest in May of 2010 and was awarded “San Francisco’s Best Tapper” by Arthur Duncan. In 2009, Kimberly was awarded the title of Miss Teen Walnut Creek, and competed in Miss Teen California Pageant. Currently she works as a Registered Nurse, serves as Director of Tap and Performing Company Co-director to keep tap alive and thriving!

Amanda Marquez (AM) – Performing Company Co-Director, Jazz Director, Latin Jazz

Amanda Marquez (AM) – Los Gatos Performing Company Co-Director, Jazz Director, Latin Jazz

Amanda Marquez’s dance background is versatile and extensive with her core training from The School of the Garden State Ballet, NJ in classical ballet, modern, and jazz. Her studies continued into New York Style Mambo, International Latin, and Latin Jazz. Amanda has made television appearances on Telemundo, Univision, and the BBC Vancouver, and has done many live performances including the Latin Billboard Awards in Miami. Amanda has taught and performed alongside director Sekou McMiller and SMC Dance Co. in Vancouver, China, Atlanta, Boston, Seattle, and Chicago. In addition, Amanda is certified in Ashtanga yoga and holds a BA degree in Sociology and Family Studies from San Jose State University, and also is on the faculty of the SJSU Dance Department.

Theresa Hoyer (TH), Prep Squad Director/Party Coordinator/Musical Theater/Adaptive Dance

Theresa Hoyer (TH), Prep Squad & Mini Squad Director/Party Coordinator/Musical Theater/Adaptive Dance

Theresa attended San Jose State University as a special major in Musical Theatre and a double minor in Dance and Elementary Education. In addition to dancing and performing, Theresa has worked as a stage manager and tech crew for various productions at SJSU and community theaters such as Tabard Theatre Co., Sunnyvale Community Players, and Company One. She is a musical theater director for Starting Arts. Theresa’s current goal is to become an elementary school teacher, as well as get involved with other theatre companies to pursue a career in outreach, bringing theater into schools and encouraging kids to be more confident and enthusiastic about the arts. Theresa teaches Tap, Musical Theater, and Combo classes, as well as classes for dancers with Special Needs, and she co-directs the Dance Attack! Prep Squad.

Anton Pankevich (AP) – Ballet

Anton Pankevich (AP) – Ballet trained at the Vaganova Academy in St. Petersburg, School of American Ballet in New York City, and San Francisco Ballet School. He has danced with New York City Ballet, Dutch National Ballet, Royal Ballet in London, Pacific Northwest Ballet, and Ballet San Jose. As a teacher, Anton has taught as a ballet master at English National Ballet, Stuttgart Ballet, National Ballet of Canada, Leipzig Ballet, Hanover Ballet, Wiesbaden Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, and Ballet San Jose.

Maria LaMance (ML) – Ballet

Maria LaMance (ML) – Ballet received her classical ballet training at the San Francisco Ballet School. As a dance major at San Francisco State University, she broadened her training in Modern Dance, anatomy, and kinesiology. Maria has performed professionally with numerous companies including Peninsula Ballet Theatre, Dance Through Time, Huckabay McAllister Dance, and Moving Arts Dance, with whom she performed principal roles on tours to Belarus, France, and Scotland. Most recently, Maria has been performing with Oakland Ballet, Run for Your Life Dance Company, Art Face Performance Group, and Menlowe Ballet Company. Maria has instructed children, teens, and adults in ballet, modern, drama, and character dance. In her teaching, Maria respects the individual anatomical and developmental capacities of every student and emphasizes the importance of musicality and self-expression.

Kaitlyn Ellis (KE) – Prep Squad/Hip Hop/Tap/Preschool Tap/Ballet

Kaitlyn Ellis (KE) – Prep and Mini Squad/Hip Hop/Tap/Preschool Tap/Ballet

Kaitlyn began dancing at the age of 2 at Dance Attack and joined the competitive team at 8 years old. Kaitlyn trained in tap, jazz, ballet, hip-hop, lyrical, and contemporary. She is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree in dance.

Dani Delgadillo (DD) – Hip Hop - DanceAttack

Dani Delgadillo (DD) – Hip Hop, Jazz, and Lyrical

Dani has been a competitive dancer in all styles including hip hop, jazz, contemporary, and lyrical since the age of 8. As a dancer, Dani grew to love all genres and specializes in style and movement quality. She has been recognized during her competitive career with many overall awards, scholarships, and National Grand championships. Dani began teaching in 2017 and soon became a popular and respected teacher in the Santa Cruz area. She serves as an assistant coach on the Aptos High School dance team, and she has choreographed for hip-hop conventions and competitive teams. Dani loves performing, teaching, and coaching and feels like the most rewarding moments are when her students grow and learn to love dance as she does.

Kaitlyn Scadina Mansfield (KSM) – Preschool Tap/Ballet/Hip Hop/Ballet/Jazz

With her background of B.A. in Dance from UC Berkeley, Kaitlyn loves continuing to impart her love and knowledge for dance to young minds. At Dance Attack she’ll be teaching jazz, tap, ballet, and hip-hop! Outside of Dance Attack! she choreographs youth musicals for Starting Arts and performs herself.

Lissa Martinez (LM) - Preschool Tap/Ballet, Jr. Hip Hop

Lissa Martinez is a passionate dance artist based in San Jose, California. From 2017 to 2019, she taught Hip Hop and Jazz in an after-school program with the Fremont Unified School District, where she discovered her love for working with young dancers.

From 2018 to 2022, Melissa trained and choreographed under the mentorship of Janel Tomblin Brown, co-directing biannual dance showcases for Ohlone Community College’s Theatre and Dance Department. In 2022, she competed in New York Style Mambo, Salsa, and Bachata at the San Francisco Salsa, Bachata, and Kizomba Congress (SFSBK), and in 2023, she performed with the Spartan Mambo competition team during a Golden State Warriors halftime show.

Melissa is currently pursuing her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance at San Jose State University and is expected to graduate in Winter 2025. She’s excited to share her love of movement and music with the next generation of dancers at Dance Attack!

David Fonnegra (DF) - Ballet

Joy Lee (JL) – Contemporary

Studio Owner

Owner Murphy Rowan started singing and dancing at age 5 right here in the Bay Area with Children’s Playhouse of San Jose. This early immersion, plus her theater degree from UC Davis, led to a busy performing career, including jobs at Great America (Yogi’s Great Election – 1988 – really!), American Musical Theater of San Jose (Grand Hotel), The Willows (Spitfire Grill), The Western Stage (The Who’s Tommy and City of Angels), 42nd St. Moon (Leave It to Me!), and TheatreWorks (Kept and Gypsy), as well as 5 Years at sea, performing roles like “Lola” in Copacabana on the Crown, Cunard, and Holland America cruise lines.

Murphy and her husband, Bryan, are so grateful to Elaine and Lee Pinto for entrusting the now 35-year legacy of Dance Attack! to them. They believe deeply in the importance of nurturing a love of learning as well as excellent education in the Arts, and are excited to continue the programs the Pintos have built, including classes and camps, professional dance instruction, and student choreography experience.