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INTRODUCING the uda STAFF
JACK BEERY - UDA INSTRUCTOR
Jack has been dancing since the age of two. Growing up in a dancing family has instilled a love of dance in him. In addition to his incredible talents and gifts he can share with his students he is quite a personality in the classroom. Jack has a gift of inspiring and energizing his students. Through his time on the stage, he received many top regional and national awards, Judge’s choice and dance scholarships for his amazing talents. He has also received numerous competition titles as a top soloist through his many years on the stage. His titles include Mr. Primetime, Mr. Thunderstruck, Mr. StarQuest, Mr. Junior, Mr. Teen then Mr. Senior Dance from Kids Artistic Review, Mr. Showbiz, Mr. Bravo, Mr. Showstopper, Mr. Starpower and Mr. National Spotlight. Jack always loved to be a part of something great with his friends at UDA for so many years. Jack was a part of many incredible teams that accomplished great achievements as a team at UDA. He was honored to be a part of several dances that were nominated for the Industry Dance Awards in both tap and hip hop. In 2017, his small group tap team made it all the way to the IDA finals in LA, California. Jack was a member of the Universal competitive company since the age of five. He has had the honor of working with many leading teachers and choreographers from across the nation. Jack attended Southwest High School. He was an honor roll student and member of The National Honor Society and a member of the Southwest Varsity football team. Jack received the Young Artist Award from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln for his excellence in dance. Jack loves to perform. Jack created magic on the Universal Dance Academy stage bringing to life “The Beast” in the 2018 production of “Belle’s Enchanted Castle” and also “Prince Eric” in the 2019 performance of “Ariel’s Adventure”. The past three years Jack has loved working with his amazing students. His teaching, choreography and coaching have allowed his students to achieve top awards and honors at competitions at the regional and national level. Jack's chorographic work and inspiring instruction has allowed his dancers to win top scores as well as the titles of “Premier Mr. Nexstar, “Miss Junior Elite Primetime”, “Miss Junior Extreme Primetime", "Junior Mr. Spotlight”, “Junior Mr. Primetime”, “Mr. StarQuest”, “Junior Dancer of the Year Finalist”, and “Mr. Junior Dance”. This summer Jack stood proud as his soloist Asher Gooding earned the 2022 National Dance Honors Honored Mini Dancer National Title in Austin, TX with his performance of "Can't Touch This" choreographed by Jack. Jack is a senior Regents scholar at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln majoring in computer science with a minor in math. He is looking forward to another great year at UDA sharing his love of dance with his students.
MACY BEHRENS - UDA INSTRUCTOR
Macy began dancing at the age of three and has been a member of the Universal Dance Academy family for over a decade. She will be beginning her sixth year on staff this fall. She has studied ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, and hip hop and was also a member of the Universal Competitive Company and part of the repertory team for many years. She was a recipient of UDA’s annual scholarship based on her commitment to and love for dance. Macy was also captain of her high school dance team, the Lincoln High Pomalinks and was recognized as an All-American dancer by the Universal Dance Association. From 2017 to 2020 she was a member of the Association’s staff, which hosts summer camps for high school and college dance teams across the nation. These camps included instruction of routines, working with teams to improve overall technique and skills, judging of routines, and supplying team and individual level feedback. Through this opportunity she has traveled to many states across the nation, including Florida, Illinois, Wisconsin, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Minnesota and more to share her knowledge of and love for dance. She has worked as a judge for the ARC Conference Cheer and Dance Championship, the Light the Fire regional competition, the Spirit of America Championship in Minnesota, the Nebraska State Dance competition, and the National Dance Team Championships in Disney World. She was also selected as one of three dancers to instruct and assist the Varsity Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day Parade for Junior High and Junior Varsity Dancers and Cheerleaders in 2019. She has choreographed and cleaned competition routines for college and high school dance teams in and around Lincoln, and judged many local high school and college dance team annual tryouts. In 2021, Macy graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a double major in Advertising/Public Relations and Graphic Design and minor in Textile/Merchandising/Fashion Design. Along with teaching at Universal, she currently works full time as a Graphic Designer. Macy is grateful for her many opportunities to share her love for dance with her UDA family and to be able to work among the amazing staff at UDA!
KELSIE BLISS - UDA INSTRUCTOR
Kelsie has been dancing since the age of 2 at Universal Dance Academy; she has studied jazz, tap, hip hop, lyrical, contemporary, pointe and ballet. Kelsie was a part of the Universal Competitive Company for nine years competing in regional and national competitions where she was awarded scholarships to AMDA, Millennium Dance Complex, and Theatre Arts Preparatory School winning many first overalls and judges choice awards. In high school, Kelsie was a part of the Apollinaire’s Dance Team at Lincoln East High School she also spent a summer in Florida studying at the Joffrey Ballet intensive. After High School Kelsie studied for six months in Las Vegas, NV at Theatre Arts Preparatory School where she learned many new styles including, ballroom, heels, musical theatre, aerial work, and took acting and singing lessons. While in Las Vegas Kelsie taught tap and jazz at The Rock Center for Dance. During the summer of 2018 Kelsie was honored to be selected for her first professional opportunity as a performer in Vertical Impact that took place at Cedar Point Theme Park in Sandusky, OH. As one of 8 dancers in the act she performed in four shows a day, six days a week. Kelsie loves working with her students at Universal Dance Academy and is excited to be a part of the teaching staff at UDA. Kelsie attends The University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where was a previous member of the Husker Scarlets Dance Team.
PIAGE BROPHY - UDA INSTRUCTOR
Paige has been dancing since the age of three and began receiving training from Universal Dance Academy when she was nine years old. She has studied a variety of styles including ballet, pointe, jazz, tap, lyrical, contemporary, hip hop, and musical theater. Paige competed with Universal’s Competitive Company where she has scored numerous first place awards at both regional and national competitions with her solos, trios and group dances. She has had many main character roles throughout her time at Universal on both the Universal Repertory team and the annual ballet recitals. Some roles include Cogsworth in “Belle’s Enchanted Castle”, Scuttle in “Ariel’s Adventure”, Abu in “Aladdin”, and The Cowardly Lion in “The Wizard of Oz”. Paige was also a recipient of UDA’s annual scholarship based on her commitment and love for dance. Some of her biggest accomplishments have been winning a $60,000 scholarship to AMDA, earning many title awards including Miss Star Power and Miss Dance, and being nominated as a finalist at the Industry Dance Awards with her jazz group. Currently Paige has the opportunity to travel with Revel Dance Competition as a faculty assistant. Currently Paige is majoring in Advertising and Public Relations with a minor in Humanitarian Affairs. Paige is grateful for the opportunity to share her knowledge of dance as well as work with the amazing UDA staff.
HALIE GIBSON - UDA INSTRUCTOR
Halie began dancing at Universal Dance Academy at the age of four years old and studied ballet, pointe, lyrical, jazz, contemporary, tap, and hip hop. Halie was a part of the Universal Competitive Team for nine years. She competed extensively at regional and national events over the years. During her time at Universal, she was awarded many national titles and top overalls. She is honored to have had many main character opportunities in Universal Dance Academy’s ballet performances. She played Ariel in “Ariel’s Adventure”, Dorothy in “The Wizards of Oz”, and Gaston in “Belle’s Enchanted Castle.” In high school, Halie was a part of the Lincoln North Star Dazzlers Dance Team and served as their captain her junior and senior years. Her dance team also competed in multiple state dance competitions. Some of Halie’s greatest accomplishments were receiving the “Young Artist” award at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. This award is awarded to individuals who specialize in dance, music, or theatre. Halie is currently a member of the Husker Scarlets Dance Team and is studying Elementary Education at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Halie is very excited to continue her love for dance through teaching and helping her students grow. She is so grateful for all of the opportunities Universal has given her and will always give one-hundred percent of herself to her students.
Sarah Mathis - UDA INSTRUCTOR
Sarah has been dancing at Universal Dance Academy since she was three years old. She has studied ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, hip hop, and modern dance. Sarah was a member of Universal’s Competitive Company for seven years where she was part of many award-winning performances at the regional and national level. In high school Sarah was a captain of the Lincoln Northeast Star Strutters Dance Team for her junior and senior years where she was recognized as an All-American Dancer for three years at NDA dance camp. Sarah has also choreographed a top three High school state dance routine. Sarah is continuing her education at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln where she is majoring in Human Development and Family Science, along with a minor in Dance. Sarah is so grateful and excited to be able to work with the amazing students and staff at Universal Dance Academy and to continue spreading her love for dance!
Lucinda (lucy) Swartz - UDA INSTRUCTOR
Lucinda Schwartz is from Lincoln, Nebraska. From the age of two, she attended Universal Dance Academy up until she graduated from Lincoln Southeast High School, where she was a Lincoln Southeast Shirette. She grew up as a versatile dancer and was a member of the Universal Competitive Company. She attended several dance conventions and competitions through the years with the UCC team. While attending the Adrenaline dance convention, she won a $20,000 scholarship to her dream college/conservatory AMDA (The American Musical and Dramatic Academy) in her junior year of high school.
After graduating in 2018, she decided to further her education at AMDA College of the Performing Arts in Los Angeles, California where she had the honor of learning from numerous professionals in the dance industry. In June 2021, she graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Dance Theatre. She has since had the privilege of being a 2-time Kansas City Chiefs Cheerleader finalist and performing as a part of the field cast in the Pepsi Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show. Lucy is very excited to share her love of dance with her students and help them grow in their own dance journey.
Maureen White - office manager
Maureen danced at Universal Dance Academy from its origination in 1995 to dance retirement in 2012. She has experience on the competition team during that time as well as taking classes as an adult. She attended the University of Nebraska - Lincoln graduating in 2014 with a bachelors degree. Maureen started working in the Universal office in 2018 and has a great knowledge of the dance world both recreational and competitive. She is here to help you with any questions or concerns you may have.