“Dance is my first love!” Her love of dance started at age 7 when her mother took her to her first dance class and from that point on dance has always been an important part of her life. During her years spent training and competing in SoCal, she trained with numerous amazing instructors including Deborah Kaye, Julie Rhoton, Keri LaGrand, Ashelv Barnett. Mark Haines. Rita Chenoweth, and Kelly Lamoureux. She has also taken master classes with some of the industries greatest; Mia Michaels, Tyce Diorio, Wade Robson, Gregg Russell, Dee and Tina Caspary and Doug Caldwell. She attended a performing arts magnet high school where she took dance classes every day, performed in three musical productions as the lead dancer under the direction of Robin Spear, was a varsity cheerleader and graduated with a Performing Arts seal on her diploma. Carlee has been teaching Ballet, Jazz, Tap, and Lyrical for more than 20 years. She has taught and choreographed all ages and levels here in California as well as in Washington where she was the competition team director and lead choreographer for 3 years. She has won numerous choreography, high point and most entertaining awards throughout the years with her competitors. Her passion is to share her love of dance with today’s youth. One of the best parts about teaching dance is being the first dance teacher to so many young dancers and watching them grow through the years. Many of her previous students have gone on to become teachers themselves and she has even taught alongside some throughout the years. That is a truly special gift!

Carlee graduated from California Baptist University in 2003 with a B.A. in Liberal Studies with an emphasis in Early Childhood Development and also furthered her education in the art of dance. When she is not teaching dance, she works full time as a Hiring Events Manager. She is a mother of three: 18 year old daughter Baylee who is also a dancer and recently completed her senior year competing for IDC, and 16 year old and 14 year old boys, Jackson and Zachary. She has been married to her high school sweetheart Adrian for 20 years. She is so grateful to be a part of IDC and continue to be a part of young dancers’ journeys.