MEREDITH LEE - Artistic Director, Instructor

(BALLET, TAP, HIP HOP, CONTEMPORARY, FUTURE STARS)

Meredith's teaching style combines her multi-dimensional approach to cognitive development with a focus on strong technique and musicality. She has become a master instructor, through the course of more than 25 years of energetically coaching and instructing over 100,000 students of all ages and backgrounds.

In 2002, just months after receiving her BA in Psychology from UCLA, Meredith opened Got Rhythm Dance in Thousand Oaks. In 2013, she relocated to Ventura. Through continuous development of the programs and curriculums at Got Rhythm, Meredith remains committed to spreading awareness about the many physical, cognitive and psychological benefits associated with learning dance.

When she's not at the studio, you'll find her creating unique opportunities to achieve the types of small successes that can become building blocks for self-confidence. Meredith's greatest joy is helping to propel others in the direction of living a truly fulfilling life by recognizing and seizing our endless chances to dare greatly. 

MEGAN ROBINSON - Instructor, Enrollment Coordinator

​(BALLET, JAZZ, CONTEMPORARY, COMBO)  

Megan grew up dancing and later teaching at the Kansas City Ballet School. She was a Dance Company member at the University of Kansas while working towards her Bachelors of Fine Arts in Dance. Megan also enjoyed performing with the Trey McIntyre Project and with  Thodos Dance Chicago.

​In 2017, Megan relocated to Ventura and joined the staff at Got Rhythm Dance. Megan maintains the position of Enrollment Coordinator, making her the friendly expert answering all your registration questions. In addition, Megan has been teaching students age 5-adult and working closely with Meredith to develop the Got Rhythm Toddler Success Formula.

AHNA LIPCHIK - Instructor

​(BALLET, CONTEMPORARY, ACRO)

​Ahna grew up dancing at the Milwaukee Ballet School and Academy, and age 16, left home to attend the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. Later, she earned high marks and choreography awards at both the Youth America Grand Prix and World Ballet Competition.

Ahna is passionate about sharing the unique art form of dance, and honored to play a role in the development of her students' self-awareness, discipline and responsibility, while they learn to express emotions and stories through movement.

When she's not teaching, Ahna is in the studio rehearsing or on tour performing with State Street Ballet in Santa Barbara.

KELSEY REED - Instructor

(HIP HOP, POP STARS)

Kelsey grew up in Santa Ynez Valley, training and performing in ballet, pointe, jazz, flamenco, contemporary and hip hop. After graduating high school she went on to get her bachelor's degree at California Lutheran University in Communication and Psychology. While completing her degree, Kelsey served as the Vice President of CLU's Dance Club. During her senior year, she was invited to perform and compete in American County Dance Association Choreography Festival. After taking a short dance hiatus while completing her master's degree in Counseling Psychology, Kelsey is so excited to be back dancing and teaching at Got Rhythm!

MELISSA METCALF - Instructor

​(BALLET)

Melissa began studying ballet at a young age. As a teenager she attended summer dance programs at Cleveland Ballet, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, American Ballet Theatre, and San Francisco Ballet. She received a ballet scholarship to Brigham Young University where she performed with the Theatre Ballet and International Folk Dance Ensemble teams and graduated with a bachelor’s degree. Melissa has enjoyed teaching choreography to trained dancers as well as non-dancers in community settings. She’s a mother of two and loves dancing with the great people at Got Rhythm.

CONNOR CASAVAN - Instructor

​(BALLET, CONTEMPORARY)

​Connor has a passion for creativity in movement, and is a tireless supporter of those who have the will to dance. In addition to a diverse performance background, Connor has provided choreography and rehearsal direction for numerous dance, musical theatre and concert productions, including a series of short films for the Cutting Room, consultation for Sony Play Station and a collaboration with Grammy-winning artist, Colbie Caillat. He is excited to have returned to teaching and sharing his experience with the students of Got Rhythm.

CHASEN GREENWOOD - Guest Faculty

​(BALLET)

Chasen has been featured in Dancer Magazine as "one to watch," completing a nationwide tour as soloist with State Street Ballet. His choreography won "Best Young Choreographer" at Regional America Southwest. Chasen began his career performing with Leann Rimes, and in the musical Casper (national tour), training on full scholarship with Pacific Northwest Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, Houston Ballet, and Ballet Austin.

TAYLOR KOESTER - Guest Faculty

(POP STARS, HIP HOP)

​Taylor has been dancing since age three and has never stopped for the art that fulfills her heart the most!

She has grown up dancing and competing at Southern California California schools. Taylor trained professionally with top choreographers in the dance industry at both the New York City and Los Angeles campuses of The American Musical and Dramatic Academy and received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree majoring in Dance Theatre. 

ELIDA DE FAZIO - Guest Faculty

​(BALLET, CONTEMPORARY)

Elida has been training for seventeen years at various studios including Santa Clarita Ballet, Westside School of Ballet, The Joffrey Ballet Intensive Summer Program, American Ballet Theatre Collegiate Summer Intensive, and IALS and Teatro Golden in Rome, Italy. In 2018, Elida placed in the Top 12 Classical Division in the Youth American Grand Prix Los Angeles Semifinals. She holds her RAD Advanced 2 Certificate with Distinction, and loves teaching dance to children.  Elida has recently joined the Professional Track with State Street Ballet in Santa Barbara. Her  belief is that dance is an expressive art form that all people deserve to enjoy.

ALISSA HARTT - Guest Faculty

​(TAP)

Alissa has trained her whole life in various styles including jazz, contemporary, lyrical, ballet and tap, her favorite. She danced competitively for eight years during which she performed multiple award-winning group dances and solos, and was the Varsity Captain of her high school dance team. Alissa received most of her formative training from Meredith Lee, and continues to take her weekly Tap and Contemporary classes.

​Alissa graduated from the University of Arizona with a degree in Psychology, and works as a Behavioral Therapist. Alissa’s passion dance and teaching, make her a strong, caring, and enthusiastic instructor.

​NATALIE KRAMER - Guest Faculty

​(BALLET)

Natalie has danced Principal and Soloist roles, appeared in FOX’s “So You Think You Can Dance” Promo,” Fashion and Awards Show, films, music videos and TV series, and modeled for L.A. Fashion Week and “Project Runway.” She was co-director of East Wind Productions, and later founded Commedia Ballet Theatre in Dallas.

​Natalie’s vision is “to honor the heritage and history of classical ballet while utilizing modern stories, music, and theatrical elements to produce new, creative performances that will entertain, entice, and excite a new generation of audiences as never before seen.”