Adjunct Faculty

Maxi found her love of dance at a young age.  Raised in Northeast Ohio, she trained seriously at Keith’s Williams’ Performing Arts Academy and Hudson Conservatory of Ballet.  Under this direction, she became well versed in a multitude of dance styles.  Graduated from The Ohio State University, she holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Dance.  Maxi has been featured in pieces choreographed by Peter Chu, Lauren Edson, Joni McDonald, Ching Ching Wong, Micaela Taylor and Garrett Smith, to name a few.  She has attended various summer intensives and master classes with world renowned choreographers and company dance artists including those of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, Paul Taylor Dance, Parsons Dance, BalletX and Complexions Contemporary Dance.  In addition, she trained and assisted with Bellamoxi Dance Convention for two seasons and has worked closely with Justin Conte, Alex Little, Lukas Van Der Fichte, Gerran Reese and Michael Dameski.

In 2019, Maxi joined the contemporary fusion company Cleveland Dance Project for two seasons, and was appointed a member of The Cleveland Dance Project Company’s Nonprofit Board.  In 2020, she relocated to Salt Lake City, Utah.  She is now a professional performing artist with SALT Contemporory Dance.  She also reached a wide range of young dancers and has served as a Company Director.  Maxi is fully committed to each dance community she is a part of and welcomes the mentoring of today’s young dancers.  She holds the utmost gratitude for the opportunity to aid in her students’ investigation, growth and confidence as artists. 

Shelby Taylor is an accomplished dance professional with over a decade of experience, recognized for her passion, empathy, and creative expertise.  Her career has taken her across the globe, touring internationally with BYU’s Contemporary Dance Theater and collaborating with renowned choreographers such as Ihsan Rustem, Joni Tuttle McDonald and Lindsey Matheus.  She has also traveled with various dance conventions, assisting choreographers in styles including Hip Hop, Contemporary, Jazz and Ballet.  Shelby refined her craft through training at esteemed institutions such as the San Francisco Conservatory of Dance, Broadway Dance Center in New York City, and Edge Performing Arts Center in Los Angeles.

As a professional dancer, Shelby has built an impressive career in New York and Los Angeles, performing in concerts, music videos, commercials, live shows and television.  Specializing in heels and street styles, she is deeply committed to honoring the cultural roots of these forms and educating students with authenticity and care.

Shelby holds a Business Degree from BYU with a specialization in event industry management, a skill set that has guided her as a successful freelance artist and community leader.  She was awarded the prestigious Utah Artist Fellowship in recognition of her significant contributions to the arts community, particularly through her leadership with Fleet Cooperative.  As the director of Fleet, a professional dance co-op based in Salt Lake City, she creates opportunities and experiences that enrich the community and foster a safe and sustainable environment for artists.

In addition to her performance career, Shelby is an experienced dance cinematographer, working with companies like Salt Contemporary Dance to capture their work through the lens of a movement artist.  She utilizes this skill to create opportunities for sharing dance in the digital age, translating choreography into impactful visual art.  Shelby has empowered dancers and choreographers to share their work through social media and professional portfolios, helping to capture submissions and craft visuals for performances.

Committed to fostering the longevity of dance careers, Shelby equips students with the technical and life skills necessary to sustain and enjoy fulfilling performance journeys.  As a Lagree certified trainer, she incorporates her knowledge of injury prevention and muscular endurance into her mentorship.  Shelby believes great work can be created anywhere and is excited to inspire and empower the next generation of dancers in the Utah community.

Izzy is from Park City, Utah, born and raised.  She has grown up dancing almost her entire life, training with Park City Dance Academy, Ballet West Academy Park City, and Summit Dance Project, as well as the Park City High School Dance Company.  She trained in contemporary, ballet, tap, jazz, hip-hop and other styles.  She has grown up competing at many competitions, including winning Nationals at Artists Simply Human with her team in the 2022/23 season.  She now dances at the University of Utah and is excited to begin her dance career by teaching at SDP.

Born and raised in Park City, Utah, Lucy has been dancing since she was 6 years old.  She fell in love with dance after her very 1st hip-hop class at Park City Dance Academy.  Throughout her formative years, Lucy continued to study dance with Park City Dance Academy, Ballet West and Summit Dance Project.  She has trained in several dance styles including contemporary, tap, jazz, ballet, hip-hop and many other styles.  Lucy and her team have also won many accolades and awards at several competitions such as Artists Simply Human, Hollywood Connection, NUVO and Jump.  Lucy is currently taking classes at Salt Lake Community College and taking dance classes throughout Salt Lake City.