OUR TEACHERS

Elizabeth Mallam

Instructor
2016

lizabeth was born in Monterey, California and moved to Boise when she was two years old. She started competing at the age of seven in gymnastics then began dancing at BDA in 2013 and has loved it ever since. Elizabeth has trained in jazz, ballet, hip hop, and contemporary, as well as competed as a member of Boise Dance Alliance’s company for five years. She has participated in multiple workshops such as Summer DanceFest at Boise State where she learned a variety of dance styles from well known choreographers.

Elizabeth recently graduated from Boise State University with her bachelor’s degree in Psychology. She is now working towards getting her master’s degree in Elementary Education from BSU and is the assistant dance coach at Timberline High School.

She truly enjoys working with children and is looking forward to sharing her passion for dance with them!

Katie Ponozzo

Instructor
2016

Katie was born and raised in northern Idaho, and studied dance at the University of Idaho with Festival Dance Academy. After moving to Boise to attend Boise State University Katie spent two years performing with Idaho Dance Theatre, one year with Stampede Spirit Dancers and two seasons with Drop Dance Collective. She currently dances and choreographs for Off Center Dance and will take over as artistic director starting fall 2016.

Katie teaches ballet at Boise State University and is head of the dance department at College of Idaho, teaching jazz, ballet and rhythmic skills. She also directs the high school dance department at Idaho Fine Arts Academy, a public arts school in Eagle, ID. Along with performing and teaching dance, Katie also performs aerial silks with Red Light Variety Show and teaches aerial yoga/fitness at Ophidia Studio. Katie was the 2012 recipient of the independent artist grant from Idaho Commission of the arts for her dance piece “Ball Change”. Katie graduated from Boise State University where she earned a BA in Theatre with dance emphasis, Cum Laude.

Brittany Zeigler

Event Manager and Instructor
2014

Brittany grew up in Boise and started dancing at the age of three. She started competing at the age of 7 and continued competing through graduation. Brittany danced on the Timberline Dance Team for four years in high school, and as captain her Senior year. She went on to dance for Boise State University’s Mane Line for four years in college. While in college she coached the Brave Sensation Dance Team at Boise High alongside Amber McKendrick for four seasons. She graduated with an Education degree from Boise State in 2019.

Brittany currently teaches Geometry at Borah High School and coaches the Borah Lionettes Dance Team. She is also pursuing her Master’s degree in Education. Brittany has been teaching and coaching at BDA for 6 seasons now and loves working with these kids. Brittany also runs our Ballerina Book Club on the weekends. She loves sharing her passion for dance with the students at BDA. In her free time she loves watching her husband coach and play lacrosse, getting outdoors, cheering on the Broncos, and spending time with her family.

Jordyn Starkovich

Instructor
2021

Jordyn Starkovich grew up in Lemoore, California and later moved to Auburn, Washington at the age of 13. She now attends Boise State University, seeking a degree in business administration and a minor in marketing. Following her college years, Jordyn hopes to utilize her degree and find a job in the business field, while still continuing to dance and train.

In each of these states, Jordyn danced competitively and trained in all styles of dance. At her home studio of Allegro Performing Arts Academy, she took ballet, jazz, tap, contemporary, hip hop, and musical theater classes. She competed at the national level as a soloist and with a team. Jordyn has trained under numerous world-renowned choreographers and performed with actor Taye Diggs and singer Hailee Steinfield. Jordyn now is a member of the Boise State Mane Line dance team, where she performs at sporting events and competes in jazz and hip hop at NDA Nationals in Florida.

Jordyn enjoys teaching and sharing her love for dance. She is beyond excited for her first year with Boise Dance Alliance!

Alyssa Zeigler

Office Manager
2015

Alyssa Zeigler has lived in Boise her whole life. She started dancing when she was three years old and started competing at the age of eight. She has trained in ballet, jazz, hip hop and tap. Alyssa has traveled all over the northwest for conventions and competitions to continue her training. She went to high school at Timberline in Southeast Boise and was a four-year member of the Silver Legacy Dance Team and was captain her last two years.

Alyssa just graduated from Boise State University in May 2021 with her BA degree and received a certificate in Business and Leadership. Alyssa was a four-year member of Alpha Chi Omega sorority at Boise State and will graduate with Alumni Status from the sorority.

Alyssa lives in Meridian Idaho with her parents and dog Teddy. She is currently the assistant coach of the Borah High School Dance Team and works in the main Office as well.

Alyssa has a passion for teaching dance and working with children. You will see Alyssa’s smiling face behind the front desk at BDA as well as in the studio teaching.

Ashley Maggard

Director
2010

Ashley, from Jackson Hole, Wyoming, received early training from Dancers’ Workshop in ballet and modern.  She attended summer intensives at Ballet West, Boston Ballet, and The Julliard School of Dance.  In 2009, Ashley earned her Bachelors degree in Elementary Education from Boise State University.

While attending BSU she performed and competed with the Boise State Mane Line Dance Team.  She also performed with the Idaho Stampede Dance Team for two years.  Ashley has been teaching and choreographing dance for 14 years and loves working with kids.  She is also proud to coach the Silver Legacy Dance Team at Timberline High School and has genuinely enjoyed working with the wonderful dance families in southeast Boise. Ashley and Jenn opened Boise Dance Alliance in May of 2010 and have felt so welcomed by this community.

Ashley is a proud firefighter wife to her husband, Josh, and they live in southeast Boise with their daughter and son. Becoming a mom to Layla and Colton has become Ashley’s greatest adventure. In their free time they enjoy mountain biking, hiking, camping, waterskiing and snow skiing. Ashley has incredible family support and feels so lucky that most of them live nearby.

Jenn Smart

Instructor
2010

Jenn began her dance training at the age of three at Kennedy School of Dance in Nampa, Idaho.  She trained in ballet, jazz, lyrical, hip hop and tap as well as performed and competed with the studio company and her high school dance team. Jenn graduated with a B.A. in Secondary Education from Boise State University and went on to teach for four years at Lake Hazel Middle School.

While pursuing her education at Boise State University, Jenn danced with BSU’s Mane Line Dance Team.  Jenn has taught and coached dance for the last 15 years and her choreography has won awards at the state and national level.  Jenn and Ashley opened Boise Dance Alliance in May of 2010 and feel very grateful to be a part of the southeast Boise community. Jenn is also one of the coaches for the Timberline High School Dance Team. She loves being able to give dancers the opportunity to compete and perform for their school at a varsity level.

Jenn and her husband, Ian, live in southeast Boise and love the community. Ian is the head football coach at Timberline High School. He and Jenn love being able to partner together to encourage and teach the youth in this community. They have one daughter, Adley. Jenn enjoys being a mom and feels so blessed that Adley gets to grow up surrounded by such positive, hardworking dancers to serve as her role models.