About Our Studio

Shelby West has been a dancer for over 20 years, training in multiple different styles. She was a competition dancer herself, winning many prestigious titles, awards and scholarships from notable competitions, conventions, and teachers like Stacey Tookey, Caroline Lewis-Jones, Chris Jacobson, and Napoleon and Tabitha Dumo. She was a company member and is the social media director of professional dance company, Kansas City Contemporary Dance where she has performed as a chorus member and soloist while also choreographing. She is also the owner and competition director of Westside Dance Company which opened in 2017. Lastly, she was the Assistant Coach of the Indian Trail Dance Team and was the Head Dance Coach at Ottawa University where she won KCAC Coach of the Year in 2024. Shelby has worked professionally with Melissa Thodos and Laura Gates of Thodos Dance Chicago and has danced in their touring show, performed in Modern Night at the Folly, danced alongside Kansas City Aerial Arts, and was in a music video with local artist “Of Tree.” Shelby has choreographed for multiple studios in the Kansas City area and has been recognized for her work prior to opening Westside where she has continued to win choreography, technique, and entertainment awards. She has also choreographed for local high school dance teams and their soloists. Shelby graduated from the University of Kansas with a Bachelors in Dance, where she was a part of Unity Hip Hop Crew, Rock Chalk Revue, and the University Dance Company. She has worked under many choreographers, including but not limited to, Sonya Tayeh, Fred Odgaard, Brooke Pierotti, and Ryan Warren. Shelby has also judged for local dance competitions. Shelby has a great passion for dance and loves being at the studio every night with her students!

Kristin began her dance training at the age of three with The Royal Academy of Dance curriculum. She later studied and performed with the youth company of The Mill Ballet School under the direction of Mark and Melissa Roxey, and it was there Krsitin danced with special needs populations through the Wheels and Bodies in Motion program. Upon moving to Kansas City, Kristin danced with local youth companies before attending the University of Kansas where she graduated with degrees in Dance and Psychology. While at Ku, Kristin performed with The University Dance Company and The Bowery Dancers. She has performed pieces by local artists at the Salina River Festival and Lawrence Arts Center Choreographer’s Showcase. Kristin has completed a MA degree in School Counseling and Ed. S. degree in Mental Health Counseling. Both at UMKC. She has counseling experience in elementary, middle, high school, and alternative school settings and currently works as a high school counselor in the Blue Valley School District.

Alycen Ellwanger has been a dancer for over 10 years. She started out at a ballet based studio where she honed in on her technique then she moved on as a founding member of the Westside Dance Company competition team. She joined Westside when they opened in 2017. Some of her favorite memories while dancing at Westside were competitions at the Music Hall, Adrenaline Conventions and Nationals in Orlando! While in high school she won many prestigious awards and scholarships like Honored Dancer at Adrenaline. Alycen was also a part of routines that received choreography and entertainment awards. Alycen has worked with many working teachers and mentors who are working in the industry like Nick Bass, Tanner Frisbey, Matt Luck, and Andie Stitt to name a few. While she was a competitive dancer she also was a member of the Saint Thomas Aquinas swim team and the dance team for three years where she served as Captain her senior year. Alycen has taught and helped kids in both swim and dance. She is currently a senior at The University of Kajnsas studying accounting. At KU she is Rock Chalk Revue director and a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma. Alycen is so excited to be back at Westside teaching and choreographing. She hopes her students make lasting memories at dance just like she did!

Victoria began dancing at the age of five at Western Arkansas Ballet, under Melissa Schoenfeld, Jared Mesa, and Brianna Mesa. While there, she was a member of their pre-professional dance company and participated in the Regional Dance America Southwest Festival annually. During the summers, she attended the Burklyn Ballet Theatre summer intensive and was given the opportunity to travel to Scotland to perform in the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2019. Victoria recently earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Performance and Choreography from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. During her studies, she performed pieces by Tom Gold, Christopher Huggins, Ronald Tice, Gary Abbott, Tobin James, Tempe Ostergren, DeeAnna Hiett, and Caroline Dahm. Currently Victoria is a freelance dancer in the KC area and also a dance teacher at Encore at the J and Westside Dance Company.

A’laina Corbin has been dancing for about 12 years. She has danced all over Johnson County, but Apex Dance Academy is her dance home. She started her competitive dance journey at Frontier Trail Middle School and continued at Olathe North High School as an Eaglette, where she developed her skills and passion for dance. Now, she is thrilled to be dancing at UMKC as a KC Roo, where she continues to grow and learn but also performs at games and collegiate competitions . Dance has been a huge part of her life, and she is excited to share her experiences and passion with all of you at Westside.

Nicole Ouyang is a sophomore at The University of Kansas, pursuing a degree in Human Biology. Nicole danced when she was younger but rekindled her love for dance in her junior year of high school right here at Westside. She continued her passion for hip-hop at KU by joining KU's Unity Hip-Hop Dance Crew. In the second semester of her freshman year, she became the team's choreographer. She is also on Karisma's performance team, where they have traveled to various places to perform such as Wichita University. She is excited to share her vibrant energy with the students at Westside.

Daphne has been dancing for over 20 years, starting out as a competitive dancer in her hometown of Colorado Springs, where she also spent time as a cheerleader, gymnast, and golfer. While earning her degree at the University of Kansas, she performed with both the University Dance Company and the Unity Hip Hop Team—deepening her love for performing and storytelling through movement. In 2015, Daphne brought the magic to life at Walt Disney World as a dancer, actor, and character performer, gracing parades, street parties, and stages as beloved Disney icons. Her passion for performance later led her to Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights as a scare-actor, where she also met her husband, Chris. The following year, she joined the opening cast of SeaWorld Orlando’s Sesame Street Land, delighting families in the Sesame Street Party Parade. In 2021, Daphne and Chris welcomed their daughter, Camille, and in 2025, their family relocated to Kansas. Daphne now works as a marketing manager and proudly shares her talent and love for dance as Westside’s favorite tap teacher.

Camyla spent eight years as a competitive gymnast before transitioning into the dance world right here at Westside for five years and four as a competitive dancer. As a dancer, she started late but worked very hard to get where she is at by working with teachers like Nick Bass, Koko Iwasaki, Max Pham, and Tanner Frisbey, After graduation, Camyla received a full ride scholarship to Ottawa University on their dance team where she spent her freshman year competing in team performance and as a soloist. Now, she has expanded her dance career and is a part of the Kansas City Roos Dance Team at UMKC currently while pursuing a major in Arts. Camyla has a passion for working with kids as she has been utilized as a substitute at the studio but also a coach at her gym while also participating in Kansas City Fashion Week. Camyla is excited to take on a teacher role at the same place she loved to dance.

Angel Waller is a Sophomore at Texas Tech University and a second year member of the Texas Tech University Pom Squad. She is from Lawrence, KS, where she attended Lawrence Free State High School and was a 4- year member of the Free State Dance Team, serving as captain during her senior year and was also awarded UDA “Top All American.” Angel has been dancing since she was 3 years old and started competing at 5 years old with Lawrence Dance Gallery. Angel has trained in ballet, jazz, ballroom, contemporary, lyrical and hip hop, and has won several individual and group National Championships and recognitions, including earning Stage One Dance’s first-ever perfect score at Nationals in 2021 for the lyrical small group “Gravity.” Angel has worked with several nationally recognized choreographers, including Shannon Mather, Nicole Smith, Steph & Andi, Caleb Brauner, Carley Lawrence, and Haley Erbert. In addition to her accomplishments in competition dance, Angel was also selected to participate in the Velocity Dance MVA+ Program, allowing her to travel and serve as a demonstrator in convention classes across the country. She also trained with ProAction Dance in August of 2023. Her professional credits include an appearance in Miya Guggs’s music video for “Vibe,” serving as a background dancer for Todrick Hall during the Velocity Dance Nationals Gala performance in Las Vegas, and performing with Texas Tech Pom in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in 2023.