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Meet the Team
Kelsey Phillips
Owner/Director
Kelsey Phillips Harrison has been dancing since she was 3 years old and teaching young performers for the past 12 years. She began training with the BYU Creative Young Dancemakers which developed her love of dance as a form of expression and artistry. Training continued at Classical Ballet Academy (now Ballet West Academy) and Center Stage, alongside training in classical piano, violin, voice and theater. Kelsey attended BYU and received her Bachelor’s of Arts in Music Dance Theater. Her choreography has been seen at multiple schools around the valley as well as Hale Center Theater Orem (now the Ruth) and the Jackson Hole Playhouse. She performed for 3 years with the BYU Young Ambassadors and has been part of many local and professional productions as well as touring internationally to Brazil, Argentina and China. As a teacher, Kelsey has taught youth dance and theater for over 12 years and has directed over 25 youth productions through the SCERA, Timpanogas Arts Foundation, Utah COPA, Hale Center Theater Orem and other local venues. She has years of experience helping artists of all ages learn and grow and her passion is for helping uplift youth to become their best selves through a study of the arts.
Karen Jensen
Lead Teacher
Karen Jensen was born and raised in Provo, Utah. She now lives in Lehi with her husband who she's known since elementary school, and has three adult children around the valley. She enjoys spending time with family, and going on short runs or walks when the weather is nice.
She has been teaching for over 20 years through her own state licensed preschool and day care, other established preschools in the area, as well as teaching and subbing for elementary schools. She finds helping children learn and grow very rewarding and can't wait to continue her teaching here at Learning in Motion!
Jamie Black
Lead Teacher
Jamie has lived in Saratoga Springs with her husband and 5 children for 5 years. She was born and raised in Utah. She has had a love for kids from a very young age. She spent the majority of her working years as a nanny for so many families. She has loved being in the classroom and watching her kids grow. She enjoys traveling, especially to the beach, hiking, photography, crafts, and of course teaching children! Her favorite part of teaching is watching how the children grow not only academically but socially and in independence. She’s very excited to be in the classroom and looking forward to a fantastic year!
Kim Wright
Lead Teacher
Kim has lived in Lehi for 19 years with an amazing husband and 2 beautiful children. She graduated from Weber State University with a teaching degree. Kim has been teaching preschool for 18 years, before that she taught 2nd grade for 5 years. She loves teaching children and watching them grow. She feels it is like having more of her own kids with so many amazing talents, and it is fun to watch them develop. She is so excited to add more amazing kids to her heart and show them a love of learning. She also loves sewing and making crafts and is excited to incorporate that into the classroom!
Michelle Smith
Lead Teacher
Michelle has been teaching for more than 25 years. In college Michelle studied education and dance performance. She was awarded the Presidential Dance Scholarship at Utah State Eastern and an Academic scholarship at UVU. At UVU she focused on classes in education. Michelle has been teaching at Learning in Motion for 2 years.
Franky
Movement Instructor
Dance and Tumbling
Franky is the creator of Allium
Movers, a pop-up collaborative troupe of
independent dancers. She is also a freelance artist and a member of the Allure Creative. She graduated from Utah Valley University with a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Modern Dance and Bachelors of Science with an emphasis in Behavioral Science and has worked with Oquirrh West Project & Synergy Dance Company while at UVU. Additionally, her research on dance and psychology has been presented at conferences on a regional and national level. In addition to setting two full ballets, her choreography has premiered on Allure Creative, Further Movement Collective, St. George Dance Company, Red Rock Festival Gala, and Synergy Dance Company at UVU. She is currently a full-time dance instructor, performer, and choreographer who is interested in fostering community, producing intimate performances, and exploring the human psyche.
Mariah
Movement Instructor
Jazz & Musical Theater
Mariah is absolutely loving teaching the preschool students jazz and musical theatre. Mariah has her degree in Musical Theatre and is passionate about instilling the love of music and movement into her students! After spending her childhood sitting at the piano and in rehearsals with her dad, Mariah fell in love with music, dance, and theatre. She went on to graduate with a degree in theatre performance with an emphasis in dance from BYU-Idaho and has been performing and pursuing an acting career in the Utah area for the last few years. In addition to her knowledge of musical theatre, Mariah loves to teach kids and has worked with kids in multiple theatre organizations. Mariah’s favorite dance styles (aside from musical theatre) are ballet and tap. When she’s not in the studio or the theatre, she loves to be outside, adventuring, and spending time with her sweet husband and two adorable kids. Mariah believes wholeheartedly in life-long learning and leading kids to have a passion for the arts that will last for their entire lifetime!