All of our instructors are Christian Artists, skilled in their various art form, passionate about serving God with their talents, and dedicated to instilling a desire for excellence within each of their students as they pursue the expansion of Gods kingdom through the surrendering and offering of their gifts.

Sarah "Saza" Dimmick, School Administrator and Director of the EAS Hip Hop Company
Sarah “Saza” Dimmick is an educator/choreographer/performer who has been actively pursuing a life in the arts for most of her years. She has a BFA in dance education from Arizona State University, and has studied, taught and performed throughout the U.S.

In the education arena, Saza has taught on the dance faculties at Arizona State University and Glendale Community College. She also served as Dance Director at Willow Canyon High School where she directed the Canyon Fusion Dance Company, and, most recently, Dance/P.E. faculty at Dobson High School, where she also directed the Dobson Hip Hop Club. Through a grant from Kellogg’s and Phoenix Women’s Sports Association, Saza wrote and taught the curriculum for the Stardust House community dance program in central Phoenix. She also co-developed an after-school dance program at Arizona State University called Moving Inventors. Saza has taught and presented curriculum throughout the US, including the Dance and the Child International (DACI) conference and the National Dance Education Organization (NDEO) national conferences four times. She has lectured and taught at universities in New York, Pennsylvania, Michigan, California, as well as Arizona. Saza has received many awards for her teaching ability, including the prestigious Artsbridge America Scholarship, the National Dance Education Organization (NDEO) 2004 Student Scholarship, and the Arizona State University Intercollegiate Athletics Board’s Award for Most Inspirational Faculty Member. Currently, in addition to her position as School Administrator for Experience Arts School, she serves as Artistic Director for EPIK Dance Company, an award-winning professional street fusion dance company in Phoenix.

Saza loves to choreograph, and has created pieces for the Seattle Supersonics (NBA), the Golden State Warriors (NBA), the Portland Trailblazers (NBA), the Phoenix Suns (NBA), the Seattle Storm (WNBA), the Phoenix Mercury (WNBA), the Miss Teen Arizona Pageant, an episode for MTV’s “My Super Sweet 16,” and live performances and a music video for up and coming R&B artists JR and Renee. Her performance credits also include works by David Dorfman, Cliff Keuter, Yvonne Rainer, the 2008 NBA Allstar & Celebrity Games and live performances for hip hop artist Queen Yonasda. She also toured as a dancer and co-choreographer for the drum and dance group, Street Jam, and was a member and co-choreographer for the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury Hip Hop Squad for seven years. Previously, Saza also danced for FLUX Dance Project, a professional modern dance company, who just recently performed at the ODC Theater in San Francisco. She was recently featured in a Cox Communications commercial and Dance Teacher and Dance Spirit magazines. Saza is excited to finally find a place to use the gifts God gave her to serve Him and His purposes.

Rena Sue Brown, Music Director
Arizona 2008 Metropolitan National Council Audition finalist, Rena Sue Brown, specializes in 20th century music and the opera roles of the lyric mezzo-soprano repertoire, as well as pop, jazz and musical theatre styles. She has also been the recipient of multiple vocal awards from the University of Colorado at Boulder, the Denver Lyric Opera Guild, and the National Association for Teachers of Singing.

Rena earned a Masters of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of Colorado at Boulder and a Bachelors of Music in Vocal Performance from Grand Canyon University. She has performed the roles of Cherubino in Le Nozze di Figaro, Hänsel in Hänsel und Gretel, Chinese Cup and Dragonfly in L’Enfant et les sortileges, Dorabella in Cosi fan tutte, Jo March in Little Women, and Ma Moss in The Tender Land.

In addition to these opera roles, Rena has performed multiple musical theatre roles, and has been a mezzo-soprano soloist for musical theatre reviews. Rena’s unique skills and musicianship have enabled her to perform multiple 20th century pieces that have not been widely performed, including the mezzo-soprano solo in the Evidence of Things Not Seen by Ned Rorem and two songs by Lukas Foss from his Song of Songs.

Since a young age, Rena has performed extensively at her home church in Christmas and Easter musicals and contemporary Christian solo repertoire. Throughout high school and college, she also sang a wide range of jazz and choral literature. For the last few years, Rena has enjoyed the privilege of building a private voice studio in Tempe called Studio 98. Recently joining the City of Grace music department as Vocal Director and the EAS School, Rena looks forward to many wonderful moments growing in musical skill and Christ-like character while challenging others to do the same.

Mindy Pellum: Overture Division Director, Director of the Sr. Contemporary Company
Mindy Pellum began dancing here in the Valley at the age of nine. Before long she was training several days a week and competing nationally. But any victory was all too often met with defeat due to chronic health issues and injuries. After spending too many years of her life pursuing HER dreams and struggling with every step, she finally discovered the joy and blessing that comes when we offer our gifts and talents to the Lord.

Now, seventeen years later, Mindy can’t imagine dancing and choreographing for any other reason than to glorify the very God who blessed her with these gifts, and who has healed and saved her through His Son, Jesus Christ.

Dance has not only taken Mindy deeper into the presence of the Lord, it has taken her across the nation and around the world. From L.A. to Jamaica, Germany to Nepal, she has been able to share her gifts through performances, master classes, and the mission field.

As much as she loves dance, Mindy loves discipling young people and reaching the nations even more. Since graduating from Southwestern Bible College in 2007 with a B.S. in Christian Ministries, she has had the opportunities of serving as College Pastor and Children’s Ministry Director in the local church body as well as serving and leading teams on the mission field through Youth with a Mission (YWAM) and Youth for Christ.

When she is not dancing or traveling, you can find a camera or guitar in her hands. Mindy says, “I love every form of art, and I think it is wonderful to be able to reflect the glory of our Creator through our own creations.”

She is honored to be a part of the EAS staff and knows that God is going to do mighty things in and through this school.

John Ivory Myers III… a.k.a. VREE
Overture Division Director, Assistant Director of the EAS Hip Hop Company
Ivory graduated from Chandler-Gilbert Community College May 2009, where he earned an Associate’s Degree in Dance Education. His currently a dance major at Arizona State University, and has switched his major to Performance and Choreography. Ivory is thoroughly amped about attending ASU and making some noise there for the kingdom! After making the decision to follow what the Lord had put in his heart to pursue his dancing back in 2006, he has grown tremendously not only as a dancer but as a son of God. Stepping back into the dance world after his freak accident on June 1st, 2005, which caused him to put dance up on the shelf for a season, was a huge step of faith and has stretched him in so many areas as a follower of Christ. After rededicating his life to the Lord in August of 2005, his heart and passion for dance has been magnified to a whole new dimension. Ivory has been dancing since childhood and was raised on strictly hip hop. With no formal training in the style, he had always considered himself a free-style dancer at heart. But since his rededication to the church, he has found an all consuming fire in the dance style KRUMP! Since finding himself as a KRUMP dancer, Ivory has been spreading The Good News and his love for God through the art of dance every opportunity the Lord presents him with. Ivory has also been challenged to take up more styles of dance such as ballet, lyrical, modern and jazz, and it has done nothing but open doors to other great opportunities to develop and perfect his craft.

Ivory has succeeded in choreographing several pieces for Chandler-Gilbert student showcases, as well as high schools in the valley. He has also performed in faculty showcases for Chandler-Gilbert. He has been invited to choreograph and minister dances by churches across the valley starting with his home church, Faith Christian Center, in Phoenix, City of Grace, and Central Christian Church in Mesa! Ivory believes strongly that if you allow your steps to be ordered by God then your gift will make room for you!

Seeing that the dance world needs to be ‘flipped upside-down’ by a few faithful men or women after God’s own heart, Ivory is ecstatic about continuing to be a part of the EAS program! Ivory wants nothing more but to be an available and willing vessel who vows to bring more than just dance moves to the table, but along with that, hard work, enthusiasm, and unspeakable joy to his classes. He is looking forward to the marvelous journey the Lord has for him with EAS!

Olivia Manos: Director of the Junior Dance Company
Olivia Manos has been dancing since 2001, and knew it was her passion right away. After times of struggle, she has been able to find herself in God through dance, and has never wanted anything else but to use her gift and passion for His glory. Olivia started doing regional, state, and national competitions in 2003 where she also took workshops and classes from internationally known master choreographers such as Tina Caspery-Cyphert, Napoleon and Tabitha D’umo, Tyce Diorio, Brian Freedman, John Crutchman, and Alan Sherfield. She has been assisting in classes and teaching for over 4 years and has experience and a passion for students of all ages. Olivia’s main dance studies have been in modern, jazz, ballet, pointe, and tap. She has dabbled in ballroom and hip hop, as well. Since 2005, Olivia has been deeply involved in Experience Arts School and has found her very best friends there. Olivia finds such joy in teaching little ones how to move their bodies in a graceful and beautiful way to glorify the Lord, and also loves to teach mature adults the stunning art form.

Dana Brechtel: Director of the Children's Dance Company
Dana began dancing at the age of 3. Her first ballet teacher made a lasting impression that has carried throughout her life. As a love for music and dance grew in her, she aspired to a professional career. In high school, Dana auditioned and was accepted into the Milwaukee Ballet Summer Program. Following that she was accepted into University of Arizona’s Dance Program which led her to move from her home in Wisconsin to beautiful Arizona. It was at this point, that God moved in her life and Dana came to know the love of God for her and the saving power of Jesus. She began to walk in the faith that she had known as a child.

Dana has been professionally trained in ballet, pointe, modern, and jazz as well as music and voice. She also had the opportunity to teach ballet through college at a local studio in Tucson. She graduated from the University of Arizona with a degree in music with a vocal emphasis and a dance minor. Dana felt God leading her into ministry and began working on the campus teaching the Bible to college students. It was then that she met her husband, fell in love, and was married. They now have three beautiful children. Recently, God has given Dana a desire to use her experience, training, and gifts to impart a love for the God who created the arts as well as an appreciation for those beautiful expressions. Joining Experience Arts School is a dream that has been in her heart for a long time.

Lora Eubanks: Signing as Worship
Lora first began dancing in 1998 at Jeanne’s School of Dance and became a member of Ballet Etudes in 2002. That same year, she joined Experience Arts School and has been a member of its company ever since. She has studied multiple forms of dance with an emphasis on ballet, pointe, and contemporary. She is currently attending Mesa Community College with a major in Psychology and a minor in American Sign Language. Lora has had a deep love for the Lord since an early age. She was a worship leader at Immanuel Presbyterian Church for three years and finds being able to worship God through dance to be the deepest form of adoration that she has ever experienced.

Stella Atkinson: Ballet Instructor
Stella began dancing at the age of 5. She trained for 10 years at Campbell's Dance Studio in Mesa, performing roles in their annual Nutcracker production such as Clara, Snow Queen, Dew Drop, and Sugar Plum. She also danced with Nadja Langenhorst during her high school and college years. In 2007, she was accepted into the trainee company at Ballet Magnificat in Mississippi. She spend the next two years training and performing in the Jackson area, sharing the Gospel through ballets such as Unveiled Hope, Lord of All, and Freedom. She has now returned to Mesa for this season, and is excited to be a part of EAS once more. Stella has a passion to use dance for the purpose for which it was created: to glorify and magnify the King of Kings! She hopes to encourage her students to pursue excellence in their artistic abilities, and to make the goal of such excellence worship and adoration of their Savior Jesus. In Stella's spare time, she enjoys cooking, reading, hangin with family and friends, and anything related to Disney princesses.

Nicole Graffeo: Aerial Instructor
Nicole started out as a dancer on the floor, but after several years she just got bored! Looking for a new challenge she ventured into aerial arts and has not returned to the ground since! Initially having a fear of heights, Nicole believes aerial dance can bring victory and confidence into anyone's life. Her teaching philosophy is based on patience and persistence, and she urges her students to keep with it and you will literally reach new heights! Nicole is from NYC where she received her initial aerial training from Amanda Topaz of RockitAerials and Murray Hill Aerial Studio. Before moving to AZ in 2007 she was on faculty at Dance New Amsterdam teaching jazz. Since the move across country Nicole has taught master classes in modern, improv, and hip hop at many local studios including the School of Ballet Arizona, semesters at Glendale and Scottsdale Community College, and residencies at Paradise Valley Community College and the Arizona School for the Arts. You can see her performing aerial dance all throughout the valley, and is currently working with Jeremy Miller training Phoenix's first aerial troupe, Altitude Aerial Dance Company.

Don Pedersen: Drawing/Painting/Sculpting
Don is an accomplished artist and teacher that works in many media, and at many different levels. He has taught art for forty years at the high school and adult level, and has worked in the arts professionally for companies like Disney, Hannah Barbara, the Luxor Hotel and Caesar’s Palace, just to name a few. His main goal is to get his students to find their interest in art, and to help them to attain to the highest level they can achieve.

Carole Hillsbury, Watercolor Instructor
"Each scene or person I paint elicits a personal response and fires my imagination. I want to capture that moment and convey those thoughts and emotions to my viewer."

Carole Hillsbury has been painting in transparent watercolors for over twenty-five years. She has studied with such notable artists as Robert E. Wood, Charles Reid, Diane Maxey and Ted Nuttall.

Carole describes herself a “shape maker,” starting with large fresh washes of color and working toward smaller, more intense shapes and colors that define the subject. She is an impressionist in her approach to her work which has been described as "meticulously imprecise" as she thoughtfully and carefully builds shapes to represent her subject.

Carole is a member of the Arizona Watercolor Society, Transparent Watercolor Society of America and Arizona Artist Guild. She is a featured artist in the December 2006 American Artist magazine.

Sarah Hines: EAS Creative Arts Class
Sarah Hines has been dancing since she was little, when her mom started turning on praise music in their kitchen for some family worship time. She formally started dancing in Beautiful Feet dance troupe at Word of Grace church (now City of Grace) at 8 years old, and has been dancing – with some breaks in between – since then, including classes in Ballet, Modern, Jazz, and time on the Word of Grace Sr. Dance Company. Sarah took a break after graduating from high school to re-evaluate how the Lord was calling her to use her gifts and love of dance to glorify Him.

During this break from dance, Sarah became more involved with youth ministry through TeenPact Leadership School (www.teenpact.com) – a Christian leadership and citizenship course for jr. high and high school students. She loved her time staffing the different events, and especially the time spent just getting to know the students she worked with. Sarah had the opportunity to travel around the US as an intern for 5 months, and after completing the internship, went on to work in the ministry’s national office in Richmond, Virginia for one year, before returning home to her family in Arizona.

After praying for an opportunity to continue dancing with a group, Sarah started classes at EAS in the spring of 2009 and danced with the Sr. Contemporary Company while studying Ballet.

Sarah is so excited for the opportunity to teach with EAS and help students to understand the amazing grace of God as they learn to worship Him through dance!

Kimberly M. Panipinto: Musical Theatre
Kimberly is an outgoing, friendly and creative individual who adores the theatre. She has a variety of experiences within the theatre genre and loves to learn new things and explore new opportunities. Kimberly’s primary love is musical theatre but she has pursued many avenues in her theatre endeavors. Such endeavors have included roles in musicals such as Guys and Dolls, 42nd Street, The Music Man, and No NO Nanette. She has also done numerous plays throughout her career, as well as directing small vignettes. Kimberly has a minor in Theatre from the State University of New York at Geneseo with a Masters degree in Speech Pathology with a focus on the voice. She has served as Director for Youth Drama team (Buffalo, NY) and Co-Director for Acts Up, Junior Drama Troup for Word of Grace (Mesa, AZ). Kimberly has felt true fulfillment while being involved in church drama ministries since she was a little girl. She believes this is where the true ‘drama’ lies.

Matthew Tracy: Drums & Percussion
Matthew Tracy is a Highland High School graduate. He is a professional drummer and percussionist, and is currently working towards a degree in ‘Audio Production Technologies’ as he continues to pursue musical study. Matthew performs regularly and is experienced in playing many styles of music such as Jazz, Latin, Pop, Rock, Contemporary Worship etc. Matthew has experience teaching young drummers how to improve in their abilities such as site reading, understanding rhythms and proper technique.

Cindy Tracy: Piano, Bars & Beats
Cindy Tracy is a wife and mother of six children, all of whom are musicians. Cindy has been around music her whole life. She is a songwriter, singer and keyboard player. She has contributed to several music projects, as well as one of her own, and is currently working on her second project. She and her husband Bill were the founders of the Sonshine Music Festival (Musical Outreach) in Tri Cities, WA. She played drums and lead the adult worship for seven years at the Columbia Foursquare Church in Richland, Washington. Cindy worked as the children’s music director for Word of Grace church for three and a half years. One of her major responsibilities included leading a team of musicians of all ages in contemporary worship. She is an experienced teacher and enjoys working with students of all ages. Currently, Cindy is caring for her family, pursuing a degree in Audio Production Technologies and teaching music lessons on a regular basis.

Troy McDonald, Guitar
Troy McDonald has studied music for over 20 years. He began playing saxophone in elementary school and has learned several instruments since. Guitar became his primary focus in high school, where he also participated in Drama club, marching band, jazz band, orchestra and choir. Mr. McDonald went on to perform with several bands as well as The Granite State Garrison Drum and Bugle Corp. After relocating to Phoenix, Mr. McDonald has had the opportunity to spend some time in the recording studio laying down tracks for several different CDs. Additionally, when Mr. McDonald is not in the classroom or teaching private lessons he can be found performing himself with several different bands throughout the valley.

Randy Rohde
Video Production Techniques
Randy is currently the President of Urban Truth Video Productions, where he brings 27 years of video production experience. In addition to his finely honed skills of videography and video editing, Randy has vast experience with multimedia presentations, staging live corporate events, and coordinating elements needed for project completion. Randy also has invaluable global experience, having shot on location in China, France, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Russia, Turkey and the UK.