Faculty
DENISE CROSIER
Director, Southwest Dance Company
Denise Crosier has been the dedicated director of Southwest Dance Company since July 2013. A mother of four daughters, all of whom have danced at the studio, Denise’s connection to Southwest Dance began long before her directorship. Her two oldest daughters started dancing at the studio in 2000 under the direction of Miss Candy Fowler. When the studio became available for purchase in 2013, Denise and her husband, John, longtime dance parents, saw an opportunity to preserve Miss Candy’s legacy and continue the tradition of excellence in Southern Utah dance education.
Driven by a passion for high-quality dance instruction rooted in values, Denise has consistently promoted an environment where dancers are taught with beautiful music, appropriate movement, modest costumes, and encouraged to explore creative expression. She has referred countless families to the studio, confident in the enriching experience it provides.
In addition to her leadership at Southwest Dance, Denise brings a strong background in business and financial management. She has contributed her expertise to a variety of businesses, including Crosier Financial, Tropical Fiberglass Pools and Bullfrog Spas, Holbrook Asphalt, and Valor Hall. These experiences have deepened her understanding of business operations and financial strategy, strengthening her role as a successful studio director.
Denise also has a strong interest in holistic health and has earned a certification in Foot Restoration Therapy. In her free time, she enjoys camping, traveling, and spending time with her husband and four daughters.
KATIE SMITH
Artistic Director
Katie Fowler Smith has been dancing since she was 4 years old. She started dancing with Southwest Dance at the age of 7 when her mother Candy Fowler founded the dance studio. Her love of dance continued as her teaching career started with Southwest Dance when she was 17 years old. Katie continued to teach with Southwest Dance and is now their Artistic Director. Katie’s dance background also includes 10 years of Classical Jazz dance training and 5 years of Classical Ballet training.
Katie attended Pine View High School where she was on the Drill Team for 3 years and Drill Mistress her Senior Year. She was the Sterling Scholar in Dance and the Region Runner Up. Katie was the first Miss St. George in 1990 and went to the Miss Utah Pageant where she won the Talent Award.
She graduated from Dixie State University with her associate’s degree. While there she was a cheerleader for two years and the Head Cheerleader her Sophomore year. Katie was crowned Homecoming Queen in 1992 and went to Miss Utah again where she was in the Top 20 Contestants and won the Talent Award.
Katie attended Brigham Young University and was awarded the Dance Talent Award Scholarship. She also received the Dee Winterton Award and the Phylis Jacobsen Award. She was on the BYU Dance Ensemble Performing Choreography Group. Katie was also a member of the BYU touring Modern Dance company titled “The Dancers Company” for two years which toured through the northwestern and western states as well as South Africa, the Philippines and South Korea. She was also featured in the BYU dance film Women the Pioneer dancing the role of Woman of Joy. Katie graduated from BYU in 1997 with a Bachelor of Arts in Dance Performance.
Katie served an 18-month mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Canada Toronto West Ontario Mission. Katie is married to her sweetheart Joseph Evan Smith, and they have six wonderful, talented children.
KIRSTEN BETHERS
Instructor
,Kirsten Duke Bethers grew up dancing with Southwest Dance Theatre from the age of six until her high school graduation. She loved the creative aspect of the dance classes and the magic that it brought into her life. It was a wonderful part of her childhood and an experience that she feels shaped her in so many positive ways. She took advantage of the extra training that was offered through master classes, jazz classes and various dance workshops and camps each summer from the time she was in seventh grade. She was part of the dance team during high school and choreographed numerous times for her own team and others, receiving awards at the State and National level. She was part of the All-State team and was voted Outstanding Senior.
Kirsten graduated with honors from Brigham Young University, receiving a bachelor’s degree in human development with a minor in dance. Three of her years at BYU were spent performing with Dancensemble–a modern dance group that features student choreography. Kirsten has lived on both the East and West Coasts since college while her husband finished his education, then returned home to St. George in 2005.
She has been teaching with Southwest Dance since 2006 and loves the opportunity to pass her love of dance on to others. Kirsten is married to Dan Bethers, and they have six children.
CHAUNTELLE LEWIS
Instructor
Chauntelle Plewe Lewis has been dancing since birth—formally since she was four years old. She danced with Southwest Dance Theatre until she was 19 and was Miss Candy’s assistant for a few years. She has taught at Southwest Dance since 2007 and loves the opportunity to share the magic of dance that Candy Fowler instilled in her. Chauntelle’s favorite part of teaching is seeing pure joy exuding from her dancers as they are free to create their own movement. She also loves designing concert and studio graphics for Southwest Dance.
In high school, Chauntelle was a member of the drill team. While attending Dixie State College (now Utah Tech University) she was a founding member of the Dixie State Dance Company. At Dixie State she earned an Associate of Arts and a Certificate in Visual Technologies. Chauntelle then earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communications: Public Relations, and a minor in Modern Dance. At BYU she was a member of Dancensemble—a modern dance choreography and performing company, and Kinnect—an education, outreach, and performing company. With Kinnect she travelled to New York City and Philadelphia to perform, teach, and attend class. Her Senior year she was awarded “Student Teacher of the Year.” She was also in the cast of The Trojan Women, a play incorporating modern dance, and Left Behind: The Women of the Mormon Battalion, a dance play in which she performed in group pieces and a solo. She is a founding member of the St. George Dance Company and danced with them for several years.
Chauntelle served an LDS mission in Argentina. She then worked as the Dixie State College Marketing Coordinator. She is currently the Marketing Director for Southwest Symphony Orchestra and Assistant Member Education and Communications for Dixie Power. Chauntelle and her husband Tyler have five amazing children.
JAYMI BUCHANAN
Instructor
Jaymi Crosier Buchanan has been passionate about dance since the age of three, when she began training at Southwest Dance. Over the years, her dedication has grown as she expanded her repertoire to include Modern, Ballet, Jazz, and Hip Hop at both Westside Studio and Dance Alliance.
Jaymi began her teaching career at just 16 with Southwest Dance Company, where she served as a teacher, teaching assistant, and substitute for students of all ages. A graduate of Pine View High School, Jaymi was recognized on the high honor roll and was the Sterling Scholar runner-up in Social Sciences. During high school, she furthered her dance education by attending the BYU Modern and Jazz Dance Camps.
Awarded the Presidential Scholarship for academics, Jaymi went on to earn her associate’s degree from Southern Utah University.
In addition to her dance career, Jaymi is a full-time licensed massage therapist, bringing her understanding of movement and the human body into every aspect of her work.
KAREN BROCK
Instructor
DANIELLE SHEPHERD
Instructor
Danielle began dancing at the age of five with classes in ballet, jazz, and tap. She started her journey with Southwest Dance Company when she was eight and instantly fell in love with its values, creativity, freedom, and beauty. She continued dancing with Southwest until she graduated in 2019.
In addition, Danielle has taken many years of ballet during high school, college, and beyond. Her training also included classes in pointe, modern, jazz, and tap. She has performed in dance concerts for Southwest Dance Company, Westside Dance Studio, and more recently for St. George Dance Company as a professional for several seasons. She completed a bachelor’s degree in elementary education with a minor in dance from Utah Tech University.
She also has a significant background in music. She played the violin throughout her growing years and received a music scholarship in college where she played violin for several semesters. Her music background is a great complement to her dance teaching.
Danielle has been teaching with Southwest Dance Company since 2020. She loves to emphasize technique in her classes and credits her ballet background for improving her dance technique and teaching skills. Southwest Dance Company has been a creative outlet for her to express herself and has taught her not only dance, but also many life lessons. She hopes to help young dancers do the same.
SHANNON SPENCER
Instructor
Shannon Spencer has been dancing since she was young and is an alumna of Southwest Dance Company. Southwest Dance was influential in her life, instilling a deep love for creative movement and a desire to teach.
Shannon earned her Associate of Arts degree from Dixie State College and performed on the Dixie State College Dance Company. After serving a mission in Brazil for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, she taught briefly at Southwest Dance Company. Shannon went on to receive a Bachelor of Arts degree in Dance from Brigham Young University. While at BYU, she choreographed and performed as a member of Dance Ensemble, and journeyed to China for a dance study abroad, where she choreographed and performed her senior project.
After completing her degree at BYU, she spent five wonderful years teaching at Tanner Dance, the University of Utah’s children’s dance program. While there, she taught Studio classes, Arts in Education classes in elementary schools, was a teacher in the Fine Arts Preschool, and assisted and taught in the Children’s Dance Theater.
Additionally, Shannon has performed and choreographed in summer dance concerts with the St. George Dance Company. Shannon feels blessed to be married to her incredible husband and to be the mother of four beautiful children. Shannon is thrilled to be teaching at the studio, sharing her passion with others, and watching the joy that dance brings to children.
MORGAN CROSIER
Instructor
Morgan Crosier has been dancing at Southwest Dance since the age of three, and her love for dance has only grown stronger over the years. She began assistant teaching in 2018 and officially joined the teaching staff in 2024. Morgan has had the privilege of being mentored by talented instructors including Katie Smith, Jaymi Crosier, Boston Stock, Chauntelle Lewis, and Ashlyn McKenna. She has performed in Jenny Oaks Baker’s Redeemer concerts for two years and participated in the Southwest Symphony’s Carnival of the Animals.
In addition to her dance background, Morgan began studying piano at the age of six. Classically trained, she competed in piano theory competitions in Las Vegas throughout her school years. Morgan graduated from Pine View High School in 2023 and is currently pursuing her education at Southern Utah University. With a passion for working with children, she is majoring in speech pathology and minoring in dance education.
MACI CALLISTER
Instructor
SARAH OLMSTEAD
Instructor
Having taught both in studio settings and at high schools, Sarah brings a diverse skill set and an understanding of various teaching styles to her work. Her experience in the public school system, particularly at the high school level, has helped her build a well-rounded approach to dance education, focusing on developing technique, fostering creativity, and inspiring students of all levels.
