Who We Are
Miss Sarah, Owner
"Miss Sarah" Johnston, is the Lead Instructor and Owner of Showtime Dance, Inc. Her first dance class was at the age of 3, and she immediately knew what she had to do with the rest of her life. Miss Sarah graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Arizona with a BFA in Dance Performance and Education, and she has been teaching dance for 25 years. She also is a California State certified preschool teacher with a certificate in Early Childhood Education. She performed professionally in Ballet, Modern/Contemporary, and Jazz Dance with Paul Powell Productions in Tucson, Canyon Movement Company in Flagstaff, with Watson Dance Company in Yorba Linda, and in "The Glory of Christmas" at the Crystal Cathedral. For 5 years, she danced at Disneyland in: Parade of Dreams, A Christmas Fantasy Parade, Disney’s Electrical Parade, and Fantasmic. “Miss Sarah” has taught ballet, pointe, modern, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, tap, hip hop, leaps and turns, improvisation, and choreography for Momentum Dance Center, Pacific Dance Center, Canyon Dance Academy, Orange County Dance Productions, Flagstaff Arts and Leadership Academy, and Coconino Community College. She performed in Arizona, Las Vegas, the Grand Canyon, and Italy. She taught Ballet and Contemporary Dance at the American College Dance Festival in New Mexico and Washington State, and at the Dance and the Child International conference in The Netherlands. At the Disneyland Resort, she also taught Physics and Leadership Workshops through the Youth Education Series, and stage managed children's performing groups from all over the world. Miss Sarah is a certified yoga teacher and a certified "Rhythm Works Integrative Dance" instructor for children with special needs. Her newest title is the Director of Children's Ministry at Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Tustin. Her most-loved role is that of "Mom," to her own two tiny dancers.
Miss Esther
Esther" is an OC-based artist with a background in various cultural and contemporary dance forms. She has had extensive training in ballet and modern receiving her Bachelor’s degree in Dance at Cal State Fullerton where she also received a Bachelor of Science in Human Services with an emphasis in Mental Health. Previously, she graduated from OCSA in the International Dance conservatory with an emphasis in Ballet Folklorico. She currently performs with a contemporary dance company in Huntington Beach.
MISS JILLIAN
"Miss Jilly" is from Salt Lake City, Utah and started dancing at 4 years old. She started her ballet training at Children’s Ballet Theater and continued at Performing Dance Center. She trained in ballet, hip hop, jazz, lyrical, and contemporary dance styles, while performing with PDC's competition team. Competing has been Jillian’s favorite part of her dance training so far, as well as performing and traveling around Utah. She trained in New York City at Steps on Broadway and Broadway Dance Center, and now Miss Jillian is pursuing a Bachelors Degree in Dance at Cal State Fullerton with an emphasis on ballet and modern dance technique and performance.
MISS KRIS
"Miss Kris" was technically and artistically trained for 18 years in ballet, jazz, lyrical, and contemporary; competing for 6 years with Dance Creations. Additionally, she was trained for 3 years in modern, acrobatics, hip-hop, and jazz funk. Miss Kris has worked with prestigious LA choreographers: Michael Nickerson-Rossi, Wendi Baity, Ken Datugan, Heather Castillo, Beth Megill, Jeremy Hahn, Michael Williams, and former Diavolo Dance Theatre members David and Crystal Zibalese. She performed at professional venues: LA Culture Collide, Ruban Rouge’s Dance Co. Awakenings and Beginnings, Movement Theater CoLab New Work’s Project, and ACDFA Annual Dance Festival. Kris was invited to study with KCDC Dance Journey in Israel. She received her AA in Dance at Moorpark College (2015) while teaching as a part-time faculty for a-5-6-7-8 Dance Company. With a goal to graduate with her BFA in Dance, Kris studied at the University of California Santa Barbara. After teaching and choreographing for three years in Colorado, Kris moved back to her LA hometown to continue her work in the LA dance industry.
Miss Mirissa
"Miss Mirissa" is a Southern California based Dance Instructor and Choreographer specializing in the education of young and beginning dancers in the styles of jazz, tap and ballet. She trained as a competitive studio dancer and as a member of Los Alamitos High School dance team. She began her teaching career with Elevation Studios is Signal Hill, CA where she helped develop and direct their Summer Camp program, serving as an introduction for young performers not only to various styles of dance, but also voice and acting for both stage and camera. Miss Mirissa is pursuing her teaching credential with a focus on mathematics. She continues to teach and pursue her goal of sharing the joy of dance with new students everyday.
Miss zelaya
Zelaya is new to Showtime Dance and is excited to be a mentor to youth! She took her first dance class at three and a half years old. From then on, she remained a focused performer throughout her life. At the age of fifteen, she was able to attend a brand new high school in Palm Springs Unified School District which was structured to have a performing arts focus. While simultaneously being a Captain of her High School's Dance Team and belonging to a Musical Theatre conservatory, she also eventually became a captain of the first generation of iLLusionists, the first competing Hip Hop youth dance crew of its kind based out of the Coachella Valley (where she grew up). Through this experience, she discovered the Hip Hop dance community. She learned not only about the history and evolution of Hip Hop, but also learned about various foundational styles and techniques such as popping, grooves, basic breakdance technique, locking, etc. She is still an active and honorary member of the iLLmazing Dance Family which also includes the competing adult team, Animazing.
What Parents Say About Our Teachers:
"We will sign up for more dance classes! She told us she wants to be "Miss Sarah" when she grows up. - Cindy C
"You are amazing in every way! Thank you so much for taking such wonderful care of our kiddos!" - Kristel S
"She thoroughly enjoyed the last year attending classes with you, Miss Sharon, and Miss Hannah. It was lovely to see her learning the names of the steps and seeing her love of ballet flourish. thank you so much!" - Rosilene K.