Staff
Introducing Dance Fever's 2025-26 Teaching Staff:
Karlie Krizanik
Owner/Director
Karlie's love for dance began in Erie, PA at the age of three- training in ballet, tap, jazz, acrobatics, hip-hop, gymnastics, cheerleading, and more. As a teen, she joined her studio's Acrobatic Adagio Company and danced/cheered competitively. She began teaching at 13 and has been doing so ever since! Karlie earned a Bachelor's in Child Development and Family Relations with a minor in Dance from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Upon moving to Charlotte, Karlie attended the University of North Carolina Charlotte for graduate school, earning a Masters in Dance Education. Karlie has been employed as a Dance Educator with Rowan-Salisbury School District, Charlotte-Mecklenburg School District, and has experience specializing dance instruction for students with special needs. After teaching with Dance Fever, Karlie fulfilled her lifetime dream of becoming the studio owner and director. She is beyond excited and proud to call Dance Fever home. Karlie's goal is to continuously learn and grow as a life long student of dance and to share that knowledge, providing excellent dance education to all students! "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit." -Aristotle Acrobatic Arts Certified Instructor
Taryn Moreno
Charlotte Manager / Instructor
Acrobatic Arts Certified Instructor Taryn was raised in Fort Mill, SC where her passion for dance began at the very young age of two. She began performing and competing all around the country in Tap, Jazz, Hip-Hop, Musical Theatre, Acrobatics, Pom, Lyrical, and much more! Taryn began teaching at the age of 19 while receiving her degree in Sport Management at Winthrop University. She has had the privilege of dancing for the University by performing with the Dance Department in many different showcases and musicals. Taryn danced professionally for the Charlotte Checkers CheckMates and coached the Winthrop Spirit Squad upon graduation.
April Carte
Instructor
April has been a part of the Dance Fever family since she was 5 years old and started competing at age 8. As a student at Dance Fever, she trained in all dance styles and spent many hours student teaching and working the front desk. April is excited to have joined the teaching staff and remains an important part of the Dance Fever family. April is a graduate of Mallard Creek Highschool and UNC Charlotte.
Brianna Graves
Instructor
Brianna started dancing at the age of 2 in Arizona and is entering into her 20th year dancing, as well as her 8th year teaching dance. She trained at a young age in both Arizona and California before moving to Charlotte, North Carolina. She started competing with dance at the age of 8 and has trained in many diverse styles including ballet, tap, jazz, modern, musical theatre, latin dance, and hip hop. She began assisting dance classes through her school fine arts program and eventually started teaching classes. She has experience working with various ages of dancers ranging from preschoolers up to adults in many styles. A graduate of Appalachian State University with a Bachelor's degree in Dance Studies, she had the opportunity to perform in and choreograph for the Appalachian Dance Ensemble, as well as club showcases. She was also the President of Entropy Dance Crew.
Nikki Underwood
Instructor
Nikki’s love for dance began at age 3 in Troy, AL and she joined the competition team soon after. She is a well-rounded dancer trained in ballet, tap, jazz, hip-hop, and contemporary. During her years of competing, she trained with many well-known instructors, including Brian Friedman and Mia Michaels, and was titled West Coast Dance Explosion’s Elite Dancer and Hollywood Vibe’s National Dancer of the Year in her high school years. After graduating, she went on to become a member of the University of Alabama’s Crimson Cabaret and RipTide dance teams, a Nike Industrial dancer in 2008, and choreographed and participated in student dance shows on campus. Nikki has 18 years of teaching experience in jazz and contemporary with kids of all ages. She has a passion for technique and strength training, as well as helping students unlock their unique styles and musicality. In addition to teaching dance, Nikki works full-time in marketing and is a wife and mom of two!
Sarah Reid
Instructor
Sarah Reid began her dance training in her New Jersey hometown, participating in competitions and conventions nationally. Sarah diversified her dance technique and performing arts education at the Academy for Visual and Performing Arts High School where she supplemented her training with multimedia, theater, and stage production. Sarah earned her B.A. from Muhlenberg College, double-majoring in Dance, with an education concentration & Psychology. While attending Muhlenberg, Sarah taught modern, ballet, and jazz classes at the Muhlenberg Community Dance Center and was a performing member of DanceMax Moving Company. In 2013, Sarah studied at the Florence University of the Arts (Italy) where she had the opportunity to choreograph and perform site-specific solo works alongside the Florence Dance Company. She also studied with Pilobolus Dance Theatre during their summer workshop series. Sarah is a 500 hour Registered Yoga Teacher. Professional performance credits include works by the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company, regional touring in Philadelphia, New York City, and the Northeast as a founding member of the Megan Flynn Dance Company, and other collaborative projects as a freelance dancer. For the past 6 years, Sarah was the Program Manager and a teacher on faculty at the Philadelphia Dance Academy. She is excited to continue to share her passions for dance performance, education, and production.
Cordelia Hogan
Ballet Instructor
Cordelia Hogan, a Virginia native, began dancing at age four at a competitive studio in her hometown. She trained in many styles, including ballet, jazz, modern, lyrical, hip hop, musical theater, and contemporary. Cordelia graduated from Duke University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in both Dance and Linguistics, where she danced in several performances sponsored by the Duke Dance Program, as well as performances by Devils en Pointe, the only student-run ballet company on campus. Also at Duke, Cordelia played the trumpet in the Duke University Marching and Pep Band, performing at all home Football and Basketball games. She is excited to have the opportunity to share her passion for ballet with the students at Dance Fever.
Molly Haughey
Instructor
Molly is a Charlotte native who grew up dancing at Dance Fever from the age of 3, and started competing at age 9. As a student at Dance Fever, Molly trained in all styles, and spent time student teaching and working at the front desk. Molly joined the teaching staff in 2022, and is excited to continue her teaching journey with the Dance Fever family. She is a current student at Queens University of Charlotte where she plans to graduate in 2027, and is also a member of the dance team!
Sydney Forbes
Instructor
Sydney Forbes is a dancer, choreographer, and teacher born and raised in Philadelphia, PA. Forbes has been dancing since the age of 2 at the Dance Centre, located in Skippack, PA. At her home studio, she competed with the competition team for 9 years and took classes such as tap, jazz, modern, hip hop and ballet. In addition to her studio training, Sydney attended the Center for Performing and Fine Arts, a hybrid high school located in West Chester, PA. Sydney started to focus on tap and commercial jazz in high school which started her love and drive for these specific styles. In 2017, Forbes joined an all-female tap company in Philadelphia called The Lady Hoofers. Forbes recently graduated in May of 2024 from Slippery Rock University, earning her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance with a concentration in performance and choreography, as well as earned a Minor in Adapted Physical Activity. Sydney is beyond excited to be teaching at both Dance Fever locations this season as she continues to share her passion for dance!
Taylor Dixon
Instructor
Miss Taylor grew up dancing at Dance Fever and is excited to rejoin our team after graduating from Chapel Hill. Taylor began dancing at age 2 and started competing at age 9. At Dance Fever, Taylor trained in all styles, while also student teaching and working in the front office. Taylor recently graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in May 2024, where she continued to dance and served as Carolina Style’s Tap Director. You can find Taylor teaching at both locations everyone from our PreDancers to tap and Acro too! We are so excited to have her smiling face back and ready for her to spread her love for dance.