Our Faculty
Our instructors are qualified and committed to providing our students outstanding technical dance training combined with innovative and current choreography.
Andrea VanSickle
Founder of iYooWee and The Dance Space
Andi has been dancing since she was 9 years old. As a senior in high school, Andi was a part of a state/National winning team and was awarded the first Miss Showstopper of the year award. She began running and teaching camps as well as judging and choreographing for college bowl games. Andi graduated from Otterbein university with a major in Dance and Public Relations. After college she continued to teach camps and judge as well as coaching The Worthington Dance Team. Through her 16 years with Worthington her teams won many State and National titles. Andi was also the Events manager for The Columbus Chamber of Commerce where she ran 16 Columbus Jazz and Rib Fests as well as numerous other events.
In 2003 Andi, along side her husband Chuck and their 2 daughters, Briggs and Reyka opened iYooWee. They began to make a place where everyone is welcome. iYooWee began with a few dance classes and has grown to hold 3 parts of the business, The Dance Space, iYooWee tumble and Westerville Jazzercise. Learn more about how The Dance Space got started.
“I love to walk into the studio and know that kids and adults alike are enjoying the love for dance.”
Leslie Phillips
Office Manager and Dance and Tumble Instructor
2012
Miss Leslie started dancing with Westerville Dance Force 12 years ago and continued her career with The Dance Space until she graduated and loved the atmosphere so much she never left. She began her coaching career 6 years ago with Worthington Kilbourne Dance Team and The Dance Space. Her favorite genres to teach are Jazz and Hip Hop because of the fast pace, strength, and power behind them. For the past 9 years she has been the face of the front desk and office manager.
Leslie enjoys organizing, cleaning, crafting, and spending time with her husband and daughter.
“My favorite part of teaching is figuring out how teach each student so that they reach their full potential. I also enjoy helping students find their confidence and getting them amped up before a performance or competition.
Learn more about Leslie on Episode 03 of The Dance Space Podcast.
Lori Almack
Dance Instructor
2004
Miss Lori has been dancing since the age of 3. She began teaching at the age of 17 here at The Dance Space. As a young dancer, Lori held the title of Junior Miss Dance Ohio, danced in BalletMet’s Nutcracker for 4 years, and attended the Rockette Summer Intensive. While Lori teaches all genres her favorites are Musical Theatre, Contemporary, and Tap.
Lori’s hobbies include crafting, jogging, and working with children with special needs.
“My favorite part of teaching is watching the students face light up after they have struggled with a step and get it for the first time. Also, being a part of a students very first class, recital, and competition.
Learn more about Lori on Episode 05 of The Dance Space Podcast.
Ticia Dillon
Dance Instructor
2005
Miss Tish has danced since the age of 3. She danced as part of the OSU Dance Team and has instructed for the past 20+ years of her dancing career. Several of her routines have been awarded regional champion titles, 6 highest scoring overall routine, and 5 National champion titles. Her 2015 routine “Hallelujah” won the World Series at Hall of Fame. She choreographs for teams from Florida to Rhode Island and judges at various pageants and dance competitions.
Ticia is an avid sports lover, fashionista, make up guru, and paper crafter.
“My favorite thing about teaching is constantly reinventing myself.”
Learn more about Ticia on Episode 02 of The Dance Space Podcast.
Ashley Dabe
Dance Instructor
2011
Miss Ashley started dancing at the age of 3 with Pinnell Dance Center. Throughout her career as a dancer she has interned at Broadway Dance Center, Steps on Broadway, and Radio City Music Hall and taught the Radio City Rockette Experience, various master classes, and was a talent judge with the Cinderella Scholarship Pageant.
Ashley enjoys spending time with her dog (Davey), her husband, and daughter.
“My favorite thing about teaching is watching that “ah-ha” moment when the student finally gets what they’ve been working on.”
Learn more about Ashley on Episode 04 of The Dance Space Podcast.
Alyssa Fickert
Dance and Tumble Instructor
2012
Miss Alyssa began her dance career at the age of 3 at A Step Above Dance Studio in Lima, Ohio. She has been teaching and judging dance competitions for the past 8 years in every genre of dance. Alyssa specifically enjoys teaching contemporary because she feels the versatility allows her to be creative and tailor the choreography to her students. In 2015, Miss Alyssa’s routine “Slow Down” won the Contemporary Choreography Award at Hall of Fame Dance Challenge.
Alyssa’s hobbies include cooking, sewing, hosting get-togethers and spending time with her husband and two dogs.. She is also a member of New Vision Dance Company.
“My favorite part of teaching is the rewarding feeling I get when my students succeed. No matter how small or large the accomplishment, I feel such pride when my students reach their goals. I love knowing that I had a hand in guiding them.”
Learn more about Alyssa on Episode 07 of The Dance Space Podcast.
Tina Boulding
Tumble Instructor
2016
Miss Tina, originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is a Kent State and Ohio State cheerleading alumni with over 25 years of gymnastics and cheerleading experience. Her resume includes 15+ years on the competitive side, and 10+ years on the instruction side of the sport. After serving as Camp Director with OASSA for 10 years, she now runs her own cheerleading events business with dual competitions, choreography, and camps throughout central Ohio. Seasonally she also serves as a national certified judge in the all star cheerleading industry. Tina holds her Aacca, NFHS, and concussion certifications.
Learn more about Tina on Episode 06 of The Dance Space Podcast.
Colleen Creghan
Dance Instructor
2019
Miss Colleen has been dancing since she was 3 years old and continued her dance career through college at Otterbein University. She has been teaching for the past 10 years at Dublin Jerome High School, Reynoldsburg schools, Bartelt Dancers and here at The Dance Space. While she teaches all dance genres, Jazz is her favorite. Colleen is also a Yoga Alliance Instructor, an ACE Group Fitness Instructor, and edits music for local dance studios.
Colleen’s hobbies include environmentalism and learning boy band dances.
“My favorite thing about teaching is watching kids come out of their shells.”
Bridget Bailey
Tumble Instructor
2019
Miss Bridget has been cheering since she was in 3rd grade. She cheered at Genoa Middle School and Westerville Central High School, as well as cheering competitively at iYooWee and Matrix All Stars. Bridget started coaching in middle school and coached at Reynoldsburg High School, Pickerington High School, Matrix All Stars and The Dance Space. Over her years of cheering Bridget decided to start her own hair bow business “Bridget’s Bows”.
Bridget’s hobbies include baking, working out, and traveling.
“My favorite thing about teaching is getting to work with the little ones.”
Maria Winn
Dance Instructor
2019
Miss Maria started dancing at the age of 3. She has been teaching since her sophomore year in high school at Footsteps, Diversion Dance Collective and The Dance Space. Her favorite thing to teach is contemporary because I love the ability to display emotion through movement and see how each individual expresses it differently. She also loves teaching tap because it’s so exciting to see kids get more complex steps and tricks for the first time. Maria stays busy with school double majoring in zoo and conservation science and biology, as well as, minoring in dance. She is also a seasonal educator and animal care staff at the Ohio Wildlife Center.
Maria’s hobbies include painting and doing other types of art projects, along with playing with my pets.
“My favorite part of teaching is probably being able to see kids get so excited about dance and learning new things!”
Jake Turner
Tumble Instructor
2019
Jake’s bio is coming soon! 😉
Darby Flynn
Dance Instructor
2019
Miss Darby has been dancing since she was 3 years old and has danced at Generations Performing Arts Center and The Dance Space. She has been coaching for the past 4 years and has taught at Footnotes Dance Center and now at The Dance Space! Darby loves teaching all genres of dance, but her favorites are Ballet and Musical Theatre. She has a dance major from The University of Akron and a certificate from The International College of Musical Theatre NYC.
Darby’s hobbies include cooking, skateboarding and reading.
“My favorite thing about teaching is seeing students get excited about learning. Not only new things in dance, but new things about themselves that come with being a dancer.”
