Meridian Stars Dance Studio Staff - Instructors
Tina Wayman has been teaching with the STARS program for the last six years and received "Teacher of the Year" in 2009. She purchased the studio in July of 2010 and is now the Meridian Stars Director and Owner. Tina has been dancing, performing, and competing for over 26 years!! She received her training from Bozeman Jazz, Dance Elite, and Montana Ballet, under the direction of Darren Eastwold, Cindy Tweedt, and Anne Bates in Bozeman, Montana. Tina also studied Dance at Montana State University, under the direction of Rosanne Pitcher. Tina has had exclusive training in Ballet, Jazz Technique, Modern, and Hip-Hop. Tina danced on the Montana State Dance Team and competed in the UDA National Dance Championships in Orlando, Florida. Tina has a Bachelor of Arts in International Business-Spanish and a minor in Dance.
Currently, she is a Choreographer and Showteam Competition Coach for the Minis, Smalls & Supers. Tina is a Jazz-Technique Specialist, Morning Micros Teacher, and Mommy and Me Teacher at the studio. Tina has won choroegraphy awards for Hip Hop at IDC Regional Competitions, choreography awards for Production at the STARS Regional and National Competitions, and has taken several teams to a 1st place finish at the National Dance Championship level.
Dancing is her biggest life passion and she loves to share it with as many people as possible! Tina's goal as a dance teacher is for every person in her class to have a thorough understanding of technique, develop self-esteem, respect one another and love dance!! Tina currently resides in Boise with her husband Lucas, their 3 month-old daughter-Charlette, and their two chocolate labs.
Amanda Linzy is a native of Meridian and has been teaching at Meridian Stars for the last seven years. She has received numerous choreography awards for her team dances at the Regional and National Levels in Style, Originality and for Creativity for group dances and production. Amanda has lead several teams to 1st place titles at the Regional & National levels. She has trained in jazz, hip hop, tap and her personal favorite... lyrical. Amanda began her dance career at age 5 in Boise, where she was a member of performance and competition teams. She was also a three member of the Eagle High Edge Dance Team and was selected as "Captain" her senior year. Amanda was the Head Coach of the Borah High School Lion Elite from 2004-2009, where she made a positive difference in the program and took their team to Nationals several times! Amanda is currently the Head Coach for the Nampa High Dance Team. She has also been asked to choreograph dances for many high schools around Boise and the Spokane area. Amanda has had the opportunity to perform in Disneyland, Disneyworld, on the Big Red Boat in the Bahamas, Humanitarian Inductee Cermonies and in numerous competitions in the Northwest.
Amanda graduated in May of 2009 with her B.S. in Secondary Education with a Major in History and a minor in English. She believes that dance is the best form of expression one can experience and loves to share her passion for dance with whoever will let her! "Sharing my passion of dance is what I live for! There is nothing that can describe seeing what comes from your head and heart, being danced by amazing and talented dance students!" Currently Amanda resides in Boise with her husband JT and their two spoiled Boston Terriers, Gus and Visa.
Amanda coaches and choreographs for the Minis Team, Smalls Team, Varsity Team, and for the Production.
Jennifer Waters is a member of Off Center Dance Project, a modern dance company. She recently performed in "Rules of Ettiquette," in 2010 and "Santa Baby," 2009. In 2009, she volunteered with the Special Olympics and choreographed "I'mma Shine,"and "Champion," and danced in "Stomp." At age 7, she began dancing with Stars Dance Team. Jazz dance was her first interest, but went on to discover a love for Ballet, Tap, Hip Hop, Break-dancing and Modern. In college, she began studying ballet under Marla Hansen, which led to an apprenticeship with Idaho Dance Theater.
Jennifer has also been involved with many local advertising and production companies, doing such work as; commercials for local, national, and international companies, voice-overs for local radio, modeling for Toys R Us, Canadian Club, Retelligence, and Do You Love Me Inc., featured in Teen Prom magazine.
Jennifer heads up the Ballet Program here at our studio and has been here for the last three years.
Max Nguyen was born and raised in Dallas, Texas then moved to Boise when we was thirteen. He began dancing at age 3 attempting to imitate the late Michael Jackson. Over the years, he has used that inspiration to fuel his imagination to develop his own style in hip hop. Max has developed more into a popper/hip hop style. As a sophomore in high school, he decided to start taking dance seriously and started the habit of working on his craft everyday whether at school or in his garage at home. He has also broadened his dance vocabulary going from popping to locking, tutting, choreographing, and also breakdancing. He has had a small featurette on the t.v. show "So You Think You Can Dance" and was also one of the top 150 contestants to be in the movie "Step Up 2: The Streets". He hopes to one day be a professional dancer and/or own his own studio.
Max is currently a student at The College of Idaho majoring in Health Sciences and also playing for the tennis team. Max is teaching the Boys Hip Hop 7-12 yr class and the Teen Hip Hop class.
Photo & Bio to come!
Photo & Bio to come!
Photo & Bio to come!
Photo & Bio to come!
Photo & Bio to come!
Photo & Bio to come!