Mikhail Baryshnikov

Tina McCarey

Tina, along with her husband Michael, has owned, directed and managed 5 dance and music schools throughout Arizona. Raising 6 energetic boys over the course many of those years of ownership definitely kept them on their toes as well! Dancing as been at the center of Tina's life in conjunction with being a competitive gymnast. Her diverse knowledge of technique and choreography includes tap, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, clogging, gymnastics, acro and tumbling. Being a "Master Teacher" has allowed her to create over 50 productions and holiday shoes. She has danced in Europe, Canada, New York, Chicago, Las Vegas and Los Angeles with many professional artists. She has always been grateful to grow up in the dance world where she could develop her talents to pursue her dreams. It is her goal to give back the same opportunities afforded to her to the children of her community.

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Whitney Ajeman

Whitney began training at the Safford Dance Academy under the direction of Tina McCarey & Jenny Rogers. She went on to receive her BFA in Dance Education from Arizona State University. She has taught at and directed dance & gymnastics programs across Arizona for 20 years including 13 years of teaching for Tina at Lynn's School of Dance, USA Youth Fitness Center, Campbell's Dance Studio, AZ Desert Dance & now Power Elite Dance Academy. Tina has mentored Whitney in all areas from teaching to studio management and continues to invest in her leadership education. In addition to her extensive teaching career, Whitney is also a USAG Level 10 trained gymnastics coach who serves as a floor & beam specialist. She has one son, Reef, who inspires her to continue paving the way to train teachers & develop special needs inclusive programs at studios & gyms thoughout Arizona.

Shay Ajeman

Shay has been dancing since the age of 3. She trained at the Safford Dance Academy in many styles including Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Clogging, Hip Hop, and Contemporary. After graduating in 2013, she began teaching class at SDA while attending Easter Arizona College. She was a head choreographer for the State Award winning Thatcher Spiritline for several years after high school. She relocated to Mesa, AZ and continues to teach dance and coach gymnastics in the East Valley. She has been a recreational and company teacher at Power Elite Dance Academy for 3 years and looks forward to continuing training students here. She is the favorite Auntie to 10 nephews and nieces and enjoys teaching Makynna, Reef, and Brooklyn in dance and tumbling!

Adrian Curiel

Adrian grew up here in Globe and began dancing when he was 12 years old. He has trained under Tina in both Mesa and Globe at her studios and started teaching during high school as well. He has been a choreographer for the State Championship Globe High School Pom and Cheer teams. He has received many awards for his talents including a Tremaine convention scholarship at nationals. He went on to study dance at the University of Arizona. He has stepped into his professional dancing career and will be an ensemble dancer for a major cruise line when performances resume. Adrian serves as wonderful example of male dancing and tumbling in Arizona proudly empowers boys of all ages and levels to follow in his footsteps!

Alijah Widner

Alijah has been dancing since she was 3 years old and has had the pleasure of training under Tina here in Globe as well as at her studios in Mesa. She traveled to perform and compete with both her teams from Globe & Mesa for several years which gave her the opportunity to train under some of the best teachers in AZ and in the convention world. Some of her favorite memories of dance include commuting and spending the night at Tina’s & being woken up with singing & waffles! She has been dancing for 19 years and had been teaching for the past 6 years. She is also currently working at Cobre Valley Hospital  where she is able to gain experience while she is continues her education at Eastern Arizona College to become a Registered Nurse.

Hunter McCarey

Hunter is the youngest of Tina and Michael's boys who grew up in the gym competing along side his brothers. He is an accomplished and professionally trained gymnast. He trained as a tumbling coach throughout his teen years at two of Tina's studios which has added greatly to his knowledge of dance applicable gymnastics. Hunter brings a strong sense of fun to our studio & encourages students in our tumbling program from tots to teenagers to be proud of their accomplishments as they grow in their skills. Hunter has participated in many of Tina's productions and can also often be seen in our annual recitals dancing in lead roles such as the Nutcracker Prince and The Grinch!

Djaniel Holzkamp-Carter

Djaniel is an outstanding professional dancer who got her start in a family owned studio in East Mesa. She later transferred to Tina's studio AZ Desert Dance where she completed her youth training. She has taught in Globe and Mesa for many years and attributes her technique and unique style of choreography to self confidence she has gained during her years dancing & teaching under Tina's direction. Djaniel was a member of the Phoenix Suns Dance Team and has also had a professional modeling career. She hopes to lead by example and show the students in our studio that they can accomplish anything and achieve their  dreams!

Tristin Rayburn

Trisitn was raised in Mesa & has been a resident of Globe for over 8 years. She has been teaching since age 13 & has been at Power Elite for 6 years. She is a wife & girl mom of two! She loves sharing her passion for dance with the youth in our community. She trained at multiple dance companies in the valley and has traveled to perform & compete in California, Las Vegas, Mexico, Florida, New York & across Arizona! She’s had the opportunity to take class from & train with many famous teachers such as Nappy Tabs, Mia Michaels, Ade, Roman Vasquez & Talia Favia. Her favorite part of being a dance instructor is bonding with her students, getting to know their unique personalities & watching them grow into beautiful young men & women!

Rebecca Haverland

Rebekah danced at Lynn’s School of Dance in all styles from the time she was a young girl until she graduated high school.  She was a company dancer and student teacher as well. She now teaches in our recreational program and is focused on our beginner dancers. Rebekah brings years of experience and patience to teaching little ones not only skills but confidence. Most of our company dancers began their dancer journey in one of her classes! She is also highly involved in the Gila County Cinderella program where she helps train participants in modeling, stage presence, interview skills and encourages them to shine. She is a full-time teacher and coach at High Desert Middle school and a loving, proud mother to her two beautiful daughters.

Krysta Diebold

Krysta began dancing at the age of 5 at the Safford Dance Academy. She stared teaching dance at 16 and continued until she was 23. In 2009, in addition to teaching dance classes, she began training as gymnastics coach & has been teaching for over 12 years in the gymnastics world. She has taught dance & tumbling for Tina in both Mesa & Globe for over a decade. Together, she and her husband own and operate Rising Sky Gymnastics in Mesa. They also are the proud owners and directors of two prestigious summer camp programs in Arizona where they train competitive boys and girls: Pommel Horse Ranch Camp & Super Camp. They have 3 children who love dance and gym as much as they do! Their oldest child Brooklyn is now a member of Power Elite Dance Company & Krysta watching her love of dance continue with her daughter!

Hobie McCarey

Hobie is the second oldest son of Tina and Michael. He participated in dance for several years when he was a little boy and quickly showed a talent for tumbling! He is a retired USAG level 10 competitive gymnast with many awards & championships under his belt. He trained alongside his three brothers for many years creating lasting memories & cultivating his coaching skills from a young age. After his gymnastics career came to a close, Hobie served a 2 year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He has been coaching gymnastics and teaching tumbling for nearly 10 years in both Globe and the East Valley and enjoys the opportunity to pass on the vast knowledge of gym that he gained as a competitor to his students.

Bethany Frampton

Bio Coming Soon!

Mahlea Widner

Mahlea grew up at Lynn’s School of Dance & Power Elite Dance Academy for 16 years including commuting to Mesa to train additional days of the week at various studios owned or operated by Tina. She participated in the competitive teams at both studios for several years which gave her the chance to study under many of Arizona’s top dance educators.  She also had the opportunity to participate in The Nutcracker in various roles during this time of dual studio membership where she cultivated a love for performance and hard work. She was featured in 2020 as the Sugar Plum Fairy at Power Elite Dance Academy’s first full length production of the Nutcracker here in Globe! Mahlea studied as a student teacher for many years and will now continue teaching while she attends Eastern Arizona College in the nursing program.

Neveah Smith

Student Teacher

Bio Coming Soon!

Anisa Spurgeon

Student Teacher

Bio Coming Soon!

Callysta Halburt

Student Teacher

Bio Coming Soon!

Dedra Widner

Office Manager

Ashley Campbell

PSO President & Office Staff

Jacqueline Peterson

PSO Vice President & Office Staff

Shannon Kimbrough

PSO Treasurer & Office Staff

Erin Wager

Office Staff

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Competitive Dance Coordinator

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