Kristina Nadjafi-Bishop

Artistic Director and Co-Founder

Kristina grew up in Vancouver, Canada and got her early ballet and jazz training there.  She is trained in both Royal Academy of Dance and Cecchetti having completed the Advanced level vocational exams in both disciplines.  Kristina continued her training at the University of Arizona where she obtained her BFA in Dance, graduating summa cum laude.  Directly after, Kristina danced professionally as a soloist and company dancer with Ballet Spartanburg in South Carolina, performing in both classical and contemporary ballets. Some of her roles included Dewdrop and Arabian in The Nutcracker, Mustardseed in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and the Stepsister in Cinderella.  She also toured China in the Great American Dance Tour with Artifact Dance Project and performed with the Arizona Theater Company.  

Kristina trained at intensives at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, Boston Ballet, American Ballet Theatre and Alonzo King LINES Ballet.  She has taught ballet, jazz, contemporary, modern and numerous other genres of dance both in Canada and the US, sharing her love of dance with children and adults of all ages.  

Kristina also completed her MBA in Financial Management from Northcentral University.  Kristina is an ABT® Certified Teacher, who has successfully completed the ABT® Teacher Training Intensive in Pre-Primary through Level 5 of the ABT® National Training Curriculum.  She is also certified in Mat Pilates, Yoga and Progressing Ballet Technique.  In addition, Kristina has completed Reformer 1, 2 and 3, Chair, Barrel and the Trapeze Table Courses through Balanced Body.  Kristina is excited for the future of Ascend Dance Academy.

Melissa Chowdhury

Artistic Director and Co-Founder

Melissa Chowdhury is a native of the Midwest and trained traditionally in Ballet, Jazz, and Tap since age four. At age twelve she began training with the Kansas City Ballet School where she trained primarily under the direction of Karen Brown, Andrew Carr, and Sean Duus. She remained at the school until age seventeen when she became an Apprentice with Kansas City Ballet’s professional company under the direction of the late Artistic Director Emeritus Todd Bolender and Artistic Director William Whitener. Melissa began furthering her Contemporary and Modern training at age fourteen with the late Paul Chambers and members of Paul Taylor’s company. 

At age twenty-one, Melissa moved to Pittsburgh, PA to pursue her Bachelor’s Degree in Dance at Point Park University. During her time there she received training from Dana Arey (former Ballet Mistress of Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre) Kiesha Lalama-White (choreographer for Houston Metropolitan Dance Theater, Gus Giordano Jazz Dance Company, and River North Jazz Dance Chicago) Ron Tassone (former Juilliard graduate and choreographer on Broadway) and Pearlann Porter (Artistic Director of The Pillow Project). She was able to complete the full program in three years, graduating Summa Cum Laude with her BA in Dance with a concentration in Ballet and Jazz.  

Melissa danced professionally with Phoenix Contemporary Dance Company for 3 seasons as one of the founding members from 2012 until 2015.  In 2013, Melissa became a full apparatus certified Pilates instructor through Balanced Body.  In 2016 she opened her Pilates studio Mindful Motion, now housed in Ascend Dance Academy.  

In addition to her Pilates certification, Melissa completed training and certification from the American Ballet Theatre’s National Curriculum Training for levels Pre-Primary to Level 5. She also holds certifications from Progressing Ballet Technique, Levels 1-3 AzDance Medicine and Principles of Movement by Balanced Body.

Ashley Zachary-Eschler

Peak Broadway, Jazz and Company Instructor

Originally from Indianapolis, Ashley began her dance training at the early age of two. She studied under Lynn Herrick, Artistic Director of Artists In Motion, and spent her summers training extensively with elite teachers and choreographers in Los Angeles and New York.

Ashley was a student apprentice with Mark Marino’s American Dance Company, and Dance Kaleidoscope directed by David Hochoy. She was also an assistant with Tremaine Dance Competition and Conventions, and a member of their Teen Performance Company. Ashley has been recognized by Dance Spirit Magazine, and is the recipient of several prestigious awards including; Prelude Awards Runner Up and Winner, ProjectXL Winner, along with a variety of titles and scholarships.

Ashley attended the nationally acclaimed University of Arizona on a dance and academic scholarship. While there, she performed a variety of reputable works, including Mia Michaels “Against The Current” and Frank Chavez’s (River North) “Grusin Suite.” In 2009 Ashley received a BFA in Dance, and immediately began her professional career as a world famous Radio City Rockette. Some of her numerous performance opportunities include Kanye West’s Dark Fantasy Tour, The Tianjin Dance Festival in China, American Dance Company’s “Mixed Emotions,” and working with world renown choreographers Joe Tremaine, Linda Haberman, and Yemi Ad. Ashley performed choreography by Lee Martino in S.T.A.G.E. Benefit-Los Angeles, dancing along side Florence Henderson and broadway’s Jason Graa. She has appeared in a variety of industrials dancing for major companies such as; Universal Studios, Honeywell, Ameriprise, NFL, NBA, and more. You can also find Ashley in professional dance and fitness DVD’s, commercials, and print.

Ashley continued her education with PSC’s Pilates Teacher Training Course and the Burn At the Barre Master Trainer Program. This was the perfect way for her to blend her love of dance and fitness. Ashley has always had a passion for teaching, and travels across the US and Canada teaching master classes and setting choreography. Ashley is currently a Faculty member with The Streetz Dance Convention and Competition, where she teaches Musical Theatre and Ballet. She is proud to be a motivating teacher, inspiring students of all ages through the art of dance and fitness!

Hailey Meraz

Peak Contemporary and Company Instructor

Hailey began her dance education in Texas at Academy of Dance Arts where she received training in a variety of genres such as ballet, pointe, jazz, contemporary, tap and hiphop. As a student, Hailey performed featured roles such as “Clara” in the Dallas Repertoire Ballet’s The Nutcracker. She toured with Tremaine Dance Convention as a demonstrator and assisted Liz Imperio on West Coast Dance Explosion. Twice she was honored to represent the United States as one of the “Stars of Tomorrow” in the Tanszommer European Jazz Tour in Austria. While attending the University of Arizona as a dance major, she received extensive training from acclaimed instructors such as Melissa Lowe (Principal Dancer with PNB), Doug Neilson (Batsheva) and Sam Watson (Giordano). After receiving her dance degree, Hailey performed on Holland America’s most elite, signature ship, The Eurodam. Additionally, she was one of the inaugural dancers of BBC’s Dancing With the Stars: at Sea, which allowed her the opportunity to work with several ballroom professionals and TV personalities.  While in Los Angeles, she danced commercially and was awarded agency representation from Clear Talent Group. Hailey has had the pleasure of choreographing and teaching at several establishments across the U.S. as well as at the internationally acclaimed Pineapple Studios in London, England. She has been interviewed and published by Dance Spirit Magazine and her choreography has received numerous awards at a variety of competitions. Hailey enjoyed her time as a performer; however, teaching and creating with young dancers is her true passion!

Leap, Peak and Company Instructor

Peak Broadway, Contemporary and Hip Hop Instructor

James Jeffery started his training at the age of 16 in his hometown of Tempe, Az under the direction of Lisa Eardley Brame.  He later went on to graduate with a BFA in Dance at the University of Arizona. There he studied with Sam Watson, Amy Earnst, Doug Nielsen, Michael Williams, Susan Quinn, Liz George, and Melissa Lowe. After graduation, James went on to travel the world with Royal Caribbean Cruises while performing in their productions. Working for Spirit Productions, under the direction of Emma Rogers, he has been able to perform around the US, Canada and Japan. Most recently, James danced for Jon Lehrer Dance Co. in addition to freelancing in NYC, working with choreographers Guy Groove, Joey Mckneely, Richard Hines, Jona Biddle, and Brian Thomas. James is excited to work with the Ascend, and pass on his knowledge to future generations of dancers.

Kristen Hugo

Peak Instructor

Kristen Hugo grew up in Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains, training extensively throughout the tri-state area before pursuing her dance degree at Oklahoma City University, where she performed with the American Spirit Dance Company. She went on to perform professionally with Norwegian Cruise Line and Regent Seven Seas, working with acclaimed choreographers including Patty Wilcox, Chase Benz, and Burn the Floor under Nick and Peta Roby. During her four years at sea, she also served as a company manager while traveling and performing worldwide. Kristen has also served as a judge and adjudicator for Headliners and Step Up 2 Dance Competitions, where she shares her expertise and passion for dance with aspiring dancers.

Now based in Scottsdale, Arizona, Kristen teaches and choreographs for studios across the Valley. She is passionate about inspiring the next generation of dancers through performance, education, and mentorship.

Peak Instructor

Sierra is originally from the Bay Area in California where she trained in Ballet and Jazz from ages 4 to 11. Sierra moved to Arizona and trained for eight years at Plumb Performing Arts Center in Scottsdale, AZ, where she studied Ballet, Jazz, and Contemporary at a pre-professional level. She has also attended prestigious summer intensives such as Arts Umbrella in Vancouver, Alonzo King LINES Ballet in San Francisco, and Joffrey Ballet.

Sierra has experience teaching Ballet, Jazz, Contemporary, and Lyrical to children ages 5–18, choreographing original pieces, and supporting students in rehearsals. She is passionate about fostering creativity and confidence in her students and is excited about furthering her opportunities here at Ascend!

Peak Instructor

Curtis Walker, born in Columbus, Ohio, and raised in Arizona, developed a passion for movement early on through breakdancing, martial arts, and gymnastics. He began formal dance training at Royal Dance Works in 1988 and later competed on Star Search with the hip-hop team North Side Crew. With over 35 years of experience in cheer, gymnastics, and tumbling, Curtis has coached across 50+ schools and programs throughout the Southwest, always emphasizing personal growth and confidence in his students.

In 2018, he founded 3C Tumbling LLC, providing private and group lessons, and in 2024, he and his wife launched Empowering Your Purpose LLC, offering faith-based life coaching and motivational speaking. Curtis finds fulfillment in helping others realize their potential and credits his success to his faith in Jesus Christ, which has guided him in turning his passion into purpose.

Sprout Instructor

Tiffany began dancing at the age of 3 and trained in a variety of styles including Hip Hop, Jazz, Ballet, and Contemporary. In high school, she became captain of the Hip Hop Team for four years where she gained valuable leadership experience and developed a strong team dynamic. With a lifelong passion for dance, Tiffany has previously performed for the Arizona Diamondbacks and is currently a professional dancer with the Arizona Sidewinders for the Arizona Rattlers. She values bringing versatility, dedication, and high energy to every performance and is excited to share her skills with our students at Ascend!

Peak Company Choreographer

Brooklyn Egli has been a part of Ascend since its opening in 2020 and trained with members of the Ascend faculty for 11 years. She has achieved many merits as a competitive dancer including, top ten placements, honorable mention at California Dance Classics, and scholarships to the Institute of American Musical Theater in New York City as well as Inaside Chicago Dance Summer Intensive where she attended for 2 consecutive years. Last Summer Brooklyn attended Point Park University’s summer intensive in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on a 50% scholarship. Brooklyn is excited to announce her acceptance to Point Park University (Miss Melissa’s alma mater!) and will be pursuing her dance major this Fall. We are so excited to see Brooklyn pursue a collegiate path in dance and look forward to watching her journey through college and beyond!

Lyndsey Browne

Office Manager

Lyndsey was born and raised on the Navajo reservation, and has lived in Arizona her whole life. She grew up with a love for Music and has played the Saxophone, Clarinet, and Guitar. In school she played Basketball, Softball, and Volleyball. Currently, Lyndsey is pursuing a degree in Film Studies at Scottsdale Community College. She has had 7 years of managerial experience and is very excited to grow with Ascend!

Office Assistant, Teaching Assistant and Substitute Faculty

Olivia was born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri where she began dancing at the age of two. She has trained in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Hip-Hop, Contemporary, and Acrobats under the direction of Jo Noth, Heidi Minor, and Stasha Coker at Jo Noth’s White Oak Dance Academy (2006-2018) as well as by Eva Moore, Abbey Rice, and Ashley Kiger at Eva Moore’s Performing Arts Center (2019-2023). Olivia was also a four-year member and Co-Captain of the Blue Springs South High School, Touch of Silver Dance Team, and has been a competitive dancer in both studio and high school dance environments. Through a specialized Entrepreneurship program, Olivia was granted the opportunity to intern as a marketing assistant at Kansas City Ballet. Additionally, Olivia helped to build and run the Bobcat Boogie Dance Club at William Bryant Elementary School. Through this organization, Olivia was able to teach dance to students who may not have otherwise been introduced to the art. Olivia has been happy to assist with classes at Eva Moore’s Performing Arts Center and fully enjoys being able to share the dance experience with new generations of young artists. She is dedicated to her passion for dance and eager to guide others on their dance journey. Currently, Olivia is beginning her first year as a student at Grand Canyon University where she will earn a dual degree in Entrepreneurship and Dance.