Peak Company Dancers

Genesis began her creative journey and passion for dance at age 3. She likes all styles of dance including Ballet, Jazz, Contemporary and Broadway with her favorite being Ballet. Genesis began competing in 2014 and has been attending conventions annually since 2012. These Conventions include Hollywood Vibe, Celebrity, Bella Moxi, Groove, Lux and Releve.

Genesis has performed in many productions of ‘The Nutcracker’ and some of her favorite roles have included Bon Bons, Spanish Chocolate and Flowers. In 2019, she danced alongside Kathryn Morgan in the classical ballet ‘Giselle’. She has also had the unique opportunity to perform at a Phoenix Suns game.

Genesis is competing her first solo this season and is excited to continue her competitive journey with her peers and the caring faculty at Ascend!

Lily is 10 years old and has been dancing since the age of 3.  Her favorite styles of dance include ballet and contemporary because they bring her joy.  She has completed ballet intensives with Ascend Dance Academy, Legacy Ballet Academy, and Ballet Arizona.  Lily has participated in productions of “The Nutcracker Suite” for 6 years, with her roles including Party Tot, Cherub, Gingersnap, Gallop Girl, Russian Dancer, Mouse, and Spanish Chocolate.  This is Lily’s third year on Peak Company. Most recently she placed 4th overall for her ballet solo at ‘Just Dance Invitational’.  The thing she is looking forward to most this season is competing in her ballet and contemporary solos and with her ballet group at various competitions for the 2024 season.

Natalia is 10 years old and started her journey with dance 3 years ago at Ascend Dance Academy. Her favorite styles of dance include Contemporary, Broadway and Ballet. This will be Natalia’s second year on Peak Company and she is eager to get on stage again. Last season Natalia received a convention scholarship from LUX as well as a class and studio scholarship from STREETZ for her Jazz solo. She also was chosen to be an ambassador for Michele Dawson Photography and has loved doing the photo sessions with Michele and the other girls. The things she is looking forward to the most this season is her upcoming performance in the 2nd annual Nutcracker and performing her Broadway solo and group dance. 

Kenlee is a Phoenix native and started dancing at the age of 2. She is in 8th grade at Dream City Christian School in Glendale, AZ. She enjoys being a part of her school’s dance and performance program, is a straight A student, and is an active member of the National Junior Honor Society at her school. Kenlee loves all styles of dance, but if she had to choose, she says Ballet and Jazz are her favorites. Kenlee enjoys training in Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Broadway, Contemporary, Modern and Acro.

Kenlee has been dancing competitively since 2017. She loves being a part of a team and attending competitions and conventions. This year she is dancing a Jazz solo and is in a small group contemporary piece. She can’t wait to get on the stage again this season!

Kenlee has attended numerous conventions and masters classes including: Hall of fame, Releve, Bella Moxie, Lux, Celebrity, Groove, 24-7, Streetz and NYCDA, as well as NYCDA Nationals. In 2019 she was the recipient of a full convention scholarship from LUX dance convention. In 2021 her jazz solo ‘I Love Me’ qualified for Nationals at several competitions. Kenlee received a standout scholarship in Lyrical from Streetz dance convention, as well as receiving a standout scholarship during her lyrical audition at NYCDA Nationals convention to use at a regional event in 2022.

This year Kenlee has gotten involved in several dance Ambassador programs and Represents Chelsea B dancewear as a CB girl and Andrea Carola Apparel as a ACA Company member. She just auditioned for and became a National Ambassador and was asked to join theCOMPANY for Gray Arrows photography in 2022. She is excited to travel across the country for photo shoots and is looking forward to growing herself as a dancer.

Kenlee has enjoyed dancing in the Nutcracker for 6 consecutive years. She has danced the roles as Party Tot, Gingersnap, Rosebud, Candy Cane, Lead Mouse, Teddy Bear Doll, Flower, Party Scene, Angel, Spanish Chocolate and Bon Bon. This year she will be performing in her 7th production as a Party girl, The Mouse Queen and Dance of the Reed Flutes in Ascend Dance Academy’s first Nutcracker production!

Ariana is 12 years old and has been dancing since the age of 5. This is her third year on Peak Company and her favorite style of dance is Contemporary with Ballet as a close second!  Ariana has received scholarships from both LUX and STREETZ Conventions. She won 9th overall for her contemporary solo at STREETZ in 2022 and received 14th place for her ballet solo at NYCDA. Last season, Ariana won 2nd overall for her contemporary solo at Just Dance Invitational. She also received a class scholarship at STREETZ and was an Elite finalist. Ariana participates in Ascend’s Annual Nutcracker each year. Her performance roles include Tea, Toy Soldier, Angel, Mouse and Spanish Chocolate. She is most looking forward to performing her Contemporary solo and group dance for the 2024 Season!

Veronica is 11 years old and has been with Ascend Dance Academy since its opening in 2020. This is Veronica’s second year performing on Peak Company and she is excited to be a part of the competition team again. Veronica enjoys all styles of dance but her favorite style is Contemporary. She is very excited to be competing in a Lyrical Group dance for this upcoming season.

Hannah is 13 years old and has been dancing since the age of 3. Her favorite styles of dance include Ballet, Contemporary, and Broadway. Hannah enjoys Ballet the most since it was the first style of dance she learned, but also enjoys Contemporary because it allows her to move her body more freely. Hannah enjoys how much Broadway has made her come out of her shell as a dancer and expand her artistry. This is Hannah’s first year competing with Peak Company. The thing she is looking forward to the most this season is building a closer bond with her dance friends and growing as a dancer. Hannah has been in multiple productions of The Nutcracker since she started dancing. Her most recent roles were Clara’s sister Frannie and Reed Flute

Alyssa is ten years old and has been practicing ballet since she was two! He favorite style of dance is contemporary because it allows her to express her emotions through song and dance.  This is her second year on Ascend’s Peak Company, doing group performances with her fellow dancers.  During her first year, she attended the Lux in-studio convention and the NYCDA Phoenix convention.  She also performed at the NYCDA and Streetz competitions. She is looking forward to performing again this year and continuing to learn from all the great mentors she has at Ascend Dance.

Nora has been dancing with Ascend Dance Academy since 2020. Her favorite styles of dance are Ballet and Contemporary. Nora joined Peak Company in 2021 and performed a Variation from Sleeping Beauty. This year she is performing a variation from La Bayadere and a Contemporary solo choreographed by Hailey Meraz. Nora has attended Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet’s 5-Week Summer Intensive in 2022 as well as BalletMet’s 5-Week Intensive, Classical and Contemporary Partnering Week, and Company Rep Week in 2023. She has enjoyed performing in the Nutcracker annually, and her favorite roles with Ascend include Clara and the Sugar Plum Fairy.

Madison is 10 years old and started dancing when she was 4. She loves all styles but her favorite style this year is Contemporary. This is Madison’s second year on Peak Company, and she is so excited to compete in two group dances this year!

Emmaree is nine years old and has been dancing since the age of two. Her favorite style of dance is ballet because she loves advancing her skills as a ballerina. Emmaree has enjoyed performing in several recitals and the Nutcracker with her favorite role being a mouse in the battle scenes! This will be her second year on Peak Company at Ascend. She is looking forward to performing with her friends and attending convention classes.

Makenna has been dancing since the age of 3 and has been with Ascend Dance Academy since its opening in 2020. She has been dancing competitively since age 8 in both group and solo performances in jazz, hip-hop, musical theater, lyrical, and ballet. She loves all styles of dance but shines in ballet and lyrical. She loves expressing her feelings through different dance genres.

In 2016, Makenna earned first overall for her lyrical solo at Showstoppers Phoenix, as well as second overall. In 2017, she was a Rainbow Dance Competition Dancer of the Year finalist and at Celebrity Phoenix earned first in the lyrical solo division and third overall for her age group. In 2018, she was KAR Dancer of the Year Title Finalist in Phoenix, earned second place in the lyrical solo division at LADM Phoenix, and third place overall at Just Dance Invitational Phoenix. In 2019, she earned an honorable mention at the California Dance Classic competition in San Diego for her lyrical/contemporary solo. In 2021, she earned the Outstanding Dancer Experience scholarship as a Regional Outstanding Dancer Runner-up at the NYCDA Phoenix competition/convention. She also performed at the NYCDA Nationals Competition Gala in 2021. In 2022 and 2023, she earned a Streetz class scholarship to compete for Dancer of the Year at Streetz Nationals in Orlando, Florida. In 2023, she also placed 1st overall in the Senior category at the Fly Dance Competition and a JDI award at the Just Dance Invitational in Phoenix, AZ with her contemporary solo. Makenna and her Peak Company teammates have consistently placed at the top of group competitions and have been selected multiple times for encore performances in their finale shows.

Makenna participates in seasonal intensives and master classes with Core Technique Training (CTT), Lux, and local studios that have included training with Emily Zachary Smith, Josh Smith, Nico Banuelos, Danielle Faulkner, Kenda Newbury, Krista King Doherty, DJ Guthrie, Kathryn Morgan, Jim Nowakowski, Seth Robinson, Alexa Moffett, Mike Minery, and Jackie Sleight. She has participated in five productions for the Christmas classic “The Nutcracker” in various roles including Clara, Snow Queen, Party Scene, Flowers, Tea Cakes, Snow Corps, Soldier Doll, and Spanish Chocolate.