MANDI'S DANCE STUDIO
Mandi Gilliland Owner/Director
Mandi Barron
Owner
Mandi has been dancing since the age of 5. She danced for 14 years as a top competitor and taught dance, gymnastics and tumbling for 15+ years in the North Pittsburgh, PA area. Among winning numerous awards for group dances and solos, Mandi was part of the group nominated for the World Showcase dance team.
She has successfully passed grade 4-7 in ballet, studying under the Royal Academy of Dance curriculum. As an active member of Dance Masters of America's FL Chapter, she is certified to teach by test in tap, ballet, jazz and acrobatics. She currently holds the position of Vice President of the Dance Masters of Florida Chapter.
Along with attending numerous continuing education workshops such as Cicci Convention and The Movement Workshop, a workshop with dancers from previous seasons of “So You Think You Can Dance”, Mandi has also attended USAG Congress where she received her safety certification and 3 years of Dance Masters of America's Teacher Training School. Mandi is a YPAD certified instructor, enforcing protection and safety for all dancers.
Her students have competed in numerous regional and national dance and pageant competitions such as; Extreme Talent, Starpower, Turn it Up and Dance Masters of America. Mandi has owned and directed Mandi's Dance Studio, located in Butler, PA, since 2012.
Mandi graduated from Butler County Community College with an Associate’s degree in Architecture in 2009 and graduated in 2012 with a Bachelor's Degree in Interior Design from La Roche University. Along with teaching dance, Mandi also works as an Interior Architect for Gensler in Tampa, as well as helping others with their fitness goals as a Beachbody's coach.
She resides in the Tampa area with her husband, Trent, and their cats, Taffy and Luna.
Erin Boggs
Instructor/Education Director
Erin has over 10+ years teaching multiple subjects of dance. She has extensive dance training in all subjects of dance including jazz, tap, hip hop, modern, and ballet. Upon completing years 1-4 of Dance Masters of America’s Teacher Training School, Erin is a certified instructor by test in Tap, Ballet, Jazz and Modern. She is also an active member of the Dance Masters of Pennsylvania Chapter 10. Erin resides in the Gibsonia area with her husband Shane and puppy Bandit.
Sarah Dietsch
Instructor/Competition Director
Sarah Dietsch, a Pittsburgh based instructor, choreographer, and performer has been heavily involved in the dance community for over 20 years. She began dancing under the instruction of Linda Dies and Molly Dies in Warren, Pennsylvania. She continued her studies at Slippery Rock University, graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance with concentrations in both business administration, performance, and choreography.Dietsch was a member of Afro-Colombian Dance Ensemble and ROCK Dance Company during her time at SRU. She has worked with many established artists including Manasvini Ramaschandran, Francine Ott, Lindsay Fisher-Viatori, Chitra Subramanian, Jesse Factor, Christine Cobb, Jennifer Keller, and Melissa Teodoro. In addition to performance work, Sarah also serves in the dance community as a passionate educator. Having worked at studios all over western PA, she has worked with students from preschool to college in; ballet, tap, contemporary, jazz, kinder moves, lyrical, yoga, and modern. In addition to her dance career, Sarah is also a licensed Massage Therapist, specializing in medical and neuromuscular massage therapy.
Jade Klamer
Instructor
Jade danced for 12 years, 4 of which as a competitive dancer. She’s performed in local plays and musicals, but has helped previously backstage and recently has been choreographing for them. Jade currently is serving on the Board at Butler Musical Theater Guild. Along with dance, Jade has extensive experience in cheerleading. She cheered for midgets for 4 years, 6 years on Butler High School squads, and participated for 4 years on the Butler Competitive Cheerleading squad. During her time on the competitive squad, she had the opportunity to compete at the state level where her team won first place, as well as attending Nationals in Orlando all 4 years. Jade started out coaching gymnastics, tumbling, and cheerleading. She has been with MDS since 2014, but has strictly stuck with teaching our more advanced Acrobatic classes.
Katie Johnson
Instructor
Katie Johnson is a graduate from the nationally ranked University of the Arts in Philadelphia, where she received her BFA in both Acting and Dance performance. There she studied under principal and former principal dancers from Philadelphia Ballet, Philadanco, Alvin Ailey, Gibney Dance, etc. She has danced in original works from emerging international choreographers and was a lead soloist for the University of Arts Ballet Ensemble. While at university, Katie was a teachers assistant for beginner level ballet and musical theater. There she instructed and lead adults in the Balanchine technique. She has also worked as a stand-in for numerous films and television shows that have filmed in both Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. Katie was also the recipient of a full scholarship to attend the Joffrey Ballet School in New York City.
Kourtney Groves
Jr. Instructor
Kourtney has grown up dancing with Mandi's for 10+ years. Now she is a teacher with us. She has successfully completed her second year of teacher training. She is a graduate from Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School as a theatre major. Kourtney enjoys performing on stage. She has appeared in many shows with Summer Dramatics (2013-2019) and Musical Theatre Guild's Beauty and the Beast and Mamma Mia! Kourtney was assistant choreographer and on the prop crew for their most recent productions. Kourtney is attending BC3 with a major in Criminology.
Tina Zajacs
Instructor
Tina started dancing at 3 years old in Waynesburg, PA. She moved to Butler and continued her dancing career at Lee's School of Dance. Tina took tap, ballet, jazz, and acro. She left dance to complete her Gold Award for Girl Scouts, Years later when her kids started gymnastics she became a gymnastics coach both recreational and competitive. She worked with children as young as 8 months old to 18 years old. Tina became a dance teacher for Mandi's the year she opened in 2013. Tina passed her Dance Masters exams in tap, ballet, jazz, and acro. She also attended 1 year of teacher training school in Buffalo, NY. Tina is a veterinary technician as her day job. Tina left Mandi's briefly in 2019 and is now back to teach her passion which is contortion. Tina is super excited to be back with us at Mandi's!
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Mackenzie Sandidge
Jr. Instructor
Mackenzie graduated from Slippery Rock High School in 2024.She is currently attending Slippery Rock University with a major in Recreational Therapy and a minor in Animal-Assisted Interventions. She has been a part of Mandi’s Dance Studio since she was 9 years old. Taking many different subjects such as, tap, ballet, jazz, pointe, contortion, hip hop, modern, lyrical, acro, and contemporary. Mackenzie has also completed Grades 1-3 of Cecchetti ballet. This is Mackenzie’s first year as a teacher with us but has been a student teacher for multiple years prior. Besides the performances she has done with MDS, she was also a dance in MTG’s production of 9 to 5. We are super excited to have Mackenzie at MDS!
Linda Hartman
Office Manager
Ashley Stivason
Office Assistant
