Marissa trained at the same studio for over 13 years, training in hip-hop, ballet, jazz, contemporary + more. She also trained and ranked nationally in power tumbling and trampoline. Marissa appeared on So You Think You Can Dance, Season 12, as one of only five girls chosen by Travis Wall for TeamStage, toured with SYTYCD on the 70 city tour, has danced for Charlie Puth on The Voice , Demi Lovato in the VMA’s, Good Morning America, and Top 40 Billboard, danced for Ricky Martin on his Vegas residency in 2017, cheered for an NFL Team here in Nashville, danced on the CMA’s, appeared on CMT, performed on American Music Awards and the CMA Country Christmas. Additionally, she’s landed many TV appearances and music videos for Janelle Monae, Thomas Rhett, Kenny Chesney, Jennifer Nettles and more. Marissa has danced on the hit TV show “Nashville” for several seasons and was in the movie “Alvin and the Chipmunks 4”. Marissa is currently going on her third season as a faculty member for the fast-growing Revel Dance Convention. She and her brother Justin started Milele Academy two years ago with the vision to help dancers get the best training and prepare them for whatever dance journey they want to accomplish. Marissa has won over 32 choreography awards in just two years.

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Justin Milele was born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee. Justin's love for dance started at a very young age of 8 years old. Justin's credentials include the ABC TV show "Nashville" (Seasons 1, 2 and 3) as a principal dancer for Hayden Panettiere , CMA Country Christmas also aired on ABC, as a dancer for Kelly Pickler and Jennifer Nettles and has worked industrial work for Harley Davidson as dancer/choreographer. He's been featured in several music videos and commercials throughout his life time for such artists as Austin Mahone, Brooks and Dunn, Jake Owens, Nickelodeon, and Bubba Sparxx, to mention a few. Recently in 2015, Justin toured on the "That Bass" tour with Meghan Trainor, opening up with artist Matt Prince. You will also find Justin in the upcoming, Alvin and The Chipmunks 4 movie, in theaters December 2015. When Justin is not pursuing his dreams and auditioning, he's teaching master classes and choreography around the United States. His plans are to move to LA in 2016 to continue pursuing his dreams and take his career to the next level.

LVDC Choreographers 2019, 2020

Karlee Jones is the true epitome of the Studio VIE philosophy, which is why she is the literal poster child of our company.  Her love for dance and kindness toward others is what makes her stand out in the competitive dance world.

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Karlee has been dancing since the age of three and has earned numerous regional and national overall placements and scholarships. Karlee has served as student intern with Talent On Parade, assisting Mr. Don Mirault.

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In her career, Karlee has performed as a Go Pro dancer in Kidz Roc, a professional show highlighting the best talent from around the nation.  She has also been a member of the nationally ranked UMKC dance team.  Karlee has performed with Collaboration Laboratory Dance Company in Kansas City.

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Karlee attended Theater Arts Prepartory school in Las Vegas, Nevada and now works professionally touring with Pin Ups On Tour as well as other Las Vegas shows.

Don has appeared on Broadway as Zach in “A Chorus Line”, he played Fred Casely in Bob Fosse’s “Chicago” and you’ve seen him in the Equity production of “Baby”. He performed the lead adagio in the “Folies Bergere” in Las Vegas. Don has worked in every dance medium from Cruise Lines to MTV. He has helped hundreds of dancers launch their dance careers with his book “Dancing…For A Living”. Don has created three instructional videos “Lifts…For Your Choreography”, “Lifts…For Kids and Advanced Lifts and Partner Work.” He conducts adagio classes across the country specializing in helping male dancers and partners.

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A keynote speaker at colleges and universities, Don continues to educate dancers and teachers on the business of dance and how to become a professional. A master class teacher and national judge for numerous competition/conventions including Joe Tremaine, Starpower, Encore, Rainbow Connection, Talent on Parade, Al Gilbert and many more. He is the Executive Producer for Doucette Entertainment in Las Vegas. Entering it’s 5th year, Don is the Producer/Director of GoPro Seminars and KIDZ ROC; a full production theatrical show for kids in Branson, Mo.

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Don currently serves as the President of Theater Arts Preparatory School in Las Vegas which prepares young dancers, actors, and singers to succeed in the performing arts industry.

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Check out more about Mr. Don's amazing career at www.donmirault.com

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La Vie Dance Company Competition Critique Day, Winter 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019

Native to Los Angeles, CA, Cameron was always an entertainer at heart. Growing up in the Compton, CA area of Los Angeles, he was fascinated with the dance moves of Michael Jackson as well as Usher, and Omarion and wanted to move just like they did.

At the age of 15, after seeing the movie "You Got Served" he took notice of world known choreographer Dave Scott and decided that hip hop dance was what he wanted for his career. He later moved to Missouri after the loss of his cousin whom he was close with, who encouraged him to pursue dance. He began taking dance more seriously and joined a dance crew that formed at his high school. After winning talent shows, and dance contest and performing for local hip hop artist, Cameron decided to take his dance passion to the next level.

At the age of 21 he moved to Oklahoma City, OK to learn contemporary and hip hop. Later on he began teaching dance classes, and soon formed the dance crew/company known as Band of Misfits. Soon after, Cameron traveled the states learning and teaching. As well as going overseas to China to dance and teach.

He and the Band of Misfits have accomplished quite a bit within the years of when they started. Cameron has been able to showcase some of his talents in events such as World Of Dance, Loose Cannons, Club Jete, also for Chris Brown's F.A.M.E tour. He has taught for dance conventions such as The Streetz and Soul de Soul, and is also a graduated alum of the Boogiezone Xchange Dance Program headed by Elm Pizarro. Now working on more projects with Band Of Misfits and also a member of Academy of Villains (Los Angeles). He is currently a hip hop instructor and competition choreographer and teaches master classes in different cities around the US. Today, Cameron is still pursuing his passion as a dancer and choreographer as well as an actor and in cooking.

National Dance Day Guest Teacher 2016, 2017 - Master Class Teacher 2017 - LVDC Choreographer 2017-2018

Amber has been dancing since age 3, and has been teaching dance for the last 18 years.  She spent several years teaching for the two largest dance companies in the United States; Universal Dance Association and National Dance Alliance for both High School and Collegiate leveled dancers and is now the owner and director of Stars Unlimited in Kansas City, Missouri.

In 2002 Amber graduated from William Jewell College with a B.A. in Communication with an emphasis on Public Communication.  She also spent 4 years on her College Dance Team ranking in the top 6 in the nation 3 times. 

Amber also spent time as a Kansas City Wizards Girl (MLS Soccer), Kansas City Command Dancer and choreographer, choreographer for the Kansas City Comets Galaxy Girls, Choreographer for the Kansas City Royals (MLB), and was cast as a dancer for Carnival Cruise lines. 

Besides her background in performance and choreography, Amber has been teaching at the studio level since age 14.  She has received several top awards for choreography, and her dancers have ranked with top awards at several competitions including Starquest, Spotlight, Dance Champs, Nexstar, Masquerade, Talent on Parade, Stage One, and more. She is well versed in the techniques of tap, jazz, ballet, lyrical, and hip-hop. 

Amber also enjoys judging for local and national dance competitons and providing choreography for local high school, college, and professional dance teams.

Amber and her husband Mike, have one child (Taylor) and live in the Liberty area.

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Company Workshop and Audition Instructor and Judge - Summer 2016, Summer 2017, Summer 2018, Summer 2019

Trystan is from Liberty, Missouri and is a dance instructor and choreographer at Priscilla and Dana's School of Dance where she also grew up, training competitively for six years. She is a graduate from Liberty High School where she was on the Liberty Sapphires dance team for four years. Trystan was able to choreograph team dances throughout her four years on the team and has received the privilege of assisting and choreographing high school and college dance teams around the Midwest. Trystan attended The University of Missouri Kansas City to study dance and was a part of the pre-professional company Defy. She is currently a company member of Heartlines Dance Company. Trystan loves to share her love for dance in the Kansas City area and beyond

La Vie Dance Company Competition Prep Workshop, Winter and Spring 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020

Devan Watring, from Kansas City, Missouri, is a protégé of Robert L. Reed.  She began dancing at four years old and was no stranger to dance competitions and summer theater.  She studied all styles of dance and jumped at every opportunity to take master classes and learn from different instructors.  For a short time, Devan was even a member of a youth ballet company. 

It was Tom Land that first introduced Devan to “rhythm” tap.  Coming from two parents that were percussionists, and being one herself, she had a natural ear for rhythms and syncopation, that provide the foundation for her dance.  Devan has choreographed competitive tap routines and shared her tap in dance workshops for several studios in the Kansas City area. She has received numerous choreography awards, her first being before she even graduated from high school.

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Devan expanded her study of tap when she attended the St. Louis Tap Festival, founded by Robert L. Reed, grandson and protégé of Maceo Anderson, one of the original Four Step Brothers.  She was then asked to be a member of the St. Louis Hoofers, and since, has performed in All That Tap at the St. Louis Tap Festival, TAPathetically Speaking at the Chicago Tap Summit, the first annual Oklahoma City tap festival, and assisted under Shea Sullivan, protégé of Dr. Henry LeTang, at the DMA convention in NYC. 

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Devan has had the extraordinary opportunity to learn from legendary icons such as Dr. Jimmy Slyde, Harold Cromer, Arthur Duncan, Dr. Prince Spencer, Miriam Nelson, Ernest "Brownie" Brown, and Marion Coles to name a few. 

Devan attended Oklahoma City University as a Dance Perfomance major.  During which, she was a member of the American Spirit Dance Company.  After only a year, she moved to New York City where she worked for Disney, both in NYC and on Disney Cruise Line.  She also had the opportunity of assisting crossbow shooter Ben Blaque on Season 7 of America’s Got Talent, making it all the way to the semifinals. 

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Devan currently resides in Branson, Missouri, where she was a singer and dancer at Silver Dollar City, was a rider in Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede, and for a short time, played Marcia Brady in “Lunch with the Brady Bunch” with Barry Williams.

More recently she had the privilege of joining the US cast of the Dirty Dancing National Tour where she was an ensemble dancer/singer, understudied Baby and Lisa Houseman, and eventually stepped up to Assistant Dance Captain/Swing.

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2016-2017 Guest Instructor

Jaclyn Kohler has always been involved in athletics and dance from the young age of 5. Training in many styles of dance,she has always loved being in tune with her body and expressing herself through movement. She has recently just finished her level one kundalini yoga certification through KRI and 3HO with the hopes to help heal others the way it has helped her. Her love of movement, as well as new discovered love of singing, have come together through this form of yoga as a way to express her passion for the arts and listening to your soul.

Yoga Instructor - Summer 6 Week Session 2016

Mandy Pruett Borgelt holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Dance, with a minor in Performing Arts from Lindenwood University in St. Louis, Missouri. She is the recipient of Lindenwood’s prestigious award for Dance Student of the Year. Mandy danced on LU’s six-time National champion Lion Line Dance Team for three years and served as a captain and nationals choreographer. She also danced professionally with the Modern American Dance Company in St. Louis, Missouri.

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Mandy is also involved in the musical theatre industry, having choreographed over a dozen stage musicals as well as freelance choreography projects with dance teams and stage concert ensembles throughout the country. She has choreographed for many national finalist dance teams at the high school and collegiate level, as well as studio competitive choreography. Some of her performance credits include the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon and the NDTC Opening Number on ESPN.

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Mandy has a 19 year history with Varsity as a UDA staff member, Head Instructor, State Director, summer curriculum choreographer, and National Dance Team Championships judge. She has coached collegiate programs at William Jewell College, University of Kansas Rock Chalk Dancers, and 5- time National Champion Hawaii Pacific University Dance Team in Honolulu, Hawaii.

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Currently, Mandy is a freelance choreographer in the US and International Cheer Union World championships Official. She resides in her hometown of Kansas City with her husband Orin and 3 children, “the chilies”. Mandy is a 200 hour certified yoga instructor, and is the Executive Creative Director and Founder of The Collaboration Laboratory Dance Company and Grace and Grit Dance Intensives. She has also developed Namaslay Dance Technique, which fuses yoga, ballet, and jazz dance into an incredible dance teaching method that honors the whole person, from the inside out.

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@mandy_pru_borg www.facebook.com/CollabLabKC

Mandy’s motto: “Own Who You Are.”

National Dance Day Instruction - Summer 2016