INSTRUCTORS

Karisa Vander Weele - Studio Owner, Instructor, Co-Director

Karisa started her dance training at Hearts In Step Dance Academy in 2013 where she has trained mostly in Ballet, Modern, and Pointe, but has also taken classes in Jazz, Tap, Hip Hop and Contemporary. She joined HIS Ensemble in 2016 and enjoyed dancing in several ballet productions and is now doing costuming for their shows. She also enjoyed being a part of their outreach, and appreciated the opportunity to minister to and encourage people through the art of dance.

In April of 2022, Karisa graduated from Calvin University with a degree in graphic design and minors in both business and dance. During her time at Calvin Karisa was very involved in Dance Guild, a student run organization which puts on a dance performance every semester. She appreciated being able to not only learn and perform various dance styles through Dance Guild, but the opportunity to choreograph several dances including lyrical, pointe, ballet and modern as well.

Karisa took over ownership of Reverence Dance Academy in June of 2023. She is excited to see how God will use the studio in the coming years.

Jessica Eddy - Instructor

Jessica began dancing at the age of 3 in the Vaganova method and has since trained in various dance methodologies. Over the past 12 years, she has trained at HIS Dance Academy, training in ballet, pointe, modern, and contemporary while performing in many original ballets as a member of the Senior Ensemble. She also participated in many Outreach events, and danced/assisted in teaching dance at her church. She has performed in West Michigan Youth Ballet's production of the Nutcracker, danced with Academy of Dance Arts, and spent the summer of 2016 training at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp. She has been teaching and assisting dance for over 10 years for ages 3-18.

Jessica has taught at Reverence Dance Academy since 2018, and was owner from 2020 to 2023. As owner and artistic director, she choreographed full length ballets including The Nutcracker Ballet and Swan Lake, and two original ballets alongside Karisa Vander Weele. Currently, Jessica is pursuing degrees in biochemistry, neuroscience, and psychology at Calvin University. She plans on attending medical school, specializing in cardiovascular surgery. At Calvin, she is on leadership for Dance Guild, Calvin’s largest student org and has choreographed and participated in dances ranging from lyrical, pointe and ballet, to swing dancing, contemporary and jazz.

Jessica values strong technique in a loving, encouraging, Christian environment. She is so excited to share the joy and freedom found in dancing for Christ with her students, and is excited to see what the Lord has in store for the future of Reverence Dance Academy!

Hannah Gibson - Summer Instructor

Hannah has been dancing for 18 years and is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Dance Management at Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Originally from Markham, Texas, she has trained extensively in ballet, jazz, pom, modern, lyrical, tap, hip-hop, and musical theater. A member of the National Honor Society for Dance Arts, she is dedicated to both the artistry and discipline of dance. Hannah previously earned an Associate’s Degree in Multidisciplinary Studies from Brazosport College, balancing her time between school, teaching, and ministry. 

Raised as a homeschooler, Hannah spent much of her upbringing immersed in dance training and competing at a high level. Alongside performing, she has spent several years teaching and choreographing, sharing her love for dance with students of all ages. She has taught at multiple studios, including Lynn Bates School of Dance, Selah Academy for the Arts, Warehouse Athletics, and Foundations Academy Co-op. Hannah has also worked in theater, teaching dance for stage productions and mentoring young performers. Some of her recent performance credits include White Christmas (Rita), An American in Paris (Ensemble), and Little Women (Amy), as well as special opportunities at Walt Disney World and many halftime shows for the Houston Rockets and Harlem Globetrotters. 

Beyond dance, Hannah has a deep passion for ministry. She served as a children’s pastor for several years, leading and mentoring young hearts in their faith. She also volunteered in a nursing home ministry for a couple of years, bringing joy and encouragement to the elderly through worship and prayer. 

For Hannah, dance is more than movement; it is a way to glorify God, inspire others, and foster a sense of community. She believes that dance can be a powerful form of worship and storytelling, and she strives to create a joyful and supportive atmosphere in every class she teaches. She is excited to join Reverence Dance Academy, eager to connect with her students, share the Lord’s love, and embrace all the beauty Michigan has to offer

Elianna Gonzales - Instructor, Co-Director

Elianna has been dancing since the age of three. She is originally from the suburbs of Boston, Massachusetts, and completed most of her dance training at Arlington Dance Place in Massachusetts. She trained in multiple styles, including ballet, tap, jazz, modern, contemporary, lyrical, and hip hop. Elianna performed in many of her studio’s original shows including their version of the Nutcracker. Additionally, Elianna was a member of her studio’s competition team, where she explored many dance styles and got her start as a choreographer. Elianna also taught classes in ballet and tap for 3 years.

Elianna is currently pursuing a degree in Kinesiology with a concentration in Exercise Science as well as a minor in Dance at Calvin University. Elianna acquired much more diverse training in dance through Calvin’s Dance Minor program, where she learned about the history of dance as well as dance styles from many different cultures. Elianna is also very involved in Calvin’s Dance Guild program where she served on Leadership and has choreographed many dances in different styles, as well as learned new techniques.

Gabi Mora - Summer Instructor

Gabi began her dance training at Hearts in Step when she was just 3 years old. She primarily trained in jazz and hip-hop but also took occasional ballet classes. In high school, she focused on private lessons, specializing in musical theater and hip-hop. One of her most memorable performances was dancing alongside other talented artists in Columbia College Chicago’s Musical Theater Dance Concert during her freshman year of college.

Currently, Gabi is studying Spanish at Western Michigan University while pursuing a minor in dance. She is thrilled to step into a teaching role and hopes to create an environment where kids feel comfortable, inspired, and excited to dance. Her goal is to spark the same passion for dance in her students that she discovered as a child.

Harlee Scholten - Instructor

Harlee has studied dance since she was two years old. She has trained heavily in ballet, modern, contemporary, partnering, and pointe. Harlee trained at West Michigan Youth Ballet for ten years, under Jen Norder and Stephen Sanford. She also trained with HIS Dance Academy for nine years, under Tassia Johnson, Olga Smelik, Sarah Walters, and Hannah Sullivan. Additionally, Harlee trained with Ada Dance Academy for three years under Stephen Sanford, Laura Berman, and Hannah Trulock. Privately, she has trained with ABT instructor Samantha Shelton. Harlee has performed in countless productions through HIS and WMYB, including principal roles in The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, and many others. In 2019, she attended Grand Rapids Ballet’s summer intensive on merit-based scholarship, as well as competed in the world renowned Youth American Grand Prix.

Harlee has taught dance at many studios, including HIS Dance Academy, Turning Pointe School of Dance, West Michigan Youth Ballet, and LoMi Studios. Additionally, Harlee has been teaching, choreographing, and directing at Reverence Dance Academy since 2020. Her past accomplishments include directing, choreographing, and costuming Reverence’s 2021 full-length production of Cinderella, as well as coordinating and teaching Reverence’s summer camps in 2021, 2022, and 2023. Additionally, Harlee is a collaborator with the Grand Haven Musical Fountain. Specifically, she choreographed, coordinated, and danced as Elsa in the “Frozen Live!” musical fountain show that premiered in June of 2022.

Currently, Harlee is pursuing a degree in both dance and exercise science at Hope College, studying under professors Julie Powell, Matt Farmer, and Kara Brems. She danced in Julie Powell’s “Pieces of Her” in Hope College’s Dance 48, as well as danced in her Dance 49 piece, “Untethered”. She was named Julie Powell’s rehearsal assistant for the 2023-2024 season, specifically for her piece “Untethered”. Harlee is the president of the Hope College Ballet Club, leading the organization, teaching weekly classes, and choreographing for the club’s bi-annual productions. Harlee is on West Michigan Youth Ballet’s board of directors, and she is currently working at Grand Rapids Ballet as their 2023 Dance Festival Coordinator.

Kayla Vander Weele - Instructor, Studio Manager

Kayla grew up dancing and has done ballet, tap and jazz at various studios. In May 2023 she graduated from Cornerstone University with a degree in exercise science and cardiac rehab. During her time at Cornerstone Kayla was a student athlete on the cheer team, where she did competitive and sideline cheer. While on the team Kayla got to help lead as a captain, plan daily devotions, help with dances and cheers and teach freshman content. The past two summers Kayla has traveled all over the country with a traveling ministry called EveryHeart. Spreading the gospel, serving those in need, and unifying and encouraging the local church. Now Kayla is working as an exercise physiologist at a local hospital helping patients rehab from surgeries as well as help them reach fitness goals. When she is not working, she loves running, working out, baking, hanging out with friends and being outside.

Kayla says “I am so excited for this year of teaching. I love working with kids and I am passionate about helping everyone find fun ways of being active. Most of all I love the Lord and desire to honor our creator with everything that we do. It is my goal this year that kids leave class loving dance and knowing God; the one who gave them life and ability to dance, more deeply!”

Anna Ydenberg - Instructor

Anna has been dancing for 15 years. She studied at HIS Dance Academy in both Ballet and modern styles of dance. She was part of the cast of many different ballets there including “The Toymakers Son”, “Ark”, “Red”, “Royal”, and “Desert”. She was also part of the cast of “Cinderella” at Reverence a few years ago and in Reverence's Nutcracker in 2023.

Ann is in her first year at Calvin University studying kinesiology. She is most excited to teach young girls dance which has been such an important part of her life.