Meet The Team

Deja Hill

Meet Deja, our visionary director and San Francisco native. Graduating early with a Business Management degree, she brings extensive training in various dance styles. Her experience spans teaching, choreography, and competing in New York, guiding our studio with innovation, expertise, and artistic passion.

Jaliana Semien

Jaliana, a recent UC Santa Barbara graduate with a B.F.A. in Dance and a B.A. in Sociology, has excelled in local and international dance studios. Trained by renowned mentors at SOTA, she furthered her career in Europe. An award-winning choreographer and seasoned performer, Jaliana brings her passion and expertise back to her hometown.

Madison-Noelle Chang

Madison Noelle, a San Francisco native, has performed and competed in prestigious events like Youth America Grand Prix and NYC Dance Alliance. She earned scholarships to Peridance Center and Rock School of Ballet. Madison, who teaches ballet, tap, and Polynesian dance, holds a B.S. in Dance/Arts Management from Oklahoma City University. Recently, she choreographed "The Nutcracker" for the Mississippi Gulf Coast Ballet Theatre.

Shevaghna Milton

Shevaghna, born and raised in San Francisco, has been dancing since she was 18 months old. She trained in tap, jazz, and ballet at Sue’s Performing Stars Dance Studio, later studying under Nina Baratova at Classical Ballet of California, where she performed corps and principal roles in Swan Lake, Snow White, and The Nutcracker. A former high school dance team captain, she taught children’s ballet for six years and now trains in hip hop, contemporary, and Afro-Colombian styles. Shevaghna choreographs for events, teaches jazz funk at Mood and Moves Dance Company, and hosts fundraiser classes - driven by her passion for the healing power of movement and the connection between art and activism.

Nina Palada

Nikolina Palada began her dance training at The San Francisco Ballet and ODC Dance Commons. She then trained at Ruth Awasa School of the Arts in San Francisco. She graduated from Saint Mary’s College in 2020 with a double major in Dance  & Choreography and JCL. She has been teaching dance to kids since she was 10 years old; she currently teaches modern, ballet, and contemporary to kids. She has been dancing with the Davalos Dance Company since 2021.

Hanna Persky

San Francisco native Hanna Persky began her dance training at Presidio Dance Theatre in 2006. She traveled internationally and was an advanced dancer and choreographer in the pre-professional program at San Francisco School of the Arts. Hanna graduated as a Marine Corps member with a B.A. from USC.

Emerson Tait

Originally from Chicago, Emerson Tait (she/her) began her dance training at the Joffrey Academy of Dance, where she studied ballet for six years before transitioning to contemporary as a Contemporary Ballet Trainee. She later moved to San Francisco to train with Alonzo King LINES Ballet, deepening her work in contemporary movement. Emerson has also trained with the Royal Ballet School, Whim W’Him, San Francisco Ballet, and Boston Ballet, and has performed in musical theatre with Porchlight Music Theater, Steel Beam, and the Raue Center. She is currently a dancer with Training Ground SF.

Joshua Gasper

Since 2010, Joshua Gaspar (“J4”) has trained in funk styles, isolations, and Hip Hop choreography. Performing from the Bay to San Diego, his passion ignited after appearing on So You Think You Can Dance with Stephen “Twitch” Boss. Now at CSU Fullerton, he creates impactful Hip Hop projects.

Akemi Smoot

Akemi is an incredible Afro-Latinx performer whose wealth of knowledge spans over 15 years, making her a vital figure in the Bay Area dance community. With Dominican, Puerto Rican and indigenous North American roots, she embodies the rich tapestry of culture that she passionately shares through her craft. As an instructor of bachata, reggaeton, and hip hop dance for both adults and teens across various dance studios and high schools in San Francisco, Akemi plays a crucial role in nurturing the next generation of dancers.

Tai Lum

Tai received a BFA in Dance at NYU Tisch School of the Arts. Tai Lum grew up in San Francisco, studying at the San Francisco Ballet School, LINES Ballet Teen Company, and the ODC Dance Jam. Tai went to high school at Ruth Asawa School of the Arts.