Our 2025 Teachers
Sierra Petersen
Sierra Petersen is a current student of the UW Madison Dance Department pursuing degrees in Dance and Psychology. She started dancing at the age of three in her hometown, Oak Creek, Wisconsin. At her studio she trained in a variety of styles, including ballet, pointe, contemporary, jazz, and hip hop, as well as taught elementary aged students ballet, tap, hip hop, and lyrical. She also has experience working with kids with autism and disabilities, and hopes to become a Dance Movement Therapist to be able to bring the benefits of dance to all kids. She loves watching kids have fun and express themselves through dance, and is excited to teach some contemporary this summer!
Dara Zahorik
Dara Zahorik is a second-year dance major at University of Wisconsin-Madison pursuing a BFA in dance, a certificate in pilates, and a certificate in educational studies. Dara is from Louisville, Kentucky and has been dancing for 16 years, training in styles including ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary, modern, hip hop, and African diasporic movement. She was a member of a Louisville-based modern dance company: Vandiver Ford Dance Company (VFDC), a teacher/choreographer at Louisville Dance Alliance, and a Kentucky Governor's School for the Arts graduate. Dara serves as Vice President of the Dance Department Student Organization and dances with UW-Madison’s official club dance team, Dance Elite. As a dance teacher, Dara is dedicated to creating a safe, challenging, and inclusive environment that fosters a love of dance, and she is thrilled to share her passion with others through Dance for Hope!
Jordan Richards
Jordan has been dancing since the age of 3 and has grown to love dance very much! Jordan is the Kenosha YMCA’s dance instructor as well as a private instructor in the Kenosha community. Jordan has danced with a Chicago dance company as well as danced in the Carthage College dance program. Her favorite style of dance is jazz. Jordan is excited to share her love for both dance and children.
Sarina Simonelli
Sarina Simonelli is a dedicated dancer with a lifelong passion for the art form and years of experience. She began dancing at two years old and spent seven years competing with Artistry Dance and Company, training in ballet, contemporary, lyrical, jazz, hip hop, and Latin ballroom. Sarina began self-choreographing and performing her own solos at 16, exploring and showing her artistry and individuality. She furthered her training by assisting and traveling nationwide with the NRG Dance Project convention within their prodigy program for three years, collaborating with renowned faculty. Originally from the Chicago suburbs, Sarina is currently a second-year student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, pursuing a dual major in Dance and Communication with a certificate in Pilates. She also represents the university as a member of the Wisconsin Dance Team, competing at UDA Nationals in the D1A pom and jazz divisions. With a deep passion for dance and a drive to inspire others, Sarina is excited to share her love for dance.
Jordan Reed
Jordan is a current freshman with the University of Wisconsin-Madison Dance Department, training in traditional and global dance styles. She was a competitive dancer, training over 21 hours weekly in ballet/pointe, contemporary, jazz, hip-hop, tap, technique, and commercial styles. Current worker and former title holder for Dancers Inc. Currently pursuing her BFA in Dance.
Jared Cataggatan
They are a dancer and choreographer from Madison, Wisconsin. His dance career started in the competitive scene where he’s been awarded multiple Division 1 All-State titles. Currently, he continues to compete with a Madison-based company, Barrio Dance Factory, with a main focus on House and Litefeet as well as competing and winning a title on the World of Dance Stage. Aside from competing, he finds his creative inspiration from the support of his communities on campus. As a third-year, dance degree student at the UW-Madison, Cataggatan is part of the 15th cohort in the First Wave Hip-Hop & Urban Arts program with the Office of Multicultural Arts Initiatives (OMAI). He is expanding his passion for dance by training under Sofía Snow, Kate Corby, Li Chiao-Ping, Colette Stewart, and Liz Sexe. Their commitment to their craft extends to projects celebrating diversity and identity as he aspires to uplift the voices of other queer, Filipinx artists.