Elena Gimenez was born and raised in Madison, Alabama where she started dance at the age of three. She trained extensively in all styles and danced competitively for the majority of her life. Elena then went on to receive her BFA in Contemporary Dance from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA). There, she performed works by Aszure Barton, Robert Battle, José Limón, Merce Cunningham, Larry Keigwin, and Yin Yue, among others. She has attended summer intensives with Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Northwest Dance Project, the Limón Company at Perry-Mansfield, and The Cambrians. In these programs, she worked closely alongside people such as Dante Puleio, Ihsan Rustem, and FLOCK. Elena also has a passion for musical theatre, commercial dance, and choreography, winning numerous awards for her choreography of musicals and competitive pieces. She was a teacher at The Dance Company, Inc. in Alabama for over five years before moving to Utah. This is Elena’s first year as a member of the Contemporary Dance company, SALT2.
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Working from home meant we could vary snack and coffee breaks, change our desks or view, goof off, drink on the job, even spend the day in pajamas
Tracy has been dancing since she could walk and has trained in nearly every style of dance including ballet, jazz, tap, lyrical, folk dance, hip hop, heels, Irish soft and hard shoe, ballroom, contemporary, acro and tumbling, cheerleading, and even African. She attended Southern Utah University on multiple music and dance scholarships, and earned her BFA in Communications/Public Relations and Dance Education. Tracy participated in many pageants and talent competitions, and won the title of Miss Southern Utah in 1998-1999. After graduating college, she moved to Switzerland where she continued to pursue her dance education at the Basel Ballet Theater, Columbo Dance Academy, and the International Irish Dance Academy. She returned to the United States and continued to train under many renowned dancers and choreographers that helped to build her dance and teaching style to what it is today.
Tracy’s true passion and gift is in teaching, and with more than 25 years of teaching experience, she is a true master teacher. If you know Tracy, you can attest that she has a rare ability to connect with and inspire her students. She considers it a life calling to inspire and build up the individual, while teaching and developing the dancer. She has proudly watched many of her students go on to professional and teaching careers in dance.
Between performing and teaching, Tracy has won countless state and national awards in dance, choreography, and even costume design. In addition to dance, she is an accomplished pianist, violinist, and singer. She has performed with numerous community and professional groups in piano, violin, and voice, including media appearances, musical theater, and other venues. Her musical aptitude is apparent in her creative and award-winning choreography.
More than anything, Tracy loves each and every one of students at Danceology, and teaching and leading them brings her true joy in life!
Rachel Hansen is originally from Draper Utah. She trained at The Dance Club in Orem where her and her teammates took home several regional and national titles. In 2012, Rachel earned the title of Junior National Dancer of the Year at Hollywood Vibe Nationals. She was also offered a role in the Broadway show, Billy Elliot when she was just 12 years old. The last four years, Rachel has spent dancing and competing as a BYU Cougarette. She has helped the Cougarettes win three national titles, 2 gold medals and 1 silver medal when the Cougarettes were chosen to represent team USA at Worlds. Rachel is into her Senior year as a BYU Cougarette where she is excited to serve as the Vice President and officer. Rachel prides herself in extensive training in all types of dance and her leadership skills. She got married in 2020 to her husband Ryan and the live in Provo as they finish up school at BYU.
Savannah was born and raised in Utah and started dancing at the age of 3. She trained in various styles including jazz, contemporary, hip hop, and more. Throughout the years she has received various awards and scholarships at various competitions. In high school, she was on the Corner Canyon Drill Team and later on the Varsity Dance Team. She is now attending Brigham Young University and is involved with the International Folk Dance program. She loves being able to teach at Danceology and share her love for dance with others!