Meet the Team
Studio Owner & Director
Kate Lynn Roberts
Kate Lynn began dancing at the age of 3 and has since cultivated a lifelong passion for dance. She studied dance at San Diego State University and San Jose State University, where she received a Bachelor of Arts in dance. Kate Lynn is the proud owner and director of Studio650, where she seeks to inspire the love of dance in individuals of all ages and backgrounds. Kate Lynn's artistic journey is not only about personal fulfillment but also about fostering community, connection, and positivity among her students.
Studio Director
Taya Cowan
As the Studio Director of Studio650, Taya brings a unique perspective to dance education. With a degree in Neuroscience from the University of Southern California, she aims to create a culture of health, encourage a sense of community, and promote a positive mindset within the studio. Taya specializes in teaching lyrical, contemporary, jazz, and technique classes alongside guiding our company teams. She encourages her students to give their best effort individually and as a team.
Youth Program Director
Kasey Ortez
Kasey has been dancing competitively since she was a little girl. After growing up in the studio, she pursued a major in dance at San Jose State University. After college, Kasey returned to teaching dance and has never looked back! When she is not in the studio, you can find her being a mom to Frankie (one of our mini team dancers) and Mila (a future dance star) or teaching barre and pilates at local studios.
Choreographer, Office Assistant
Juliana St. Goar
Juliana St Goar is a dancer, teacher, and choreographer with over seven years of teaching experience. She specializes in contemporary, hip-hop, jazz, and lyrical styles. Juliana grew up as a competitive dancer before pursuing a degree in Health Policy at Georgetown University. During university, she trained extensively in commercial styles such as jazz funk, hip-hop, and heels. Juliana is passionate about training young dancers and helping them develop their artistic styles and technique while fostering confidence and strength in their abilities.
Choreographer, Media
Chloe Kim
Chloe danced at Studio650 for six years and found her love for choreography and teaching in her final three years of high school. She is currently a sophomore pursuing a dual degree in Dance and Communications at the University of Michigan. Chloe returns to Menlo Park on breaks to teach and choreograph for her students. She loves teaching styles like contemporary, modern, hip-hop, and jazz. Her favorite memory of Studio650 is bonding with everyone at Disneyland for Nationals in Anaheim.
Company Ballet Instructor
Audra Edwards
Audra trained in ballet at Idaho Regional Ballet and Butler University. She has danced with a number of ballet and modern dance companies, including Hannah Kahn Dance Company in Denver, Lydia Johnson Dance in New York City, and Northern Dance in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK. She has been teaching ballet, modern, and contemporary dance for seven years and is endlessly inspired by the passion and drive that her students bring to the studio. She is proud to be a part of Studio650!
Instructor: Hip Hop & Contemporary
Georgi Carmack
Georgi is a super outgoing, fun, and creative teacher. Georgi is originally from Orange County but has been living in the Bay Area for about 3 years. She has been dancing and training for several years in jazz, contemporary, jazz funk, ballet, hip hop and more! She teaches at multiple studios around the Bay Area but she is super excited to start teaching Contemporary and Hip-Hop every Saturday at Studio650! Come dance with Georgi, you don’t want to miss out!!
Instructor: Hip Hop & Musical Theater
Phoenyx Rose
Phoenyx Rose has over 2,000 dance students in the Bay Area. Her association with several local non-profit arts programs and high schools allows her to share her gifts and love for the arts with the future artists of the world. Phoenyx has been in the entertainment industry since the age of three. Most recently, she has returned to the Bay Area, where she is originally from, after doing everything from Broadway to Madonna. She has learned and taught all over the world, including Africa and Germany. Now, returning to her roots, it is time to pass on the knowledge she has acquired throughout her many years of entertaining.
"Nurture the artist in children. They are our most precious future."
Instructor: Tap & Adult Hip Hop
Larra Olson
Since the age of three, dance has brought Larra purpose, joy, and health. She studied tap dance for eleven years, was on her high school dance team, and took jazz, ballet, hip-hop, lyrical, and hula classes in college. She has coached a competitive cheer team, taught an after-school tap dance program, and directed its performances. She has been a part of the Dance Vision community in Palo Alto for the past twenty years by taking classes and performing with them as opportunities arise. Larra is also one of the original members of the adult hip-hop performance group at Studio650. She is in her 25th year as a full-time teacher in Menlo Park, and is the mother of two fabulous teenagers. She cannot imagine life without the presence of music and movement. Larra also loves painting and sharing her passion for the arts with people of all ages.
Instructor: Tap & Jazz
Cruz Conde
Cruz Conde has over 10 Years of teaching and directing experience in the dance industry. He teaches around the entire Bay Area and is well versed in tap, jazz, hip-hop, contemporary, and lyrical but specializes in performance training for dancers ages 4+. Mr. Cruz has worked on choreography for the best pro-NFL and NBA teams, from the GSW Dance Team to the 49er Gold Rush Girls. He has owned his own performance company for several years and is expanding his roster by joining the Studio650 Family. Mr. Cruz has a lot of talent and is excited to help dancers reach their full potential in his classes.
Instructor: Lyrical
Lainey Egnal
Lainey Egnal has been dancing since she was three years old. She trained extensively in classical ballet, participating in Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) exams for 13 years. She also loves dancing in lyrical, jazz, contemporary, and hip hop styles with Senior Company at Studio650. She is a senior and dance team captain at M-A. Prior to teaching ballet at Studio650, Lainey assistant-taught ballet and pre-ballet classes. She loves teaching and helping her students realize their full potential, while fostering a love for dance.
Instructor: Jazz
Zoe Fong
Zoe Fong’s love for dance began at age 3 with her first jazz and ballet classes. She is trained foremost in jazz and contemporary, and is also trained in hip-hop, tap, lyrical, and ballet. She began dancing competitively at age 8 and is currently a member of Senior Company at Studio650. Zoe is a senior at Menlo-Atherton High School, where she choreographs jazz and hip-hop routines as a captain of the M-A Dance Team. Zoe loves working with young dancers, and emphasizes teamwork, kindness, and positivity as an instructor.
Choreographer & Tumbling Instructor
Vivienne Wluka
Vivienne Wluka found a passion for dance after her very first class (love at first sight!). She is now a dance teacher and choreographer with over 5 years of teaching experience, starting in tumbling and expanding her repertoire to lyrical, contemporary, jazz, ballet, and beyond! She is studying Chemistry and Neuroscience on the pre-medical track at Duke University and is continuing to dance competitively now at the collegiate level on the Duke Dancing Devils. Nothing brings Vivienne more joy than working with young dancers, helping them develop their individuality through dance, and encouraging them to push themselves to build strength both physically and mentally.