Turn Up the Music, Turn Up the Fun!

What started in 2008 in Lonnie Liddell’s living room has grown to become a life force within the community. Under her direction, Sisters Dance Academy is a place where everyone of all ages and skill levels can experience the joy and magic of dance.

Studio Location
Ray’s Shopping Center
625 N Arrowleaf Trail, Sisters

Office Hours
Mon-Thur 3:30-8:30 p.m.

Phone
(541) 719-1208

Email
danceinsisters@gmail.com

Our Teachers

Our teachers are simply incredible. They are highly trained, dedicated professionals with hearts of gold. They not only inspire a love of dance movement and fitness, but they also foster an inclusive environment that builds confidence and determination.

LONNIE LIDDELL
OWNER, CREATIVE DIRECTOR

From Bellingham, Wash. Lonnie is trained in classical ballet, lyrical, jazz, tap, hip hop, and ballroom. She danced with The Morca Dance Academy, Vision’s Dance Company of Canada, The Nancy Whyte School of Ballet, and Elizabeth Roper’s School of Ballet. She studied dance at Eastern Washington University and Brigham Young University. She and her family moved to Sisters in 2006 when she began teaching locally. She taught out of her home before opening SDA in 2009. She is best known for her warmth, enthusiasm, and ability to foster an inclusive community of dance.

KAYLA WILLIAMS
CONTEMPORARY, JAZZ, ENSEMBLES

Kayla's dance journey began in jazz, then branched into ballet, hip hop, tap, modern, and contemporary. She has a B.S. in Dance from the University of Idaho, an M.A in Teaching from Oregon State University, and specializes in fitness and injury prevention. Kayla has taught across Central Oregon, Idaho, and even Shanghai, China, and cultivates a passion for dance and the arts in her students. She has performed with many great dance artists including Bill T. Jones, Sherry Zunker, Christopher K Morgan, and Susan Hadley. She has been with SDA since 2013.

SHANNON ABERO GUERRERO
HIP HOP

Shannon discovered her love for dance during high school in San Jose. After graduating with a BA from California State University, Long Beach she toured with the Asian Singers, Memoirs of a Geisha, appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and worked with Nike. She performed at Monsters of Hip Hop, The House of Blues in LA, and was a member of the Funkenometry Dance Company. She has trained with Wade Robson and Tabitha and Napoleon (So You Think You Can Dance), and Marty Kudelka (Justin Timberlake’s choreographer). She moved with her family to Bend in 2011 and sharing her love of dance with SDA since 2013.

ASHLEY GAONA
HIP HOP, TAP

Born and raised in Bend, Ashley is know for her musicality, which she honed at COCC while studying music education and conducting, and while singing in several productions of the Obsidian Opera. She has studied at DNCR Academy and with world-renowned hip hop choreographers. She danced with Dirtball, the Hot Shots, Globetrotters, and Lady Dice. She has taught at Sisters Dance Academy since 2018. She truly believes she has the best job in the world because there is nothing better than spreading the joy of dance.

AVA WILEY
CONTEMPORARY, JAZZ, ACRO

Ava is a master of dynamic and inventive movement and technique across genres. She has quickly established herself at Sisters Dance Academy since joining in 2024. Ava grew up dancing at The Vibe in Bend and graduated Bend High School and then Oregon State University. Beyond dance, Ava is also an avid photographer including outdoor dance-themed portraits.

COLBY ROBERTS
HIP HOP

Colby has been training in every style offered at the Sisters Dance Academy since she was three! She has been an award-winning member of the SDA teams since 2019, competing in hip hop, contemporary, and jazz. Starting in 2022, Colby began assisting Miss Shannon’s 7-9 year hip hop class and substitute teaching for several hip hop classes. Drawing from her own resilience and tenacity, Colby maintains high expectations for herself and for her students. Her teaching philosophy inspires them to dig deeper, reach higher, and persevere toward their goals in and out of the studio.

ALLISON BOHRER
HIP HOP

Teaching, dancing, and community building come naturally to Allison. As the founder of Commonplace, the homeschool collaborative in Sisters, she brings that same positive, engaging approach to Sisters Dance Academy. As a mom to three dancing daughters — one in each of SDA’s teams! — she creates age-appropriate choreography that fosters confidence and a love of movement.

LIZ LOPEZ
JAZZ, LATIN JAZZ

Liz was such a hit as a substitute that we were all so thrilled for her to join our staff of teachers! We’ll get a little bio for her posted shortly, but trust us—you’ll love her!

JORDAN WEAVER
CONTEMPORARY

Miss Jordi is back!! Her students enjoy her witty, wise, and collaborative teaching style that draws from her training across genres, including jazz, lyrical, classical ballet, and modern. She fosters an exploration of natural style and improvisation, paired with continued technical training.

HALEY ELLIS
HIGH FITNESS

Fun and feisty, Haley’s high-energy classes are a great way to kickstart your day and to shift your fitness goals into high gear!

JENICA COGDILL
OFFICE MANAGER

Jenica grew up dancing and has always loved being involved in the arts, dance, and stage management. She started managing the backstage production of SDA recitals when her daughter began dancing with Miss Lonnie in 2017. In 2022, she stepped in to help run the front office. In 2023, she took a break from her career in digital experience management for global companies such as Google, Facebook, and Nike. to launch Central Oregon’s only dance store: Move It Dancewear in Bend.