Kristin Barlow
Executive Director
Kristin has been involved in the dance world for 30 years. She studied at the University of Utah in ballet and graduated with a BS in Organizational Communications. She has studied ballet, tap, and jazz at the University of Utah as well as Janet Gray Studios in Salt Lake City. She has been a member of Dance Masters of America, an internationally-recognized teaching organization. She has taught ballet, tap and jazz for thirty years and founded and operated Ballet, Etc. Dance Studio in the San Francisco area. After increasing the studio to over capacity in five years, she sold the California studio and relocated to Brigham City, Utah where she founded Starlite Express Dance Academy and Dream Pointe Ballet Company. In 2010, she built and founded Starstruck Dance & Performing Arts in Perry hosting award-winning Starstruck Competitive Company and all genres of dance as well as musical theater, acro-dance & birthday parties. She renovated the Brigham City studio to be the home of Dream Pointe Ballet Company. She has been ballet mistress and director of Dream Pointe Ballet Company producing full-length ballets for northern Utah including The Nutcracker, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Peter Pan, Alice in Wonderland, Ice Princess & Swan Lake. She has served as an exofficio member of the Brigham City Arts Council promoting the arts in her community. She founded Dance for Life Suicide Prevention & Good Mental Health 501(c)3 non-profit in 2018 to help raise awareness & develop programs for better mental health. She retired from studio life spring 2021 to pursue full-time work on expanding Dance for Life programs, spreading its mission and growing Dance for Life Nation globally.
Leah Larsen
Board Member
Utah Director
Leah has been dancing at Starlite Express Dance Academy, Starstruck Dance & Performing Arts and Dream Pointe Ballet Company since she was three years old. She has been involved with competitive dancing in all genres including tap, lyrical, contemporary, jazz and hip-hop. She was a member of Dream Pointe Ballet Company performing in roles such as the Queen of Hearts in Alice in Wonderland & Dew Drop in the Nutcracker. She was a four-year member of the Box Elder High School Rockettes. She has received scholarships from Celebrity Dance Competitions & received top five at EPIC Drill Camps. She has been an instructor for Starstruck and Dream Pointe for many years and is currently Dance for Life Board Member & Utah Director.
Janessa Barlow
Board Member
Florida Director
Janessa was born to dance. As the second daughter of Kristin Barlow, she has had premier training from Starstruck Dance & Performing Arts & Dream Pointe Ballet Company in all dance genres including ballet, pointe, lyrical, contemporary, jazz, hip-hop, tap, cheer & acro-gymnastics & has competed in all since age five years. She has traveled to various dance conventions throughout the United States including on scholarship to Celebrity in Arizona & Colorado as well as Steps on Broadway in New York. She was a member of Box Elder High School's Rockette Drill Team leading the team as Assistant Drill Leader & Team Captain. She was overall 1st place winner at Falcon Classic with her lyrical solo & has been a top five soloist at all drill competitions as well as Tops Corps at Epic Drill & Dance. She was top ten at Miss Drill Utah and continue to compete winning overall & top awards & scholarships. She is actively pursuing dancing, acting and film editing in the entertainment industry while pursuing her career as a real estate agent in Florida. She has been recently named a Dance for Life Board Member and Florida Director and advocates for better mental health.
Alisha Staggs
Board Member
Alisha has been in the dance world for over 40 years. She started at a young age and her passion for dance has continued since. She was a member of her high school drill team, SLCC songleading squad, dancer for the Utah Blaze AFL team, and a performer with the 2002 Olympic Game opening and closing ceremonies. Alisha furthered her dance career by coaching and choreographing for the Taylorsville Chirons, the Bennion Jr High Dance company, and Salt City Stars. After retiring from teaching and coaching, she judges drill and dance competitions where provides feedback for local teams and studios. Her passion for dance is now being a dance mom and supporting her tiny dancer (who is now 11). She is married to the Mayor of Riverton, Trent Staggs. Together, they have provided numerous hours of service to the community through “Pageants and Politics”. Alisha is also A former Mrs. Utah America and now the co-director for the pageant. Alisha has two kids and a dog. They love traveling and hope to reach all 50 states within the next two years.
Robin Towle
Board Member
Robin Towle is the founder of Wolf Pact, a nonprofit that teaches positive emotional skills to help with anxiety, depression, suicide prevention and anti-bullying. Robin shared her platform throughout the world as Mrs. International 2019. Robin also held the title of Mrs. Utah America, achieving top six at Mrs. America. She is a member of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, the State Suicide Coalition, a facilitator of QPR and founder of Hope in the Hill for Veterans. Robin is a mother of six beautiful children and two daughter in-laws while married to her husband Kevin for the last twenty-six years.
Lindsey Larsen LaFord
Board Member
Lindsey Larsen is from Lehi, Utah, and is a junior at the University of Utah majoring in ballet performance and minoring in Kinesiology. Lindsey began ballet training at the age of 4. Since them, her dance journey has taken her to stages in Utah, Washington, and Hawaii, and into lead roles with Utah’s own Ballet West Academy. Her career ambitions include becoming a professional ballerina, an artistic director, and a health educator. As a dancer, Lindsey believes in the power of movement. Through her Social Impact Initiative, The MOVEMENT Movement, Lindsey helps equip all individuals with the resources they need to improve mental, physical, and emotional health through daily movement-based activities. Since becoming a part of the Miss America program, she has spoken with more than 3,000 Utah students, and partnered with organizations like the Utah County Health Department and America Heart Association to raise awareness into the role movement plays in changing ourselves, our cultures, and our communities. specifically for the youth.
Mandy Turner
Board Member
Mandy is an ambassador for The Wolf Pact and was former Mrs. Bluffdale. She has been married to her husband Clint for twenty years, and together they have three amazing teenage daughters. She is a Registered Nurse and currently the Director of Nursing at an assisted living center. She has six years of nursing background in pediatric, maternity and health and wellness bringing to the table several years of experience in personal training, fitness and nutrition. Her passion is bringing awareness to the importance of mental health, specifically for the youth.
Abby Whitworth
Board Member
Abby grew up dancing at Hi-Light Dance Academy where she trained in several dance styles. In high school, she was a member of the Lone Peak Dance Company and danced pre-professionally with Divinity Dance Company. After graduation, Abby danced with the BYU Cougarettes for 2 years. She won a hip hop national title with her team in 2021. Today, Abby continues her passion for dance by teaching students all over Utah. She loves promoting health and wellness through the dance arts.
Ken Andersen
Board Member
Ken has been a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor and Specialist for over thirty years and has a Master of Science degree in Special Education with an emphasis in Rehabilitation Counseling. He is a Licensed Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, Certified Rehabilitation Counselor, Certified Vocational Evaluator, and National Certified Counselor. In addition to his professional life, Ken is an accomplished musician who co-founded Cityjazz,
a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to bringing the art of jazz music to diverse populations. He plays bassoon, saxophone, clarinet and piano. He has served as the principal bassoon of the
Murray Symphony (Utah) and performed as the principal bassoon for the Utah Symphony's inaugural Pro-Am. He has served as the principal bassoon for the Murray Utah Concert Band as well as the 911 Memorial Orchestra and Chorus in Salt Lake City. He presently manages and performs with the Cityjazz Big Band, a professional Jazz Big Band, in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Jen Stapley
Board Member
Jen was born and raised in Utah. She started dancing at 3 years and trained primarily under A+ Dance Company in Sunset, Utah. She taught dance at Valley View Stars and Kaysville Dance Academy. She also coached cheerleading at Mueller Park Jr. High. Jen has been a judge for local dance competitions such as Dance America and American on Stage. Currently she is running a non-profit called Dream to Dance, Dare to Dream. This raises funds for scholarships to assist with financial hardships experienced among dancers. She has a daughter who dances pre-professionally in Utah and is involved with a local high school dance company. Jen is passionate about mental health concerns and has experienced loss first hand by those inflicted by it. She truly wants to help dancers with this cause and help them find resources to cope. Her belief is that the “only way out” is through and we are all in this together. She's excited to work with this wonderful team for a cause that she truly supports and believes in.
Antoinette Stapley
Board Member
Antoinette founded Operation Hero to honor fallen heroes in Utah after losing her own husband who served in the military. She has hosted numerous events for veterans and continues to be an advocate for the military and taking care of families of those who have been lost in military service. She has been involved in the dance world since her youth and has a passion for this tender cause and the value of the dance arts for mental health.