The Teaching Artists

Alison Smith has been a professional dancer and actress for more than 30 years here in Southern California. She has been in numerous plays, musicals, television productions, and industrials, and she has been lucky enough to travel the world with her talents.

She grew up on the stage dancing, transitioned into film and television in her 20’s, learned make-up artistry in her 30’s, and has also worked as co-owner in a successful photography business.

Alison has taught dance as a guest artist throughout many studios from Kansas City to Southern California. Her love for dance and choreography continued even as she settled down in South Pasadena to raise her 3 children.

She continues to teach dance at her studio in South Pasadena and local schools. She is very involved in her community, directing productions, talent shows, musicals, and school choirs for the South Pasadena Unified School District. Alison also continues to audition commercially and share her talents as a Teaching Artist for Disney Musicals,Upstage Theater schools & Cultural Arts Programs for LAUSD.

Alison feels her best when she is inspiring kids and people through dance and expression. “Do what you love & love what you do!”

Bio Coming Soon!

Bio Coming Soon!

Lilly graduated from AMDA College of the Performing Arts in Los Angeles with a BFA in Dance, in June of 2024. She has a lot of experience teaching and choreographing for dance competitions and dance recitals. She trains in all styles of dance and for the past several years has been on tour traveling on the convention and competition circuit with Fluid Dance and Musical Theatre Competitions of America (MTCA), being a lead faculty assistant and teaching her own classes. Lilly brings a high level of passion, technique, and stage presence to the stage as well as the classroom, and loves working with dancers of all ages and levels. She is based Los Angeles, California and is currently represented by Briizy Talent Agency.  

Megan supports the studio behind the scenes, handling administrative and operational tasks so our instructors can focus on what they do best: teaching.

Megan is no stranger to performance.  A former elite gymnast and US National Team platform diver, she grew up dancing and singing in amateur neighborhood performances with her sisters and friends — and she's had a performance itch to scratch ever since.  She rediscovered her love of dance right here at Rise Up and Dance, in our adult dance cardio class, which brings back all the joy of those childhood living-room productions.

Megan connected with Alison through the South Pasadena school community, where she's been a dedicated volunteer leader — serving as PTA President at Arroyo Vista Elementary, PTA President and Boosters President at South Pasadena Middle School, and Boosters President at South Pasadena High School. Professionally, she works as a bookkeeper and small business consultant, bringing exactly the organizational know-how a growing studio needs.

When she's not keeping the studio running smoothly, you might just catch her in class — dancing like nobody's watching, living room-style.