Meet Our Instructors and Faculty
Maliah
Studio Owner and InstructorMaliah was born and raised in Redmond, Oregon, where she developed a lifelong passion for dance at an early age.
From as early as Maliah can remember, she has dreamed of owning a dance studio—a welcoming space where children can feel safe, find joy, and express themselves freely, regardless of what they may be facing in their personal lives.
Sharing her love for dance and witnessing her students’ growth, confidence, and “aha” moments remain among the most rewarding aspects of Maliah’s career.
Maliah began dancing at the age of three and trained extensively in a wide range of styles, including lyrical, jazz, contemporary, tap, hip hop, ballet, musical theater, technique, and acro.
As a competitive dancer, she dedicated 15-24 hours per week to training while also attending numerous conventions and intensives.
During this time, Maliah had the privilege of learning from and working with renowned choreographers at her home studio, including Kyle Hanagami, Mark Goodman, David Moore, Marty Kudelka, and Ivan Koumaev, on some of her group competition pieces.
Maliah also had the honor of working with Dee Caspery, Olivia “CeCe” Applegate, Jalex Brinson, and Sarah Brinson on a few of her competition solos.
Maliah has also had the honor of dancing with a class in Janet Jackson's presence.
In addition to performing, Maliah began assisting in dance classes during her training years, which sparked her passion for teaching.
After graduating, she spent two years teaching and choreographing a variety of dance styles for both recreational and competitive programs.
In 2020, Maliah fulfilled her lifelong dream by opening her own dance studio in her hometown of Redmond, Oregon.
Since opening her studio, Maliah has received numerous Choreography Awards, as well as several highest-point competition awards, Top Studio Awards, Industry Dance Awards nominations, and several other prestigious awards.
Maliah continues to train and learn what’s up and coming, to enhance her teaching abilities and create well-rounded dancers.
Maliah is deeply grateful for the continued support of the families and students who have been part of her journey. Their trust and commitment have helped create a positive, inspiring community where dancers can grow, thrive, and discover their love for the art of dance.
Zach
Hip Hop InstructorZach Elliott is an accomplished dance instructor based in central Oregon, bringing over three years of teaching experience to studios throughout the state.
He began his dance journey at age five, training extensively through competitions, workshops, and conventions on multiple dance teams.
Zach spent two years choreographing for KingsKrew’s hip hop team, developing award-winning routines for competitions, recitals, and performances at venues such as Disneyland and California Screamin’.
At Unity School of Dance, where he studied for four years, Zach served as both a teacher and teaching assistant for two years, refining his instructional skills and deepening his dance expertise.
Currently, Zach teaches hip hop classes from beginner to advanced in the Central Oregon area, sharing his lifelong passion by mentoring students at every skill level.
His teaching philosophy centers on promoting student growth, encouraging creativity, and inspiring a love for dance in every class.
Zach remains dedicated to fostering an inclusive and motivating environment, helping dancers develop their skills and confidence while cultivating the same passion for movement he has pursued throughout his life.
Julie
Preschool and Kindergarten InstructorJulie is passionate about helping young dancers build confidence, creativity, and a love for movement.
She began dancing at a young age, with a strong focus on hip hop, where she developed both her technical skills and her love for performance.
Her dance journey has followed her across the country.
While living in Alaska, Julie coached cheerleading, where she discovered how much she enjoys mentoring and encouraging young athletes.
After moving to Hawaii, she expanded her teaching experience by working with young dancers ages 3–6, teaching beginner ballet, introductory hip hop, and co-teaching acro classes.
Julie loves creating a positive and supportive environment where children can explore movement, build coordination, and grow their confidence while having fun.
Her goal is to help every child feel successful, excited to learn, and proud of what their bodies can do.
Annie
Ballet and Pointe InstructorAnnie is a former professional ballerina with over 10 years of experience in performing and teaching.
She began her pre-professional training in Arkansas under Arleen Sugano and joined Ballet Arkansas’ Second Company at the age of 14.
Annie holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Ballet from the University of Utah, where she also earned her Ballet Studio Teaching Certificate.
After undergrad, Annie freelanced in New York City performing project-based works in the contemporary genre, and most recently danced with North Atlantic Ballet in Boston, performing classical story ballets and contemporary ballet repertoire.
Annie has the privilege of touring as a judge with Bravo National Dance and Talent Competition and loves watching the immense talent across the country.
Annie has experience teaching all levels from two-year-olds to adults.
While ballet and pointe are her bread and butter, she also teaches contemporary, classical modern dance, creative movement, jazz, and strength and conditioning classes.
She is a Level 1 & 2 Certified Instructor in mUvmethod, a safe and effective stretch and mobility program for dancers, and is a Certified Personal Trainer specializing in strength training programs for dancers.
Annie loves sharing the joy of movement with young artists and is excited to join The Compound Dance Complex!
Corinne
Technique, Stretch, and Strength InstructorCorinne grew up in Redmond, OR, and has had a love for dance as long as she can remember.
She has been dancing for 14 years and has trained under Maliah (owner and choreographer of The Compound Dance Complex) for the past 8 years.
Corinne has been a Compound dancer since opening day and has become a teacher's assistant this past season.
She always goes above and beyond in her attention to detail, has a strong work ethic, is very self-disciplined, and guides other dancers in the studio with positive encouragement.
Corinne has trained under various well-known choreographers at conventions and has competed at well-known competitions throughout her dancing years, winning several awards.
In the fall, Corinne will be attending college at OBU, continuing her dance journey in their dance and cheer program.
Kendall
College Dance, Acro, and Contemporary InstructorKendall was born, raised, and trained here in Central Oregon.
She has danced since age 3 and has performed and trained competitively for 9 years.
Throughout this time, she had the privilege of receiving numerous scholarships for prestigious training opportunities with world-renowned choreographers, including a role as a background dancer for artist Ava Max.
Kendall’s proudest accomplishment is becoming a member of the Division 1 Oregon Cheer and Dance Team at The University of Oregon, where she has trained this past year.
Kendall is very enthusiastic about teaching upcoming generations and loves to have fun in her classes.