FACULTY

For more than 22 years, Dixon Dance Studio has been brilliantly owned and operated by Amy Forrest Stokes, Paul Stokes, Ava Forrest, and the rest of the wonderful Forrest family. 

A little after Dixon Dance Studio opened, I signed up to take a class with Miss Amy. One class a week quickly turned into three classes a week, four classes, and eventually, as many classes as she (and my parents) would let me. Miss Amy helped me fall in love with dance, and Dixon Dance Studio soon became my home away from home. By the time I was 16, I knew that one day I wanted to own my own dance studio, and create a home just like Miss Amy had. 

Over 22 years later, I am thrilled to announce that I am now the proud owner of Dixon Dance Studio. 

Dixon Dance Studio has been a pillar in the community, and welcoming home for dancers of all ages in the area since 2000. I could not be more honored to carry on this incredible legacy, and am humbled that Miss Amy has entrusted me with the task. 

Our studio would not be what it is without our incredible team of faculty and staff: Amy Stokes, Staci Forrest, Jeanne Jacobson, Kiana Valeriote, Savannah Grant, Baylee Poole, Justina Thiessen, Lexi Cardinale, Hailey Pruett, Elizabeth Johnson, and of course, our Ninja, Jeanine Thiessen. I am grateful to them all for continuing on with me, and for trusting me to be their leader. 

I am eternally indebted to Paul Stokes for expertly organizing and engineering this transitional process, and for continuing to stay on with Dixon Dance Studio to assist with the business side of Dixon Dance Studio. 

I would also like to thank the entire Forrest family for their love and support in this transition. 

Most importantly, I would like to thank our incredible Miss Amy. I know I can speak for many of my fellow DDS alumni, when I say that among her many gifts, perhaps the most special is her ability to see us before we are able to see ourselves. Whether or not dance was pursued after high school, she helped us to find our strengths, and grow into the people that we are today. Miss Amy’s belief in me, helped me find the courage to pursue a dance major in college at UCSD, and eventually move across the country to continue exploring my love of dance in New York City. My life has been full of such incredible opportunities, friendships, and wonderful dance experiences, and I owe so much of that to Miss Amy. 

Words cannot express how grateful I am for the privilege to come to our studio every day and share what I love with you and your amazing children. I look forward to continuing along on this incredible journey with you all. Here’s to many, many more years of Dixon Dance Studio. Now let’s get dancing!

Warmly,

Morgan Kate Hicks