FACULTY & staff

Owner | Instructor

Morgan Kate Hicks is a Northern California native and the proud owner and director of Dixon Dance Studio—the very place where her dance journey began in 2001. With over two decades of experience as a dancer, teacher, and choreographer, Morgan is passionate about preserving the legacy of her home studio while continually evolving as an educator and artist.

She earned her B.A. in Dance from the University of California, San Diego. After graduation, she co-founded the collaboration-based company Collective Dance Collective with fellow alumni and later moved to New York City, presenting and performing work at respected venues such as The Ailey Citigroup Theater, City Center Studios, and the Center for Performance Research. During her time in NYC, she had the pleasure of dancing for and being influenced by notable choreographers including Max Stone, The Next Stage Project, and Allyson Green.

Morgan’s teaching career began at the age of sixteen and has taken her across California and beyond. She has served on faculty at the Academy of Performing Arts – San Diego and UC San Diego Recreation. Her versatile teaching repertoire spans tap, jazz, ballet, hip hop, musical theater, modern, and contemporary for students ranging in age from three to adult. Her classes are known for being technically sound, creatively engaging, and filled with energy and purpose.

Her choreographic style draws from ballet, jazz, modern, and post-modern contemporary forms, emphasizing athleticism, musicality, and a healthy dash of playfulness. She enjoys creating work that explores joy, celebration, wonder, and all the things that make us radiate with happiness.

Morgan is also a proud member of the Dance Studio Owners Association Inner Circle, where she continues her professional education and leadership development alongside studio owners from around the globe—committed to building vibrant, community-centered studios with lasting impact.

When she’s not dancing, Morgan can be found chasing after her two sweet boys, Finley and Asher, or spending time with her husband, Kevin. Together, they share a full and joyful life—and especially love being outdoors and going camping whenever they can.

Founder | Instructor

Amy Stokes began her dance journey at the age of three, training under Cindy Kuzman, Shari McLeod, and Bubba Gong. She began teaching in 1989 and has been sharing her passion for dance ever since. After graduating high school—and while continuing her dance education—she attended Don’s Beauty School, where she earned her license in Cosmetology. Over the years, she studied with renowned dance instructors such as Jackie Sleight, Joe Tremaine, and Doug Caldwell. Her choreography blends jazz and hip hop into a high-energy, funky, fresh, and fun style though tap remains her favorite.

In November 2000, with the encouragement of her beloved grandmother, Josephine Carcione, Amy opened Dixon Dance Studio. In 2005, she returned to school and earned her RDA, but her heart remained in the studio, where she continued to inspire dancers of all ages and levels. She is deeply committed to her students and passionate about nurturing their individuality and love for dance.

As a lifelong learner, Amy attends annual dance conventions and teacher conferences to stay current with evolving styles and techniques. In 2017, she was honored with the first-ever Jackie Sleight Educator of the Year Award. After selling her studio in 2023, she embraced a semi-retired lifestyle but still teaches two days a week, cherishing her continued connection to the dance community.

Outside the studio, Amy works full-time as an office administrator at a relocation engineering firm. She is the proud mother of four—Savannah (26), Bud (26), Taylor (19), and Hayden (17)—and is happily married to her best friend, Paul Stokes. She also shares her home with a robot dog named Astro.

Instructor | Marketing

Lexi Botsford was born and raised in Northern California and is a proud alumna of Dixon Dance Studio. After graduating from Winters High School and DDS in 2018, she attended Boise State University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Health Studies and a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish. She returned to her Northern California roots in 2022 and was excited to begin the next chapter of her career at Dixon Dance Studio.

During her time in Idaho, Lexi worked as a cheerleading and gymnastics coach at Bronco Elite Gymnastics and later taught at Dance Arts Academy in Meridian. There, she led the Hip Hop and Acro programs, choreographed for the competition team, and coached dancers across multiple styles.

Lexi currently serves as the Lead Acro Instructor, Marketing & Engagement Coordinator, and Co-Director of the Assistant Program at Dixon Dance Studio. She teaches multiple styles and works closely with the competition team, helping dancers grow both in and out of the studio. Lexi is passionate about developing strong technical foundations while encouraging artistry, confidence, and a genuine love for movement. In her leadership roles, she also enjoys creating opportunities for dancers to build responsibility, leadership skills, and confidence through teaching and mentorship.

In addition to her work at DDS, Lexi is a certified group fitness coach and personal trainer at FIT House in Davis, where she teaches Cycling, Pilates, and Yoga. Her background in health and wellness complements her work in dance, and she loves helping others discover the physical and mental benefits of movement.

Outside of the studio, Lexi loves traveling and exploring new places with her husband, Brad. When they’re not traveling, you can usually find them cooking, enjoying the outdoors, checking out a local coffee shop, or spending time at home with their two pups, Kona and Cosmo.

Instructor

Jeanne Jacobson has been teaching professionally since 2003 and has served as Artistic Director, Assistant Director, Choreographer and Dance Captain for numerous dance and theatre productions in the Sacramento region. Her teaching style encourages students to develop an appreciation and understanding of classical and neoclassical ballet techniques and performance, injury prevention, nutrition, and dance history, encouraging students to make connections not only across dance styles, but with the greater world around them. 

Jeanne received her classical ballet training from Yvonne Mounsey and Rosemary Valaire at The Westside School of Ballet in Santa Monica, California and studied theatre and voice at The Santa Monica Playhouse, Crossroads School for The Arts and Sciences, and The Adderley School of Musical Theatre.  She received additional training from The San Francisco Ballet School, American Ballet Theatre, and The Miami City Ballet School. 

Her awards include Westside Ballet's Inaugural Rosemary Valaire Scholarship, First Place in Ballet at the Phi Beta Fraternity for the Creative and Performing Arts Competition, and Semi-finalist at the prestigious Spotlight Awards at the Los Angeles Music Center.  She was most recently recognized with a TMilly TV faculty scholarship at LA Dance Magic's 2023 Santa Clara convention.

A former soloist with The Sacramento Ballet, her professional credits include membership with both Actor’s Equity Association and the Screen Actor's Guild, as well as performances for the ABC and CBS networks, Universal Pictures, Sacramento Music Circus, Sunny Mitchell Theatre Projects, and The Wildwood Performing Arts Foundation. Additionally, she has directed several productions for the Placer Theatre Ballet and currently serves as an Artistic Advisor for the company's Board of Directors.

For more information, please visit www.jeanneteachesdance.blogspot.com 

Instructor

Kiana Valeriote started dancing at Dixon Dance Studio when it first opened its doors in 2000. She trained in tap, jazz, ballet and hip hop at DDS until graduating from Dixon High in 2010. After high school she went to San Jose State University, but still came home to teach hip hop classes at Dixon Dance. At San Jose State, Miss Kiana majored in Advertising and took many jazz and hip hop classes through the university. She joined Alpha Xi Delta her freshman year and participated in all philanthropies associated with dance- both as a dancer and a choreographer.

After college Miss Kiana continued to teach hip hop at Dixon Dance Studio. She especially enjoyed going to dance conventions and competitions where you get exposure to some of the best choreographers and teachers in the dance world. 

Miss Kiana took 2 years away from her beloved DDS when her then fiancé went to medical school on the Caribbean island of Grenada. For those 2 years she had the time of her life enjoying all that the island had to offer. She taught hip hop at the medical school’s gym, and taught jazz at a small dance studio in the downtown Carenage. She was asked to adjudicate the dance portion of Grenada’s Annual Festival of the Arts; a country wide showcase of local artistry and excellence. This was definitely a highlight of her time in Grenada. 

Once back on the mainland Miss Kiana came right back to teaching. She taught tap, jazz, ballet and hip hop in Stockton, CA as well as hip hop at Dixon Dance Studio. Kiana can now be found teaching in various styles at DDS along with her role in the competition team and co director of the assistant training program. She is currently full time in Dixon now with her husband, Jonny, and two children. They are very happy to be home!

Instructor

Riley Sandahl was born and raised in Solano County and started dancing at a young age at Pattie’s Studio of Dance in Vacaville. She danced for 14 years, participated in drill team throughout high school, and continued taking dance classes throughout college. After graduating from Vaca High, she attended California State University, Chico, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Food Science, Communications.

During her senior year of high school, Riley earned her yoga teacher certification, sparking her interest in movement, mindfulness, and wellness. After college, she spent some time exploring the Pacific Northwest before returning to Solano County in 2024. She is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine and enjoys continuing to learn about the human body and different approaches to wellness.

Riley considers herself a lifelong learner and loves finding new ways to bring what she learns into the dance classroom. Her experience working with children through after school programs has shaped her teaching style, while her background in dance and wellness inspires her to help dancers build confidence, develop their technique, and find their own connection to movement.

Riley currently teaches a mix of preschool classes, jazz, and ballet at Dixon Dance Studio. She enjoys creating a fun and supportive environment where dancers can grow, be creative, and feel comfortable being themselves.

Outside of the studio, Riley loves spending time outdoors, cooking, and trying new things. She lives in Davis with her fiancé, Kenneth, and their dog, Lola. Together, they love camping, hiking, and spending time outside whenever they can.

Instructor

Madi Vamvakas grew up in Southern California and began dancing at the age of three. She started competing at five years old and spent her childhood training and competing at Just Plain Dancin’, where she developed a strong foundation in a variety of dance styles and a love for performance.

Throughout her dance career, Madi has had the opportunity to train, perform, and choreograph in a variety of settings. She was a member of Terry Shulke’s professional company, Points of View, where she performed as part of Dancers Against Cancer’s “The Think Tank.” She also spent a year teaching at another local dance studio, where she taught multiple age groups and choreographed for the competition team.

Madi currently teaches Jazz at Dixon Dance Studio, where she loves helping dancers grow their technique, confidence, and individuality. She believes dance is not only about developing strong technical skills, but also about finding your own artistry and learning to express yourself through movement.

Outside of dance, Madi works at Dutch Bros Coffee while attending school to pursue her studies in Astrophysics. She enjoys exploring both her creative and academic interests and hopes to continue combining her love of movement, performance, and artistic expression throughout her career.

When she’s not dancing or studying, Madi enjoys traveling and exploring new places with her wife, bookbinding, and shopping. She is always looking for new creative projects and experiences to inspire her both inside and outside of the studio.

Office Manager

Sara Blanton grew up in Fairfield and graduated from Fairfield High School in 1994. Shortly after, she settled in Winters, where she has happily called home for the past 30 years. She is married to her wonderful husband, affectionately known around the studio as “Mr. Will.” Together, they have built a full and joyful life with nine children, a wonderful daughter-in-law, and three beautiful grandchildren.

For the past 25 years, Sara has dedicated her career to helping individuals and families achieve the dream of homeownership as a mortgage loan advisor—a role she continues to be deeply passionate about today.

Her connection to Dixon Dance Studio began in 2018, when her daughters, Emma and Allyson, joined classes—Emma at just three years old, and Allyson not far behind. Since then, both girls have grown through being part of the studio’s dance company and competition teams, and the entire family has become an active part of this incredible community.

A few years later, Sara was honored with the opportunity to step into the role of Office Manager at Dixon Dance Studio. It has been a blessing for her to support the dancers, staff, and families while watching talented young people grow in confidence and discover their passion for dance.

Today, Sara feels fortunate to balance two careers she loves—continuing her work as a mortgage loan advisor while also serving as Office Manager at the studio. Both roles allow her to do what brings her the greatest joy: helping people reach their goals and celebrating their successes. 

Office Staff

Elizabeth Johnson, better known as Miss Liz inside DDS walls, was born and raised in Northern California. She’s a lifelong lover of art, music, and everything creative, often found doodling on sticky notes and scrap pieces of paper.

At the age of two her mother decided she needed somewhere to put all that little kid energy and quickly enrolled her at Dixon Dance Studio! Elizabeth immediately fell for the energy and amount of love that poured out of those doors which drove her to dance for 17 years straight.

Currently, she works administratively in the office, but if you don’t spot her there she’s likely at home drawing, playing video games, or spending quality time with her five cats!