Instructors

Erin McKeever – Owner/Director

Born and raised in Humboldt County, Erin has been trained in various dance styles ranging from ballet, tap, and jazz, to modern and Latin dance. In 2006 she founded Dance Class with Erin Fernandez, now Trillium Dance Studios, which has grown to include 260 students, nine teachers, and three studios. Erin has taught and performed abroad in Spain with the Estada Internacional de Danza, and has earned Dance Teacher Magazine’s certification for dance educators. Erin has a degree in Elementary Education, a minor in Dance, and has enjoyed seven years teaching ballet and jazz on faculty with Humboldt State University’s Department of Theater, Film & Dance.

Allie Phinney – Senior Teacher, Studio Manager

Allie, a San Diego native began dancing at the age of six where she found her love of music, movement and friendship! Growing up she danced and assisted at Carlsbad Dance Centre and Carlsbad High School; where she studied several forms of dance including ballet, jazz, modern and hiphop. Allie studied Communication and Dance at Humboldt State University where she refined her technique and studied other world dance styles. In March 2015 she was recognized by the Department of Interdisciplinary Dance studies for excellence as a performer and her outstanding contributions to the program. Allie has had the opportunity to learn from artists such as Pilabolous, Mark Morris, Trey McIntire and Lines Ballet, among others. In 2011 she joined the teaching staff at Trillium Dance Studios and the only thing she loves more than dance is our Trillium Family!

Kyleigh Carlson – Ballet, Pointe, Contemporary & Ensemble

Kyleigh P. Carlson is originally from Sacramento California, where she trained extensively in Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Modern, Pointe, Contemporary, Hip hop and Musical Theater. She has performed with The Sacramento Ballet, and danced professionally with CORE Contemporary Dance and comedian Hannibal Buress. Kyleigh received a BFA in dance from the University of California, Santa Barbara. During her time at the University she was awarded the Dance Education Laboratory Scholarship, which extended her education and training in New York (2013), the Patricia Sparrow Scholarship to further her dance studies in New York (2014), A scholarship to the Joe Goode Workshop in San Francisco (2014), and the Emerging Choreographer Award (2015) presented by Professor Mira Kingsley. Kyleigh also served as an intern for Dr. Carol Press, History of Dance Professor at the University. Upon completion of Graduation, Kyleigh was the company director for two youth dance companies is Southern CA, where her work was awarded on the national level. She was also a mentor for underprivileged youth through the Arts Mentorship Program. She would like to thank her family, friends, and students for supporting her and inspiring her, she knows she would not be here dancing without them.

Haylee Wolff – Ballet

Dance is one of Haylee’s true loves. She has had formal ballet instructions since she was 3 and a half years old. Haylee is a Junior at Eureka high and is also an avid cellist in the Eureka high Orchestra. She has been with Trillium Studios since spring of 2013 and has enjoyed the love and encouragement our studio has to offer. Haylee appeared in multiple performances of The Nutcracker and was many roles including Clara. In December of 2014, she performed the soloist role of Iciquelle, and was featured as the Goddess Athena in the 2015 production of Olympus. Haylee has been a teacher’s assistant for several years, and is excited to share her talent and love for dance with the kids at Trillium.

Kara Ajetunmobi – Modern, Contemporary & Latin Dance

Kara Ajetunmobi first began her dance training at the Professional School of the Arts in Torrance California. In those first few classes she knew she had found her passion! Kara has had the opportunity to take classes from various dance professionals such as Travis Wall (choreographer on SYTYCD), Christopher K. Morgan and Artists, Pilobolus and Hubbard Street Dance. Since graduating from Humboldt State University with a degree in Dance, she has been doing what she loves teaching different styles of dance to all age groups, performing and touring with the music and dance collective OLIO and is excited to be a part of the Trillium dance community!

Chloe Schmidt – Ballet

Lauren Baker – Ballet, Tap

Lauren Baker began her dance career in Huntington Beach at the age of 3, with Orange County Dance Center. There she studied Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Lyrical and Contemporary. When she was 13 she joined her home studios non professional dance company and the Ballet Reparatory Theater for 5 years. In High School Lauren, was apart of the Academy of the Performing Arts and Huntington Beach High School Dance Team. From the age of 8 to 18 Lauren competed at various dance competitions and conventions gaining the experience of learning from many master teachers. Currently Lauren is majoring in Kinesiology with an emphasis in Exercise Science and Health Promotion as well as Interdisciplinary Dance studies at Humboldt State University.

Cassandra Cree – Tap Dance

Cassandra Cree, originally from West Hills, California, began her training at the age of 5 at A 5678 Dance Company. She took classes in ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, tumbling, modern, and was also on the studio’s competition team where they performed across the country. She was on her high school’s hip hop team for three years and part of a competitive hiphop crew, Rooks. After graduating high school in 2014, she continued her education and love for dance at Humboldt State University where she will graduate in May of 2018 with degrees in Dance and Criminal Justice Studies. She had the opportunity to teach at her old studio for a year and is now part of Trillium Dance and couldn’t be more excited.

Kelby Cooper – Tap Dance

Kelby Cooper is a native of Humboldt County, where he found his love for movement through the ever-adapting elements of dance. He started his training with No Limits Tap and Jazz Studio & Trillium Dance Studios in Arcata, CA and received the title of Mr. Dance America in 2007 in Las Vegas, NV. He received a dance scholarship to attend Brigham Young University of Idaho under the Dance Major Program where he perfected his training and was selected as a principal member of the Polynesian Cultural Dance Association in 2008. He was then chosen as a principal member of The Dance Collaborative, a ballet/modern/contemporary non-profit professional dance company founded by Nicole Klingler and Amanda McGavin in 2009 in Idaho Falls, ID. During his second season he was selected for the Trey Mcintyre Project performance in 2010 during which he also had the privilege of being selected as the guest choreographer for the College of Southern Idaho’s Dance/Cheer program. He eventually moved on to become the Artistic Director of Dance Tech Academy of Idaho in 2010, where he instructed multiple competitive dance team champions and became the Associate Artistic Director of Blank Canvas Jr. Dance company. Kelby has always drawn inspiration and motivation from his connection to the world and the ability to embody each element of dance as his foundation for movement.