Meet The Team

Kassidy Thompson started dancing at the young age of 2 1/2 and hasn't stopped. She studied ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, lyrical and tumbling. Her parents moved her to Sheridan WY when she was 10yrs old. She attended dance at The Dance School and during her time there not only was she a student, but she also became a teacher's assistant and then a teacher. At The Dance School, Kass had amazing opportunities to attend dance workshops where she was able to study with many master teachers and choreographers from all over the country. At 16 she was chosen to participate as a teacher’s assistant for Joel Rumminer's Dance Camps, where she spent the summer traveling with the other assistants for all the summer camps and helped the teachers in all the disciplines.  After graduating high school, she moved to Indianapolis IN. There she began teaching with Showtime Dance Studio where she taught jazz and lyrical. While teaching with Showtime Dance Studio she was given the opportunity to work on Celebrity Cruise lines through an amazing teacher/choreographer that she used to take workshops from. After her contract with Celebrity Cruise Lines came to its end, she decided to move closer to home. That is when she found her way here to Hailey ID in 2005. Since moving to Hailey, Kass has continued to teach. She taught with Footlight Dance Center and then Sun Valley Ballet School. In 2019 she was asked to teach again with Footlight Dance Center.

Her love for dance continues to keep her moving and teaching. Always wanting to have a studio of her own, she is now taking on the new challenge of continuing her love of dance by opening Art & Soul Dance Academy, where she hopes to inspire students and help them become well-rounded dancers.

Sherry Horton received her ballet training from William Starrett of the Columbia City Ballet where she performed as a member of the Corps de Ballet and soloist for ten years. In 1992 Miss Sherry was promoted to Ballet Mistress for the Columbia City Ballet, a position she held for seven years, While Columbia City Ballet was her primary teaching position, she continued to choreograph and guest teach for other companies and dance schools throughout the East Coast and the South including Mohawk performing Arts, Miss Libby’s School of dance and Center Stage School of Dance. While teaching with these studios she created many ballet and modern competitions pieces that won extensive awards. In 1999, Miss Sherry founded her own company, Dance Theater of Sumter, where she created original ballets such as Alice in Wonderland and Wizard of Oz. In 2002 she moved to Sun Valley Idaho to take on the duties of Artistic Director for The Sun Valley Ballet School where she continued to create many original ballets such as The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast and Cindy Ella. Sherry was invited back to Columbia City Ballet to teach for their summer program in 2018. Through being reunited with William Starrett she was asked to chorography for several of the company’s upcoming productions including Beatles the Ballet. Miss Sherry once again returned to Columbia City Ballet to serve as interim Company Manager for the 2021-2022 season, this position reignited her love of dance. Miss Sherry is very excited to once again bring her experience and knowledge of dance back to the Wood River Valley.

Lyn Crandall comes to us with over 20 years of performing and teaching experience. She received her B.A. in Theater Arts from The University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Upon graduation Miss Lyn was in partnership of a dance school for 5 years, after which, she went on to perform with Arkansas Dance Theater Company. In addition to performing with the Arkansas Repertory Theater in "Godspell," she toured the state of Arkansas dancing the role of Karen in "The Red Shoes." In college she received acting awards for her singing and dancing role of Sally Boles in "Cabaret," for which she was nominated for an Irene Acting Award. She performed in "ready to be a Wiseman," which won a CINE award directed by Robert Clem and produced by Dill Productions, and an ADDY award for her performance in a national commercial for mental health.

She studied acting in Washington D.C with Eric Morris Actors' Ensemble, The Studio Theatre Acting Conservatory and The Shakespeare Theater at The Folger Acting Conservatory. While in C.c., she studied dance with "The Joy of Motion Dance Company." She performed at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in the production of "Sleeping Beauty." While in the D.C. are, she danced in the musical" Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" in Maryland and as Ariel in "The Tempest" in Virginia. She danced and acted in over 15 productions with the Birmingham Children's Theatre in Alabama, on of which was "The Nightingale." While in Birmingham, Miss Lyn performed with Edward Mulhare in "My Fair Lady," along with Richard Lein, and Patty Davis in "The Pajama Game." She went on to dance the role of Tiger Lily in "Peter Pan."

Singing and dancing took her on an International Caribbean tour with the United States Department of Defense with the Broadway Musical, " They're Playing Our Song." She is trained to teach ballet, tap, jazz and musical theater acting. She has worked as a director, choreographer, actor, and instructor throughout her successful career. Miss Lyn has countless experience working with children as well as adults.

Before moving to the Wood River Valley, Miss Lyn took her dance program, "Dance with Miss Lyn" into private schools for over 10 years.

After moving to the Wood River Valley, she taught with Sun Vallet Ballet School and then started her own program again "Let's Danz" where she has continued to teach for the last 5 years.

Tanner Riley grew up dancing in the Wood River Valley for Sun Valley Ballet and trained under both Sherry Horton and Kassidy Thompson. She studied ballet, jazz, hip hop, modern, contemporary, and lyrical. While in middle school Tanner participated in New York City Dance Alliance (NYCDA) conferences where she trained in various dance forms and watched competition. At age twelve, while attending the National Convention of NYCDA in NYC, she was afforded the opportunity to audition for the role of Clara in Radio City Music Hall Rockettes Christmas Spectacular. During her high school years, Tanner participated in competition with Sun Valley Ballet and earned a Gold Medal for her Lyrical Solo to Imagine by John Lennon. While earning her teaching degree at Westminster College in Salt Lake City, Utah, she took adult classes at the University of Utah. Shortly after moving home to start her teaching career, Tanner joined Sun Valley Ballet again, but as a teacher. She taught middle and high school classes for the studio. Outside of the dance studio, Tanner is a 4th grade teacher at Hailey Elementary School and the Wood River High School Girls Varsity Soccer Coach. 

Alaylia (Lelu) Wilson grew up dancing, cheering, and flipping in gymnastics from the time she was four all the way through high school. Born and raised in Sun Valley, she loves sharing her passion for movement and helping kids build confidence and skills. She also enjoys spending time outdoors and with her friends and family. With seven years of coaching experience, and many years of working with kiddos, Alaylia is excited to bring her energy to teaching tumbling at Art & Soul Dance Academy! She’s also a University of Idaho graduate with a degree in Broadcast and Digital Media and minors in Creative Writing and Theatre Performance. Go Vandals! 

Britlynn "Brit" Ward grew up dancing in the Wood River Valley with the Footlight Dance Company from the age of 5 years old. Though she experimented with jazz, tap, hip hop, and modern, ballet always kept a hold on her heart. Britlynn continued to pursue ballet and movement classes through her adult life as a hobby and is eager to join the Art & Soul Dance Academy in a full circle revelation of her passions. She is a certified yin yoga instructor and has built her life around the harmony of breath and movement. Britlynn is also a Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine, and an active member of the Wood River Valley community, hosting workshops in the realm of meditation, yoga, and Chinese medicine. Outside of her work in the community, you can find Britlynn at the playground with her son, exploring the trails, or grounding down by the river.