Student Stories – Dance
Dance students in our College of Arts and Media communicate through the art of movement. Through performance opportunities such as our Winter and Spring Dance Concerts, the GCU Elementary Dance Tour and Student Spotlight Dance Concerts, our dance students can gain experience performing and participating at a professional level.
Read about some of our students' many achievements to get a glimpse into the life of a dance major at GCU.
Recent Graduate Showcases
2024 Graduate
Jonathan Montoya Gerardo graduated from Grand Canyon University in 2024 with a Bachelor of Arts in Dance for Secondary Education and brings a fresh perspective and innovative approach to teaching dance. He is an enthusiastic and dedicated dance teacher with a deep-rooted passion for the art of dance and a commitment to fostering creativity and discipline in young dancers.
Jonathan has immersed himself in various dance styles, including ballet, jazz, modern and hip-hop. He has had the privilege of studying under esteemed instructors and performing in numerous showcases, enriching his understanding of the technical and artistic aspects of dance. As a dance teacher, Jonathan is dedicated to creating a positive and inclusive learning environment where students can explore their creativity, build confidence and develop strong technical skills. Jonathan employs a dynamic teaching style that emphasizes individual growth while fostering teamwork and a love for dance.
2025 Graduate (projected)
Jordan Garrison is an emerging dance professional and upcoming spring 2025 GCU graduate, where she is completing dual degrees: a Bachelor of Arts in Dance and a Bachelor of Science in Applied Human Resources Management. Her dance journey has been marked by rigorous training and a series of impressive performances that highlight her dedication and skill.
Jordan has trained and competed extensively across Minnesota and the Midwest, gaining valuable experience with Project III and further showcasing her talent nationwide with the Revel Dance Convention for two and a half seasons.
In high school, Jordan was a significant contributor to her school’s fall dance team for two seasons. Her professional achievements include performing as a field dancer in Rihanna's Super Bowl halftime show in 2023, under the direction of Parris Goebel and Gab Robert.
Currently, Jordan continues to be an active participant in the GCU dance department, where she performs in student and faculty concerts as well as showcases her own choreography within student shows. Her leadership skills were evident as she served as the public relations officer and secretary for the Student Dance Organization from 2022 to 2024.
Jordan is set to make a significant impact in the commercial dance industry. Her diverse experiences and unwavering commitment to her craft set the stage for a dynamic and successful career.
2024 Graduate
Kiera Boatman has over 17 years of experience, training in a variety of dance styles. She is currently a senior BA in Dance major at GCU and aspires to perform professionally after graduating. She has trained with artists from BODYTRAFFIC, Entity Contemporary, Limón Dance, Jacob Jonas The Company and CLI Conservatory. Additionally, Kiera is a member of AnthroArts Collective and participates in art around the Arizona Valley. In 2024, Kiera's dance film “all the women in me are tired” was the Judge’s Choice Winner for the 2024 International Screendance Festival.
In her work, she strives to touch on unspoken topics and use movement to invoke deep emotions. With a mix of commercial contemporary and modern styles, Kiera finds a unique quality that carries through mediums. She’s passionate about dance on film and hopes to continue expanding her knowledge into her professional career.
2025 Graduate (projected)
Sammi Lopresti is a Phoenix-based dancer and choreographer from Portland, Oregon, graduating with her BA in Dance from GCU in Spring 2025. She has been training in various styles of dance, including ballet, jazz, tap, hip hop, acro, contemporary, partnering and modern for the past 19 years, training with dancers from BODYTRAFFFIC, Limon Dance, Jacob Jonas Company, The Royal Ballet, Parsons and Alvin Ailey.
As a Christ-follower who is passionate about performance and creation, what she values most in her dancing is the ability to storytell and create an environment where the audience can empathize and relate to the art. She also values having a proper understanding of the body and learning new ways to articulate it through experimental movement.
During her time at GCU, she has been a part of over 18 dance concerts, including the student spotlight shows and faculty concerts, and has choreographed over nine works to be presented. The department has provided her with choreographic opportunities in Arizona and Texas as well, where she won first place and an honorable mention at the AzDEO student choreography contest, performed original work at the Breaking Ground festival, showcased her first dance film at the Arizona Drive-In Dance Film Festival and took two of her works to the American Collegiate Dance Association conference. She hopes to continue in the concert dance world by performing and expanding on her choreographic portfolio through direction from the Lord according to his purpose.
