• Marlee Carrier-Schmitz

    FOUNDER, CHOREOGRAPHER & INSTRUCTOR

    Marlee is a Fresno native whose love for dance began the moment she could walk. With a diverse background in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Modern, Contemporary, Tumbling, Pep/Cheer, Gymnastics, Musical Theatre, Lyrical, Hip-Hop, and Clogging, she has trained extensively throughout both the San Francisco Bay Area and Fresno.

    Marlee began her teaching journey in 2011 at DanceWorks Unlimited under the mentorship of David Bonetto, instructing dancers from ages two to eighty in Tap, Jazz, Lyrical, and technique. From 2015 to 2018, she continued to teach and inspire in the Bay Area while performing as a professional dancer at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom.

    With a degree in Dance and an insatiable passion for growth, Marlee continues to expand her knowledge of technique and teaching practices. She is also a gifted choreographer, having created hundreds of original works—with over 500 pieces choreographed to date. Her work has earned numerous choreography, excellence, and studio awards, a testament to her artistry and dedication.

    Outside the studio, Marlee is a passionate musician, songwriter, and producer. Her original music has been featured on the radio, and she has performed live shows from San Francisco to Los Angeles. She writes and produces all of her own work, blending her love for music and movement into a unique creative force.

    Marlee’s mission is to make dance accessible, inspiring, and rooted in excellence and self-love. As the founder of Adagio Dance Company, she remains committed to cultivating a space where dancers of all ages can grow not just as artists—but as confident, compassionate individuals.

  • Victoria Perez

    Assistant Competition Director

    Victoria’s focus is towards connection of emotion and movement. Her main styles of dance consist of modern, lyrical, contemporary and jazz. Victoria spent 4 years studying dance at Humboldt State University in which she received her minor in dance. In these years she has spent choreographing for group performances. Victoria has been dancing for over 10 years. She has also received her bachelors for kinesiology and exercise science and loves understanding how the body works and moves. Her inspiration for her style stem from Martha Graham and Isadora Duncan. She loves teaching and allowing freedom of expression.

  • Crystal Snively

    Assistant Director

    Crystal has loved dance, especially tap dance, for as long as she can remember! She began studying tap dance at Fresno City College under David Bonetto for two semesters from 2015-2017. Then, in 2017, she studied tap at Danceworks Unlimited, where she continues to dance under the instruction of David Bonetto. She has also studied tap, jazz, and lyrical dance from Marlee Schmitz at both Danceworks Unlimited, and Adagio Dance Company. Crystal began instructing and choreographing all age groups in tap dance for Adagio in 2022. Crystal is currently obtaining an AA in Business Administration through FCC.

  • Alicia Matus-Silverfarb

    Ballet & Pointe

    Ali has been dancing since she could remember. She has studied Ballet, Modern, Contemporary, Mosh, Belly Dance, Hip-Hop, Jazz, Tap, Music Theory, and Vocal Studies. She studied at ODC and Alonzo King LINES Ballet in San Francisco and Skyline College for Choreography and Modern Dance. Once she moved to Fresno she worked hard to graduate with an A.S. in Kinesiology/Exercise Science, A.A. in Dance, and A.A. in Studio Arts from Fresno City College and Clovis Community College. At this time Ali started teaching Dance at Break The Barriers and volunteering at Adagio Dance Co. After graduating she transferred to Fresno State, where she is currently studying for a B.A. in Dance. Ali’s educational goal is to obtain a Master’s of Fine Arts in Dance, Music, and Choreography.

  • Karis Fisher

    Jazz, Leaps & Turns, Contemporary & Ballet

    Born and raised in Clovis, Karis Fisher has been dancing since the age of two and competing since the age of six. She comes from a proud family of dancers—her grandmother was a successful dance studio owner, and her mother was an NFL cheerleader—instilling in her a deep passion for dance from an early age.

    Throughout her training, Karis has studied a wide range of styles including ballet, jazz, contemporary, musical theatre, lyrical, tumbling, cheer, pep, and pom. She has attended top-tier dance conventions and trained with renowned choreographers from around the world. Karis has been recognized for her talent with numerous dance scholarships and was named 2024 Miss Photogenic at Revolution Dance Nationals.

    She was also a proud member of her high school’s four-time CIF Champion Pep Squad and is currently a member of the Ole Miss Dance Company, where she continues to pursue her passion for performance.

    Karis enjoys modeling as well and has modeled high-end designer gowns for Mia Bella Boutique.

    She is currently studying at Ole Miss, working toward becoming a registered dietitian, blending her love of movement, health, and empowering others.

  • A.J. Lacuesta

    A.J. is currently an adjunct faculty member for the Fresno City College dance department and the kinesiology department at Fresno State, and is also an intervention specialist at Washington Unified School District. He graduated California State University Fresno with a master of arts and bachelor of science in Kinesiology Exercise Science. He is a U.S. Navy veteran and former group fitness instructor in dance, kickboxing, resistance training and cycling. He has taught at Break The Barriers, Le Reve Dance Academy and Valses De La O studio. He currently teaches hip-hop at Fresno City College and Elementary Social Dancing at Fresno State.

  • Sheila Ambrosio

    Hip-Hop & Krump

  • Giselle Vue

    Tumble & Cheer

  • Amanda Evans

    Jazz, Tap, Lyrical, Contemporary & Technique

  • Miz-Unique Slater

    Jazz, Contemporary, Technique, Hip-Hop & Heels