Sara Filippe, Owner
Sara moved to Winnemucca in 2001. She has over 35 years of dance and theatre experience and taught for 20 years in Winnemucca. Sara has studied Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Hip Hop, Contemporary and Acting. While growing up in Washington State she attended Ballet classes under the direction of Blake Albert Little (formerly of Joffrey and Royal Winnipeg Ballet), Nedra Drago, Jan Column School of Ballet and others. Her performances include many recitals, The Nutcracker Ballet, musical theatre productions of Annie, Wizard of Oz, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and others with the Heavier Than Air Family Theatre in Kent, WA. Sara started directing while still in high school and went on to attend California Lutheran University majoring in Theatre. She not only had the opportunity to perform in college but received working experience in stage management and as a costume assistant. She was assistant director for Little Women at Dixie State College in St. George, Utah before coming to Winnemucca. She has worked as Assistant Director, Stage Manager and Choreographer for the Nutcracker Ballet in Winnemucca. Sara has taught Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Mini’s, Theatre Dance and more. She recently founded the Winnemucca Children’s Theatre Program. Sara is the proud mama of Benjamin and Vivienne, and wife of Dustin.
Madison Riley, Instructor
Miss Maddie started at Encore Dance Academy as a student when she was eleven years old. Her favorite class was Hip Hop, followed by Theatre. She became a part of the Encore Competition Team from 2015-2018 which consisted of traveling out of state and attending dance conventions as well as competing and even traveling and performing in New York. During that time, she also Teacher Assisted with Level 2 Hip Hop and Level 2 Jazz. She became a student teacher in 2017 and is teaching to this day! Miss Maddie has attended several dance conventions to assist with her teaching career and her knowledge about the always-evolving dance world. Miss Maddie loves teaching at Encore, and she loves teaching all the dancers.
Maggie MacMillan, Instructor
Miss Maggie has been a student at Encore from 2010 to her graduating year of 2021. During that time she has taking all classes offered to her including jazz, ballet, tap, hip hop, acro, and much more. She has also been a teacher at Encore for the past 7 years specializing in Tap and Ballet. Not only has she been teaching dance at Encore but she has also helped choreograph dances for the theater program at Lowry High School. She has been the Choreographer and Stage Manager for the Lowry productions of Fiddler on the Roof, Thumbelina, High School Musical, and Aladdin. She is co-creator of the Children’s Theatre Program who will be starting their third season in the fall. She is very excited for this upcoming year and she can’t wait to see all of her students again!
Camille Roberts, Instructor
Miss Camille danced at Encore Dance Academy from 2007 to 2021. She will be attending GBC to get her degree in Elementary Education and of course teaching dance again! Her favorite classes growing up to take were Hip Hop and Jazz. She has taken a range of dance classes in the past that include Jazz, Ballet, Hip Hop, Acro and Tap. She has attended dance competitions and conventions where she has learned from some of the best dance instructors. She has been teaching at Encore for the past 7 yrs. She is so excited to be going back as she loves being able to watch all the kids grow and loves being a part of Encore.
Peyton Brown, Instructor
Miss Peyton has been dancing since she was three years old. She has taken classes such as hip hop, ballet, jazz, acro, theater, and more. Her favorite style of dance is ballet as well as hip hop. She was also a part of Encore Competition Team from 2017-2024 which allowed her to experience new styles such as lyrical, contemporary, and ballroom. During her time dancing she was also a teacher assistant from 2019-2024. After graduating she will be attending GBC to get her business degree and will begin her first year teaching. She is looking forward to helping others learn the passion and love for dance, and to continuing her own dance career.
Londynn Armstrong, Student Instructor
Miss Londynn was born and raised in Winnemucca and currently lives in Orovada NV. She started dancing at Encore at the age of 4. She has taken various classes such as jazz, ballet, tap, hip hop, theatre, acro and leaps turns and jumps. She has been a member of the Encore Competition Team which has allowed her to travel to many locations and learn from professional dancers and choreographers in different styles of dance. She has been a teacher’s assistant for the past 3 years. She loves to dance and can’t wait to meet and share her passion with her students.