Sara Filippe, Owner
Sara moved to Winnemucca in 2001. She has over 40 years of dance and theatre experience and has taught for 25 years in Winnemucca. Sara and her mom, Sharon, opened Encore in February 2007 with the hope to bring our love of dance to the community. During these years she founded the first ever dance competition team in Winnemucca and has continued to coach the team for over a decade. She has also worked to bring children’s theatre and competitive cheer to 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.
Sara is the proud mom of Benjamin and Vivienne, and wife of Dustin.
Madison Riley, Instructor
Miss Maddie’s love for dance began at Encore Dance Academy when she became a student at eleven years old. Hip Hop quickly became her favorite style, followed closely by Theatre. She was involved in Drama and Stagecraft throughout her high school career and the performance of it went hand in hand with dance. From 2015–2018, she was a member of the Encore Competition Team, where she traveled out of state for competitions and conventions and had the opportunity to travel and perform in New York.
During her years as a student, Miss Maddie also began assisting Level 2 Hip Hop and Level 2 Jazz classes. She became a student teacher in 2017 and has continued teaching at Encore ever since. Over the years, she has continued her dance education by attending conventions and training opportunities to expand her knowledge and stay connected with the ever-evolving dance industry.
Miss Maddie currently teaches Ballet, Tap, Hip Hop, and Acro at Encore and especially loves working with young dancers as they build confidence, musicality, and a love for performing. Having grown from an Encore student into an instructor herself, she loves being able to give her dancers the same encouraging and memorable experiences that helped shape her own love of dance.
Miss Maddie is grateful to continue being part of the Encore family and loves watching her dancers grow both in the studio and on stage.
Camille Roberts, Instructor
Miss Camille has been at Encore Dance Academy from 2007 to current day, a whole 20 years!!!! Apart from working at the schools she takes part in teaching dance Mon-Thur, she will be teaching Acro, Hip Hop, Jazz, and Conditioning. She started off as a student teacher and then became a full teacher after she graduated high school in 2021. 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, has done summer camps, twenty recitals, conventions, and dance teacher conferences where she has learned from some of the best dance instructors. She is so excited to be going back as she loves being able to watch all the kids grow, loves dancing, and of course 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. She has been teaching at Encore for the past two years and cannot wait to start another year with new students and returning students.
Dharma Aguirre, Dance Instructor
Miss Dharma has been apart of Encore for many years. She started dancing in 2009 and ended up at encore in 2012. There she joined the competition team in 2013 and finished in 2020. She has experience in ballet, jazz, tap, hip hop, contemporary, lyrical, and more. Doing competitions and conventions gave her the opportunity to learn from many brilliant artists and performers. Before teaching she was an assistant in multiple classes such as Minis and levels 1-4. Miss Dharma has taught dance for many years, 4 years as a student teacher and 2 years on her own. After a 2 year break she is looking forward to coming back to Encore and teaching so many wonderful students.
Abby McGehee, Tumbling coach
Bio Coming Soon!