Ms Joy
Owner, Instructor
Joy Girard began her dancing career at age 4 at Suzanne’s Dance Factory. She received the Dancer of the Year award and was a member of their nationally ranked competition team. She also studied dance at the renowned Orange County School of the Arts and was part of their performance group, Montage. She has studied Tap, Jazz, Hip Hop, Musical Theater, Lyrical, Ballet/Pointe, and Modern. Joy travelled the world while performing aboard Holland America Line cruise ships ms Veendam and ms Statendam. She has also been a member of Tapped In directed by Tyler Knowlin, and MVP Dance Company directed by Michael Van Patten. Joy entertained audiences dancing and singing as a featured performer in Cirque Magique and Teatro Martini in Buena Park, CA. She has been teaching since 2009 first at Suzanne’s Dance Factory, then in San Francisco, New York City, and even on cruise ships along side the "pros" of Dancing With The Stars. Joy’s dream of becoming a dance studio owner became a reality in 2021 when she took over Suzanne’s Dance Factory and is thrilled to share The Joy Of Dance with all of her students!
Ms Bridget
Instructor
Bridget Nagel graduated from the University of California, Irvine with a B.F.A. in Dance Choreography and a B.A. in Environmental Science and Policy. Bridget has been dancing from the age of 10, specializing in Contemporary, Modern, Hip Hop, Jazz, and Ballet. At UC Irvine, she studied under many esteemed professors, such as Charlotte Griffin, Loretta Livingston, Kate Skarpetowksa, Tong Wang, Chad M. Hall, and more. Bridget has had the privilege of collaborating internationally multiple times, including choreographing and dancing for the Nabla Festival in Italy and dancing for distinguished choreographers Nitzan Lederman and Noa Wertheim in Israel through the Summer Dance Jerusalem Program at UC Irvine. Bridget has premiered many of her choreographic works at UC Irvine Claire Trevor School of the Arts and through the Woodbridge High School Dance Team. She currently dances for Emergent Dance Company as a second company member, for Disneyland as a parade performer, and for competitive hip hop team The G.O.O.D. Project.
Ms Alycia
Instructor
Alycia Thomas started dancing at the age of 4 and began attending Suzanne’s Dance Factory at age 10. She is trained in Ballet/Pointe, Musical Theatre, Lyrical, Modern, Jazz, Contemporary, and Tap. While at Suzanne’s Dance Factory, Alycia was awarded both the Dazzle Award and Dancer of the Year. She was trained for multiple years by Ms. Suzanne to work with and teach dancers in a variety of styles. Alycia was a member of her high school’s dance team, drama program, and International Thespian Society troupe. She is currently pursuing her love for performance as a Drama major at the University of California, Irvine. Previously, she attended the University of California, San Diego, where she directed, choreographed, and performed in a multitude of projects. Outside of school, Alycia has worked professionally as a musical theater actor in several shows. She loves sharing her passion for dance and performance with young artists!
Ms Miranda
Instructor
Miranda Beckman started dancing at Suzanne’s Dance Factory at the age of 4. She is trained in Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Lyrical, and Contemporary. During her time at Suzanne’s Dance Factory she was awarded the Dazzle Award which is given to dancers who exude exceptional showmanship and stage presence. In high school she was part of the Dana Hills Dance Team and attended regional and national competitions. While dancing at Suzanne’s Dance Factory Miranda was chosen by Ms. Suzanne to become a teacher assistant and was trained to work with dancers of all ages, levels, and genres of dance. Currently, Miranda is attends the University of California, Irvine pursuing a degree in psychology. She loves to spend her time dancing and has a true passion for sharing the happiness that dance brings her with young dancers!
Ms Ashley
Instructor
Ashley Duperroy is a dynamic dancer and educator hailing from Southern California. She began her dance journey at the age of 12 and quickly immersed herself in the world of competitive dance, joining her studio’s competition team where she competed in various styles and group routines. In 2023, Ashley earned a Bachelor’s degree in Dance from San Jose State University,
where she also showcased her athleticism as a former Division I collegiate athlete on the SJSU Dance Team. Throughout her training, Ashley became proficient in a wide range of dance styles including Jazz, Lyrical, Contemporary, Tap, Modern, Musical Theatre, and Ballet/Pointe. Her dedication to her craft has afforded her the opportunity to perform at prestigious events, such as Disneyland, the Harlem Globetrotters games, and numerous football fields across the country. As a teacher, Ashley is passionate about fostering personal connections with her students and takes great pride in witnessing their growth and progress in each class. She is deeply committed to helping others find their own joy and expression through dance.
Ms Leah
Office Manager
Ms Leah is a former "dance mom" turned office manager and is here for anything you need! She's the one who keeps it all together behind the scenes! Ms. Leah is always there to keep you up to date with any studio events, answer your questions, and greet you at the desk with a smile.
