Faculty
Ms. Shelby
Owner/Director
Shelby Walls is the owner and director of DANCENATION. Ms. Shelby was born and raised in Bakersfield, CA and started dance at the age of 3, spending majority of her time growing up in a dance studio environment. She danced competitively for 15 years and has been teaching and choreographing for 17+ years in styles such as jazz, ballet, lyrical, acro and jazz funk. Shelby is a graduate of California State University of Bakersfield with a degree in Business Management. Shelby has performed in commercials for Disney and choreographed solos on "So You Think You Can Dance" and events for "Rock Your Hair and "Kidz Bop." She has raised and trained dancers who have booked with top dance agencies and gone on to dance and work for Nickelodeon, SYTYCD: Next Generation, Chris Brown, Icon of the Seas, Royal Caribbean, MVA+, NBA, Ava Max, Tove Lo, Nicky Youre and Icona Pop. Shelby has won numerous choreography awards from competitions such as Velocity, Hall of Fame, Spotlight, Starpower, KAR and Rainbow, to name a few. She has helped her studio achieve top honors such as overall placements, judges awards, costume awards and the Top Studio Award in the Elite Starz division from Rainbow. Outside of the studio, Shelby is a proud mother to her two young children, Radix and Stassi. She is passionate about getting creative with choreography and inspiring the next generation!
Ms. Connie
Office Manager
Ms. Connie has been married for 40+ years and has two grown children, Bryan and Shelby. She was a dance mom for 16 years and is now enjoying her role as "dance grandma." Connie is a graduate of California State University of Bakersfield with a degree in Accounting. She worked for the City of Bakersfield for 30 years as an accountant, retiring in December of 2017. One of her goals after retiring was to help her daughter, Shelby, fulfill her dream of opening her own dance studio, DanceNation! Outside the studio she enjoys spending time in her new RV with her husband and two dogs, hittin' those slot machines, and rollin' her ball down the lane in her bowling league. She is a proud Grandma to her three beautiful grandchildren, Jaelynn, Radix and Stassi.
Ms. Lizzie
Dance Instructor
Mrs Lizzie has been dancing since the age of three and began competing by the time she was just five years old. With a lifelong passion for dance and performance, she is now entering her 6th year of teaching. She instructs in many styles, including ballet, jazz, tap, lyrical, contemporary, and hip hop, and loves helping her students grow both as dancers and as individuals. Outside of the studio, Mrs Lizzie is a licensed cosmetologist and works at Blush Salon inside Sola. She is happily married and is excited to start a family! Mrs Lizzie is thrilled to continue sharing her love of dance with her students and looks forward to an inspiring season ahead!
Ms. Ashley
Dance Instructor
Ashley Reynolds grew up in Bakersfield, Ca and began dancing at the age of 2. Her love for dance grew quickly and she entered the world of competitive dance at the age of 3. Ashley danced competitively for 15 years alongside Ms. Shelby, the owner of DanceNation. Throughout her years as a dancer, she trained under award winning instructors in various styles such as ballet, jazz, lyrical and contemporary. During her dance career she booked several jobs including national commercials and a performance in a Lakers Game Half-time show. Mrs. Ashley’s passion for dance and creativity continues to grow as she begins her 5th year at DanceNation! Outside of the studio, Mrs. Ashley is a proud mother and wife. She enjoys spending time with her husband, John and their two young boys, Jett and Jack. Mrs. Ashley looks forward to continuing to share her passion with her students as they grow in their technique, confidence and love for dance!
Ms. Kellie
Dance Instructor
Kellie Grantham grew up in Bakersfield, and started dancing at the age of 10. She studied dance styles of tap, ballet, jazz, lyrical, and cheerleading. Kellie enjoyed being on her studios Cheerleading and dance competition teams. After graduating from High school, Kellie started teaching dance at Turning Point Academy while she attended beauty school to become a manicurist. During her time teaching at TPA, Kellie was on TPA’s Showteam, and performed at Half-Time shows and local performances. Kellie also assisted with some of TPA’s Mini Competition team dances. Kellie has been teaching at DanceNation since the summer of 2022. Kellie strives to create a classroom environment that is a joyful experience for young dancers. Kellie’s favorite part of teaching is seeing her students excitement as they grow their technique and love for dance.
Ms. Mistie
Dance Instructor
Mistie Maldonado began her journey in dance and cheerleading at the age of seven, spending over two decades as a competitive athlete. During her competitive career, she achieved multiple All-American cheerleader accolades and was invited to perform at the Pro Bowl in Hawaii. Her experiences extended to the semi-pro level, cheering for the Bakersfield Blitz arena football team and the Bakersfield Jams basketball team. Maldonado's performance background also includes dancing as a backup for Pitbull, participating in a halftime show for the LA Clippers, and competing on the TV show "Your Chance To Dance". She transitioned her dedication to dance and cheer into a coaching and instructing career spanning over two decades. Her passion is evident in her joy derived from witnessing her students thrive and experience the excitement of mastering new skills.
Coach Elyse
Kinesiology Tools/ Acro & Tumble/ Stretch & Conditioning Instructor
Coach Elyse is a former competitive gymnast with over 10 years of experience and a current coach going on her third year. She’s studying Kinesiology at California State University Bakersfield, and works as a physical therapy aide - helping patients recover and stay active. She is certified in CPR, First Aid, Injury Prevention, and Athletic Taping. Elyse is passionate about combining her athletic background with science-based training to support and inspire the next generation of athletes.
Ms. Kaylee
Dance Instructor
Kaylee began dancing at the age of two and quickly discovered her passion for performance. Throughout her youth, she competed in numerous dance competitions, with a primary focus on tap. She had the privilege of training under Broadway star Lenore Smith, where she developed her foundation in classical tap and fell in love with the timeless style she continues to share today. In addition to her extensive dance background, Kaylee is a dedicated educator. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Liberal Studies from California State University, Bakersfield, followed by a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction. She currently works as a public school teacher, bringing her love for teaching and learning into every setting. Kaylee is passionate about keeping the classical style of tap dance alive and inspiring the next generation of dancers to carry it forward with energy, precision, and joy.
Ms. Brandy
Dance Instructor
With over 30 years of teaching experience, Brandy has dedicated her career to training dancers of all ages and levels, from tiny tots to professionals. Since beginning her teaching journey in 1992, she has taught jazz, tap, contemporary, ballet, and gymnastics, winning multiple choreography awards along the way. Many of her students have gone on to achieve professional success, performing with international artists like Britney Spears and Panic! At the Disco, appearing in Barbie commercials, Disney parades, sing-along videos, movies, and more. Known for her passion, versatility, and commitment to excellence, Brandy inspires dancers to reach their fullest potential both in and out of the studio.
Ms. Aeralyn
Dance Instructor
Aeralyn Rivera been dancing for 16 years, including 2 years of competition dance, which gave her a strong foundation in performance and discipline. She is a dedicated dancer, instructor, and choreographer with years of experience in teaching and mentorship. At DanceNation she guides and inspires students by creating a supportive and structured learning environment. Last season, Ms. Aeralyn is also our Showteam/Pom teacher! She is especially excited to share her love for collegiate pom with young dancers. Aeralyn's passion for movement has earned her multiple competitive dance awards, honors, and scholarships, including recognition from the Kern Dance Alliance.
Ms. Olimpia
Dance Instructor
Olimpia is a 39 year old and has been dancing for about 20+ years. She was the head choreographer for the hip-hop dance team in high school for all 4 years. Olimpia has choreographed Hip-Hop performances for local Community events as well as private events such as birthday parties and weddings. Olimpia has competed in local and non-local dance competitions. Sha has taught Hip-hop around Kern County for over a decade. Dancing has always been her passion, she loves to teach and inspire the youth!