Our Teaching Philosophy
At Powerhouse, we believe you belong here. We’ve built a space where confidence grows and talent is earned. Our staff doesn't just teach movement—we build the discipline and self-expression that students carry with them for life.
Melanie Jarvis
Owner and Artistic Director
Miss Melanie has been shaping dancers and students since she was 16. Raised in Southern California, she trained under Ahjalia Hall, owner and director of Thrive Dance Company and longtime U.S.A. staff member, before building a decades-long career in the Arizona dance community. She has been on faculty at Tucson Dance Academy for nine years, coached the Ironwood Ridge Pom Line for seven years, and led curriculum through Tucson Unified’s Opening Minds Through the Arts program — all while earning numerous choreography awards. Miss Melanie has launched dancers into careers as Cardinals Cheerleaders, Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, Disneyland Performers, and has graduated dancers from NYU Tisch and the University of Arizona dance program.
Miss Melanie founded Powerhouse Performing Arts Center on a simple yet powerful belief: every child deserves access to high-quality, age-appropriate training that builds not just technique but also discipline, resilience, and confidence. Trained extensively in hip-hop, jazz, ballet, pointe, lyrical, contemporary, and pom — and holding four years of general education experience — she brings a whole-child approach to everything she teaches. As a mom of three, Melanie is passionate about creating an affordable, family-first space where young artists are seen, challenged, and celebrated for everything they are, both on and off the stage.
Kaitlin Kuch
Certified Personal Trainer
Kaitlin Kuch is a dedicated personal trainer with over 14 years of experience helping both youth and adults build strength, confidence, and resilience. Specializing in strength, she focuses on unlocking each individual’s full potential through structured, effective workouts. Kaitlin’s coaching style combines accountability with encouragement—She will push you when you need it, support you when it’s tough, and always remind you of the strength you already have.
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Gabrielle Gonzales
Mommy and Me and Tiny Tots Instructor
Gabrielle is a passionate dance educator with over 20 years of training and experience across a variety of dance styles, including ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary, and hip hop. For the past 6 years, she has also shared her love of movement as a barre instructor, helping students build strength, confidence, and body awareness through purposeful movement.
With extensive experience teaching young dancers, Gabrielle is dedicated to creating a positive, encouraging environment where dancers feel supported, inspired, and free to express themselves. She believes dance is more than learning technique—it’s an opportunity for creativity, self-discovery, and building confidence that extends beyond the studio.
Marcella Ducsay
Master Ballet and Pointe Instructor
Certified in Pilates and
Progressive Ballet Technqiue
Marcella Ducsay is a world-renowned ballet artist, educator, and choreographer with an international career spanning Europe and the United States. She received her classical training at the Hungarian Dance University under the Vaganova curriculum, graduating with a BFA (4.0 GPA) with specialized research in kinesiology and dancers' body alignment.
At age 19, Marcella joined the Hungarian National Ballet and later became a Principal Dancer with Texas Ballet Theater, performing leading roles in classical, Balanchine, and contemporary repertoire. Her professional career took her across the globe—performing in Japan, Israel, Australia, and at The Joyce Theater in New York City.
After her distinguished performing career, Marcella transitioned to teaching and artistic leadership. In Chicago, she taught at the prestigious Joffrey Academy and served as Artistic Director of Illinois Ballet Academy, where she developed comprehensive curriculum and produced full-scale performances. She recently completed a Master's in Education specializing in classical ballet (on full scholarship), with her thesis focusing on bridging historical ballet traditions with contemporary psychology and evidence-based teaching methodology.
Certified in Progressing Ballet Technique and Pilates mat, Marcella currently serves as Adjunct Faculty at the University of Arizona. At Powerhouse PAC, she brings decades of expertise and an unwavering commitment to developing the whole dancer—technically, mentally, and artistically.
Jordynn Christianson
Modern and Contemporary Instructor
Known for her engaging teaching style and infectious energy, Jordynn is passionate about creating a classroom where students feel challenged, encouraged, and confident. A Southwestern Utah native, Jordynn trained at the nationally recognized Utah Dance Artists conservatory before moving to Tucson to pursue her degree at the University of Arizona School of Dance, where she has performed works by Bob Fosse and Peter Chu.
Jordynn’s career is marked by elite-level training, including the prestigious Springboard Danse Intensive and intensives at The Juilliard School. She has worked with internationally acclaimed choreographers such as Jon Bond, Clyde Emmanuel Archer, and Sidra Bell, and has performed with Salt Contemporary Dance and Remix.
As a choreographer, Jordynn’s work has earned top honors at the national level, including the second-highest scoring routine at National Dance Honors. Her expertise is backed by a decorated competitive career, with titles including NYCDA Senior Outstanding Dancer, Elite Honored Dancer, and YAGP Regional Top 10 Contemporary.
Drawing from scholarship offers from USC Kaufman, Boston Conservatory, and SUNY Purchase, Jordynn brings a professional-grade standard to her teaching. She specializes in contemporary, modern, and jazz, with a dedication to helping each dancer build the strong technique, grit, and artistry required to succeed both on and off the stage.
Jessica Guerena
Pom and Tumbling Instructor
Miss Jess is a passionate dance educator with a strong background in both dance and cheer. She began her dance training in early childhood and continued her performance journey as a competitive cheerleader at Glendale Community College before joining the dance line at Grand Canyon University.
Jessica has coached cheer and pom across multiple programs in Arizona, helping young athletes build confidence, performance skills, and teamwork. In addition to her work in dance, she serves as the Director of the Tucson Cinderella Pageant, where she mentors participants ages 0–29 in confidence, stage presence, and personal development.
With degrees in Elementary Education, Special Education, and Educational Leadership, Miss Jess brings a well-rounded, student-centered approach to her classes. She is committed to developing strong technique while creating a positive, supportive environment where every dancer can grow, feel confident, and thrive .
Nicole Sevinsky
Ballet and Pom Instructor
Coach Nikki is a dedicated dance educator and choreographer committed to developing confident, technically strong, and performance-driven dancers. With over 12 years of competitive dance experience across ballet, lyrical, jazz, contemporary, hip hop, pom, musical theater, and tap, she brings a versatile and well-rounded foundation to her teaching and coaching style.
In addition to her performance background, Coach Nikki has 7 years of coaching experience and currently serves as the Head Pom Coach at Canyon del Oro High School. She is passionate about cultivating a positive, disciplined, and inspiring environment where dancers are encouraged to grow both artistically and personally. Her approach emphasizes strong technique, performance excellence, teamwork, and confidence, helping dancers succeed on and off the floor.
Morgan Barclay
Hip Hop and Tap Instructor
Morgan began dancing at age 4 and started competing at 7. She has trained and competed in jazz, lyrical, contemporary, hip hop, tap, and ballet, building a strong technical foundation and a love of performance. She continued her training as a member of the dance program at Northern Arizona University, where she danced for two years and deepened her artistry.
Passionate about passing on dance to the next generation, Morgan creates a positive, encouraging classroom where every dancer feels confident, challenged, and inspired to grow. She’s excited to join the studio and looks forward to helping students strengthen their technique and deepen their love of dance.
Ariel Dowd
Certified Zumbini Instructor
Coming Soon