Staff
Erica Chipp-Adams
Owner / Director / Teacher
Though originally from Gardnerville, Erica left at the age of 14 to attend the prestigious ballet school,The Harid Conservatory, where she received her formal Vaganova training. In 2004 she began her professional career with Festival Ballet Providence, where some of the notable roles she danced were in Cinderella, Rodeo, Scheherazade, Carmen, Don Quixote and various Anthony Tudor and George Balanchine ballets. In 2010 she moved to San Francisco to join Smuin Contemporary Ballet where she has been featured in works by Jiri Kylian, Val Caniparoli, Ma Cong, Trey McIntyre, Helen Pickett, Amy Seiwert and many ballets by Micheal Smuin. Throughout her professional career, Erica has worked with world-renowned choreographers, toured to various countries and performed at The Joyce Theater in NYC. As a guest artist, Erica has danced the principal roles in Giselle, Coppélia, Romeo & Juliet, and Cinderella with Sierra Nevada Ballet. She has also performed the role of the Sugar Plum Fairy in Nevada Dance Company's, The Nutcracker, recently seen performing with her husband, Oliver-Paul Adams. Erica's vast career has also led her to be a part of an Audi campaign and a featured performer and Emmy winner on NBC’s BaseBallet, Into the Game. In 2021, Erica and her husband Oliver were appointed as Artistic Directors of the Nevada Dance Company.
Oliver-Paul Adams
Owner / Director / Teacher
Originally from Stoke-On-Trent, England, Oliver trained at the Birmingham Royal Ballet School. During this time Oliver performed with the Paris Opera Ballet, English National Ballet and the Birmingham Royal Ballet at venues including the Royal Opera House, The London Coliseum and the Royal Albert Hall. During his graduation year Oliver danced in Japan and the USA as well as dancing for the Royal Family. At age 17, Oliver started his professional career with the Birmingham Royal Ballet where he danced in many of the major classical ballets. Adams joined the Slovak National Ballet in 2007 as a Soloist before going on to perform leading roles with the Sacramento Ballet, Diablo Ballet and Smuin Ballet, San Francisco, dancing principal and soloist roles in Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty, and works by Jiří Kylián and George Balanchine to name just a few. Oliver has performed at the World Ballet All Stars Gala in both Prague and Bratislava. He has also danced in contemporary works from some of the most important choreographers from around the world. Adams has choreographed for Sacramento Ballet, Nevada Dance Company, Sierra Nevada Ballet, Smuin Ballet and San Francisco Symphony. Oliver continues to perform as a guest artist alongside training the next generation of performers. In 2021 Oliver became Artistic Director of Nevada Dance Company alongside his wife, Erica.
Ann Peters
Founder
Ann has been teaching in the Carson Valley since 1980. She is the studio's main tap and ballroom teacher. Ann had a large studio in the Napa Valley before relocating. "We have been fortunate to have won many national awards over the years. Several of our dancers have gone on to Broadway, with dance teams of the LA Lakers, Denver Broncos, and the Warriors. Some even have started their own studios. Ann was voted Nevada's Women of the Year in 2002."Many of the dancers stay with us from kindergarten until graduation so we are fortunate to be a part of their lives for a long time." Via Ann, Dance Workshop has also been very active in the Suicide Prevention fundraiser, Gotta Dance for the last 5 years. Ann's late husband Craig built the beautiful studios of Dance Workshop.
Gretchen LaWall
teacher / Jazz / Stretch & Strengthen
Gretchen is a well established Pilates Teacher and Professional Dancer from Cary, North Carolina. She discovered her love for dance at a young age and trained extensively in ballet and jazz technique with Cary Ballet Conservatory from 1995-2009. While in NC, Gretchen performed as a guest with Carolina Ballet’s corp de ballet. In 2009 Gretchen moved to Tucson to earn her BFA through the University of Arizona School of Dance on scholarship. During this time she performed a variety of Balanchine Ballets, traveling to NYC to perform at The Joyce Theatre and dancing within Martha Graham Dance Company's ”Dance is a Weapon.” Outside of the University, Gretchen performed with Art.if.Act Dance Project touring China for 28 days. In 2012, Gretchen hung up her pointe shoes and moved to Chicago where she danced and toured worldwide with contemporary-jazz company, River North Dance Chicago. In the fall of 2015, Gretchen left RNDC and moved to San Francisco to try a new career as a freelance dancer/performer. While in SF Gretchen danced primarily with Garrett+Moulton Productions and guested with The San Francisco Symphony, West Edge Opera, The Move Messenger(s), and more.
In 2019, Gretchen left San Francisco and moved to Gardnerville to start a new life in Nevada. Now she is opening her first Pilates studio titled Your Body Pilates® in Reno, NV and looks forward to working with all the wonderful dancers at The Dance Workshop!
Larae Lamb
Teacher / Baby tunes / tiny Tunes / Tap / Commercial
Larae’s love for dance began at the age of 4 in Orange County, CA. Her appreciation and dedication for classical and theatrical training for all genres of dance, gave her many opportunities to perform in many parts the U.S. and in Europe. Her training began at the Colony of Performing Arts. She toured Europe with “On the Move” as a principal dancer and singer. At the age of 12, Larae began working as a professional dancer with Bobby Ball Talent Agency and L.A. Talent. Her professional resume includes television for Disney Productions, The Hunchback of Notre Dame Movie Premier, Disney Afternoon Easter Special, For Our Children Aids Benefit Concert as well as some commercial and television programs. Larae was a “Pixie” for Xuxa’s American production of Xuxa’s Brazilian Television show. Larae attended and graduated from Orange County High School of the Performing Arts. After high school, she continued her studies in dance at Orange Coast College, training with Monie Adamson, performing with Dance ‘N Etc. and continued to work as a professional dancer for several years. In 2006, Larae moved to Carson Valley to settle down and have a family.
Misty Magee
Teacher / Hip Hop
Misty originally started her dance education at the Dance Workshop at 15 years old. Misty went on to teach national champions for Step One Dance and Fitness and Dance Elite All Stars. Misty was a part of the Sacramento Hip Hop Crew for 6 years and performed at the NBA All-Star Jams. She performed as a dancer in the show Lets Go and A Dream Goes On as well as many more. Magee has been teaching competition Hip Hop for over 20 years.
Lynne Barth
Teacher / Musical Theater
Lynne Barth has been involved in the dance industry her entire life. After auditioning in New York City, she left her home at age 21 for the “C’est Magnifique” show at the Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas, and continued a career for many years, including Miller-Reich Productions and Greg Thompson Productions, of which she eventually became their Company-Production Manager for both Harrahs’ Reno and Tahoe. Her travels took her internationally where she worked in various shows including “Call Me Madam” at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, with Joanne Worley, and the world famous “ La Cage Aux Folle” on La Cienega Boulevard. Lynne was also part of the original Star Search Television Show, with the dance group “ Fuzione.” Eventually, Lynne took a Dance Captain/ Manager job at Harveys in Lake Tahoe with “Champagne". An easy transition into production, Lynne had a professional entertainment company for many years, choreographing, directing and providing talent for numerous Northern Nevada venues. Lynne recently started her own event planning company, called eNVy Event Management.
Alexander Biber
Teacher / Lyrical / Partnering
Originally from Carson City, Alexander performed internationally for the Tasmanian Classical Ballet and later joined the Sacramento Ballet where he was featured in many of the company’s most iconic repertoire, including The Nutcracker, Carmina Burana, Romeo & Juliet, Dracula, The Great Gatsby, Twyla Tharp’s, Nine Sinatra Songs, Trey McIntyre’s, Second Before The Ground, Lila York’s Celts and George Balanchine’s, Theme and Variations, Serenade, Western Symphony and Who Cares.
During his tenure with the Sacramento Ballet, Alexander performed with Sierra Nevada Ballet, performing lead roles in many classic ballets such as Swan Lake and Midsummer Nights Dream. A talented choreographer, Biber has choreographed numerous works for Sierra Nevada Ballet, the Capital Dance Project, and Sacramento Ballet. He joined the Sierra Nevada Ballet staff as Ballet Master and teacher in 2020 and continues to teach and choreograph as well as act as the SNB Company photographer. We are excited to have Alex Biber at the Dance Workshop!
Kelsey Gerber
Teacher / Beginner Ballet / Jazz 2 / Adult Ballet
Kelsey was born and raised in Minden, Nevada, and spent her youth dancing with the Dance Workshop. After high school, she trained with Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, and spent two years performing with State Street Ballet’s apprentice company. Kelsey has spent summers training with Brenda Way, Twyla Tharp, Holly Johnston, Leah Cox, Shannon Gillen, Post Ballet, and others. She later received a BFA in dance performance at UC Ir- vine. She has performed works by Twyla Tharp, Autumn Eckman, Saleemah E. Knight, Chad Michael Hall, Brenda Way, and others. Kelsey has been a company member with Brockus: RED, Heidi Duckler Dance Theatre, and Peter & Co., and has performed with Bellwether Dance Project and AXIS Dance Company. Kelsey is currently a member of bay area based companies, ka·nei·see | collective and Alyssandra Katherine Dance.
Alex Kaskie
Teacher / Boys Hip Hop / Breakdancing
Alex Kaskie was always active as a child participating in extreme sports and high school sports, however his dance career started at 20 years old taking classes at his moms studio in Carson City, NV. Within a few years he was training in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Sacramento and various places on the west coast as well as country shows in the Midwest. Alex was trained in various styles but has dedicated most of his years to the many facets of Hip Hop. He has trained and worked with some of the biggest names in Hip Hop and is excited to be back in his hometown to share his knowledge and experiences.
Alexandra Stern
Teacher / Baby Tunes / Tiny Tunes / Combo
Alexandra Stern is a native of the Gardnerville/Minden area. She grew up dancing locally where she studied Ballet and Contemporary dance and taught all ages for 10 years. Alexandra danced and choreographed for the Sierra Nevada Ballet and has featured in performances with the Sacramento Ballet, San Francisco Ballet as well as receiving an apprenticeship for the LA Ballet Company. Alexandra enjoys spending time with her husband, 4 boys and family. She is excited to join the Dance Workshop family and cannot wait to share her love and experience for dance with her students.