Meet Our Staff

Miss Sierra (Co-Owner, Artistic Director, and Instructor) started dancing ballet when she was thirteen years old, after seeing the Nutcracker Ballet for the first time. She grew up in Salem, Oregon with a large family who promotes the arts. In high school she danced ballet, Irish, modern, jazz, and Hip-Hop at Discovery School of Dance (DSD). Miss Sierra attended Brigham Young University-Idaho (BYU-I), where she received a Bachelor's of Arts degree in Dance Pedagogy and became certified to teach yoga. Although Miss Sierra is trained in ballet and several dance forms, she continues to educate herself in various movement arts and loves learning about the human body. She recently got her certification for teaching Kaeja Elevations, and has plans to get certified in DanceAbility training in the fall of 2025. She loves spending time outside and with her family, and considers herself a proficient baker. Miss Sierra shares the title of co-owner of Danceworx Academy with her lovely mother, Julie Peacock.

Sierra Peacock

Katie Snyder

Miss Katie (Irish Instructor) started dancing at 3 years old and started taking Irish dance classes at age 5 at Discovery School of Dance (DSD) where she found a passion for the dance style. After many years of attending Ballet and Irish classes, Miss Katie assisted with many classes before teaching on her own. Miss Katie strives to create a welcoming and fun environment for students to learn and gain confidence. She recently graduated from Western Oregon University (WOU) with a degree in Elementary Education and a minor in American Sign Language (ASL). She is currently working on her Master's Degree and works full-time as an elementary school teacher in the Salem-Keizer School District.

Lizzy Peacock

Miss Lizzy (Asst. Instructor and Summer Intern) began dancing at Discovery School of Dance (DSD) at age 3 (ballet, pointe, Irish soft/hard shoe, and hip-hop/jazz/lyrical) and has danced continuously ever since! She completed her freshman year dancing at Western Oregon University (WOU) where she received the Laurel Dance Scholarship and danced with Rainbow Dance Company. Lizzy is currently a dance major at BYU-Idaho with an emphasis in Dance Choreography and Performance. Lizzy performed with BYU-I Collegiate Dance Company in Extravadance (a student-directed and choreographed showcase, Fall 2025), was selected to represent BYU-Idaho at the American College Dance Association (ACDA) Conference in Las Vegas (March 2026), and will be touring with BYU-Idaho's elite dance company, Dance Alliance, during July-August 2026. Lizzy currently serves on the BYU-I Dance Society Leadership Council and works in the dance department at BYU-I as a student teacher and office assistant with an anticipated graduation in July 2026.

Anna Tandy

Miss Anna (Teaching Assistant) began dancing at the age of 2 at the Discovery School of Dance (DSD). For over 15 years at DSD, she studied Ballet, Pointe, Irish Soft Shoe, Irish Hard Shoe, Jazz/Hip-Hop, contemporary, and lyrical dance, alongside participating in various forms of music and theater outside of dance classes. Anna worked as a teaching assistant and dance teacher at Children's Educational Theater (CET) and has also worked as a teaching assistant at Danceworx Academy & Yoga Studio. As a classically trained vocal student at Berklee College of Music, Anna is studying to major in Music Education and minor in Choral Conducting. Anna is passionate about teaching, creating a welcoming and communal space for all, and nourishing a love for dance and music! She is currently working as a dance instructor at Creativities Studio in Boston, Massachusetts while attending college. 

Miss Holly (Ballet Instructor) has been studying and teaching Ballet for 30 years. She studied Classical Ballet from the age of 13-18 at Dance Spectrum Academy in Eugene, Oregon. After graduating high school, she attended Cornish College of the Arts for 2 years on a full tuition scholarship. She studied Classical Ballet, Pointe, Partnering, Modern dance, Contemporary, Jazz, Choreography and Music Theory. She performed with Cornish College’s dance company for two years. After Cornish College, Miss Holly transferred to University of Oregon to study dance under Susan Zadoff. She also taught Ballet at the Eugene School of Ballet for 3 years. She taught Classical Ballet, Irish, Jazz and Contemporary to students ages three through Adult at Discovery School of Dance (DSD) from 2007-2020. While there, she was responsible for choreographing over 60 dances for the end of year recital. Miss Holly looks forward to teaching at Danceworx Academy to continue her passion for educating students of all ages in the art of dance. She currently works as a preschool teacher. 

Julie Peacock

Mrs. Peacock (Owner/Manager) grew up in a small town without a local dance studio. However, she was always making up dances and performing them with her friends. As a young girl, she dreamed of dancing ballet and owning a dance studio "someday". Years later, when her family moved to a larger city, Julie took dance classes in high school, competed on dance team, drill team, and varsity cheerleading. She attended Brigham Young University (Hawaii and Provo campuses) and continued to study dance at the college level, including Polynesian, Modern, Ballroom, and Cultural dance styles. Julie holds a Master's degree in Speech-Language Pathology, Bachelor's degrees in Communication Disorders & Deaf Education and Travel & Tourism. She is a Certified Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinical Specialist and works full-time as a Speech-Language Pathologist at Cascade School District. Julie began dancing ballet at Discovery School of Dance at the age of 45 and continues her love of dance as the proud owner of Danceworx Academy. She is a life-long learner, mother, and grandmother. 

Thank you for dancing with us!

Holly Hoem

Avery Stanley

Miss Avery (Musical Theatre Instructor) participated in ballet from ages two to seventeen at Discovery School of Dance. When she entered college, she got to explore other styles such as tap and jazz from the classes offered by Western Oregon University, where she has recently received her degree in Theatre Education. Avery enjoys choreographing for local schools and theaters and has had her work appear in productions such as Zombie Prom and Much Ado About Nothing. Outside of dance, Avery enjoys pursuing her passions as a teacher, as well as acting, directing, and doing anything theatrical. She currently works full-time as a teacher at Blanchet Catholic School and is involved with choreographing and co-directing the drama production of Seussical.

Brooklynn Jones

Miss Brooklynn (Office Assistant) joined Danceworx Academy's Ageless Dance Class and performed in the May 2025 recital as a first-time student and a supportive dance mom of her two young children. Brooklynn studied Music Education at Brigham Young University-Idaho where she received an Associates degree in general studies. Brooklynn holds certificates in accounting and tax preparation from Chemeketa Community College She is an Oregon native who enjoys giving back to her local community. Outside the office, Brooklynn enjoys gardening and playing the French horn and cello in local community ensembles.

Heather Brown

Miss Heather (Instructor) started dancing at age six in Jacksonville, Florida studying Ballet/Pointe and Jazz at Nancy Dance Studio. She joined the performance dance team for 7th and 8th grade in middle school. She then moved to Brookings, Oregon where she joined her High School Dance Team and competed for four years. She continued dancing at Western Oregon University where she was on the Dance Team and a student in their dance program. After becoming a mom of four and enrolling her kids at Discovery School of Dance (DSD), she started dancing again in 2011 in the adult class. She taught at DSD for eight years (from 2012-2013, 2014-2021). She has taught ballet, jazz, hip-hop, lyrical, and gymnastic dance styles. Miss Heather is excited to join Danceworx Academy to continue dancing, teaching and learning.

Efrain Angeles

Mr. Efrain (Instructor) has been dancing since he was ten (10) years old and started assisting teachers in hip-hop when he was age fifteen. During his senior year at West Salem High School, he was a cheerleader on the 2024 OSAA State Champion squad. At age 18, Efrain began teaching intermediate and advanced hip-hop classes for ages 4 through adults at Tippy Toe Dance Studio (TTDS) in Salem. He is trained in ballet partnering and multiple dance styles. Efrain currently works at Domaine Willamette Vineyards and says he finds so much joy and happiness when he can see his students follow their passion in dance.

Bella Silva

Miss Bella (Teaching Assistant) started dancing at Discovery School of Dance at the age of three years old, starting with Irish softshoe and then adding ballet at age nine. Bella performed in musical theatre productions at West Salem High School, while adding advanced ballet, pointe, Irish hardshoe and jazz/lyrical dance styles to her repertoire at Danceworx Academy. Bella is currently working at a physical therapy clinic as a physical therapist aide. She joined the Danceworx staff with a desire to “create a good environment for kids to learn and refine their dance skills, while also teaching them good people and life skills”.