We hope you get a chance to meet every single one of our wonderful staff members and instructors. Here are some brief profiles to get you acquainted with the talented people who make up Expressions Dance and Movement Center.
YPAD (Youth Protection Advocates in Dance) is dedicated to building empowered dance communities and keeping kids healthy and safe in all dance environments.
Darcy Fagerwold Owner/Director
Darcy opened the studio with just 5 classes and 65 students in January 2011. Darcy and her husband, Steve, live in Santee with their three children. She received her AA degree in dance from Grossmont College. Darcy has shared her love of dance with children and adults of all ages for over 20 years, teaching at multiple studios and elementary schools all over San Diego County. She enjoys teaching multiple genres of dance including, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, tap, and musical theater. Teaching dancers and mentoring her staff are Darcy's passion. Her goal is to celebrate the individual gifts of each student and to help them discover their unique talent and potential.
Staff
Karen Sjoblom - Studio Manager
Karen is our Business and Customer Care Manager and has been with Expressions from its inception in 2011. She has a degree in Accounting from the University of Utah. Karen has also attended multiple Manager Training sessions with More Than Just Great Dancing. Her favorite thing about working at Expressions is getting to know the dancers and their families.
Stephanie Vasquez - Program Director, Instructor
Stephanie is not only a passionate dance instructor and choreographer but also serves as the Performing Group Director and Community Outreach Coordinator for Expressions Dance and Movement Center. Her choreographic works have been recognized throughout the San Diego Community, competing in the 2018 Young Choreographers' Showcase. Stephanie is currently majoring in Dance at San Diego State University. She finds great satisfaction in combining the arts of acrobatics and dance into one athletically graceful style that serves to push her students to reach their fullest potential. Stephanie is a certified Acrobatic Arts Instructor.
Jordan Buss Instructor - Assistant Performing Group Director, Administrative Assistant
Jordan is originally from Houston, Texas. She relocated to San Diego in 2016 when her husband was assigned to Naval Medical Center San Diego. Jordan began dancing at age two, and competing at five. She has over 12 years of experience teaching recreational and competitive dance. Her specialties include Jazz, Musical Theater, Technique and Ballet. Jordan and her husband, Josh, live with their two fur babies, Tiger & Tucker, in Santee.
Candice Kvavle Instructor - S.T.E.P Coordinator (Student Teacher Education Program)
Candice grew up doing gymnastics and cheerleading. She graduated from Brigham Young University in 2006 with a focus on ballroom and modern dance. She loves being married to Josh, being a mom of two cute girls and teaching at EDMC! She can't wait to help little souls grow in their love of dance and life!
Natalia Hill - Instructor
Natalia Hill graduated from The University of the Arts, Philadelphia with a degree in Modern Dance Education. She was a company member of Dance Envoy (Florence, Italy), Estensiona Dance Company (NY, NY), Vox Dance Theatre (LA,CA) and The PGK Dance Project(San Diego, CA). She also performed in the 80th Anniversary Tour of the Martha Graham Dance Company, at MGM in Las Vegas with The Pointer Sisters, Temptations, and The Four Tops. In addition, she has performed in regional musicals such as Will Rogers Follies and Peter Pan in PA. Natalia has choreographed across the country for productions such as Pirates of Penzance and P.T. Barnum, NY for Oxygen, and a dance sequence for an independent film in LA, Once Upon a Superhero. She is currently the lead singer in a local band called Nothing Special Ska.
George Busto - Instructor
George is a 12-year Navy veteran, prevention-intervetion youth counselor, dance educator, and choreographer. George trained at the College of Lake County, Grayslake, IL in 2009 where he studied modern and choreography with Valerie Alpert, Terry Crews, Jeannine Potter, and Lamaiya Lancaster, and performed in the "Fear No Art" as well as "Winter Prairie" dance production. As a company dancer, George has performed with Valerie Alpert Dance Company at the 2011 Regional Alternative Dance Festival in Michigan and also dance with Impulse Dance Crew, Cryptic Movement Crew, and LatinoXpressions. Since moving to San Diego, George has had the privilege of working with choreographers such as Terri Shipman, Grace Shinhae Jun-Mills, and Jean Isaacs, and participated in 2013 & 2015 Culture Shock Hip Hop Nutcracker, 2016 Trolley Dances, and 2016 City College Dance Productions.
Vincent Padilla - Instructor
Vincent has been dancing his entire life. His first paid gig was at 9 years old, and he continued to study dance, acting, and voice during school at San Diego SCPA. His tap instructors insisted he take ballet to have a solid foundation, so he also studied Russian technique and pas de deux for 8 years (though learning never stops). While Vincent has been a corps member with California Ballet Company for several years, he loves the cultural history and uniqueness of tap dance, and makes sure to teach it along with tap as a dance form.
Taryn St.Michel - Instructor
Taryn is a graduate of Expressions, having been part of our Performing Company and our Student Teacher Education Program. Taryn began teaching classes of her own after graduating from West Hills High School. She is a student at Grossmont Community College majoring in American Sign Language and participating in the dance program. Her favorite things to do are to play with her two dogs and go to the beach with friends.
Kaitlyn Carabajal - Instructor
Kaitlyn is a graduate of Expressions, having been a student at EDMC since its opening in 2011. She took part in our Performing Company and our Student Teacher Education Program. Kaitlyn was part of the Advanced Dance program and Dance Team at Steele Canyon High School. After Graduation Kaitlyn began teaching classes at Expressions. She is currently studying dance at Grossmont College and loves performing in the San Diego Dance Community. Kaitlyn is grateful for the opportunity to grow as a dancer and as a new dance teacher.
Katie West - Instructor
Katie has loved dancing her entire life. She began taking classes when she was 3 and continued to dance throughout college. Katie has performed with Cache' Ballet, Sweetwater County Performing Arts Guild (SCPAG), and Casper College. She has been the chief choreographer for productions with SCPAG, Western Wyoming Community College, and Central Wyoming College. Her favorite roles include Clara, Swanilda, and The Sugar Plum Fairy. Katie has a special place in her heart reserved for The Nutcracker. She has been involved with the production for over 25 years, as a dancer, choreographer, Ballet Mistress, and off-stage help. She enjoys dancing and performing, but her passion is teaching others this beautiful art form. She began teaching when she was 15, and loves watching her students grow, learn, and succeed. Katie is looking forward to getting to know the families and dancers at EDMC. Stay on your toes, keep dancing and don't forget to Turn Out!
Elena Sjoblom - Administrative Staff
Elena is currently a Senior at West Hills High School. Elena is a former student at Expressions and recently began working at the front desk. She loves reading fantasy novels and is an accomplished musician.