About Our Dance Lessons Staff | AKIM


Meet Our Dance Staff


Ashley Gorden

Director of In The Spotlight Dance Conservatory

Ashley originally opened and continuously ran In The Spotlight Dance Company in 2006, before bringing her program to America’s Kids in Motion in 2018.   She has trained hundreds of aspiring dancers, and has sent many onto successful collegiate and professional dance careers.  Ashley is passionate about dance education.  She looks to instill respect for self, instructors, peers choreography and the process of training as a dancers into each student who walks into her class.

Kelsey Ostrander

Director of In The Spotlight Little Dancers

Kelsey is excited to be back working in the dance world after a five year break.  She grew up dancing in the Fresno area and traveling the state training with well known teachers and choreographers throughout her 14 years of dance.  After she hung up her dance shoes, Kelsey began teaching dance at In the Spotlight Dance Center in 2007 where she was the assistant director for 8 years helping build the program into what it is today.  Kelsey has trained several dancers who are continuing their dance careers into college and other professional companies.  As well as being the dance director at In The Spotlight Little Dancers, she holds a multiple subject teaching credential and a physical education teaching credential.  She is currently teaching physical education and directing the pep and cheer programs for Kastner Intermediate and Clovis West High School.  She is thrilled to use her teaching background and dance knowledge to help create the best dance education for students of every age where dance is not only fun, but a place where kids can reach their full potential.

Aubree Robbins

Ballet Director

Aubree began her training in classical ballet at the age of 10 at Cynthia Merrill School of Performing Arts. She has since trained in American Ballet Theater curriculum with California Arts Academy and the Severance Ballet Conservatory. Aubree graduated in December of 2014 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Dance from CSU Fresno. Throughout her career, she has performed in numerous ballet productions and events both locally and abroad. Since 2012 she has taught as head of the Ballet Department for In The Spotlightand has since taken several students to participate in the highly acclaimed Youth America Grand Prix. She is passionate about dance and hopes to impart a joy and love for dance in each of her students. 

Rachel Durant

Rachel first began her pre-professional dance training when In the Spotlight opened in 2006 under the direction of Ashley Gorden. She danced competitively as an In The Spotlight, Company Member for eight years receiving many high point, technical awards and scholarships. She had the opportunity to travel across the country as a Company Member with LA Dance Magic. Rachel has performed in local shows such as the 2010 St. Agnes Fashion Show and has played numerous lead roles for the Lively Arts Foundation’s Nutcracker. Rachel has taken master classes with many industry professionals and has worked directly with award-winning teachers and choreographers such as Chris Dupre, Jackie Sleight, Tina D’Amato, Duncan Cooper, DJ Guthrie, Christian Vincent, and Dejan Tubic. Additionally, as an ITS Company Member, she has had special performance opportunities such as being in the opening number for the the New York, Radio City Rockettes’ Christmas Spectacular and performing as a munchkin in the Wizard of Oz National Tour when these prestigious companies came to Fresno. Rachel was also among the first to be offered the opportunity to audition for America’s Got Talent. She began teaching dance at In the Spotlight in 2013 and started working with the Company Program in 2014. In addition to receiving choreography awards, her routines have been recognized for technical skill, Best in Show, and judge’s standout awards throughout California. While she specializes in jazz, lyrical, and contemporary movement, Rachel has always loved all styles of dance and encourages her students to be the most versatile artists they can be. 

Alyssa Cadena

Growing up in Fresno, CA, Alyssa Cadena has trained in jazz, contemporary, lyrical, ballet, hip-hop, and more. She was a student at three different studios: Dance Rage Elite, Dolce Dance, and In The Spotlight. During her 7 years at In The Spotlight, Alyssa built a repertoire of valuable skills and was introduced to the convention world where she met D.J. Guthrie and became LUX dance co’s first ever assistant. She also has performed in Lively Arts Foundations Nutcracker, multiple St. Agnes fashion shows, and CMT’s Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Alyssa had the opportunity as an In the Spotlight student to perform in the opening number for the New York Radio City Rockettes Christmas Spectacular. At seventeen years old Alyssa took off to Orange County to further pursue her dance career. Shortly after moving, Alyssa auditioned for LAUNCH at the Brea Space, a training program under the direction of Krista Miller. Alyssa trained with LAUNCH for two seasons where she got to train under many industry professionals and was introduced to many new styles such as ballroom, acting, singing, and dancing on film. This past year Alyssa began her professional dance career in Los Angeles and recently booked a music video for Latin artist Guaynaa as a dancer and the choreographer. Alyssa is still training and pursuing her professional dance career in LA, while teaching at multiple studios, and setting choreography.

Hunter Mikus

Hunter Mikus began her dance training with In The Spotlight at 8 Years old. Hunter quickly went on to receive regional and national titles competing with the ITS Company throughout the years. After graduating high school she continued her dance education in renowned training programs: Alonzo King LINES Ballet and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago Professional Program. Hunter’s elite explorative education allows her to bring new dialog and ideas to our current students. She looks forward to sharing her education and her love of dance with the students of ITS.

Tina Flanagan-Vosburg

Tina has been teaching dance in the Central Valley for over 30 years, working with children 2 through adult where she has taught ballet, creative dance, tap, belly dancing and exercise stretching with conditioning.  She is kind, knowledgeable and her love of teaching shines through in each class she teaches.