The People of Integra Dance Arts
Mika Deslongchamps Massey
Co-Owner/Director
Mika Deslongchamps Massey hails from Tucson, AZ. where she trained extensively in ballet, jazz, contemporary, and tap under the direction of Mary Beth Cabana, Susan Quinn, Michael Williams, Sam Watson and Elizabeth George. In her professional career she trained and worked with Alonzo King, Ana Sanchez-Colberg, Marienela Boan, and Mia Michaels. Her training culminated in 2019 when she received her Masters in Choreography from Jacksonville University.
Mika has spent the past thirteen years actively engaged in the local and national performing arts community. Her choreography is in demand throughout the nation. With experience in collaborative work re-developing performing arts organizations, directing a professional non profit dance company and being resident choreographer of theater and opera companies; Ms. Massey’s expansive skill set is honed to the world of dance rather than a singular aspect. She has worked rigorously to bridge the technical excellence dancers strive to gain between styles of dance, to develop movement curriculum that enhances and trains the technical and artistic performer, and to continuously bring dance into other communities. In addition, Ms. Massey has co-developed an innovative Circus for Dancers program, and has spent time in residency with the Southern Arizona Network for Down Syndrome (SANDS), teaching movement classes for children and adults with down syndrome.
For over 10 years Mika was on faculty at many Tucson area dance studios, where her titles included, director of jazz programs, instructor of tap and ballet, and classical ballet choreographer. She has trained students who have gone onto programs at Houston Ballet, The Juilliard School, University of Utah, University of Arizona and notable professional appearances commercial work and The Radio City Christmas Spectacular. She lives with her husband, Tom in Tucson’s Southeast community where she has worked within the Vail School District and resided for the past twelve years. She is excited to continue to share her love of dance with the students at Integra Dance Arts.
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Julie Ann Nichols
Co-Owner/Director
Julie Ann Nichols began her dance training at the age of five at Michele's Dance Academy in Las Cruces NM where she later became a principal and founding member of the Las Cruces Chamber Ballet Company. There, she trained with Kathy Kildow, Michele Self and Kevin Self (American Ballet Theater, Martha Graham, North Carolina School of the Arts) She also danced solo and principal roles in “The Nutcracker,” “Swan Lake”, “Sleeping Beauty”, “Coppelia” and several additional original works, most notably partnered with Mel Tomlinson (New York City Ballet, Alvin Ailey, Dance Theater of Harlem). She was also selected to train on scholarship with the Pennsylvania and Milwaukee Ballet and received scholarships from the Cecchetti Council of America.
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Julie attended Brigham Young University where she danced and trained with the BYU Theatre Ballet. In addition to dancing, Julie continued to cultivate her skills in choreography and costume design. and was awarded a BA in Theatrical Costume Design. Intertwining these passions throughout her career, she has staged numerous original pieces and designed an extensive costume portfolio. Following college, Julie moved to Tucson, AZ with her husband Eric. As a mother of young children Julie was again drawn towards her love of dance and for eight years directed Ballet Belles, a child-centered dance academy and performing group. For 6 additinal years Julie taught ballet, jazz, and tap, choreographed and set many classical ballet pieces and was also a costume director and designer.
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Julie has loved living in Tucson since 1995 and has lived in Rita Ranch for the past 19 years. She and her husband have 4 children who have attended Vail schools and have participated actively in the community. Additionally, for over 20 years Julie has taught and mentored youth and children through her church organizations. She continues to share her love of dance with others through Integra Dance Arts.
Hailee Kayfes
Faculty
Hailee Kayfes began dancing when she was very young in Oregon, but her true love for dance really began when she got into musical theater in Arizona. Hailee has been trained in ballet, hip hop, jazz, tap, musical theater, and even some aerial arts. Although Hailee has been in almost every theater group in Tucson, as well as trained in many local studios, she also worked in entertainment in a few theme parks, including Old Tucson Studios and Disneyland. Her favorite part about working for Disneyland was sharing her love of performance and Disney with children from all around the world, and she's very excited to be able to share that with the students at Integra Dance Arts.
Brendan Kellam
Faculty
Arizona native, Brendan Kellam, has been trained in jazz, ballet, modern, hip hop, and ballroom; but his heart lies with tap. Brendan is a professional tap dancer who has traveled all over the U.S. to study with many masters, including Jason Samuels Smith, Nico Rubio, Aleksandr Ostanin, Jason Janas, Sarah Reich, Lady Di'Walker, and the late Professor Robert L. Reed.
Brendan has been seen on faculty teaching for Wing It tap intensive, Phoenix Tap Fest, and Motor City Tap Fest. He has also been seen performing with the Phoenix-based tap company, Tap 24.7 since 2012.
At age 12, Brendan began his journey as a choreographer, and his work has been selected to perform in the Big Apple Tap Festival in New York City, and the Motor City Tap Festival in Detroit. He currently choreographs for multiple studios across the country, and his work can be seen at many competitions, awarded numerous high accolades. Most recently, Brendan was seen competing at the World Tap Championships in Riesa, Germany, where his choreography placed 4th in the world.
Currently, Brendan is attending the University of Arizona as a dance and business major.
Jestin Johnson
Faculty
Jestin Johnson was born and raised in Arizona and began her dancing career by the age of three. She has dancing experience in ballet, pointe, jazz, contemporary jazz, and contemporary ballet. During her ballet career she was a principal dancer for various roles, such as; Mirlitons and the Chinese Princess for the Nutcracker, and the Summer Fairy for Cinderella in 2016. Her latest principal role was Cinderella in Integra Dance Art’s production of Cinderella. Outside of her dancing, Jestin is currently attending the University of Arizona to study psychology and human behavioral sciences.
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Katie Knoepfle
Faculty
Born and raised in Tucson Arizona, Katie Knoepfle started her dancing career at the young age of three. Miss Katie has dancing experience in ballet, en pointe, jazz, contemporary jazz, contemporary ballet and Modern.Katie has trained in her dance disciplines at several east side dance academies, including the classic Broadway style of tap that her great grandmother used to do. Most recently she has been continuing her training with Mika Deslongchamps Massy and Julie Nichols at IDA. Inspired by her great grandmother who was a tap dancer in Hollywood during the 1940s and ‘50s she decided to start tapping at age fourteen and has been tapping since.
Miss. Katie started assisting with teaching when she was sixteen and fell in love with working and teaching children. Because of this experience Katie has made it her dream to work with children all her life. Outside of working as a tap teacher at Integra, Katie is married to her high school sweetheart, and is studying Family Science & Childhood Development with the final goal of someday being a midwife.
Jayleigh Parker
Faculty
Jayleigh Parker’s passion for dance began at the age of 5 in Longmont, CO where she danced ballet, jazz, and tap. She moved to Vail, AZ 5 years later, and continued her love for dance. While ballet was her forte, she also enjoyed jazz, tap, hip hop, contemporary, and even a little bit of tango. She took a hiatus from dance altogether at the age of 17, but returned at the age of 25 when Mika and Julie opened Integra Dance Arts.
During her ballet career she was a principal dancer for various roles, such as; Mirlitons and Snow Queen for the Nutcracker, and as the Baroness Von Rothbart in Swan Lake. More recently, she was the Mouse King (2019) and Ballerina Doll (2020) in the Nutcracker at IDA.
Jayleigh is certified in Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT), and loves finding educational opportunities that revolve around ballet.
Outside of dance, Jayleigh is married and they have 3 beautiful kids. Their oldest is following in her mom’s footsteps, and dances ballet and hip hop at IDA, as well. Jayleigh is also working on a Bachelors of Science in Industrial/Observational Psychology
Gabriela Barnes
Faculty
Gabriela Barnes has been dancing, and performing for 18 years. She began her training, at the age of 4 in ballet and later expanded her dance styles to jazz, tap, contemporary and pointe. She also had the privilege of traveling and performing around Tucson with her studio’s performance ensemble. Gabriela’s theatre experience began in high school where she performed with Empire High School’s drama program, as well as acting with and choreographing for Actors of the Round Table. Gabriela has continued her dance training with Integra Dance Arts. She continues to perform with Integra Dance Arts, Mika Massey, and with Desert Christian High School. She now uses her love of dance and extensive experience to teach children in all styles including the theater arts and she enjoys sharing her skills with those just beginning their dance experience.
