Our Team

Paige Delp

Programs/Operations director
Dance instructor

Paige Delp, born in Yakima and raised in East Valley, has been dancing since the age of 3. her very first job was teaching gymnastics, and it’s that same dedication she brings to teaching every dance class. She hopes to help dancers learn and grow into young adults with a strong work ethic that allows them to pursue what sets their soul on fire. In 2021, she graduated from  Heritage University studying Environmental Science, Paige also holds a degree in Agribusiness and Tree Fruit Production.

Sarah Marquis-Smith

OWNER/ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

In 2018, the Akin family welcomed Sarah Marquis as studio owner. A longtime member of the Melody Lane family, Sarah began dancing at the age of two. She grew up at Melody Lane, taking classes five days a week in genres like ballet, tap, jazz, and contemporary. By the time she was in high school, Sarah taught the Dance Explorers class and came to love educating students to become contributing members to the community, later attending the University of Idaho to earn her Bachelor of Science in Dance. 

Emily Bissonette

Sidney Reichert

Instructor
Administrator
Performance Company director

Sidney was born in Renton, Washington and raised in Sumner, Washington.  In 2021, she graduated with her Bachelor of Fine Arts in K-12 Theatre Education from Central Washington University. Sidney has been performing on stage since the age of 6 playing instruments, singing, acting, and dancing. With many years involved in school and community theatre, she loves the arts and hopes they are as influencial to her students as they have always been to her. 

Kally Marquis

assistant

A resident of Yakima for 35 years, Kally Marquis graduated from CWU with a degree in Business. She has worked as a church administrator and in accounting offices of retail, wholesale, and long-term care facilities. She enjoys crafting, card games, and puzzles. Kally has three children, two daughters-in-law, and two grandsons.

Instructor
Administrator

Emily was born in Seattle, WA and raised in Yakima. She graduated from East Valley High School and continued her passion for dance and the arts in Los Angeles, California at AMDA, The American Musical and Drama Academy, where she received her BFA in Dance Theatre. "The arts have always been a huge passion of mine. Getting to watch the kids here at MLA find lifelong friends and express themselves in so many ways has been amazing and I cant wait to continue to watch the students shine!

Dominic Dobbs

PRIVATE INSTRUCTOR

Dom is excited to be a part of the MLA team which is located in the community he grew up in! Dom was born in Tucson, Arizona and moved to Yakima in 2011 where he began to learn the flute, saxophone, piano, and other instruments that allowed him to travel while performing. Dom graduated from West Valley High School and is currently attending Central Washington University where he is earning his BM in Music Performance. Dom loves that by being at MLA, he is able to give back to his community that helped his own music career begin.