Captivated Faculty

Mrs. Jennaca Neri

Owner/Instructor

Ms. Jennaca has been a dance teacher for over 8 years. Her time teaching includes being a competitive dance teacher for over 6 years, as well as teaching for a performing arts high school right in our very own High Desert. Before that, Jennaca has been dancing since the young age of three, dancing at our local dance studio in Barstow, CA. Additionally, she went on to receive a scholarship to train with the NBT (Nevada Ballet Theatre). After her training she began her journey in the competitive dance world where she got signed to her first talent agency “MSA Talent Agency” in 2014. Once graduated, her passion for dance never ended which is why she began her career as a Dance Instructor, winning multiple titles, awards, and 1st place overalls along the way. Jennaca is eager to give back to her community, and help kids of all ages fuel their passion for dance as well, along with having the right space to do so. Having a safe, loving, and fun environment where the child can grow both in dance and outside of it is of the upmost importance to her. 

Mrs. Alli Burkel

Instructor/Company Team Choreographer


Ms. Alli has been a dance instructor for 9 years and currently resides in Corona, CA. Alli began dancing at the age of three and competing when she was eleven. Her passion for dancing only grew when she was signed by DDO Artist Agency at the age of thirteen. Alli went on to be featured on an episode of Lifetimes Dance Moms, and is also featured dancing in a Todrick Hall music video. Alli knew she wanted to be a dance teacher from a young age and once she taught her first class there was no stopping her. Alli has won many awards including outstanding choreography, entertainment awards, 1st place overalls, solo title awards and more. Alli’s focus is to teach her students confidence in and outside of the studio. She believes that hard work and fun are both important elements that she incorporates into her classes. Alli travels over an hour and a half to teach our children and after years of teaching competitive dance in our small community of Barstow she has continually proven she never gives up on her students no matter how difficult the distance can be.

Ms. Mariah

Instructor


Ms. Mariah started dancing at the age of 5 in Victorville, CA with ballet, tap, hip-hop, and jazz. At the age of 9, she joined the competition team and competed for 10 years, winning many outstanding groups and solos awards. With her passion for dance growing, she expanded her training and took on more styles/techniques such as lyrical, contemporary, improvisation, turns & leaps, and conditioning as well as dancing at a performing arts high school. She also started teaching when she was 16 at her studio and continued on for two years before heading off to college at San Diego State University, her dream school. She was one of 25 dancers to be accepted into SDSU’s dance program. She graduated in May of 2022 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in dance and with Magna Cum Laude. Mariah is so eagerly excited to teach and train dancers of all ages. Her focus is to push them to be the best that they can be as a dancer & as a person inside and outside of dance while also having a mix of fun at the same time. She also wants to inspire dancers to go for what they want and to believe in their dreams & goals to become a reality.

Ms. Daezha

Instructor


Daezha’s love for dance started when she was just a little girl watching herself dance in the mirror mimicking the choreography from music videos. Growing up, she trained in the styles of jazz, tap, hip hop, lyrical and ballet. She then joined her church dance ministry and went on to become the director and choreographer. While Ms. Daezha was in college, through much hard work, she  became the vice president of the school’s dance team and had the opportunity to perform in many recitals. She has continued her work teaching at dance studios and even began her training under Ms. Jennaca, many years ago. Besides being a dance instructor last year at Captivated Dance Company (formerly NF Dance), she has also coached cheer and still coaches various gymnastic styles at NF Gymnastics. Her goal is to use her knowledge and experience from years of dancing, gymnastics, and cheer to help students reach their full potential at Captivated Dance Co. as dancers, by helping them to developing technique, strength, flexibility, and coordination. Ms. Daezha has been an important part of Captivated and we’re excited to welcome her back for another year with us!