Ashley Claybrook has been a dancer for 22 years training in various styles of dance. Ashley grew up loving all arts but found a beautiful passion for teaching and choreographing. 

Ashley has adored her four years as the Owner/Artistic Director in her long time home, DPU Dance.  She is very humbled by the overwhelming support of the dance community along this journey.

Ashley is unbelievably honored to teach so many wonderful students and she has gained so much on this adventure as the Artistic Director of DPU Dance. Ashley has beautiful plans in store for the progression of Formations Dance Center! 

Bridgette Fletcher has danced for 24 years and has been teaching dance at a variety of studios in the St. Louis area for the last 10 years. She specializes in training jazz technique as well as choreographing contemporary and jazz dances.

Bridgette danced professionally for 3 years with Ashleyliane Dance Company, she performed in many ADC concerts and shows. She is the Assistant Director of DPU Dance.

Outside of dancing Bridgette graduated from University of Missouri St. Louis in 2016 with a degree in Biochemistry and Biotechnology but is currently working as an artist full time.

As a choreographer she encourages individuality in her students and helps them to find their own voice as an artist. She cannot wait to see where this season goes and couldn’t be happier to be a part of the FDC family.

Rachel has been dancing since she was four years old at Dance Productions Unlimited (DPU Dance). She graduated from Seckman High School in 2018 and competed on their dance team for four years.

She started her teaching journey as a student through the assisting program at DPU Dance. She has continued to assist, teach and now choreographs for the competitive program. She is excited to start her teaching journey at FDC! 

Ms. Mallory is a recent graduate of Herculaneum High School and a 4-year competition team member and assistant at Formations.  This past year Mallory taught our 5-6 year old tap & ballet class.  Mallory has been dancing for 15+ years and her specialties include contemporary, lyrical and ballet dance.  We are thrilled that we can still see Mallory this summer at the studio!

Leslie Murphy graduated from Webster University in 2010 with a BFA in dance and departmental honors.  She also trained at ADF in North Carolina during their summer intensive.  While at ADF she was selected to perform with Janis Brenner and Dancers for the Hollins University MFA Showcase.  Following graduation, Ms. Leslie performed for ACDFA in Washington, D.C. at the Kennedy Center.  Additionally, Ms. Leslie’s performance credits include Diva La Tap and En L’Air Aerial Dance Company under the umbrella of ANNONYArts.  In 2015, Ms. Leslie formed Formations Dance Center, focusing on her love of the aerial arts and dance.  In 2022, she handed over FDC to Ashley Claybrook, yet is honored and excited to continue to work for Miss Ashley at FDC and now DPU as the head of the aerial programs.  

Abby Zaiz began dancing at the age of four in Belleville, IL. She competed in dance competitions across the country from ages 6 to 14 and received countless awards for her professionalism and performance quality. In high school Abby started training at Center of Creative Arts (COCA) in St. Louis, MO and was a part of both the jazz and modern, as well as

the hip hop, pre-professional dance companies. During her time there she got the privilege to perform new and original productions as well as multiple restaged pieces, originally created for

the historical Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.

Abby has worked with choreographers from both the concert and commercial side of the dance industry and performed in many St. Louis dance events such as, National Dance Week, Climate Change Solutions Day, Ari’s Light Gala, and was even a finalist in the St. Louis Teen Talent Competition.

Most recently, she was a professional member of the Ashleyliane Dance Company for 3 seasons. Abby prides herself on being a diverse artist and teacher who is confident and comfortable in many styles of dance: ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, contemporary, modern, musical theater, and hopes to pass on this adaptability and love for all styles on to her students.

Abby is also a current instructor at DPU, B. Elite Dance Academy, and St. Louis Academy of Dance.

Kimberly started dancing in 1986 at the age of 4 at Miss Gibby’s on Broadway.  Kim began dancing competitively in 1992 with Linda Kay Academy of Dance and Studio C until she graduated from Windsor High School in 2000. Kim has been trained in ballet, jazz, pointe, lyrical, pom, but her specialty has always been tap.

Kim has been working in insurance since 2003 as a Imaging Services Specialist. Kim has had opportunities to work with non-profit organizations in the area to work with kids to produce dance and cheer routines.

Kim and her family joined DPU Dance in 2017; she began assisting and teaching classes in 2019. She continues to train and take classes here at DPU Dance along with workshops and masterclasses.

DPU Dance is a big part of her family’s life. Our daughter, Amanda,  has found her love for dance.  Don, Kimberly’s husband, is is also a student at DPU Dance; he joined the adult dance classes so that he can share this amazing journey with them. Don also serves as DPU Dance’s Technical Support during DPU’s self produced productions such as Recital. Kim encourages everyone of all ages to come dance.

Marcela Gomez Lugo, dancer, teacher, writer and translator, was born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico. She began her pre-professional training as a ballet dancer at the age of fourteen under the direction of María Teresa Robles at Andanza School of Dance. Marcela continued to refine her dance training by attending summer intensives such as American Ballet Theatre, Bossov Ballet Theatre and Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet.

In 2019, she graduated with the highest academic honors, from Mercyhurst University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance; dual minor in Dance Pedagogy, and Psychology. After moving to St. Louis, MO, Marcela danced professionally with The Big Muddy Dance Company Trainee Program (2019-2020) and obtained a certification in Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT). Currently, Marcela is a company member with Ballet314 where she performs classical and contemporary works such as The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, Ragtime: The American Experience, among others.

She choreographs for local festivals, dance competitions as well as teaches and coaches for several dance studios/programs in the St. Louis area. 

Marcela’s passion for the performing arts, education and linguistics led her to design dance curriculum’s as well as translate various literary texts and entry websites. In 2021, she published her first poetry book “Leaves/Hojas” with Editorial Isla Negra. She is looking forward to teaching and choreographing at FDC this season!

Melia Manor has been a dancer for the last five years after several years as a competitive gymnast. She particularly enjoys musical theater and jazz, as well as aerial arts. She’s also taken and assisted several other dance styles over the past few years. Melia joined the FDC family three years ago and two summers ago, she started assistant teaching for the younger dance classes. She is so excited to join the staff of DPU and continue at FDC sharing her love of dance with new dancers!

Alexis has always had a passion for dance. She danced with DPU for 16 years just as her mother did. Throughout her time there she has assisted and taught multiple classes.

Alexis graduated from Seckman High School in 2018. While in school she danced for the High School Dance Team for 2 years. She also trained at Ashley Liane Dance Company Junior Trainee Program under both Ashley Claybrook and Ashley Tate for two seasons.  This is Alexis' second season teaching at FDC.

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