meet the legacy faculty
Our Teaching Philosophy
At Legacy Dance Company, we believe that dance is not just about learning steps, but about self-expression, creativity, and personal growth. We strive to create an environment where our students can explore their passion for dance, develop their skills, and build friendships that will last a lifetime.
Our talented and dedicated teachers and junior teachers spend hours prepping their classes, reviewing curriculums, and continuing their education in dance. We gather each summer for a work retreat where we plan our year together, we meet monthly to check in, and our directors observe and evaluate teachers twice annually. For us, this isn't a hobby. We expect the best from our teachers!
Studio Owners/Directors
Amanda Heine
Amanda has been dancing since 1990 and teaching dance since 2006. I was born and raised in Prineville and am a graduate of Crook County High School and Central Oregon Community College. My mom put me in my first tap class when I was three years old, and I never looked back. I took tap, ballet, and jazz classes, and my sophomore year of high school I was introduced to the world of competitive dance team.
During college I served as an assistant coach for the Crook County Sparkles and danced with The V!be Dance Center in Bend, Or. During that time, I was also an education major at COCC and quickly realizing that the academic classroom wasn't where I truly wanted to teach. In July of 2008, I took over as the head coach for the CCHS Sparkles and we won our first dance State title in my first season. From that moment on I have known that this is the path chosen for me. In 2012 I won the Dance and Drill Coaches Association 1a-4a Coach of the Year. The award is nominated and voted on by the DDCA membership, comprised of coaches and other affiliates from across the state. I resigned from CCHS in August of 2021 to focus on my family and our growing business. I've worked with teams all over Oregon at the high school and Junior level as a choreographer and also taught workshops and technique classes. I've worked in studios as a guest instructor and a faculty member. I served on the DDCA Board of Directors from 2017 to 2021 where I was the Membership Director. I am also currently a Certified Performance Judge for the organization. I took this opportunity to give back to the dance community. It has given me a chance to mentor other coaches, contribute to the growth and change of dance team in Oregon, and to represent an organization that I truly believe in.
I am beyond thrilled to see Legacy Dance Company succeeding. We have been so embraced by our community and I hope we can continue to serve Prineville and Crook County well. I am forever grateful to do this with a co-Director who is as tenacious and creative as Ciera; we both truly have a passion for bringing dance to everyone. I am a firm believer that when you do what you love, you never work a day in your life. I look forward to the challenges and adventures this will continue to bring!
Ciera Hensley
I spent all of the life I can remember in Prineville. Dancing since I was 4 years old. I still remember my very first tap dance, “Catfish for Supper”! Since then, my love for dancing has just continued to grow stronger and stronger. Since then I have danced in just about every style imaginable. Tap and Ballet have always been a couple of my favorites though. In my later years of dance, I was an assistant teacher, this was when I realized that teaching was my passion. I knew that I wanted to share my love of dancing with everyone.
I taught in Colorado at, A Dance Place, for a few years. I learned so much and grew so much as a teacher and a dancer. I was able to take several master teaching classes in Denver, working alongside of some amazingly talented teachers.
My world is centered on my daughters, Adisynne and Brynlee. This dream I am living is because of them. I want them to know that you can do anything that you set your mind too! Nothing is out of reach!
I have lots of fresh new ideas that I am excited and ready to share with all of you. I can’t wait for this year to start and to get to share my passion and love for dance with all of your dancers! Thank you all for the tremendous amount of love and support! We appreciate every single one of you!
Instructors
Heather Richardson - Acro, Ballet
Born and raised here in Prineville, I started dance at 4 years old and continued through high school. My senior year I was on Sparkles Dance Team and my studio's competition team. In 2011 I discovered a love for yoga and in 2019 I earned my 200-hour yoga teacher certification. I'm so excited to teach here at Legacy Dance Company and give back to my wonderful community.
Maressa Milat - Ballet (Department Lead)
I grew up here in Prineville and I've been dancing for 22 years (so most of my life)! I have trained in many advanced level classes, dancing on pointe since the 6th grade. I was selected to the Thunderbird Dance Camp All Star Team and the DDCA All State Team. I'm drawn to LDC because it's a place that you can come and just be yourself. You don't have to be perfect, you just have to work hard and enjoy expressing yourself through dance, both student and teacher alike! I am so excited to share my experience with the students at LDC.
Eden Campbell - Ballet
I moved to Prineville Oregon when I was 16 and I am now 20. I've been dancing since I was 3 years old and have loved it. I have previously interned for 4 years and have been a teacher for 1 year. LDC has made feel so welcomed and has been one of my favorite places to be. I am so excited to share my love of dance with the kids and watch them progress and grow.
Hailey Dambacher - Tap, Jazz, Hip Hop
I am a dance choreographer, performer, educator, and writer. I was raised in Prineville, and then moved to Pennsylvania to pursue a degree in both Dance and English from Muhlenberg College, graduating with honors in 2021. I have choreographed and danced in modern, tap, jazz, musical theatre and hip hop pieces for a variety of studios, as well as the college, since 2014, been teaching since 2015, and danced in Chloe and Maud Arnold’s tap group SoleTalk in 2017. I love to teach and am passionate about innovating educationally, and encouraging collaboration with young minds to cultivate curiosity, artistry, fun, and kindness.
Miss Kayleigh (Junior Teacher) - Technique
I’m Kayleigh and I have been dancing for 9 years. I am a junior in high school and I’ll be a third time junior teacher at LDC this year. I am really excited to start a new dance season and meet/ teach new kids.
Miss Paislee (Junior Teacher) - Pre-K
I grew up in Prineville Oregon, I am 17 years old and a junior in high school. I started dancing when I was three years old and I have loved it since the start. I have been on the Elite team since the beginning, so 8 years! I have found myself trying every style the studio has to offer and it has helped me learn so much. I love helping kids grow and find their love for dance, as I did! I am very excited to be teaching and to have this great opportunity to learn even more.
Miss Hannah (Junior Teacher) - Pre-K
Bio Coming Soon!
Miss Sophie (Junior Teacher) - Tap
My name is Sophie Fischer and I am 17 years old. I have been dancing since I was 3 years old and I have danced with Legacy since 2016. This is my second year teaching and I am so excited to continue learning and growing through this experience!
Miss Mileigh (Junior Teacher) - Pre-K
Hi, my name is Mileigh! I am 16 years old and a junior at Crook County High School. I moved to prineville in 2022 and have been enrolled at LDC ever since then. This will be my first year teaching but I was an intern for 2 years prior to this. I fell in love with dance at a very early age and I love watching young dancers grow that same love!
Miss Madelyn (Junior Teacher) - Pre K
I have been dancing for about 6 years now and I take several classes in many of the different styles Legacy has to offer! With this I have also been on the competition team for several years. This is my second year as a junior teacher and I also have some years of interning experience with dance as well. I love working with kids and making their experience with dance as fun as possible. I’m super happy to have this opportunity and I can’t wait to watch these dancers grow and have a great year!