Our Faculty

Sandra Morgan (Artistic Director) has studied dance since the age of seven with such instructors as Frank Hatchett (at Broadway Dance Center in NY), Joe Tremaine, Michael Newton, and Jill Duncan. She has more than 25 years of experience as a teacher and choreographer and continues to attend education classes and workshops across the country.

Sandy is the Artistic Director and President of Dimensions Dance Center and founded Dimensions Dance Company in 1990. She has choreographed for the Jazz Dance World Congress, St. Louis University, Barbara Harbach’s opera “O Pioneers”, local musicals, and collaborations with the St. Louis Women''s Chorale, Dimensions Dance Company, and other local dance organizations. Dimensions Dance Company began presenting an annual production of the Nutcracker to great acclaim in 2002.

Sandy graduated Magna Cum Laude from Webster University with honors degrees in Computer Science and Business Management and currently designs and maintains the gardens at Ruth Park Golf Course. Sandy is especially proud to be mom to daughters, Annie and Hayley, and son Jake.

Laura Maier began her dance training at the age of 3 studying ballet, tap, and jazz. She began teaching and choreographing Becky Kern’s Dance studio and has taught students ages 2 up to 50. Laura was a member/choreographer of the Belleville East High School Drill Team and Choreographer for the Belleville East Swing Choir. She performed “Anything Goes” with the University of Illinois and danced with the University of Illinois Dance Department. Laura has a BS in psychology (emphasis on child psychology) from the University of Illinois and earned her elementary education teaching certificate with the University of Laverne in California.

Laura worked as a mental health case manager and a 2nd grade teacher for several years, until she stopped working to raise her two children. Laura continued her dance career in Bakersfield, California with Civic Dance Center as a tap, ballet, creative movement, and jazz instructor/ choreographer. Laura then went on to study a new and inventive form of tap dance with Rosie Radiator and became a member of the dance troupe Rosie Radiator and the San Francisco Rad Tap dance team. She performed throughout the streets of San Francisco during the annual “Tour De Tap for Clean Air” as well as many performances in the Royce Gallery.

Katie Skinker graduated from Southeast Missouri State University in May of 2020 with an honors degree in Environmental Science and a minor in dance. While at SEMO she performed in numerous concerts for both faculty and student choreography.

Katie is originally from the St. Louis area. She studied at DuFrenne Dance Academy and later at the Center of Creative Arts. She also attended the Perry-Mansfield Summer Intensive in Steamboat Springs, CO. Her primary training has been in ballet, pointe, jazz, and modern. During her time at COCA, she was a member of the Ballet Eclectica student company for eight years.

Chrissy Clair (Wallen) began her dance journey at Ballet Arts Center in Farmington, MO, under the guidance of Kimberly Gavin Anderson. From a young age, she discovered a deep passion for dance, ultimately choosing to pursue it as a career. After graduating high school, Chrissy continued her studies at Webster University’s Department of Dance, earning a BFA in Dance with an emphasis in ballet and departmental honors in 2020. Choosing to stay in the area, she has danced professionally, choreographed, and taught all in St. Louis and continues to be an active member of the thriving art community in this city. She has spent the last five summers at the Space Station Residency, performing works by artistic director Jacob Henss, Josiah Gunderson, Nicole Kennett, and Paige VanNest. In February 2023, Chrissy performed in Emily Duggins Ehling’s independent show “…and everything stays the same…,” with a duet from the show, “please hold me,” became a separate work, touring at various festivals alongside her best friend, Abbi LeBaube.Chrissy is also a dedicated member of RESILIENCE Dance Company, where she is in her fourth year as a company member and serves as the costume curator/designer. With the company, she has performed in multiple evening-length works by artistic director Emily Haussler and guest choreographers such as: Victoria Awkward, Annie Rigney, Kia Smith, Mike Esperanza, Persi Mae, Rosanna Taverez, Vim Viggor, Xi Zhao. Chrissy’s costume design work has been featured in seven RDC shows. Most recently, she choreographed and premiered “just turn me on” for RDC’s Collective Realities in February. Chrissy’s passion extends into teaching. In her fifth year of teaching, she works at her home studio, Ballet Arts Center, and Dimensions Dance Center, shaping the next generation of dancers!

Alison Zagarri is a graduate of Lindenwood University with degrees in dance and physical education (2004) and a masters of business administration (2006).

She is a native of St. Louis and began dancing at the age of 5 studying ballet, tap, and jazz, and in college focused on ballet and modern.

Alison’s teaching experience includes ballet and jazz classes for ages 3 to 8 at the YMCA, and adult beginning jazz through Lindenwood University. Alison has also developed choreography for local dance teams and youth groups and has contributed several pieces to the Lindenwood University dance concerts. In addition to teaching ballet and jazz, Alison is the children’s rehearsal director for DDC’s annual production of the Nutcracker.

Megan was born and raised in the St. Louis area and began dancing at a local studio at the age of 3. She studied Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Modern, Lyrical, Contemporary, and Hip Hop while performing competitively with her studio. She also performed with the nationally rankled Seckman High School Dance team for four years. Megan has been teaching for 6 years and has choreographed for middle school dance and cheer teams. In May of 2019, she graduated from Webster University with a BFA in Dance with an emphasis in Modern Dance. During her time at Webster, Megan studied under Maggi Dueker, Alicia Graf Mack, Monica Newsam, Beckah Reed, James Robey, Michael Uthoff, and Xi Zhao. She also had the opportunity to perform works by Jan Cosby, Maggi Dueker, Eve Mason, Monica Newsam, James Robey, Cleo Parker Robinson, Heather Sultz, and Xi Zhao. Additionally, Megan has trained with Newsam Aerial Dance’s “Aerial Dance for Dancers” Workshop and Backhausdance Company’s Summer Intensive in Orange, CA. Megan was a Newsam Aerial Dance company member from 2019-2022 and performed with the company around St. Louis. 

Annie Morgan started dancing at the age of 3 at Dimensions Dance Center under the direction of Sandra Morgan. At Dimensions she performed, choreographed, and trained in styles such as ballet, jazz, tap, hip hop, and contemporary. From 2016 onwards, she also began choreographing for DDC's annual benefit concert and continued to participate in the production of the show through college. Wanting to continue her dance education through college Annie decided to attend the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign as a dance major. During her time with Dance at Illinois, she performed in works by Endalyn Taylor, Abby Williams Chin, Kayt McMaster, Sarah Mininsohn, Anna Peretz-Rogovoy, and fellow undergraduate students. Annie was awarded the Lydia E. Parker Bates and Dance Talented Student scholarships from Dance at Illinois as well as the Graham Civic Leadership Award from the Department of Political Science. Outside of dance, Annie is interested in the field of counterterrorism and helping others which encouraged her to pursue a secondary degree in Political Science. In April 2023, Annie presented her BA Thesis titled “Dance and Conflict: The Impact of World War II on Dance in the United States.” which combined both of her fields of study. In May of 2023, she graduated from UIUC with BAs in Dance and Political Science, and a minor in Psychology. After graduation, Annie returned to the St. Louis area and has continued to work as a choreographer, teacher, and assistant administrator at Dimensions. She hopes to continue her education in the future and stay connected to the DDC community.