Our Team
Artistic Director
Allyson Briley
Allyson “Ally” Briley is the daughter of BPAC founder, Heather Briley and has come back to BPAC from her time studying in New York City at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy to lead our dance company and carry on her mother’s legacy. Ally studied all forms of dance, acting, and singing at AMDA after her successfully decorated competitive career with the BPAC Company Team - winning awards such as Runner-Up for Miss Platinum and studying as an apprentice for the Platinum dance competition. She has studied under world-renowned dancers, such as Travis Wall, Denise Wall, Ray Leeper, Stacey Tookey, Mark Meismer, Dana Foglia, Jim Elliott, Janine Aloisi, Rebecca Arends, and Casey Colgan.
Studio Director
Ashlie Reed
Ashlie has taught dance for 17 years, being apart of the BPAC family for 11 years. She danced and cheered competitively as well as being a member of the MSSU dance team throughout college, where she earned her bachelors in Kinesiology and Business. Ashlie has choreographed for numerous local show choirs and dance teams over the years and has judged multiple dance competitions. She has trained under many professional dancers, such as Andye J, Candance Brown, Chonique Sneed, JaJa Vankoua, Jaquel Knight, Kassidy Bright, Laura Edwards, Lee Daniel, Marty Kudellca, and Robert Green.
Project Manager
Ashley Hefley
Ashley began dancing at the age of 3 and continued performing in a multitude of ways throughout her schooling - including Houston’s televised performance of The Nutcracker, Seussical the Musical, Beauty and the Beast, and Phantom of the Opera. After high school, she utilized her dance training in her study of Musical Theatre at Wichita State University. Ashley later went on to work as a performer at Walt Disney World in Orlando, FL, which lead to performing and dancing in stage shows for the Walt Disney Company at Hong Kong Disneyland and as part of the Grand Opening team of the Shanghai Disneyland Park. Ashley has been media trained through the Disney company, performing for celebrities, the creators of Frozen, and the CEO of the Walt Disney Company, Bob Iger. Beyond her time at Disney, Ashley is thrilled to bring her knowledge and experience to the dancers at BPAC and bring the core values of the successful Fortune 500 company started by Walt Disney to her hometown and future performers.
Administrative Manager
Karen Holt
Karen Holt has been working the BPAC front desk since 2018 but has been been involved with BPAC as a dance mom since its start. Her childhood was spent dancing and cheerleading. Karen has a degree in social work but eventually chose to go in a different direction. She splits her time between the studio and working as an elementary library aide. She has one daughter, Vivian, who is a senior this year at Joplin. Vivian is also a competitive dancer at BPAC. When Vivian is not at the studio, she is either doing theater or working. Karen loves being a part of BPAC. What she loves most is watching all the dancers grow up in the studio along with getting to spend more time with her daughter.
Instructor
Phyllis Richardson
Phyllis has been with Briley Performing Arts Company for close to a decade as their pointe and ballet expert.
Instructor
Melissa Holt-Nance
Melissa grew up doing shows at Joplin Little Theatre, and has extensive performing experience in high school (Webb City High School), college (Missouri Southern State University) and professionally (Silver Dollar City, Celebration City). In her adult life, Melissa has choreographed several area productions, most recently Funny Girl at Joplin Little Theatre, Seussical the Musical at Columbus High School, and She Loves Me at Labette County High School, for which she won a Jester Award for Outstanding Artistic Guest. She spends her days as the Director of Alumni and Donor Relations and adjunct professor of dance at Missouri Southern State University, and her evenings at the studio with her daughter Gabby or at the t-ball and soccer fields with her son Mateo.
Instructor
Gwyneth Sacry
“Hi, I’m Gwyneth! Dancing has been a huge part of my life since before I can remember. I’ve danced with studios since I was 4, where I was trained in ballet, jazz, and tap. I was a member of a dance team in high school and throughout college. In college, l earned the award of All-American dancer for NAIA schools. I then went on to coach a team in my college’s town, Lamoni, IA, where they took their jazz number to the studio’s first ever competition and were awarded first place! I’ve also been a part of show choirs, theater camps, and any other opportunity I had to dance! I don’t only love dance itself, but I love passing on my knowledge by teaching those that share my passion. I’m so thankful to the BPAC team for giving me the opportunity to teach and be a part of a wonderful dance family!”