High Pointe Dance Staff
McKenzi Walker
McKenzi is the owner and director of High Pointe Performing Arts, bringing over 20 years of experience in dance education and choreography.
Known for her upbeat yet structured teaching style, McKenzi creates a positive and disciplined environment where dancers are challenged to grow in both technique and performance quality. Her goal is to develop confident, well-rounded dancers who carry strong work ethic and character both in and out of the studio.
She trained under the direction of Audra Lee and Amanda Craven, and had the opportunity at a young age to study with Gregory Hines—an experience that deeply influenced her passion and career path.
McKenzi’s training includes tap, jazz, pom, musical theater, tumbling, and cheer, with a specialization in tap, musical theater, and pom choreography. Her routines have received numerous overall and choreography awards, recognized for their energy and entertainment value.
Above all, McKenzi is passionate about mentoring the next generation of dancers, inspiring them to challenge themselves, grow with confidence, and develop into strong individuals both on and off the stage.
Rebecca Mala
Mrs.Rebecca is a ballet Instructor and choreographer with 20 years experience working with all ages of dancers to help them understand and appreciate the fine art of classical ballet while helping each dancer maximize their potential to be versatile and intelligent students and performers. She has a BFA in Ballet Performance with extensive experience in performing, teaching and choreographing. Mrs. Rebecca uses this experience to build a strong foundation of ballet through constant guidance, motivation and inspiration.
Originally from Little Rock, she performed numerous roles with Ballet Arkansas and attended numerous Regional Dance America workshops with the company. She has also performed professionally with Tulsa Ballet Theatre, Oklahoma Festival Ballet and Los Angeles Contemporary Ballet. She also performed as a dancer in commercials and film while living in Los Angeles.
In addition to performing, Mrs. Rebecca has been the Children’s Ballet Mistress for the Royal Winnipeg Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker at The Walton Arts Center and looks forward to continuing with this organization when they return to Fayetteville. She was also the Ballet Director for Revolution Dance Center In LA. She helped implement and organize a structured, leveled ballet program for the studio’s 1,200 dancers. In addition to helping this program grow and thrive, she choreographed numerous pieces for their competitive dance groups and their ballet company, Revolution Ballet Theatre. Her students have gone on to perform professionally in tv and film and have also received scholarships to various dance programs such as School of American Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, Hubbard Street Dance, ABT, and many college and university dance programs. Most recently, Rebecca was the Ballet Director for The Movement Dance Studio where she worked with local dancers to train and prepare them for the stage and auditions by strengthening their technique and increasing their love of the art of ballet.
Mrs. Rebecca is very excited to work with the dancers at High Pointe and help them grow as technicians and performers!
Arissa Sanders
Arissa Sanders is the founder of High Pointe Performing Arts Studio! She started teaching as a sophomore in high school and gained a huge passion for working with dancers. Arissa is a graduate of Bentonville High School and has a degree in Exercise Science. She was Miss Arkansas Valley in 2008 and went on to compete for Miss Arkansas. Arissa was selected as a VIP for Dance Olympus and toured nationally with them working with amazing instructors including, Sarah Jo Fazio, Sam Fiorello, and Ian Klein. She was also selected for Junior and Senior dancer of the year throughout her competition years. Arissa had the pleasure of working with the great Ms. Peggie Wallis where she grew a love for ballet. Arissa went on to dance with the Tulsa Ballet Company and performed in their world premier of the newly choreographed, Nutcracker and in the North Carolina Dance Theatre version of Snow White, as the Blue Bird. Arissa was a UDA (Universal Dance Association) Staff member and had the wonderful opportunity to work with multiple dance teams and amazing instructors from all over the country. Arissa has won numerous choreography awards and her students have won technique awards and top overall placements at competitions. She enjoys choreographing for local dance teams and continuing her dance training at multiple conventions throughout the year.
Annastyn Henderson
Annastyn Henderson brings extensive competitive, convention, collegiate, and coaching experience to High Pointe. She began dancing at age six and entered the competitive dance world at age ten. From ages 12–18, she was a member of the Tremaine Performance Company, traveling nationwide while continuing to train and compete with her home studio.
Throughout her competitive career, Annastyn earned numerous national titles, including wins at Stage One, KAR, and Talent On Parade. She also trained under Emily Shock in Tulsa and spent two years with MuseEffect Dance Company in Los Angeles. She finished her senior year by winning Stage One Nationals and being named the overall high school dance team soloist in her region.
Following high school, Annastyn danced for the University of Arkansas Razorback Dance Team for four years. During that time, she co-choreographed the team’s home routine that earned fourth place at UDA College Nationals. After graduation, she served as an assistant coach for the Razorback Dance Team before stepping into the role of Head Coach for the Arkansas Pom Squad, leading the team through two athletic seasons and tryouts.
Jocie Cyrenne
We are beyond thrilled to have Jocie Cyrenne as our office manager. Jocie is a mom of 4 and can do all the things! Organize/plan/sew/order/figure-out-anything, she can do it all! She helps keep High Pointe running smoothly! She will be the first face you see when you walk in to HPPAS so make sure to say hi! We are so thankful for Ms. Jocie!
Myra Owens
Jennifer Woodside
Jennifer Woodside brings more than 20 years of dance education, choreography, and program leadership experience to High Pointe. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Dance Management from Oklahoma City University, where she graduated cum laude with training in ballet, tap, jazz, arts administration, marketing, and accounting.
Throughout her career, Jennifer has taught ballet, tap, jazz, ballroom, creative movement, and musical theatre dance in both private and group settings. She has also choreographed recital and theatre productions and managed large student programs. Jennifer believes dance training should be both technically strong and genuinely enjoyable, and she is known for bringing warmth, humor, and encouragement into the classroom.
Charlotte Cyrenne
Charlotte Cyrenne moved to Bentonville the summer before her freshman year. She then began training at High Pointe and joined the Bentonville dance team. Post graduation, she made the Razorback dance team and is now going into her third year dancing with for the Hogs. She enjoys cheering at games and competing annually at UDA College Nationals. A talented and growing choreographer, her choreography has won numerous choreography awards at many conventions and competitions. We love having former HPPAS dancers on our staff!
Jemma Pecchia
Jemma Pecchia brings nearly two decades of dance training and extensive leadership experience to High Pointe. She trained in a pre-professional, competitive environment with a strong foundation in Vaganova Ballet, Jazz, Contemporary, Musical Theatre, Tap, Lyrical, Pom, and Hip Hop. Her technical training is paired with a passion for developing confident, disciplined, and well-rounded dancers.
Jemma has experience teaching both recreational and competitive dancers and is known for creating a positive, high-expectations environment where dancers feel supported and challenged. Most recently, she was a member of the Shockwave Collegiate Dance Team at Tulane University, where she served as Captain and Assistant Coach. In these roles, she led practices, mentored dancers, assisted with choreography, and helped guide the team through national-level competition experiences. She is deeply committed to helping dancers grow in technique, musicality, and confidence while fostering a genuine love of dance.
Lillie Porter
A seasoned and accomplished competition dancer, Lillie comes to High Pointe with a strong technical background developed under the direction of Tiffany Blansit at Tiffany’s Performing Arts Studio in Springfield, Missouri.
Lillie is best known for her excellence in contemporary movement and her ability to help dancers explore new styles, take creative risks, and step outside their comfort zones. She looks forward to challenging and inspiring High Pointe dancers while helping them grow in confidence, artistry, and performance quality.
Kamdyn Rothrock
Kamdyn Rothrock is a versatile dancer, teacher, and choreographer with training in ballet, jazz, hip-hop, lyrical, contemporary, modern, tap, ballroom, pointe, and heels. She has experience teaching dancers ages 6–16 and is passionate about helping students grow in technique, confidence, creativity, and performance quality.
Kamdyn has trained with The Dance Force, Turning Pointe Dance Center, Kaleidoscope Dance Academy, and the Joffrey Dallas Summer Intensive. Her performance experience includes Revive City Crew, Adrenaline City Crew, the Masquerade Parade of Stars, and assisting with Prestige Dance National Tour. She has also earned numerous scholarships, titles, convention honors, and improv awards.
In addition to teaching and choreographing, Kamdyn has experience working with dancers of all abilities, including students with special needs. She is committed to creating a positive, encouraging classroom where every dancer feels supported, challenged, and inspired.
Rachel Hicks
Rachel Hicks brings more than 20 years of dance education experience in Northwest Arkansas to High Pointe. She is an American Ballet Theatre Certified Teacher who has successfully completed the ABT Teacher Training Intensive in Pre-Primary through Level 3 of the ABT National Training Curriculum.
Rachel is also certified in Progressing Ballet Technique and Progressing Contemporary Technique. While ballet has always been one of her greatest passions, she especially enjoys teaching PBT, pointe, dance team technique, turns and leaps, flexibility, and strength. She loves helping dancers build strong technical foundations while growing in confidence, control, and artistry.
Outside the studio, Rachel is a wife and mother of two. She enjoys spending time outdoors, bowling, shopping, traveling, and all things fall. Her faith is an important part of her life, and she is excited to share her experience and passion for dance with the students of High Pointe Performing Arts.
