Varsity Spirit - Dance Leadership Summit

If your team attends UDA camp or competitions, please register below using the UDA registration link. If your team attends NDA camp or competitions, please register below using the NDA registration link. Upon clicking one of the links below, you’ll have the option to register as a group or individual.

Be sure to read all details regarding what information to fill in so that we have the correct athletes name listed on the registration. After registering as an individual and processing payment, the system will take you back to the log in page. It will take up to 2 business days for you to receive a confirmation email for payment and registration. Please do not submit multiple times to avoid duplicate registration and payments!

For more information, please contact Hannah Keathley for UDA, hkeathley@varsity.com. For NDA, contact Lizzy Howard at lhoward@varsity.com.

Pricing: $150 per participant

UDA Registration

NDA Registration

CLICK HERE for a tentative schedule of the upcoming Varsity Spirit – Dance Leadership Summit.

*Note: all times listed are in EST

Tara Yantis, based in Kansas City

Tara has been involved in dance education for nearly 25 years serving as a coach, choreographer, consultant, leadership program creator, advocate and adjudicator.

She is passionate about championing the Spirit industry as well as helping coaches and student athletes cultivate the teams they’ve always dreamed of.

Tara is in her 14th season as the Head Coach and Creative Director of the 8x National Champion and State Finalist Saint Thomas Aquinas Spirits Dance Program. She is also co-founder and Executive Director, Operations of the Kansas State Dance Team Coaches Association, is co-chair of the Spirit Advisory Committee to the Kansas State High School Activities Association and was influential in the state deciding to create its first-ever State Championship for dance in 2020.

Sarah Garcia, Sam Houston State University

Sarah Garcia is in her 12th season as the Dance Coach at Sam Houston State University. Sarah is originally from Killeen, Tx where she trained and competed for 12 years. In 2010, Sarah led the Orange Pride Dance Team to a National title for the first time in 5 years. Over the next 11 years, the Orange Pride dance team has brought home 11 titles including Double National Championship titles in D1 Jazz and D1 Team Performance for the first time in University history in 2019, 2021 and most recently 2023.

Sarah was as a Senior Coach and Choreographer at the Dancin Bluebonnets Dance Studio, ranking amongst the top 3 in multiple divisions bringing home Bronze, Silver and Gold placement and the title of World Champions in 2018, 2021 and 2022! Sarah graduated in 2020 with her Masters degree at Sam Houston State University in Instructional Leadership with emphasis in Dance. She is currently pursuing her second Masters Degree in Sports Psychology.

Kelly Olsen-Leon, Hofstra University

Kelly Olsen-Leon is entering her 20th season as the coach of the Hofstra University Dance Team in which she has coached the team to 10 National Championship Titles, 1 Pan-American Champion Title and 2 ICU World Champion Titles. In addition to coaching, Kelly is a math teacher and proud dance mom to her 11 year old daughter, Kai.

Kelly is the former Varsity Kickline coach at West Islip High School, former Owner and Director of Gravity Dance All-Stars, former Head Coach of the nationally ranked Bellport High School Dance Team, former Captain and four-year member of the nationally ranked Hofstra University Dance Team, former Universal Dance Association Head Instructor, former Head Coach of the New York Cosmos Girls, as well as a judge for state, regional and national competitions. Kelly has been a choreographer and consultant for high school and college dance teams and dance studios. She is very excited to be a part of the Varsity Spirit – Dance Leadership Summit!

Marina LoRe, Hofstra University

Marina LoRe is entering her fifth year on the Hofstra Dance Team and her second year as a Captain. She was a part of the US Nationals Team this past season, taking home the Gold Medal in Pom at the 2023 ICU World Championships. She was chosen as the National Team “Eagle Award” recipient for her leadership qualities throughout the preparation process.

In her time at Hofstra, she has been a part of 3 UDA D1 National Championships and has received “Best New Addition,” “Most Dedicated,” “Most Valuable Player” and “The Torch Award” from her coaches.

Marina is a third year member of the UDA Staff, working with hundreds of teams across the country. She is also a part of the UDA Content Crew, capturing some of the most special moments of UDA year round!