Meet Our Instructors
LuLu Homer
Instructor
LuLu Homer is an Instructor at YACB Academy of Dance. From the age of three, dance became an important part of her life, thanks to a mother determined to help her energetic and clumsy child discover a little grace. What began as a practical solution soon grew into a lifelong passion for movement, rhythm, and the magic that happens when music and motion come together.
Miss LuLu has trained in ballet, tap, jazz, and gymnastics throughout her youth in Kansas City, Missouri. As a young adult, she spent 15 years teaching tap, jazz, and gymnastics at a local studio before relocating to the Pacific Northwest, where she discovered clogging and immediately fell in love with its energy, precision, and vibrant rhythm.
Over the next decade, she devoted herself to studying and teaching the art of clogging, and today continues to share her love of dance by teaching clogging, tap, jazz, and contemporary. LuLu believes dance is about far more than learning steps. It is a place where joy, creativity, and personal growth flourish. In every class, she strives to create a welcoming environment where students build confidence, develop resilience, practice kindness, and discover the value of hard work and perseverance. Her greatest hope is that every dancer leaves the studio with not only stronger technique, but also the confidence and life skills to pursue their dreams both on and off the dance floor.
Jamie Halverson
Instructor
Jamie was born and raised in St. Paul, Minnesota. At age 9, her mother insisted she take one year of piano. That did not suit this squirmy kid. At age 10, she was enrolled in tap class at Kay Koch’s School of Dancing. Within three years, she joined ballet class at renowned Andahazy Ballet in St. Paul. At age of 15, she was dancing on pointe and invited to the company. During her second year of college while attending the University of Wisconsin, Madison, she took ballet class as an extracurricular.
At age 7, her daughter, Cassandra, wanted to join a ballet class. They enrolled at Van Dyke & Company in Punxsutawney, PA, eventually joining the company. They took every class together for the next ten years! Upon moving to Phoenix, they continued dance learning the English version (Royal Academy of Dance). Then after a move to Oro Valley, continued with ballet at a dance studio on north Oracle Road.
Jamie has studied both classical ballet (Russian, Italian and English) and contemporary (modern and jazz).
At YACB, Jamie is enrolled in ballet, jazz, and clogging and takes tap class through GVR. She also belongs to the GVR Line Dancing Club.
Jamie is a firm believer that dance saved her life. Through dance, she learned self-control, discipline, the value of hard work, the importance of the performing arts and the love of movement to music.
She encourages any parent who may want to join the journey that it’s well worth it for health and fitness and helps develop strong bonds. And it’s fun!
Jamie is married, lives in Green Valley and enjoys reading, spending time with friends, walking her dog, Alfie, and being outdoors.
Nicholas McLain
Academy Director & Instructor
Nicholas McLain is the Academy Director and Owner of YACB Academy of Dance. With more than 35 years of experience as a dancer, educator, choreographer, director, and arts advocate, he is passionate about inspiring dancers of every age to grow in confidence, creativity, and artistry.
Mr. Nick earned a dance scholarship to the University of Arizona and later received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance. He has trained with Lisa Baker DiGiacomo, Lil Liandre, Richard France, Richard Holden, Susan and Michael Williams, Elizabeth Berg, and renowned Russian ballet star George Zoritch. Committed to lifelong learning, he continues to study with master teachers, bringing fresh inspiration and expertise to every class.
More than teaching dance steps, Mr. Nick believes in helping students discover who they are. His classes foster creativity, confidence, discipline, and lasting friendships in a supportive environment where every dancer is encouraged to reach their full potential.
Proud to carry forward YACB's nearly five-decade tradition of excellence, Mr. Nick is dedicated to helping every student dance, grow, and belong.
Tina Ambrose
Instructor
Tina Ambrose has been dancing since the age of five and is trained in ballet, tap, modern, and jazz. While she enjoys exploring many styles of dance, ballet has always been her greatest passion and primary area of focus.
She currently continues her ballet training at Sonoran Ballet Academy, where she enjoys developing her artistry, technique, and love for performance. In addition to her dance background, Tina holds a bachelor’s degree for the University of Arizona in Business.
She is excited to share her enthusiasm for dance with her students and hopes to create a positive environment where every dancer can grow in confidence and technique.
Dinah Shumway
Instructor Bio coming soon!
Luciana Bojorquez
Teacher Apprentice
Miss Luci is entering her third year as a Teacher Apprentice at YACB Academy of Dance and is passionate about sharing her love of dance with the next generation of dancers. She has trained for 12 years in ballet, jazz, pointe, tap, and hip hop, and enjoys helping young students build confidence while discovering the joy of movement.
Luci is a student at Sahuarita High School and a proud member of the award-winning Jockeys Dance Team, known for its multiple State Championship titles. Her experience in both competitive dance and large-scale productions brings valuable knowledge, teamwork, and performance skills to the studio.
Fun Fact: Dance runs in Miss Luci's family! She is a third-generation YACB dancer, following in the footsteps of her aunts and her mother, and now she and her sister proudly continue the YACB tradition.
Kind, enthusiastic, and encouraging, Miss Luci loves inspiring young dancers to work hard, dream big, and discover the confidence that comes from being part of the YACB family.