Meet The Creative Forces
The builders and dreamers.
At Legacy Performing Arts Academy, our strength lies in the incredible individuals who bring their passion and expertise to every class. Each team member has been thoughtfully selected for their dedication and their ability to inspire. Our instructors create an environment where creativity flourishes and confidence grows. Their enthusiasm, commitment, and love for the shape every lesson, helping students discover their potential and develop lifelong skills.
Join us in celebrating the people who make LPAA more than just an academy—it’s a community where passion meets purpose.
Director
Lianne Ames
435-823-3913
Behind the Scenes with Lianne
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Lianne holds a BFA in Music Dance Theater from BYU and has spent her career shaping young performers through Legacy Performing Arts Academy, which she founded in 2009. She directs ballet and musical productions, leads choirs and folk bands, and has portrayed Mary in Lamb of God. As founder of The American Legacy folk dance troupe, she preserves early American dance traditions, sharing them internationally. A former BYU Young Ambassador, she has played leading roles, choreographed award-winning performances, and remains committed to cultural heritage through the arts.
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Billing/Teen Resilience
Doni Arnold
435-724-4589
Behind the Scenes with Doni
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Doni is a proud mom of five amazing kids, a loving grandma to two, and a devoted dog mom to one. She’s also lucky to share life with a pretty incredible husband. As a certified ICF life coach, she has found immense joy in helping people journey through their personal growth, resilience, and emotional well-being. One of her greatest passions is guiding others in building strong, healthy relationships, offering tools and insight to foster deeper connections. Whether through teaching, advocacy, or life coaching, she’s dedicated to empowering individuals with the confidence and knowledge to create meaningful and fulfilling relationships
Communication/Scheduling/Pre-K
Emily Stapp
920-850-0997
Behind the Scenes with Emily
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Emily Stapp was born in Alaska and raised on the Wasatch Front. She earned her Associates from BYU-Idaho and after serving a church mission in Portugal she earned her BS in Dental Hygiene from Weber State University. She married Zak Stapp and moved to Wisconsin for 6 years then to Texas for 3 and then spent 1.5 years living in a camper while they built their own home in Lapoint, Utah. During all those moves, they had fabulous 6 children with baby #7 on the way. Emily has homeschooled her kids for 7 years and taught in-home preschool for 3. She enjoys guiding kids to knowledge and to inspire them to shine. She also enjoys raising baby farm animals, gardening, going on bike rides, and going boating with her family.
Set Building
Tyson Schmitt
@gmail.com
Phone: By Request
Behind the Scenes with Tyson
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Tyson Bio
Art Literature
Katie Dotson
Phone: By Request
Behind the Scenes with Katie
​Katie Dotson was raised in Panguitch, where she grew up playing in and exploring the mountains, red rock, and forests. This gave her a lifelong love for nature. Raised in a home full of creativity and music, Katie developed a deep love for all things artistic from an early age.
After high school, she earned a degree in floral design and has since happily dabbled in many creative and crafty pursuits. She is the wife of an amazing husband, mom to three awesome kids, lifelong book lover, music enthusiast, and passionate homeschool mom since 2014. Katie treasures the opportunity to learn and grow alongside her children and feels deeply grateful to call Roosevelt home for the past 13 years. A little paint, a good story, good music, and a bit of nature-inspired wonder are some of her favorite things.
Creative Writing
Cindy Miles
Phone: By Request
Behind the Scenes with Cindy
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Cindy was born and raised in Idaho and spent many years in Alaska before earning her Recreation Management and Youth Leadership degree from BYU. A certified cosmetologist and lifelong learner, she has spent the last decade focused on personal development, mind‑management, and mentoring, driven by her desire to help people feel beautiful inside and out.
She served a mission in Washington D.C. and now teaches life skills at the Thompsen House of Hope, empowering individuals to grow with confidence and clarity. Cindy is married to the love of her life and is the proud mother of one son and two beautiful daughters.
Health & Fitness
Amanda Winterton
Phone: By Request
Behind the Scenes with Amanda
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Amanda is a proud mom of three who has been part of the Uintah Basin community for about 16 years. She’s spent much of that time sharing her love of fitness, teaching classes at Utah State University, the Vernal recreation center, and FarmFit in Roosevelt. She enjoys coaching people of all ages and fitness levels, finding joy in helping them reach their health goals. For Amanda, fitness isn’t just about exercise, it’s about building confidence, strength, and a sense of accomplishment.
