MDC Faculty
Meghan Buddy
Ballet Instructor
Meghan Buddy began her training at the School of the Grand Rapids Ballet in Grand Rapids, MI. At 18, she moved to Portland, OR, to further her training at the School of Oregon Ballet Theatre. She has trained at State Street Ballet for the past two years, and has performed in productions such as: Carmina Burana, The Nutcracker, Don Quixote, An American Tango, and Cinderella. She will begin her first year as an apprentice this fall.
Pablo Gatica
Contemporary Instructor
Pablo Gatica started dancing at the age of 3 however, his technical training didn’t begin until the age of 10. His styles range from Tribal to Folklorico, Hip-Hop to Ballet and Contemporary to Jazz. He has trained with some of the best dance educators in the industry, including Jess Warfield, Dee Caspary, and Ade Obayomi. Pablo’s teaching career began at the age of 15 as the summer dance instructor for Performing and Visual Arts Camp, where he started his theater training at the age of six. As a freshman in high school, Pablo was one of the principal choreographers for Santa Barbara High Schools Dance Production. While in high school Pablo taught contemporary, jazz and hip hop at Zermeño Dance Academy. When Momentum Dance Company was founded in 2014, Pablo joined the Pro Company. In the summer of 2016, he competed in the Velocity Dance Convention nationals and placed in the top 10 for their Senior Male MVA division. He was offered a teaching position several years ago at MDC. In March of 2018 one of his biggest dreams became a reality when he signed with Go 2 Talent Agency. If there’s anything he hopes to teach his students, it is to always dream big, work hard, and have dedication for whatever they are doing in life.
Betsy Woyach
Owner/Director
A dancer, choreographer and master instructor for 17 years, Betsy Ann, is fulfilling her lifelong dream in creating Momentum Dance Company. She has been trained and competed nationally and internationally in the United States and Canada since the age of 11. She began her dance training in Milwaukee, WI and her competitive career in Oakville, Ontario.
Carly Visger
Contemporary, Jazz, Leaps & Turns Instructor
Carly Visger has been dancing since she was 8 years old. She trained for the majority of her youth at the competitive studio JDI Dance Company in Canyon Lake, CA. Carly was taught by professionals that focused strictly on technique and ballet. She placed first overall in elite solos and elite group routines countless times over the years. She attended Temescal Canyon High School and was part of their nationally ranked Varsity Dance Team for four years. During her junior and senior year, she was captain of the team and choreographed many dances as well as cleaned the competition routines. More recently she attended conventions and master classes taught by some of the biggest names in the dance world right now. Specifically she has been recognized by Mark Meismer, Brandon Bryant, Tessandra Chavez, Erica Klein, Nicole Kirkland and more. She has received awards several awards including Standout Dancer and AllStar Dancer at conventions. Carly has professionally choreographed a competition hip hop routine, company try outs, and more. She is currently a member of the UCSB Dance Team. Dance has been Carly's world for as long as she can remember and she is thrilled to be able to teach what she knows to Momentum's dancers.
Jaylyn Vaughan
Jazz & Ballet Instructor
Jaylyn Vaughan has been dancing since the age of 3 and competing since she was 10. She spent most of her youth dancing at Classical Dance Center in Tustin, California. She later moved on to her home studio, Avi’s Dance Project, as well as the accredited Yorba Linda Academy of Ballet.
At Avi’s Dance Project in Corona, California, she trained in all styles of dance as well as competed at several competitions and conventions. Jaylyn began assisting her teacher/studio owner Aviana Sanchez during her junior year of high school. She became a member of the ADP faculty the following year, teaching ballet, lyrical, jazz, and technique classes. Her second studio, the accredited Yorba Linda Academy of Ballet, became her main source of professional ballet and pointe training.
Jaylyn attended Villa Park High School and was a four year member of their Advanced Dance Company. During her senior year she was captain of the team and choreographed several performances. Jaylyn also participated in countless student choreographed dance concerts. Jaylyn was also recognized three times as a Varsity All American Top 10 Camp Dancer at the high school level USA Dance Camps.
Currently, Jaylyn is a proud member of the UCSB Dance Team. After placing second last year at her first USA Collegiate Nationals, she is looking forward to competing again. Jaylyn is already loving her time spent teaching and dancing alongside all the students, staff, and company members. From the bottom of her heart she thanks you all for welcoming her with such open arms.
Emily Smith
Manager & Substitute Teacher
Born in Russia, Natalia Emily Smith was raised in England, where she grew up at Stagecoach Theatre Arts, Oxford. Here she performed in a variety of musicals, such as: Sweeney Todd, Les Miserables, Billy Elliott and Hairspray. In 2013 she won a scholarship to The American Musical and Dramatic Academy, one of Los Angeles' premier performance colleges, where she studied for her BFA in Dance Theater. Graduating as a Honor Roll student in 2016, she continued per performing career with film and dance roles in LA, alongside teaching roles for various dance schools in LA and England. Emily was delighted to go to Malta in 2017, to work with Stagecoach in Malta, as it allowed her to continue her teaching as well as become absorbed into the theatre world in Malta. Emily hopes to continue teaching and performing wherever her career takes her and has a 'not very secret' ambition to enter the stunt performer world in California.