Kira is a passionate dancer and dedicated educator with over two decades of experience in the world of dance. Her journey began at Lompoc High School, where she discovered her love for dance during her sophomore year. Throughout her high school years, Kira excelled as a member of the Varsity Cheer and Advanced Dance Company, setting the stage for her future in the dance world. She continued her dance career at California Lutheran University, where she was a vital member of the Competitive Dance Team for all four years, serving as Captain during her junior and senior years. It was during this time that she honed her leadership skills, organizing and managing the student-led dance program. Kira’s dedication to dance led her to also participate in the university’s cheerleading team during her freshman and sophomore years before fully committing to the dance team. Over the past two decades, Kira has immersed herself in various dance styles, including ballet, contemporary, modern, and classical jazz, both as a student and as a teacher at various studios and colleges. In addition to her dance endeavors, Kira has made significant contributions to the cheerleading community as the Head Coach of Lompoc High School Cheer and the Founder of the Lompoc High School Pom team from 2014 to 2023. She also served as the Founder and Head Coach of the Lompoc Valley Middle School Cheer team from 2016 to 2019. Alongside her dance career, Kira has pursued her passion for education, earning a Master’s Degree in educational counseling, and has been serving her community as a school counselor in the Lompoc Valley for eight years. With her wealth of experience and unwavering dedication, Kira is now the proud owner of her dance studio, with her dance BFF no less, where they continue to inspire and nurture young dancers on their journeys.

Kendall has been dancing since the age of four, donning the stage with a classical ballet and tap background. Eventually leaping into Jazz, Lyrical, Hip Hop, and Contemporary as it became more popular, she found her passion for performing at Lompoc High School with the competitive cheer and dance team. She continued to pursue dance and cheer as a form of art, healing, and as a sport. When she was young, her Aunt Joni always dreamed with her, and encouraged her to one day she would open a dance studio. Alas, here she is living her dream with her best friend, and some of her most dedicated students turned colleagues and friends. Kendall currently is in her eleventh year of coaching LHS Cheer and Pom, and coached and choreographed three years of Lompoc Youth Allstars and Sideline Cheer. Together with Kira, the duo have multiple Grand Champion and first-place accolades from competitive arenas in both cheer and dance. Kendall’s main goals for your students in dance class are focusing on musicality, technique, and storytelling. With a bachelor's degree in Child Development and Psychology and a Master’s Degree in Teaching, Kendall wants to teach the child's brain to develop skills appropriately, making it a fun and safe environment for self-expression and creativity. Building foundational skills that can transfer to all areas of art, cheer, and dance, Kendall will help instill these in all students at the studio. 

Delanie's dance journey began with ballet, tap, flamenco, and salsa, evolving to include merengue, bachata, lyrical, hip-hop, contemporary, and jazz. Her love for dance is matched only by her dedication as a choreographer, having crafted captivating routines for Lompoc High School Cheer and Pom, as well as the Santa Barbara High School Dance Team. Delanie has been both a student and a teacher at various esteemed studios, enriching her perspective on dance education. Her coaching extended to Lompoc YFL Cheer during their competitive seasons and coaching youth gymnastics at Santa Barbara My Gym, showcasing her commitment to fostering talent in diverse settings. Delanie's flair for choreography also extends to musical theatre, complementing her extensive performance background in theatre arts. Having held many leadership roles in a variety of groups and teams, she has learned what it takes to be a leader and how to effectively guide both groups and individuals to success. Delanie cherishes the relationships, memories, and invaluable lessons dance has brought into her life. She considers herself incredibly fortunate to be able to share her passion for dance with aspiring dancers in Lompoc, nurturing their growth and love for this art. Currently working on her Bachelor's degree at UCSB, Delanie is so glad to be contributing to the arts of her hometown by making her childhood dream come true as a dance teacher.

Brooklynn started her dance career at the age of six moving through classical ballet, tap and jazz until she was fourteen. During high school, she gained interest in the Lompoc High School Cheer and Pom program coached by none other than Kendall Lopez and Kira Gonzalez themselves. She learned to expand her passion for dance by introducing lyrical, hip hop, and competitive cheer and pom routines. She advanced quickly and captained the varsity cheer and pom team through her senior year. Dance is her passion and although she thought teaching dance wasn’t in her future, the opportunity arose and she jumped to the occasion. Brooklynn worked with Kendall Lopez and Delanie Valencia during her two years coaching Lompoc YFL All stars cheer program. Brooklynn has coached children between the ages of 5-18 and she enjoys connecting with her students by creating a bond that continues further than just dance. She got several first place awards as well as two grand champion wins during her three years in Lompoc High Cheer. She is currently working to get her Bachelor’s in Psychology, and child development from either UCSB or Cal Poly. This schooling would further help her teach your children in all learning styles. Brooklynn is also currently coaching LVMS cheer!

Katelynn Sotello is a passionate dance and cheer instructor at Velvet Movement Dance and Cheer Academy. She began her journey in dance at the age of 3, exploring ballet and tap, before discovering gymnastics at 4 and cheerleading at 5. Katelynn cheered throughout her entire academic career, from 1st to 12th grade, under the direction of Kira and Kendall in high school. After graduation, Katelynn returned as an assistant coach for the LHS cheer and dance team, furthering her coaching experience. Katelynn went on to earn her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Fresno State University and started a career with UCSB as a college advisor at LHS. However, her love for cheer and dance, especially within the Lompoc community, led her to return to her true passion. She has since worked with YFL cheer, LVMS cheer, and LHS cheer and dance teams, gaining a wealth of experience along the way. Although dance holds a special place in her heart, Katelynn’s true specialty lies in cheerleading. She thrives on the cheer mat, where she feels her strongest and most effective. Katelynn is excited to join the Velvet Movement team and looks forward to mentoring both new and experienced dancers and cheerleaders. With a deep connection to her hometown, Katelynn is eager to help foster the next generation of cheerleaders and dancers, sharing her enthusiasm and expertise in this new chapter.

Maddie Francis discovered her love for cheer and dance during her freshman year of high school, when she joined the LHS Cheer and Pom team under the direction of Kendall and Kira. Over the next four years, Maddie’s dedication and skill led her to become an integral part of the varsity cheer team, while also dancing on the competitive pom team. Throughout her high school years, Maddie honed her abilities and developed a deep connection to cheer and dance. Maddie was a flexible cheerleader mastering both flight and basing, and pushed herself in the dance area winning multiple Grand Champions in Pom.  Graduating in the class of 2023, Maddie chose to pursue higher education at Allan Hancock College, where she is currently focused on advancing her career in the medical field. She currently is working with young children at a local daycare. Maddie’s passion for cheer and dance has remained a key part of her life. She is now an instructor at Velvet Movement Cheer and Dance Academy, where she has the opportunity to pass on her expertise, enthusiasm, and love for the sport to the next generation of aspiring dancers. Teaching allows Maddie to inspire others while continuing to grow her passion for movement and coaching. Maddie is specialized in all cheer dimensions of stunt and tumbling.

Mackenzie Francis is an inspiring instructor with a passion for building confidence through dance and cheerleading. A 2023 graduate of Lompoc High School, Mackenzie’s cheerleading journey began at LVMS under Coach Kira Gonzalez, where she quickly became team captain. Throughout her career, Mackenzie has been mentored by Kira and Coach Kendall, whose support shaped her growth as both an athlete and individual. "Kira and Kendall have been by my side through thick and thin, teaching me everything I know," Mackenzie reflects. At Lompoc High, Mackenzie started on the JV squad, was named captain, and advanced to Varsity, where she also served as captain. Her journey taught her the importance of teamwork, resilience, and leadership. Now, Mackenzie is excited to bring her expertise to Velvet Movement, co-teaching with Kira and Kendall. With skills as both a stunt master and flyer, she works with students of all levels, fostering a positive environment where they can thrive. Eager to continue learning and sharing her knowledge, Mackenzie looks forward to contributing to Velvet Movement’s growth.

Sophia Rivera is currently a senior cheerleader/Pommie at Lompoc High School. Her love for gymnastics, cheer and dance started with gymnastics under direction of Lori McClain at Gymnastics North, and she would like to dedicate all her gymnastics experience and previous knowledge to her and her coaching. She competed for 8 years up to level 6, training 7, and eventually transitioned my passion to cheer and dance.  She's been a part of LHS Cheer for the last two years, and recently joined the Pom team for her senior year. She's taken dance technique classes from a young age, as well.  Sophia has  competed in Advanced Pom, Hip-Hop, and Traditional Show Cheer. As well, she's been coaching gymnastics, cheer, and dance for the past three years and she is so excited to bring my experience to Velvet!