Southern Arizona Spirit Squad STAFF Bios

Studio Owner

Maya Alexander is the Co-Owner and Co-Founder of Southern Arizona Spirit Squad, where she is passionate about creating a positive environment that inspires dancers to grow both on and off the dance floor. 

Maya began dancing in Tucson at the age of four and has trained extensively in a variety of dance styles throughout her career. She was a four-year member and captain of the Marana High School Dance Team before continuing her dance career at Northern Arizona University, where she danced for two years on the NAU dance team and earned a USA Hip Hop National Championship.

In addition to SASS, Maya serves as the Head Coach of the Marana High School Dance Team, where she has led the program to multiple Top 5 finishes at UDA Nationals, including earning the program’s first-ever National Championship in Hip Hop in 2025.

Maya is committed to helping dancers build confidence, develop strong technique, and discover their love for performing. Whether working with beginners or advanced athletes, she strives to create an encouraging environment where every dancer feels supported, challenged, and empowered to achieve their goals.

Brianna Jensen grew up dancing in Tucson and has been teaching dance for the past 10 years. She was on the pomline at Catalina Foothills High School for all 4 years and was selected as captain for her junior and senior year. She then came back to coach for 1 year while attending the University of Arizona. Brianna spent 4 years on the Arizona Pomline and was selected to be one of the Drum Majors for the Pride of Arizona Marching Band her senior year. After graduating Brianna became the Arizona Pomline Gameday Coach for 1 season and then continued to work with the Pride of Arizona Marching Band on Visual Staff for another 4 years.

Brianna is a preschool teacher who will be going into her 8th year as a public-school educator. She also loves to teach line dances and is a Certified Barre Instructor.

Brianna is excited to begin her fourth season coaching at SASS. She looks forward to continuing to help dancers achieve their goals and make their future teams!

Dance has been part of Ali’s life for as long as she can remember. She began dancing at just four years old, inspired by her mom and grandfather, and has been in love with dance ever since.

Ali studied dance at the University of Arizona with a double emphasis in Ballet and Jazz and was fortunate to train with Mikhail Baryshnikov. Her professional career took her to Los Angeles, where she performed in music videos, television, commercials, films, stage productions, and award shows.

While she loved performing, her greatest passion has always been teaching. Ali believes dance is about so much more than technique—it’s about building confidence, resilience, artistry, and a love for movement that lasts a lifetime. She strives to create a positive, encouraging environment where every dancer feels challenged, supported, and inspired to become the very best version of themselves.

Amie Marino is currently a professional dancer with the Tucson Sugar Skulls Dance Team (IFL). A Tucson native, proud mom, and former captain of Rincon/University High School’s Danceline, she earned her BFA in Dance from the University of Arizona, graduating summa cum laude and receiving the Outstanding Senior award in both the Dance and Fine Arts departments. She went on to dance professionally in Los Angeles for six seasons with Backhausdance, performing works by internationally acclaimed choreographers at prestigious venues, including New York City’s Joyce Theater. Amie is passionate about helping dancers elevate their technique, performance quality, and confidence, and can’t wait to share her knowledge and love of dance with the next generation!

Originally from Chester, Virginia, I recently relocated to Arizona to continue pursuing my passion for dance. I began my dance training at Encore Dance Studio, where I trained from ages 10–18. I continued my dance education at Thomas Dale High School’s Performing Arts Program and was a member of the school’s dance team for two years. From 2020–2023, I performed with the Virginia Commonwealth University Gold Rush Dance Team, further developing my skills in collegiate athletics and performance. I currently dance for the Tucson Sugar Skulls Dance Team (2025–Present), where I continue to grow as a performer while bringing energy, passion, and professionalism to every game day community event.

Emily has been dancing for 11 years and is entering her second season with SASS. Her passion for dance, positive attitude, and dedication make her a wonderful addition to our coaching staff.