About Desert Moon Dance Academy

Founder & Director

 Hailey Davidson is a dedicated dance artist and educator originally from Olympia, Washington, where her passion for movement began at the age of three. She trained extensively in ballet, jazz, tap, acrobatics, hip hop, contemporary, and modern, and spent her teenage years honing her craft at a prestigious ballet studio.

Hailey earned her BFA in Dance from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where she was honored with the Outstanding Performer Award. As a member of the UNLV dance company, she had the opportunity to perform internationally in Seoul, South Korea (twice), Kiel, Germany, and Copenhagen, Denmark—experiences that broadened her artistic perspective.

Alongside her degree, Hailey became a certified Pilates instructor through Pilates by Dolly, a discipline that has deeply informed her understanding of technique, alignment, and injury prevention.

Following graduation, Hailey moved to Chicago to pursue a professional dance career, joining Inaside Chicago Dance. Over five seasons with the company, she grew not only as a performer but also as a leader, eventually serving as Rehearsal Director.

Hailey now resides in Bullhead City, Arizona, where she is honored to bring a fresh and intentional approach to dance training within her community. Through her work, she is committed to developing strong, technically grounded dancers while encouraging individuality, artistry, and a genuine connection to movement.

In addition to teaching, Hailey is in her fifth season as a judge for BravO! National Dance and Talent Competition. She loves having an impact on dancers’ journeys and training across the country, and values the opportunity to share the knowledge and expertise she has gained throughout her career.

Dance continues to be a guiding force in Hailey's life, and Desert Moon Dance Academy reflects her vision of what dance training should be: intentional, empowering, and rooted in both technique and artistry.

Instructor

 Payton is passionate about helping young dancers build confidence, develop their artistry, and grow both in and out of the studio. She strives to create a supportive, positive, and inspiring environment where every dancer feels encouraged to reach their full potential.

Payton began her dance journey at the age of five and started competing at the age of nine. She has trained extensively in ballet, tap, jazz, musical theatre, and pointe.

Her love for teaching began early when she started assisting classes at just 12 years old. By age 15, she was instructing recreational dance classes and sharing her passion for dance with the next generation of performers.

Throughout her training, Payton has earned numerous scholarships from prestigious dance conventions, including NYCDA. In 2025, she was accepted into both the Joffrey Ballet School Summer Intensive and the UNLV Dance Intensive, further expanding her training and artistic development.

Payton is excited to continue inspiring young dancers and helping them discover confidence, creativity, and a lifelong love of dance.