Instructors
Kira Akmajian
Tap Instructor
Kira Akmajian has been dancing since she was 3. She has trained in ballet, jazz, contemporary, and even hip hop, folkloric, flamenco, and swing dance, but tap dance has always been her passion. She has had the opportunity to train with some amazing tappers through the NM Tap Fest and UNM tap program. She is an Albuquerque native, a graduate of UNM, and an elementary school teacher.
Ryan Blair
Ballet Instructor
Ryan started dancing at the age of twelve. His first time attending a dance class was at Rio Rancho Middle School, where he studied dance under Mrs. Christina Daly. From there, his passion was ignited and he was introduced to all kinds of dance styles. Ryan fell in love with ballet! Since then, Ryan has been dancing ballet and continues to love it more and more each and every day. His love for ballet has turned into a passion for teaching the artform. Ryan now teaches multiple ballet classes at Sparrow Dance Productions. He feels joy in seeing children flourish, love, and dance in his ballet classes. His long term goals are to gain enough knowledge about the art of ballet to pass on to his classes, and eventually graduate to teaching higher levels of ballet classes, and older students, at Sparrow Dance Productions.
Christina Daly
Chief Executive Officer
Founding Owner & Artistic Director
An Albuquerque native, Christina Daly began her training with Ballet Repertory Theatre before transitioning to the prestigious Virignia School of the Arts. Daly trained with VSA intensively on scholarship for two years, as well as with the schools at Kansas City Ballet and Ballet Pacifica. Upon her acceptance to SUNY Purchase College Conservatory of Dance, she graduated high school early to earn her BFA in Dance Performance. Accomplishments during her college career include: earning a Minor Degree in Asian Studies, training at Taipei National University of the Arts, premiering her first choreographic work in representation of SUNY Purchase at New York, NY's world renowned Dance Theatre Workshop, performing two featured roles for an original Dianne McIntyre work and graduating summa cum laude.
Following college, Daly launched her dance company, Sparrow Dance Productions, doing numerous productions througout New York. Since returning to New Mexico, Sparrow Dance Productions has performed at numerous locations throughout Rio Rancho, Santa Fe and the greater Albuquerque area. In the meantime, Daly has performed as a Senior Company member with Ballet Repertory Theatre and Festival Ballet Albuqeurque. Professional performance credits include dancing with BRT, as Carmen in Alex Ossadnik's ballet, Carmen, as well as the Sea Witch in The Little Mermaid, to name the highlights. Daly eagerly anticipates her tenth year with Rio Rancho Middle School and especially this upcoming season at her beloved Sparrow Dance Productions with her husband, James Smith, at her side.
Jules Sanchez Gamble
Jazz Instructor
Jules loves dance! Whether she is teaching Acro to the toddler age groups or Advanced Jazz to adults, she gives her whole heart to each of her students. Jules has an extensive dance teaching resume, including being a Master Teacher at Duke City Stars and Fusion Dance Academy, that continues to flourish throughout the Albuquerque and Rio Rancho community. She is thrilled to be a part of the Sparrow Dance Productions Family.
Riley Swinney
Hip Hop and Breakdance Instructor
Riley has been a dancer his whole life, if there is music, even in his head, he is dancing. Riley started dance classes at the age of nine at Veneration dance, taking jazz and hip-hop classes. Riley began dancing at Sparrow Dance Productions at the age of 13. At Sparrow, he was introduced to many different styles, and began to fall in love with the art of dance. Riley is part of Sparrow’s competition team and has competed with the team in ballet, contemporary, hip hop, jazz, and lyrical. Riley now teaches hip-hop and breakdancing at Sparrow Dance Productions. He loves getting to share his love for dance with his students. His love for dance shines through his choreography. His long term goals are to attend college majoring in dance, and to eventually dance on Broadway, or for a company. He also hopes to continue to teach, and help students fall in love with dance.
Lennon Washburn
Ballet Instructor
Lennon started her dance career at the age of 3, with New Mexico’s Ballet Repertory Theatre. She started dancing for Sparrow Dance productions the spring of 2022. Lennon has also danced with other companies inside and outside of New Mexico, some being, New York’s Joffrey and Keshet dance company. She has preformed in many Nutcracker productions and has been in other performances such as “The Wizard of Oz", “Sleeping Beauty”, and “The Little Mermaid". Lennon is currently a student at the University of New Mexico, pursuing a career in dance, in the hopes to one day travel for dance and teach.
Since joining Sparrow Dance Productions, Lennon has danced the role of Mrs. Tumnus in Christina Daly original ballet, Onward and Upward to Narnia and the North. She looks forward to dancing future roles with The Company at Sparrow Dance Production as well as joining the regular dance teaching staff of Sparrow.