The Team
The Best in the Business
Hilary Peterson
Owner & Director
Hilary Peterson is originally from Jacksonville, IL and received her M.F.A. in Dance from the University of Arizona and her B.A. in Dance from Hope College. She has choreographed original dance works for stage and competition as well as the musicals Seussical the Musical, Grease, Little Shop of Horrors and Sweet Charity. Her choreography has been presented at regional conferences, the Kansas City Fringe Festival and in numerous venues in St. Louis. She grew up in a studio like Encore and is excited to bring her passion for dance to her students!
Alyssa Alger
Ballet/Pointe Instructor & Choreographer
Alyssa Alger received her B.A. in dance from Mercyhurst College where she performed extensively including the title roles in many classical ballets and original works. While working to complete her undergraduate degree, she performed professionally with Sacramento Ballet in Ron Cunningham’s The Nutcracker and Carmina Buraña, and Balanchine’s Theme and Variations as well as numerous works with Ballet Concerto in Fort Worth, Texas. In 2013, Alger received her MFA in Dance from The University of Arizona. While at the U of A, Alger enjoyed many performance opportunities including the principal role in Balanchine’s Rubies. Alyssa is excited to bring her expertise to the students at Encore!
Philip Edgecombe
Jazz/Contemporary Instructor & Choreographer
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Philip Edgecombe received his MFA in Choreography from the University of Arizona in May of 2006. His choreography combines a strong physicality with intense theatricality grounded in contemporary technique and has been performed nationally. From 2006-2007, he was a company member of Hedwig Dances, and from 2002-2003, Edgecombe was a company member with Desert Dance Theater in Phoenix, Ariz., He is a trained ballroom instructor and has taught at the Fred Astaire Dance Studio in downtown Chicago.
Julianna Pearson
Enrollment Coordinator
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Julianna is a graduate of Southeast Missouri State University with degrees in Dance and Public Communication Studies. She is originally from East Prairie, MO, and has studied various styles of dance including ballet, jazz, hip hop and contemporary. While at Southeast, Julianna performed numerous concert dance works in the main stage dance concerts. She is super excited to pass on her love of dance and to choreograph for Season 3!
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Alyssa Howard
Instructor
Alyssa Howard, originally from Farmington, Missouri, earned her Bachelor of Arts in Dance from Southeast Missouri State University in May 2025. She has trained for over 10 years in tap, jazz, ballet, contemporary, musical theatre, and acro. She was a competitive dancer for 8 years and spent 7 years on school dance teams throughout middle school, high school, and college. At SEMO, Alyssa performed in Moving Perspectives and Winter Dance Collection, and in Spring 2025, she premiered her first choreographic work in Moving Perspectives.
Corrinda Brooks
Instructor & Choreographer
Corrinda has 23 years of teaching experience at studios across Missouri. She excels in teaching tap as well as jazz, poms, and hip hop. Corrinda is a seasoned choreographer and has won numerous choreography awards at competitions for group and solo tap and group jazz. She is excited to continue her teaching journey at Encore!
Morgan Hipp
Instructor
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Morgan is pursuing a double major at Southeast Missouri State University with a BFA in Musical Theatre and a BA in Dance. Originally from Memphis, Tennessee, Morgan has been dancing for 18 years. She grew up dancing at Dance Dynamics Memphis and has choreographed for dance competitions, SEMO's Moving Perspectives, and for the Texas Shakespeare Festival. Morgan could not be happier to be joining such a wonderful team!
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Noelle Gratzer
Instructor & Choreographer
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Noelle is a senior at Southeast Missouri State University working towards her BA in dance. She is from Saint Louis where she trained and competed in numerous styles of dance. While at Southeast, Noelle has performed in multiple dance concerts dancing in both student and faculty choreography. She also has experience as a member of a dance team. Noelle is excited to work with the students at Encore!
Madison Diehl
Competition Choreographer
Madison is a graduate of Southeast Missouri State University with a BFA in Dance. She is originally from Lake of the Ozarks, MO and studied ballet, jazz, pointe, and contemporary at her local studio. During her time at Southeast, Madison performed works by both faculty and guest artists including Joshua Blake Carter and Jose Limon. Madison is a versatile dancer, teacher, and choreographer and enjoys working with the students at Encore!
Morgan Gadberry
Instructor
Morgan is a senior working towards her BA in Dance at Southeast Missouri State University. Her dance training has incorporated the styles of jazz, ballet, tap, modern, contemporary, and ballroom. Morgan has a passion for dance and loves to share that with others. Originally from the Southeast Missouri region, Morgan is excited to bring her talents to the students at Encore!
Thomas Halbrook
Instructor
Originally from Granite City, IL, Thomas started dancing at age eleven at Rena's Dance Unlimited in Edwardsville. While training in the Cecchetti Method of Classical Ballet, he had the opportunity to perform principal roles in several ballets including Cinderella, Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, and The Nutcracker. He also performed professionally with The Muny in St. Louis for 5 years as both a Muny Kid and Teen. Thomas is a sophomore at Southeast Missouri State University pursuing a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Dance. While at SEMO, Thomas has performed in Paquita for Winter Dance Collection and choreographed and set selections from La Fille Mal Gardee for Moving Perspectives.