“Creative dance awakens the body,
the brain, and the heart."
"Through dance, children learn to trust their ideas, celebrate their bodies, and share their voices." -Anne Green Gilbert
Our Story
Where Dance Meets
Joy and Creativity
Mapleton Dance Center, owned by Amy Markgraf, was inspired by the holistic approach of her mentors and colleagues: Christine Ollerton, Kathie Debenham, Mary Anne Lee, Donna Gordon, and Anne Green Gilbert.
MDC’s classes are designed around the Creative Dance process and Brain-Based Compatible Education, integrating movement with cognitive, social, and emotional growth. These methods focus on engaging the whole child, promoting creativity, critical thinking, personal responsibility, choice, and self-expression.
Incorporating Gilbert's (Bartineiff) BrainDance patterns and Virginia Tanner's emphasis on joy and artistry in movement, MDC fosters an environment where students build strong technical skills and creativity. This holistic approach ensures that dancers grow as performers, creators, and resilient and thoughtful individuals.
Meet Our Founder
Amy Markgraf
Amy Markgraf founded Mapleton Dance Center. Amy developed her lifelong passion for teaching, dancing, performing, and choreographing as a child and teen while training in the BYU's Children's and Teen's Creative Dance Program under the direction of Christine Ollerton and Kathie Debenham. Amy’s career continued in dance inspired by many teachers and artists who mentored and encouraged her journey. Amy is currently a Professor of Dance at UVU and has taught dance nationally and internationally for over 30 years.
Amy has taught and choreographed with the internationally recognized Tanner Dance, the BYU Children's Creative Dance Program, and is a graduate of Anne Green Gilbert's Summer Institute Intensive for Teachers, and Harvard's Graduate School of Education Pedagogy of Play Certification program. She earned her Dance Education and Biology degree from Utah State University, where she was recognized as Dance Talent of the Year and the Dance Outstanding Student Teacher. Amy is an award-winning choreographer who has been recognized nationally and internationally.
She holds a Master's degree from Brigham Young University and an MFA from the University of Utah. Throughout her career, she has taught and performed for various organizations and has served as a national board member of dance and the Child international. Additionally, she has presented at numerous state, national, and international conferences.
Amy’s former students have graduated from schools such as Julliard and many prestigious university dance programs. Her students teach in the Utah school system and numerous dance studios nationwide. While many others perform on Broadway, with dance companies, and in their kitchens.
Amy continues to teach at UVU as the Dance Education Program Coordinator. She teaches dance pedagogy, modern/contemporary techniques, dance kinesiology, composition, and conditioning. She is also trained in Stott Pilates Mat and Reformer .