SALT LAKE CITY — Not many people can name‑drop Doja Cat, Usher, Alanis Morissette and Kesha on their résumé —especially not at 22 years old. But Imani Lee Peterson can.
The Corner Canyon High School graduate returned to Utah on Saturday for the first time as a professional dancer, performing onstage with Kesha.
Early dance training and talent
Before the world tours and celebrity stages, it all began in a living room.
“I loved it so much, I just kind of wanted to be great,” Peterson said, remembering the moment dance first clicked for her.
By age 8, she was already competing — driven, focused and unusually disciplined for her age.
Leslie Mulford‑Reiser, owner of Riverton's Elite Academy, saw Peterson's talent immediately.
“She always had that drive,” Mulford‑Reiser said. “She had that work ethic, and she was so easy to teach — very respectful. She always went above and beyond.”
By high school, Peterson's dedication was unmistakable.
“She was so dedicated she would miss her proms,” Mulford‑Reiser recalled. “We would throw her a prom at competitions because that’s where she wanted to be.”
Moving to New York for dance
After graduating from Corner Canyon, Peterson made a bold announcement to her parents who were both employees at the University of Utah: she was moving to New York.
“I found, through some research, this program — Brava Dance Center in New York,” she said.
She joined the program, signed with an agent and started auditioning. Her first professional job came quickly: a dancer in “Mean Girls.”
“I bawled my eyes out. Freaked out,” she said.
Then came another milestone.
“The VMAs with Doja Cat, which was really, really cool,” Peterson recalled.
Professional breakthroughs and major tours
Peterson later moved to Los Angeles, working side jobs while auditioning. She didn’t know it yet, but everything was about to change.
“I got this audition,” she said. “This is the one that really changed everything for me.”
It was summer 2024. The job? Usher’s “Past Present Future” tour.
“It was a lot of pressure,” Peterson admitted.
At just 20 years old, she performed in 60 shows across the globe with the R&B superstar.
After the tour wrapped, the opportunities just kept coming.
“I booked this cool job — it was for FIFA,” Peterson explained.
Then came another unexpected call.
“So Alanis Morissette wants to book you for her Las Vegas residency,” Peterson recalled.
She performed with Karol G at Coachella. And now — another tour, this time with Kesha.
Living the Dream
Peterson said she’s grateful, grounded and fully aware of how special this moment was.
“I really love what I am doing right now,” Peterson said. “If I could tour forever and ever, I honestly would. It’s so much fun.”
On Saturday night, she stepped onto a Utah stage — not as a student, not as a competitor, but as a professional dancer living the dream she chased since childhood.
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