Elite Dance Studio and Supply

Our Faculty

Kimberely Arteche

Kim is very excited to teach at Elite Dance Studio again this year. She has been studying Hip-Hop and Traditional Filipino Folk Dance and is currently a core dancer on Culture Shock, Washington DC, a non-profit youth outreach organization and professional dance company. She has choreographed Hip-Hop and Cultural Dance for the Filipino-American Student Association at UMBC, and donated choreography to the Filipino Cultural Association at UMCP. Kimberley is an alumna and former Artistic Director of Major Definition, the Hip-Hop Dance Troupe at UMBC. She is also an original crew member of the “Boogie Bots,” as featured on Season 2 of America’s Best Dance Crew. Kim has performed at shows recently such as Monsters of Hip Hop Washington DC, Culture Shock DC’s East Coast Dance Competition and Pre-Show, Howard University’s Dance Competition, Mirrorz, and the International Music and Dance Festival in Rexburg, Idaho.

Alicia Galeano

Alicia Galeano is very excited to be teaching again this fall at EDS. She is currently a student at Montgomery College and an alumni of Blake High School. Miss Alicia works at local swimming pools as a lifeguard - watching many of our dance students! Her experience with children, including her seven siblings, help to make her a patient and energetic teacher. Alicia attended the Dance Teacher Summer Conference in the summers of 2007 and 2008 in New York City where she attended class with master teachers such as David Howard, Sheila Barker, Rockettes, and a current cast member of A Chorus Line and In The Heights.

Keisha Gervais

Keisha Gervais has been a fan of dance for her entire life. She started dancing at the age of 6, training in ballet, tap, jazz, modern, lyrical, pointe, hip hop, cheerleading, and poms. She was a member of the third graduating class of Blake High School where she choreographed and participated in many dances through the dance program. Keisha has performed in many community programs and festivals and was also part of a student competition team. At the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts, Keisha partcipated in many dance seminars with the Dance Theater of Harlem, Alvin Ailey, and Debbie Allen. In August 2008, she attended Rhee Gold’s Dance Teacher Conference in Scottsdale, Arizona studying new trends in choreography and teaching. She has a Bachelors of Science degree in Alternative Medicine from Everglades University, and is pursuing a career in Physical & Dance Movement Therapy. She has taught dance, cheerleading, and dance team in the past. She looks forward to another great year at EDS!

“Dance is forever; it has seen time we only heard of and will see time we will never know.” -Miss Keisha

Catherine Halpin, Manager

Miss Cat is excited to be teaching for another year at EDS! Miss Cat loves teaching the young dancers, as well as her adults in the ZUMBA classes. She is a certified ZUMBA instructor. Growing up in Silver Spring, Cat’s passion for dance began at Miriam’s Dance Studio in Langley Park. She spent summers studying dance and theater with “Bay Country Summer Theater Program” at St. Mary’s College in Southern MD. Throughout high school, her dedication to the Arts continued including choreographing and performing in various productions, such as Annie, You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown & Funny Girl. She’s participated in workshops at the Maryland Thespian Festival and with the Maryland Council for Dance. Prior to graduating with a B.A. in Communications from Penn State University, Cat choreographed PSU’s production of The Wiz . Over the years, she’s continued to work with kids at local schools and theater programs, choreographing such shows as Pippin, Guys & Dolls, Grease, Joseph & The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Big . Miss Cat attended the Music Works Dance Teacher Convention in Pittsburgh in July 2007 where she learned teaching skills and dances in ballet, tap, jazz, and hip hop. Miss Cat also attended the Dance Life Conference in Scottsdale, Arizona in 2008, as well as several ZUMBA Fitness Conventions. Cat is married to her wonderful husband Chuck and has a lovely 8 year old daughter, Maddie Rose.

Jessica Mitko

Jessica has been dancing since the age of 3 in her hometown of Pittsburgh PA. She dance with Pittsburgh Youth Ballet and Southwest Ballet where she performed numerous roles in the Nutcracker. She also studied at the Washington Ballet for 3 summer programs. After graduation she continued on to Minor in dance at WVU where she was a choreographer for the annual Orchesis Dance Ensemble Showcase. She now works full time with 92.5 WINC FM as a sales rep while sharing her love and knowledge for dance. She also attended the Dance Life Teacher Conference this summer in Orlando Florida.

Heidi Owsley

Heidi Owsley graduated in 2005 from the University of Delaware with a Bachelors in Arts and Science for Political Science and Journalism. Heidi was a member of the University of Delaware dance team from 2001-2005. In 2005, she and her team won the National title for Division I Hip Hop at the UDA National Dance Team Competition in Orlando, FL. Upon graduating, Heidi was head coach for Marple Newtown High School, Newtown, PA, and led them to the UDA High School Dance Team National Competition also in Orland, FL. She has choreographed for several competitive dance studios over the past 3 years, including EDS! Heidi’s love for dance began 20 years ago in Elmer, NJ at Barbara Adams Dance Academy. She continues her dance education by attending classes at Broadway Dance Center in NYC and conventions, including the Dance Life Teacher’s Conference in Orlando in the summer of 2009. Heidi is very excited to continue teaching at EDS this year! Fun fact: she grew up dancing with Miss Becky!

Melissa Rapone

Melissa Rapone has a bachelor of arts in political science with a minor in dance from Mercyhurst College located in Erie, PA. Upon graduating, Melissa returned to New York and began teaching dance full-time. Upon moving to the Metro DC area, Melissa has continued teaching in area studios. Melissa has been teaching dance for 7 years. She has developed, wrote and implemented a creative dance curriculum for Two-Year Olds. She enjoys much success working with competitive students and was awarded the “Critics Choice” Award at OnStage NY for “Telephone Hour”, a Musical Theatre Piece, as well as various high scores are overall achievement awards. She has choreographed for productions of the Nutcracker, as well as West Side Story. Melissa recently traveled back to New York to present a special “Introduction to Dance” seminar for the freshman class of her alma mater, Notre Dame High School. She continues her dance education by regularly attending conventions and workshops, including the Dance Life Teacher’s Conference in the summer of 2009. Miss Melissa looks forward to sharing her love of dance with the students at Elite!

Kymm Stevens

Kymm Stevens, born and raised in Washington, DC, began her love for dance at the early age of 5. Her mother saw an inward excitement that needed to be released. So she enrolled her in Ballet and Tap at Jones Haywood School of Dance. At the age of 11, after extensive training in ballet, Kymm went to Rosella Hightower School of Ballet in Cannes, France. She furthered her training from age 13 to 18 in ballet and modern at Washington School of Ballet. She was also a member of their Young Dancers Company. On the weekends, she was an original member of the Dance Theater of Harlem/Kennedy Center Residency Program. After graduating from high school, she became a corps member of Dance Theatre of Harlem in Harlem, NY from 1997-2000. While there she traveled to various countries such as Greece, France, Spain, Italy, and Australia performed for large audiences. She became a principle dancer with American Repertory Ballet in Princeton, NJ from 2000-2003. After spending many years involved in ballet she decided to take a chance at Broadway and was a ROCKETTE in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular from 2003-2005. She is happily married to her husband, Daniel, for five years. This is her second year teaching at Elite Dance Studio and is looking forward to a year filled with new experiences and lots of fun filled classes!

Our STAFF

Carol Barnes

Carol is a student and dance teacher assistant at Elite Dance Studio and is excited to be a part of the Elite Dance Studio Staff! Starting dance at the age of 2, Carol has been training in ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, and lyrical. She has been a member of a dance competition team for 5 years. Carol is currently a student at Paint Branch High School and has been a member of the Paint Branch High School Pom Squad. But most importantly she is looking forward to another great year at Elite.

Shelby Davis

Shelby is excited about her first year working at the front desk at Elite Dance Studio. She has been taking ballet and jazz classes for the past 5 years. She is currently a junior at James Hubert Blake High School, where she is a member of the Blake Dance Company. Shelby is also a volunteer tutor at Cloverly Elementary School. She is looking forward to working with the Elite staff!

Desire Gordon

Desire has been a student at Elite since it’s opening and is excited for her second year working with us. Desire has been dancing on and off for almost 6 years and found her way to Elite where she has been taking Jazz and Hip Hop. Desire is looking foward to her senior at James Hubert Blake High School where she is apart of the Varsity Cheerleading Squad. Desire is very excited for another year with EDS and interacting with all the students and parents as she assists you at the front desk!

Nikisha Gordon

Nikisha Gordon is a Senior at James Hubert Blake High School and is looking forward to her senior year. She is also looking forward to working at Elite and taking some dance classes. Nikisha loves to dance, although she’s never taken any professional classes. This is her first year working at Elite and she is looking forward to all the great experiences!

Gretchen Nicholson

Gretchen is very excited about starting a new year at EDS. Gretchen is a student and dance teacher assistant at EDS. She has been dancing since the age of 5 and has been taking ballet, jazz and tap. Gretchen is starting her junior year at James Hubert Blake High School, where she is part of the marching band. Gretchen is happy about being apart of the EDS staff.

Ingrid Passmore

Ingrid is a student at Blake High School. Her love for music lead her to dancing. She has been dancing for four years, and she has been taking ballet for two. She has performed both on the school stage and at family functions. She is excited for her first year at Elite and is looking forward to meeting new people!

Cheryl Taschler

729 Cloverly Street, Cloverly Towne Center, Silver Spring, MD 20905 » Ph: 301-879-ELITE(3548)