Our Faculty
Alicia Galeano
Alicia Galeano is very excited to begin her fourth year teaching here at Elite Dance Studio. Alicia is also entering her fourth year teaching dance at Saint Johns College High School. In addition to teaching dance, she is studying Kinesiology (study of human motion), at the University of Maryland and is a staff member at Metro Orthopedic Sports Therapy. Her knowledge of kinetics and experience in the physical therapy environment enhances her dance instruction. Alicia received her formal dance training at Ballet 106 under the instruction of Linda Miller and later graduated from Blake High School, where she was a member of the Blake High School Dance Company. She was also a dancer, choreographer and Creative Director of the University of Maryland Unbound Dance Team, where she performed and competed in various events, shows and competitions. Alicia is currently continuing her dance training and education at UMD and throughout the D.C. metropolitan area. More than anything, Alicia looks forward to another year of teaching and sharing her passion for dance at Elite!.
Keisha Gervais
Keisha Gervais is on her 5th year at Elite Dance Studio and has loved every moment teaching! She has been a fan of dance for her entire life. She started dancing at the age of 6 at Joy of Motion Dance in DC training in ballet and tap. At 12, she continued in jazz, hip hop, lyrical, and pointe. From age 12 to 18 she danced competitively for an elite dance company at many regional competitions such as Starquest, Dance Masters of America, Accent on Youth, Starpower, and many more. She was a member of the third graduating class of Blake High School where she was on the Poms Squad for 3 years. She was also an active member of Blake’s Dance Company and was a student choreographer under the director for two spring recitals. At the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts, Keisha participated in many dance/performance seminars with Alvin Ailey, Debbie Allen, and the Dance Theater of Harlem where she is an alumnus of their DC Residency Program. In August 2008, she attended Rhee Gold’s Dance Teacher Conference in Scottsdale, Arizona studying new trends in choreography and teaching. This summer she joined Miss Becky and a few other faculty members in NYC for the NYC Dance Teacher’s Summit. Keisha received a Bachelors of Science degree in Alternative Medicine from Everglades University in 2007, and is pursuing a career in dance performance and creative arts therapy. 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
Ms. Cat, is blessed to be part of the EDS faculty and as EDS’ Manager. She started dancing at the age of 3 with Miriam’s School of Dance in Langley Park, Maryland and has never stopped! She has a theater background, choreographing & performing in such productions as Annie, You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown, Funny Girl and Joseph & The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Before graduating with a B.A. in Communications from Penn State University, she choreographed PSU’s production of The Wiz. She had a 14 year career in Corporate Media Management with Discovery Communications Inc and overall 20 years in Customer Relations but her love of dance continued. She’s worked with kids in local schools and productions on such musicals as Guys & Dolls, Pippin and Grease. She’s advanced her training in ballet, tap, jazz and hip hop with Rhee Gold’s Dance Life Conferences and is a certified ZUMBA & ZUMBATOMIC instructor. During the summer she is Assistant Director of EDS’s fabulous Sleep Away Dance Camp! Ms Cat is married to her wonderful husband Mr. Chuck and is proud mother of her loving 10 year old daughter, Maddie Rose.
Tiffany “Jonezy” Jones
Miss Tiffany “Jonezy” Jones grew up in Somerset, NJ and began her dance training at the age of three. Miss Jonezy danced with many special venues such as Tap-A-Mania in New York City/Times Square and Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom. She was selected for the Allstar Dance Academy Competition Team where she trained in ballet, jazz, lyrical, tap, hip hop, and acrobatics. She has performed in numerous repertories by Starr Foster, Scott Putman, and Monica Bill Barnes. She performed in the International Arezzo Festival in Arezzo, Italy as well as in Sit-In/Stand-Out alongside John Legend! She has danced with BNW Dance Company under the direction of Brittany Whitmoyer. She has performed at the 2010 Mid-Atlantic Region American College Dance Festival and the 2010 American Dance Festival in Durham, NC. She has a BFA in Dance and Choreography from Virginia Commonwealth University and holds a Bachelors of Science in Mass Communications with a focus in Creative Advertising. Her choreographed works “Time Capsule” and “The Boiling Point” have appeared in the highly selective VCU Student Concert. Living in Silver Spring, she dances with local DC Metro area and is very excited to have the opportunity to grow and advance in a big new city with EDS!
Heidi is returning for her third year teaching hip hop at EDS and couldn’t be more excited! Heidi graduated in 2005 from the University of Delaware with a Bachelors in Arts and Science for Political Science and Journalism. She 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 5 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 Teacher Summit in NYC, summer 2010!! Heidi is looking forward to another fabulous year at EDS! 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. 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 and NYC Dance Teacher’s Summit. She recently received a Masters in Secondary Education. Miss Melissa looks forward to sharing her love of dance with the students at Elite!
Jeanne Samuels
Miss Haley has been assisting in various dance classes at Elite for 5 years and teaching at Elite for 3 years, including teaching many of EDS’ summer classes and camps! This summer she was one of EDS’ Summer Counselors at the Sleep Away Dance Camp in Frostburg, Maryland. The past two summers, Miss Haley has been EDS’ Summer Front Desk Manager. While dancing at Elite, she was a member of the EDS Senior Competition Team. Currently, Miss Haley is a student at Towson University studying towards a double major in Psychology and Criminal Justice. She hopes to be a high school teacher and include some therapy work as well. At Towson University, she was the co-captain of an intramural volleyball team. Her energy and sparkling personality will make all her students feel welcome in her class!
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 seven years. They are expecting their first child in September 2011. This is her fourth year teaching at Elite Dance Studio.
–“You can dance anywhere, even if only in your heart.” –
Our STAFF
Gretchen Nicholson 
Miss Gretchen has been dancing since the age of 5 and has been taking ballet, tap and jazz ever since! Besides taking on more responsibilities this year at EDS’ Front Desk, Miss Gretchen will continue to be a student teacher assistant at EDS for various classes. A recent graduate of James Hubert Blake High School, she was a part of their Marching Band and traveled this year to perform in the Rose Bowl Parade! She will be studying Elementary Education at Montgomery College. Miss Gretchen is very excited for another year with EDS and interacting with all the students and parents at the front desk! Cheryl Taschler, Assistant Manager
Ms. Cheryl is looking forward to another year exciting year with the EDS staff and families. She has over 15 years as a Graphic Designer where she has crossed disciplines from print to broadcast to interior design with ease. She’s worked with such clients as the May Company, Discovery Channel, Family Channel, as well as designing for the private sector. Cheryl is organized and her attention to detail keeps a project on the right track. This is essential to her work as Assistant Manager here at EDS! When not at the studio she loves spending time with her husband Dave and taking care of other people’s kids & canines if needed! (Miss Melissa’s dog, Max & at times Ms Cat’s daughter, Maddie Rose, are both very grateful to be under her care from time to time!)
Leah Schroeder
Miss Leah is very excited to begin another year with Elite Dance Studio! She began dancing at the age of 3, training in ballet, tap, and jazz, and was able to be a part of the Competition teams at EDS for 5 years. A Junior at Sherwood High School, she is an Editor-in-Chief for the school’s student newspaper and a volunteer tutor with the George B. Thomas Learning Academy. When not working at the EDS Front Desk, Miss Leah can be found inside the dance studio as one of EDS’ dance teacher assistant! She is looking forward to being part of the EDS family! Jillian Wessel 
Miss Jillian is very excited to begin her sixth year at Elite Dance Studio! She has been dancing since the age of three, training in ballet, tap, and jazz. She is also a part of the Competition Team for the fifth year at Elite. Miss Jillian has been part of the staff for over one year and is looking forward to the upcoming year. She is currently a junior at Good Counsel High School, where she participates in drama and musical theatre. She played “Little Red” in the Falcon production of Into the Woods and was also a lead dancer in All Shook Up! Along with dance, Miss Jillian has trained with Rolando Sanz in voice at Good Counsel. She looks forward to another year of working and dancing at Elite!
Stay tuned for: Lauren Bickel Melissa Echalar Monika Looney Kelsey Ilowite