Meet Our Staff

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The Dee Buchanan Studio of Dance

207-G South Church Street

Middletown, MD 21769

Phone: 301-371-4228

Rounded Rectangle: Meet Our Staff

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Rounded Rectangle: Miss Dee (Buchanan) has owned and operated the Dee Buchanan Studio of Dance for 19 years, and has directed her own dance company since its inception twelve years ago. She is a graduate of Hood College, and is a member of Dance Masters of America, the Cecchetti Council of America, and the Maryland Council for Dance. Dee holds her Intermediate Professional Certificate through the CCA, and is a teacher and a coach in the Cecchetti Method. She is certified both regionally and nationally through the Dance Masters of America Teachers Training School to teach tap, ballet and jazz. In 2006, Dee was the Dance Masters of America recipient of the Janet Bachna teaching award, a national recognition awarded through the Teachers Training School program. She is also a Nationally Certified Examiner for DMA, and a judge at both the regional and national level. Dee is the current President of Mid-Atlantic Chapter 17 of DMA, as well as a National Director and Director of the National Petite & Master Scholarship Competition. In addition to teaching at her studio, Dee directs two worship dance troupes—the liturgical dancers at her home church, Zion Lutheran, and the Inter-faith Liturgical dancers, which is comprised of dancers of all ages at her studio. Additionally, Dee works year-round at Middletown High School in a variety of capacities. She directs the Marching Knights dance line, she coaches the MHS Dance Team, she is the co-advisor of the Nu Delta Alpha Dance Honor Society, and she choreographs the MHS spring musical. Her choreography credits include “The Wiz”, “Lil’ Abner”, “Bye Bye Birdie”, “Oklahoma”, “Into the Woods”, “The Scarlet Pimpernel”, “Fiddler on the Roof”, “Chicago”, “Guys and Dolls”, “Footloose”, “George M!” , “Beauty and the Beast”, “Oliver!” and

Rounded Rectangle: Miss Annie (Brockey) has been with the Dee Buchanan Studio of Dance since its opening season (1992-1993). She started first as a dancer, but has been teaching for the past 15 years. Miss Annie is the Director of Programs for Young Dancers, but teaches classes for dancers ranging from ages 4 to adult. Annie is a graduate of Middletown High School and Hood College (B.A. in Early Childhood Education). She is also a member of Dance Masters of America and the Cecchetti Council of America. She is certified regionally through Dance Masters of America to teach ballet, tap, and jazz. Annie has also passed 11 Cecchetti Exams – through Intermediate Professional as a student and Elementary Professional as a teacher! She has attended Dance Masters Teachers Training School, Cecchetti International Summer School, the Maryland Council for Dance Festival, Manhattan Dance Project, and regional Cecchetti and Dance Masters workshops, and has had the privilege of studying in New York City at Steps On Broadway several times..

Rounded Rectangle: Miss Tauri (Munger) is in her 9th year of teaching at The Dee Buchanan Studio of Dance. She teaches jazz, tap, modern, ballet, pointe, partnering and lyrical classes. She is a Towson University Graduate. Tauri is a member of Dance Masters of America, having passed her teachers’ certification exams in tap, ballet and jazz. She has also passed her Grade I Teacher’s Exam in the Cecchetti Method. She has taught master jazz dance classes at regional DMA conventions. She won the Tom Ralabate Scholarship in 2003, Dance Masters of America—Chapter 17—Miss Dance of 2004 and a DMA Choreography Award in 2005 for her self-choreographed rendition of “Haunted”. Tauri also won the Maryland Distinguished Scholar—Honorable Mention in 2002. She was a member of the Towson University Dance Company from 2002—2004, and performed at the Kennedy Center in 2005. She finished in the Miss Maryland pageant with the Newcomer Talent title in 2006. While attending college at Towson University, Miss Tauri also held the title of Miss Frederick 2006. Tauri won two choreography awards for her modern composition “Stampede”. As a student Tauri was invited into Frederick Arts Council scholarships and won various awards: Junior Jazz—1998, Senior Jazz —2000, Senior Modern —2001 and Senior Tap 2002.

Rounded Rectangle: Miss Denise (Hoover) has been a teacher at The Dee Buchanan Studio of Dance for seven years. She currently teaches Toddler Time and Preschool 1 & 2—and manages our Boutique. She graduated from Frostburg University and has attended year one of Dance Masters of America Teacher Training in Buffalo, NY. In addition to teaching at the studio, she has been a part of the adult jazz class (and most recently Adult Musical Theatre class) for 10 years as well as a member of the desk duty squad. She is a member of the Frederick Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, Fredericktown Players and Lambda Phi Delta Sorority Alumni Association. Active in theatre while attending Walkersville High School, she was glad to return to the stage in a Fredericktowne Players production of “Gypsy” in the role of Tessie Tura.

Rounded Rectangle: Miss Jaimie (Hoover) has been dancing for 20 years, 15 of which were at The Dee Buchanan Studio of Dance. She has studied the Cecchetti Method passing grades I-IV, elementary & intermediate professional grades V and VI, as well as her Teacher’s Exam Grades I-III. Jaimie is a graduate of Towson University majoring in Physical Education, and in conjunction with her major she has earned her Spotting Certification. She has attended the Cecchetti International summer school, held in Michigan, on scholarship, and has attended four Dance Masters of America National Conventions, held in various locations across the nation. She has also trained at STEPS on Broadway in New York City. She attended Dance Masters’ Teachers Training School in 2009 on scholarship. She has been involved in DMA since 2000 and has received numerous awards. Jaimie was honored to represent Chapter 17 of the Mid-Atlantic as their Miss Dance 2007. In 2005, Jaimie was fortunate enough to perform at the Kennedy Center Gala! Outside of dance, Jaimie loves theatre. In 2006, Jaimie held the role of “Louise/Gypsy Rose Lee” in Fredericktown Players production of “Gypsy”. This summer she is a Dance Captain in FTP’s “Chicago”, and this fall will be playing at Way Off Broadway’s Dinner Theatre in “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels”. Jaimie taught for Dee from 2001-2005, and returned in 2009. Jaimie is also the 2010-2011 Assistant Director for the studio’s Dance Company.

Rounded Rectangle: Miss Richelle (Nazelrod)

Rounded Rectangle: Miss Bethany (Lemasters) is a Senior at Brunswick High School and a soloist in our dance company. In the summer of 2007, she also studied in New York City as part of the Dance Masters of America National Convention and was a dancer in our National First Place Production piece, “Wild Wild West”. Bethany dances with our Inter-faith Liturgical Dance Group. She is currently preparing for her Elementary Professional Cecchetti Exam, having completed all four student levels. She is also our studio’s 2003 recipient of the Victoria Gordon Scholarship. Bethany has studied at STEPS on Broadway, and she recently performed in the “MHS Holiday Spectacular”. She is also a member of the MHS Varsity Dance Team.

Rounded Rectangle: Miss Kara (Nelson) is a Junior at Brunswick High School and a soloist in our dance company. In 2007, she also studied in New York City as part of the Dance Masters of America National Convention and was a dancer in our National First Place Production piece, “Wild Wild West”. Kara attended the Student Honors Intensive Program in the summer of 2008 in Buffalo, NY. She is currently preparing for her Cecchetti Intermediate Professional exam, having passed all four student exams and the Elementary Professional Exam. She studied at STEPS on Broadway in January of 2009 and 2010. She is a member of the MHS Varsity Dance Team, and she recently performed in the “MHS Holiday Spectacular”. She is a Junior Member of Dance Masters of America, and she is the 2009 recipient of our studio’s Tom Waters Honorary Scholarship in Jazz.

Rounded Rectangle: Miss Emily (Gallagher) is a Senior at Middletown High School and a soloist in our dance company. She is currently preparing for her Cecchetti Intermediate Professional exam, having passed all four student exams and the Elementary Professional Exam. Emily is also a member of our studio’s Inter-faith Liturgical Dance group and Zion Lutheran Church’s Worship Dance group, and member of the MHS Varsity Dance Team and the MHS Dance Line. She was also a member of the first MHS Winter Guard during the winter of 2009. She is a Junior Member of Dance Masters of America. During the summer of 2007, she studied in New York City as part of the Dance Masters of America National Convention and was a dancer in our National First Place Production piece, “Wild Wild West”. In 2008, she continued her training in classes as well as competition at the DMA National Convention in Orlando. She also attended the Student Honors Intensive Program in Buffalo, NY, both in 2008 and 2009. In 2009 she also attended the DMA National Convention in Washington, DC where she studied and competed throughout the week. Emily studied at STEPS on Broadway in January of 2009 and 2010, and she performed in Walt Disney World in the spring of 2009. She was also the Jazz Scholarship recipient at the Chapter 17 Teen Miss Dance competition in 2009 and the Miss Dance competition in 2010!

Rounded Rectangle: Miss Emilee (Pierce) is a Junior at Middletown High School and a soloist in our dance company. She is currently preparing for her Cecchetti Intermediate Professional exam, having passed all four student exams and the Elementary Professional Exam. Emily is also a member of the MHS Varsity Dance Team. During the summer of 2007, she studied in New York City as part of the Dance Masters of America National Convention and was a dancer in our National First Place Production piece, “Wild Wild West”. Emilee also participated in the “MHS Holiday Spectacular” this December. In the spring of 2009, she performed at Walt Disney World.

Rounded Rectangle: Miss Tayler (Corcoran) is a Senior at Middletown High School, where she is also a member of the MHS Varsity Dance Team. She is also a third year member and soloist in our dance company. She is currently preparing for her Cecchetti Intermediate Professional exam, having passed all four student exams and the Elementary Professional Exam. Tayler is also a member of the Nu Delta Alpha Dance Honor Society at MHS. She is the 2009 recipient of the Victoria Gordon Scholarship. In the spring of 2009, Tayler performed at Walt Disney World. Additionally, she was a dancer in this winter's “MHS Holiday Spectacular”.

Rounded Rectangle: Miss Jordan (DuMars) is a freshman at University at Buffalo majoring in Dance. She has passed her Intermediate Professional (Grade VI) exam and is preparing for Advanced Professional (Grade VII) exam. Jordan has studied Child Development at MHS, and aided at the Primary School. In 2009, Jordan was the DMA Miss Dance Tap Audition Scholarship Winner and Most Talented Non-Finalist, and in 2008 she won the Jazz Scholarship. During the summer of 2006, Jordan attended the DMA Student Honors Intensive Program in Buffalo, New York. During the summer of 2007, she studied in New York City as part of the Dance Masters of America National Convention. In 2008 Jordan attended both the Dance Masters of America Nationals Convention in Orlando and the Student Honors Intensive Program in Buffalo, and she returned to both events in 2009! During the winter of 2009 she took classes at STEPS on Broadway in NYC. In the spring of 2009, she had the opportunity to study and perform in Disney World. In 2003 Jordan was awarded the Kathleen Brown Honorary Scholarship here at our studio. Jordan is an MHS graduate, and was a member of the MHS Marching Knights and the MHS Dance Team, as well as a dancer in the spring musicals, and Frenchie” in the musical her senior year, “Grease!”.

Rounded Rectangle: Miss Erin (Casey) is a Senior at Middletown High School, where she is also a member of the MHS Varsity Dance Team. She sang and danced in the MHS spring musicals “Beauty and the Beast” , “Oliver!” and “Grease!”. She is a soloist with our dance company. Erin is currently preparing for her Cecchetti Grade IV exam. During the summer of 2007, she studied in New York City as part of the DMA National Convention and was a dancer in our National First Place Production piece, “Wild Wild West”. In the spring of 2009, Erin performed at Walt Disney World. Additionally, she was a dancer in this winter's “MHS Holiday Spectacular”. In January of 2009 and 2010, she studied at STEPS on Broadway in New York City.

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Rounded Rectangle: Miss Cheryl (Gallagher) and her four children have all danced at our studio. Mat is now away at college, but Emily, Colleen and Michael are busy with a multitude of classes. Cheryl has participated in our Adult Classes for many years, and has traveled with our company since its inception when her oldest son Mat was still in elementary school!

Rounded Rectangle: “One of the best things about working for the studio is that I get to spend a lot of time with my grandchildren, Abby and Sam. Better known as “Miss Dee’s Mom;” and also known as “Grammy,” Miss Jennie (Wiles) has been the bookkeeper/financial director for the studio since the studio space was leased in April of 1992 — first part-time and full-time since 2002. Although Miss Jennie worked previously as a full-time bookkeeper and legal secretary, she’s also been a dance student at the studio, taking adult tap and jazz since the studio opened. “My co-workers are great, and I enjoy being around our students. I also get to write the script for the show each year, which is one of my favorite projects. I really love my job!” When I’m not busy with studio business, you can usually find me in my garden, or acting as zookeeper for our 3 miniature schnauzers, 3 cats, multiple birds, squirrels, and fish.”

Rounded Rectangle: Miss Abby (Buchanan) is a Junior at Middletown High School and a soloist in our dance company. She is currently preparing for her Cecchetti Elementary Professional exam, having passed all four student exams. Abby is also a member of our studio’s Inter-faith Liturgical Dance group and Zion Lutheran Church’s Worship Dance group, and a member of the MHS Varsity Dance Team and the MHS Dance Line. She was also a member of the first MHS Winter Guard during the winter of 2009. She is a Junior Member of Dance Masters of America. During the summer of 2007, she studied in New York City as part of the Dance Masters of America National Convention and was a dancer in our National First Place Production piece, “Wild Wild West”. In 2008, she continued her training in classes as well as competition at the DMA National Convention in Orlando. That year, she also attended the Student Honors Intensive Program in Buffalo, NY. In January of 2009 and 2010, she studied at STEPS on Broadway in New York City. In 2009, she studied at the National Convention in Washington, DC. Additionally, Abby participated in the MHS musicals, “George M!” and “Oliver!” as a featured dancer. She also participated in the “MHS Holiday Spectacular” this December. Abby is a member of the Nu Delta Alpha Dance Honor Society. In the spring of 2009, she performed at Walt Disney World.