Season Calendar & Events
2018-2019 Season
Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul
AUGUST 2018
301 . 371 . 4228 | office@dbdance.com
Faculty
Dee Buchanan
Dee has owned and operated the Dee Buchanan Studio of Dance since 1992, and began a studio competition team in 1998. She is a graduate of Hood College. Dee holds her Intermediate Professional Certificate through the CCA, and is certified through Dance Masters of America in tap, ballet, jazz, modern and acrobatics. She holds her Module One, Two and Three Acrobatic Arts Certifications as well as her Module One-Five Alixa Flexibility Certifications. 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. Dee continues her training at regional and national Dance Masters of America Workshops, and at Rhee Gold DanceLife seminars. In addition to teaching at her studio, Dee (a Middletown grad herself) works year-round at Middletown High School as the dance line director of the Marching Knights, the coach of the MHS Dance Team, and choreographer for the MHS musical. She also loves choreographing shows for her friends at Way Off Broadway Dinner Theatre.
Annie Brockey
Annie has been teaching at the studio since 1995. She is a studio administrator and full time employee, serving clients as a teacher and program director. She holds her Elementary Professional Certificate through the CCA, and is certified through Dance Masters of America in tap, ballet, and jazz. Annie also holds her Alixa Flexibility Module One Certification. She has her B.A. in Early Childhood Education from Hood College and continues teacher training through DMA Teachers Training School, regional workshops and Rhee Gold DanceLife seminars.
Abby Buchanan
Abby has been teaching at the studio since 2010. She is a studio administrator and full time employee as a teacher, social media director, theatre director, assistant director of the competition team, and choreographer, and she also photographs our dancers for special events and social media. Abby has directed our theatre productions since 2020, most recently, The Addams Family and The Wizard of Oz. Abby works with our children’s camps throughout the summer including directing our Magical Musical Adventure Camp. She is certified through Dance Masters of America in tap, ballet, jazz and modern. She also holds her Module One and Two Acrobatic Arts certifications and is certified in Alixa Flexibility through Module 5 and has been a part of their team since 2021. She continues her teacher training through DMA national and regional workshops, NYCDA workshops, DMA’s Teacher’s Training School and Rhee Gold DanceLife seminars. Abby graduated from Shepherd University in 2016 with her B.S. in Strategic Communication, and from Southern New Hampshire University with her Masters Degree in 2022.
Ally Keller
Ally has been teaching at the studio since 2018. She is also a choreographer for our competition team and runs birthday parties, summer camps and seasonal Saturday mini-camps at the studio. Ally graduated from East Carolina University in 2017 with her B. F. A. in Dance Performance. After college she spent a year as a character performer in Walt Disney World. Ally is certified to teach Ultra Barre fitness classes and has her Module One, Two & Three Alixa Flexibility certification, as well as her certification in Rhythm Works Integrative Dance. She is a member of both Dance Masters of America and the Cecchetti Council of America. Ally is certified through DMA in ballet and jazz. She has also completed her Cecchetti teacher exams for Grades I-VI. Ally continues to train through Progressing Ballet Technique Workshops and by attending Rhee Gold DanceLife Seminars.
Tauri Munger
Tauri has been teaching at the studio since 2001 and is also a choreographer for our competition team. She is certified through Dance Masters of America both regionally and nationally in tap, ballet, jazz and modern. She has also completed her Cecchetti Teacher’s Grade I Exam, and is certified in Module One and Two of Alixa Flexibility. Tauri graduated from Towson University with a degree in communication studies. She continues her teacher training through DMA national and regional workshops, NYCDA workshops, DMA’s Teacher’s Training School and Rhee Gold DanceLife seminars. Additionally, she judges competitions at both the regional and national level.
Denise Hoover
Denise has been teaching at the studio since 2002, and she is also our studio seamstress. She loves teaching many of our youngest dancers! She has her B.S. degree in Business Administration from Frostburg State University. She also enjoys designing costumes for our dancers. Denise continues her training through Dance Masters of America’s Teachers Training School and Rhee Gold DanceLife seminars.
Jaimie Lea Kiska
Jaimie has been teaching at the studio since 2001 and she is also a choreographer for our competition team. She is certified through Dance Masters of America in tap, ballet, jazz and acrobatics. She is also a member of the ECC Cecchetti Council of America and has taken her teachers exams for Grades I-V. She also holds her Module One, Two & Three Alixa Certification. She is able to get additional teacher training through DMA national and regional workshops as well as Rhee Gold DanceLife seminar. She has her B.S. in Physical Education from Towson University and her Masters of Education from UMUC. Jaimie also has an extensive musical theatre background. Favorite credits include Mary Poppins in Mary Poppins, Tanya in Mamma Mia!, Belle in Beauty and the Beast, Doralee in 9 to 5, and Paulette in Legally Blonde.
Sarah Schreiber
Sarah has been teaching at the studio since 2017 and graduated from Middletown High School in 2020. She graduated from Hood College in the Spring of 2023 with a B.A. in Early Childhood Education with a concentration in Math Education. She currently teaches Kindergarten for FCPS at Valley Elementary School. Sarah is certified through Dance Masters of America in tap, ballet, and jazz. She also holds her Module One Alixa Flexibility certification, as well as her Rhythm Works Integrative Dance certification.
Lori Maly
Lori joined our office staff full time in 2021, began teaching young dancers in 2023, and is Intellidance Method: Babies certified. She has her BS in interior design from Radford University, has worked in the design field and ran her own childcare business for 13 years. She has been a part of the studio family with her daughter for many years and enjoys taking the adult musical theatre and tap classes herself. She loves the studio family and working with all of the programs we have to offer our amazing dancers.
Sam Buchanan
Sam has been teaching at the studio since 2013. He is a graduate of the Commercial Dance Program at Pace University in NYC, and currently on the "Cats" North American Tour as Plato/Macavity. He continues to choreograph for our competition team and to guest teach regularly. He is certified through Dance Masters of America in tap, ballet, and jazz. He trained in the Cecchetti Method as a student, successfully completing the Advanced Professional Student Exam, and then earned his Grade I Teacher’s Certificate in 2018. He is certified in Modules One and Two of Alixa Flexibility, and continues his training through Dance Masters of America and Rhee Gold DanceLife seminars. Sam represented Dance Masters of America as the 2018 Mister Dance of America. He also has an extensive musical theatre background. Favorite roles include Baby John in West Side Story, Joe in Damn Yankees, Willard in Footloose, and ensemble of Mamma Mia!
Lisa Dodson
Lisa has been teaching at the studio since 2016. She is our Dee Buchanan Theatre Experience Vocal instructor. She earned her Master of Music in Vocal Performance & Pedagogy from Westminster Choir College in 2000. She also has a B.A. in Music (Voice Performance) from Towson State University in 1996. She is a Professor of Voice at Hood College and has a private voice studio at home. She has been an active member of The National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) since 2011.
Ryan Sheehan
Ryan has been teaching at the studio since 2021. He studied Commercial Dance at Pace University in NYC, and has performed around the world with Step One Dance Company and Royal Caribbean. He choreographs for our competition team and guest teaches regularly.
Keller Knight
Keller has been on our staff since 2020, is currently studying music production at Elon University and graduated from Middletown High School in 2023. Keller is a current assistant director of our theatre program, a comp team choreographer and teacher at the studio. In 2022 he completed a Fundamentals of Hip-Hop teacher’s training program. Some of Keller’s recent theatre roles include Frank Jr. in Middletown High School’s production of Catch Me if You Can and Gomez Addams in the DBTE production of The Addams Family. He also assistant directed and choreographed for our 2023 production of The Wizard of Oz and our Magical Musical Adventure Camp.
Jordan Wanuck
Jordan Wanuck has been on our staff since 2020, is currently studying dance at Point Park University and graduated from Middletown High School in 2023. Jordan is a comp team choreographer and teacher at the studio. She is also a certified Rhythm Works assistant, Mid-Atlantic Teen Miss Dance 2021, and has been a Alixa Flexibility demonstrator and model since 2020.
Victoria Endicott
Victoria is a senior in the Commercial Dance program at Pace University in NYC, and began teaching at the studio in 2018. Growing up at DBSD, she trained in the Cecchetti Method as a student, successfully completing the Intermediate Professional Student Exam. She is currently a member of Bo Park’s dance company Shinsa: The Collective, and choreographs for our competition team and guest teaches regularly.
Desi Denton
Desiree has been teaching at the studio since 2016. Desiree holds a B.A. in Communications and Theatre Arts with a minor in Business. She received her diverse training in many places including Marywood University, Brooklyn College and NYU. After auditioning in NYC in the 2000’s, Ms. Desi put her acting talents to good use in corporate marketing and international training programs. She also loves to sing and perform whenever she can. Past favorite roles include: Emily in Our Town, Martha in The Secret Garden, Agnes in I Do! I Do! and Maggie Mundy in Dancing at Lughnasa. Upon moving back to Middletown in 2009, Desiree received her secondary education certification and she currently teaches Theatre Arts and English at the same high school she graduated from, Middletown High School.
Our Student Staff
Kate Hartinger has been on our staff since 2021 and is a member of the Middletown High School class of 2024. Kate is a teacher, assistant, and member of our Competition Team’s Teen Creative Team. She is a certified Acrobatic Arts assistant teacher and has been a dance captain in our theater productions. Kate often demonstrates for Alixa Flexibility and is a captain of the MHS Dance Line. Kate is also a part of the National Honor Society for Dance Arts.
McKenna Dunn has been on our staff since 2021 and is a member of the Middletown High School class of 2024. Mckenna is a teacher, assistant, and member of our Competition Team’s Teen Creative Team. She holds her Acrobatic Arts Assistant Certification, and is working on completing her Acrobatic Arts Module 1 certification. She has earned national scholarships, and has been a dance captain in our theatre productions. McKenna often demonstrates for Alixa Flexibility, is a captain of the MHS Dance Team, and a captain of the MHS Dance Line. Mckenna is ADA certified (including all children and the Americans with Disabilities Act); through the Epilepsy Foundation she has her seizure recognition and first aid certification; and she holds her 135-hour child training certification. She's also the President of Educators Rising, a club focused on learning about being a teacher.
Allison (Ally) Beck has been on our staff since 2021, and is a member of the Middletown High School class of 2024. Ally is a teacher, assistant, and member of our Competition Team’s Teen Creative Team. She has also been a leader in our theatre productions. Ally is a captain of the MHS Dance Line, as well as a member of National Arts Society of Dance.
Isabella (Izzy) Thompson has been on our staff since 2022 and is a member of the Middletown High School class of 2024. Izzy is a teacher, an assistant teacher, and member of our Competition Team’s Teen Creative Team. She is also a member of the MHS Dance Line, a member of the MHS Dance Team, and a part of our theatre productions.
Bailey Hardison has been on our staff since 2022 and is a member of the Middletown High School class of 2024. Bailey is a teacher, an assistant teacher, a member of the MHS Dance Line, and member of our Competition Team’s Teen Creative Team, and a part of our theatre productions.
Emily Smalt has been on staff since 2023. She is a member of the Middletown High School class of 2024. Emily is an assistant teacher, a member of the National Honors Dance Society, a member of the MHS Dance Line and has been a part of our theatre productions.
Madison Jonke has been on staff since 2023 and is a member of the Middletown High School class of 2024. Madison is ADA certified (including all children and the Americans with Disabilities Act) and holds her 90 hour child training certification. Madison is an assistant teacher this year and loves working with our young dancers.
Madison Whipp has been on staff since 2023 and a member of the Middletown High School class of 2025. Madison is a part of National Honors Dance Society, a team member of our Competition Team and has been a part of our theatre productions for many years, some notable parts including Grandma Addams from “The Addams Family” and the Lion in “The Wizard of Oz”
Lexi Maly has been on staff since 2023 and a member of the Middletown High School class of 2025. Lexi is an assistant teacher, a team member of our Competition Team, the Assistant Captain of the MHS Dance Line, a member of the MHS Dance Team and has been a part of our theatre productions for many years. Lexi is a part of the National Honors Dance Society and ADA certified (Including All Children and the Americans with Disabilities Act).
Meredith Dunn has been on staff since 2023 and a member of the Middletown High School class of 2026. Meredith is a member of our Competition Team, MHS Dance Line, and MHS Dance Team. Meredith is a part of the National Honors Dance Society, a demonstrator for Alixa Flexibility, and ADA certified (Including All Children and the Americans with Disabilities Act). She has been a part of our theatre productions both onstage and off.
Madelyn Kiska has been on staff since 2023. She is a member of the Middletown High School class of 2026. Madelyn is an assistant teacher, a member of the National Honors Dance Society, a team member of our Competition Team and has been a part of our theatre productions both on stage and as stage manager.
Lila Vandenbosche has been on staff since 2023 and a member of the Middletown High School class of 2026. Lila is a part of the National Honors Dance Society and the Educators rising Club at MHS. Lila is also ADA certified (including all children and the Americans with Disabilities Act). Lila is a team member of our Competition Team, the MHS Dance Line and Dance Team, and has been a part of our theatre productions for many years.
Our Support Staff
Sandy Buchanan, Colleen Dunn, & Karen Waters
Sandy is a full time Office Staff Member at the studio. She is the mother of four children and grandmother of five. She has attended classes in early childhood education and worked in the corporate world of insurance and mortgage preservation most of her life, so she is enjoying her many jobs at the studio she has had since 2015. She has attended a variety of trainings through Rhee Gold DanceLife seminars. Sandy loves watching the dancers grow and learn throughout the year and calls every dancer a “Shining Star".
Colleen Dunn joined the studio family in 2011 with her two daughters and joined our staff in 2021. She graduated from Radford university with a B.S. in Early Childhood/Elementary Education and teaches Pre-K at MPS. She loves watching all the dancers shine on and off the stage.
Karen joined our studio in December of 2015. She helped to run her husband’s dance studio for almost 31 years. There, she taught the 3 to 8 year olds in ballet, tap, and jazz. Her own 2 children literally grew up and danced in the dance school which was in their home. It is overwhelming special to be around the students, costumes and dance family again.
