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 has 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, Two and Three 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, the co-advisor of the National Dance Honor Society, and choreographer for the MHS musical each year. 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 directs our theatre productions including Disney's "Newsies," Disney's "Beauty and the Beast," "White Christmas" and Disney and Cameron Mackintosh's "Mary Poppins." Abby works with our children’s camps throughout the summer. 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, her Module One, Two, Three and Four Alixa Flexibility certifications, and she is certified through Rhythm Works Integrative Dance. 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. She also worked for the Walt Disney Company in the fall of 2014.
Ally Keller
Ally has been teaching at the studio since 2018. She is also a choreographer for our competition team and assists in planning 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. 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 Flexibly 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-V. 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. 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 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 2019. She 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. Sarah is currently a senior at Hood College studying Early Childhood Education
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 an active member of National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) since 2011. She also regularly adjudicates regional vocal competitions, and is a Professor of Voice at UMBC and Hood College.
Desi Denton
Desiree has been teaching at the studio since 2016. She is overjoyed to be the studio’s theatre improv and acting instructor. 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
Hannah Middlekauff has been on our teen staff since 2020 and is a member of the Williamsport High School class of 2023. Hannah is a teacher, assistant, and member of our Competition Team’s Teen Creative Team. She has also received national scholarships and been a dance captain in our theatre productions. She is also working toward completing her Acrobatic Arts certification. and demonstrates for Alixa Flexibility.
Jordan Wanuck has been on our teen staff since 2020 and is a member of the Middletown High School class of 2023. Jordan is a teacher, assistant, and member of our Competition Team’s Teen Creative Team. She is also a certified Rhythm Works assistant, Mid-Atlantic Teen Miss Dance 2021, a member of the MHS Dance Team, an Alixa Flexibility demonstrator and has been a dance captain in our theatre productions.
Keller Knight has been on our staff since 2020 and is a member of the Middletown High School class of 2023. Keller is a teacher, assistant, and member of our Competition Team’s Teen Creative Team. He has held numerous dance titles and has been a student dance captain, leader and is a current production assistant in our theatre productions.
Maddie Weir has been on our staff since 2020 and is a member of the Boonsboro High School class of 2023. Maddie is a teacher, assistant, and member of our Competition Team’s Teen Creative Team. She is also working toward completing her acrobatic arts certification.
Lauren Lipinski has been on our staff since 2020 and is a member of the Middletown High School class of 2023. Lauren is a teacher, assistant, and member of our Competition Team’s Teen Creative Team and a member of the MHS Dance Team. She is also a NHSDA officer and interns at the elementary school.
Emma Kufta has been on our staff since 2020 and is a member of the Middletown High School class of 2023. Emma is a teacher, assistant, and member of our Competition Team’s Teen Creative Team and a member of the MHS Dance Team.
Sarah West has been on our staff since 2021 and is a member of the Middletown High School class of 2023. Sarah is a teacher, assistant, and member of our Competition Team’s Teen Creative Team. She is also a captain of the MHS Dance Line and a member of the MHS Dance Team.
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 also working toward completing her Acrobatic Arts certification and has been a dance captain in our theatre productions. Kate often demonstrates for Alixa Flexibility, is a member of the MHS Dance Team and is an assistant captain of the MHS Dance Line.
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 is also working toward completing her Acrobatic Arts certification, has earned national scholarships, and has been a dance captain in our theatre productions. McKenna often demonstrates for Alixa Flexibility, is a member of the MHS Dance Team, and is 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 90-hour child training certification. She's also the secretary of Educators Rising, a club focused on learning about being a teacher.
Allison Beck has been on our staff since 2021 and is a member of the Middletown High School class of 2024. Allison is a teacher, assistant, and member of our Competition Team’s Teen Creative Team, and has been a leader in our theatre productions. Allison is also an assistant captain of the MHS Dance Line and a member of the MHS Dance Team.
Isabella Thompson has been on our staff since 2022 and is a member of the Middletown High School class of 2024. Izzy is an assistant teacher, 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 an assistant teacher, a member of the MHS Dance Line, a member of the MHS Dance Team, and a part of our theatre productions.
Our Support Staff
Sandy Buchanan, Lori Maly, 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.”
Lori Maly joined our office staff full time in 2021 and is the mother of three children. She has her BS in interior design from Radford University and 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.
Colleen Dunn joined the studio family in 2011 with her two daughters and joined our staff in 2011. She graduated from Radford university with a B.S. in Interdisciplinary studies (Early Childhood/Elementary Education) and teaches Kindergarten 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.
