INSTRUCTORS

Danielle Lash was born and raised in Pasadena, Maryland, and began dancing at the age of two. She trained in ballet, tap, and jazz at Scarlett Express before expanding her dance education at Dancer's Dreams Studio at the age of 12. In addition to dance, Danielle began competitive cheerleading at the age of five. Throughout her childhood, dance and cheer became an outlet that inspired confidence, resilience, and self-expression. Those experiences continue to shape her teaching philosophy today.

In 2001, Danielle joined the staff at Dancer's Dreams under the ownership of Gail Charney, where she discovered her passion for teaching and mentoring dancers of all ages. Over the years, she has dedicated herself to creating a positive learning environment where every student is encouraged to grow not only as a dancer, but also as a confident and compassionate individual.

Danielle has been deeply involved in the local community throughout her career. She has taught dance programs for several elementary schools, the Seton Keough Dance Team, Mercy High School Dance Team, and the Northeast High School Dance Company. She also spent many years coaching competitive cheerleading, including with Panther's Athletic Club from 2004 to 2017, Buccaneers Athletic Club from 2017 to 2018, Unified Cheerleading from 2015 to 2020, and Northeast High School Cheerleading from 2013 to 2020. Her coaching career has earned her numerous honors, including Coach of the Year, Best Dance, and Volunteer Service awards, and she has become a respected mentor throughout the Pasadena community.

In 2010, Danielle became a certified Acro instructor and has continued to expand her education through professional training with some of the industry's leading teachers and choreographers. Her choreography has been recognized with numerous Choreography Awards and Choreographer of the Year honors at both regional and national competitions. Under her leadership, Dancer's Dreams has also earned multiple Studio of Excellence awards, recognizing the studio's commitment to quality instruction, positive values, and artistic growth.

In 2019, Danielle proudly became the owner of Dancer's Dreams Studio. Since taking over, she has remained committed to creating a welcoming, supportive, and inclusive environment where every dancer feels safe, valued, and inspired to reach their full potential. Under her direction, Dancer's Dreams has also been honored as Best Business in Pasadena for five consecutive years, reflecting the studio's dedication to excellence both inside and outside the classroom.

Danielle believes that dance is about so much more than winning trophies. While she is proud of her students' competitive achievements, her greatest goal is to provide a strong dance education that prepares students for success both on and off the stage. She believes in teaching discipline, respect, kindness, teamwork, leadership, and perseverance while helping dancers build confidence and lifelong friendships. Her philosophy is centered on creating a sense of community where every dancer feels they belong and learns the value of supporting others, giving back, and becoming not only great performers, but great human beings.

Danielle's mission is to Empower, Inspire, and Believe. She is passionate about helping every student discover their potential, develop a lifelong love of dance, and leave the studio with skills and values that extend far beyond the dance floor.

Kristy began dancing at the age of 5 and grew up dancing at Edna Lee Dance Studio. After high school, she attended Salisbury University where she received her degree in elementary education and dance. While at SU she was a 4 year member of the SU Dance Company where she studied under numerous professionals in the business as well as won numerous awards for her student choreography. Kristy also taught at the nationally ranked D’Ann Dance Studio in Salisbury. After graduating she returned home to Pasadena and began teaching at Dancers Dreams under the direction of Gail Charney. 
In 2004, Kristy received her Masters Degree from McDaniel College in Curriculum and Instruction. She has been teaching at the Dancers Dreams dance studio for 32 years in all genres and age groups. Kristy is involved with the competition team, and loves choreographing and teaching competition dances. Her choreography has won numerous high point and choreography awards throughout the years. She has had the pleasure of seeing several generations of dancers pass through the studio and feels blessed to be able to pass on her training, education and passion for dance to each student!

Deven graduated summa cum laude with the class of 2019 from Northeast High School in Pasadena, Maryland. Upon graduating, Deven was named a Linehan Artist Scholar and is currently a freshman at UMBC double majoring in dance and mathematics. Deven discovered his talent and love of dance when a serendipitous scheduling conflict forced him into a dance class in middle school. As a high school freshman, Deven joined the high school dance company and began studying dance at Dancer's Dreams Dance Studio in Pasadena. When Deven isn't studying dance, he is teaching multiple techniques to other dancers at the studio where he trained. After college Deven plans to pursue a career in commercial  dance and travel the world

Kylie Freeburger grew up dancing at Dancer's Dreams, and has been a part of the DD family since she was 4 years old. She trained in various styles under the direction of Gail Charney, Danielle Lash, and a variety of other staff in ballet, jazz, tap, lyrical, hiphop, contemporary, and pointe. She attended James Madison University to study Dance, specializing in Performance & Choreography, as well as Hospitality Management & Business to pursue her other passion, Wedding & Event Planning. At JMU, she found a passion for learning about Anatomy & Physiology and how it relates to dance, which now plays a heavy role in her teachings. After graduating from JMU, she returned home and began teaching her own classes at DD. Additionally, she works in Event Management and opened her own Wedding Planning company! When not working, she is hanging out with her Golden Retriever, Penny.

Caitlyn began her dance education at the age of 2 at Dancer’s Dreams Dance Studio where she studied ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, hip hop, and pointe. Throughout her grade school dance career she had the privilege to train under artists Will Bell, Brandon Bryant, Twitch, and James Washington to name a few. Caitlyn was also recognized as an All-State dancer and was awarded the National Excellence in the Arts Award at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. Caitlyn continued her dance career at Towson University where she was a member of the nationally recognized Towson University Dance Team. With over twenty five years of dance training and a decade of choreography experience, she is most passionate about educating the next generation of dancers. Caitlyn teaches with the objective to train dancers who express their artistry, are technically sound, and are physically strong.

With many years of dance experience, including six years of competitive dance, and a few years of teaching, Ms. Zoe brings energy, creativity, and a whole lot of passion to every class! Teaching styles ranging from jazz, hip hop, musical theatre, and contemporary to Tiny Tots, pre-dance, and beginner dance, Ms. Zoe loves helping dancers of all ages build confidence, develop their skills, and express themselves. Her goal is to create a fun, welcoming environment where every dancer feels encouraged to learn, shine, and most importantly, have fun! 

Linda is from Pasadena, Maryland and began her dance training her senior year of high school.
In college she explored several dance styles including: jazz, modern, and ballet. Upon
completing her bachelor’s degree in modern language and linguistics from the University of
Maryland, Baltimore County, Linda was excited to be cast as a dancer in a short film in the
Frederick Film Festival. She has continued exploring the dance world, taking classes in lyrical,
tap and ballet at various local studios and has performed in four local productions of the
Nutcracker, as well as several annual recitals. Linda attended the CUSA Classical Ballet
Summer Intensive in 2023 and 2024. As well as the CUSA Professional Development Teachers
Retreat in the summer of 2025.
Linda is most grateful to her former teacher and mentor, Gail Charney, for introducing her to the
Cecchetti ballet method. It was then that she fell in love with ballet!
Linda has been teaching dance since 2008. She holds her Teacher Certificate #1 through
Cecchetti USA and has presented students for ballet exams. She continues to study the Cecchetti
Ballet method under the direction of Elaine Seidman.
Linda never imagined that dance would play such a huge role in her life, but it has brought her so
much happiness and has introduced her to so many people and opportunities. Linda enjoys
spreading her love of dance to students of all ages.

A recent high school graduate, she is excited to begin her teaching journey while continuing to share her love of dance with the next generation. She trained at Dancer's Dreams Dance Studio for 12 years, where she developed a strong technical foundation and a lifelong passion for dance. As a competitive dancer, she had the opportunity to train in both Los Angeles and New York with many respected choreographers, gaining valuable experience in a variety of dance styles. She loves working with dancers of all ages, from the youngest students to advanced dancers, and enjoys watching them grow in confidence, technique, and artistry while continuing to grow as an instructor herself. She is looking forward to an incredible season and is excited to inspire, encourage, and support every dancer who walks through the studio doors.

Isabelle Everhart's love for dance started at a young age and has grown into a lifelong passion for teaching, choreographing, and inspiring the next generation of dancers. She began dancing at Dancer's Dreams Dance Studio, where she trained in ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, hip hop, and heels.

With years of competitive experience, Isabelle has received numerous overall, choreography, and technique awards, but her proudest accomplishment has always been watching her students grow in confidence, not just as dancers, but as individuals.

She has a strong background in choreographing soloists, duets, and group pieces for all ages and styles. Isabelle is passionate about creating routines that not only look good on stage but also bring out each dancer’s personality and potential.

When she’s not in the studio, she’s continuing to learn, create, and find new ways to make every class a positive and empowering experience.

Isabelle is dedicated to building a dance family where every dancer feels seen, supported, and inspired to be the best version of themselves.

Ashley began dancing at the age of three at Dancer’s Dreams, under the direction of Gail Charney. She trained in a variety of dance styles, including ballet, jazz, tap, hip hop, lyrical and contemporary. Through her training, she developed a particular interest in the style of tap. Ashley joined the studio’s competition team at the age of 9 and competed with the team through her senior year of high school. Ashley’s dance training continued outside of the studio. She was a member of the Old Mill High School dance company for all four years of high school and was selected as co-captain during her senior year. As a member of the OMDC, she choreographed several pieces and performed at various county, state and national dance festivals. After graduating from high school in 2013, Ashley went on to pursue her bachelor’s degree in speech-language pathology at Towson University. During her time at Towson, she was a member of Fusion Dance Team. She was appointed to Fusion’s first athletic performance team and performed at various sporting events. She also choreographed several pieces for the team, including Fusion’s first ever tap routine. After graduating from Towson in 2017, Ashley continued her education at Loyola University Maryland, where she graduated with her master’s degree in speech-language pathology in the spring of 2019. Ashley returned to Dancer’s Dreams in 2018 to take classes and started teaching at the studio in 2019. She enjoys helping dancers at the studio achieve their full potential. 

Emily trained in ballet, contemporary, lyrical, jazz, and tap at Edna Lee Dance Studio under the direction of Ashley Canterna-Hardy. She continued her dance training at High Point University’s Department of Theater and Dance under the direction of Lindsay Howie and Christine Stevens, and performed in many university productions—including the The Nutcracker—where she refined her technique and choreographic style. 

Emily previously taught ballet at C&C Dance Company before joining Dancer’s Dreams staff, where she now teaches ballet levels 2, 2.5, variations, and pointe. 
 

Emily lives locally with her mini dachshund, Hazel, and loves yoga, home renovation, and thrifting. 

Hayden Martinez is part of the Dancer's Dreams teaching team. Full bio coming soon!

Preston Rice lives and breathes dance! With 11 years on the Dancer’s Dreams competition team, dance is more than a passion for him. It is a part of who he is. Preston has continued to challenge himself and grow as an artist, training with a variety of choreographers in Los Angeles, New York, Orlando, and New Jersey. His dedication, love for movement, and commitment to his craft continue to shape him as both a dancer, performer and teacher.

Beyond the studio, Preston is also a member of his school’s dance team and a dedicated leader within his school’s Unified program, where he helps foster inclusion, teamwork, and acceptance. He brings that same leadership, heart, and determination into everything he does.

For Preston, dance is about more than steps. It is about passion, growth, expression, and inspiring others. He is proud to be part of the Dancer’s Dreams family, where he continues to Empower, Inspire, and Believe both on and off the stage.

With over 22 years of dance experience, including 19 years at Dancers Dreams, dance has always been a huge part of my life. I have been teaching for over a decade and have taught dancers of all ages. I currently teach adult lyrical, and my training includes lyrical, hip hop, ballet, tap, and jazz. Outside of dance, I am also a registered nurse and a new mama to a baby boy. I love sharing my passion for dance with others and helping dancers build confidence, express themselves, and enjoy the art of movement!

I have been part of the Dancers Dreams family since I was three years old and have been competing for 11 years. Dance has always been a huge part of my life, and I am so excited to share my passion with the next generation of dancers. My goal is to help my students grow in confidence, develop their skills, and create the same amazing memories through dance that I have throughout my journey.

New York–based artist Joe Temperino brings a unique blend of artistry, intensity, and individuality to every class and choreographic experience. With a diverse background in contemporary, improvisation, modern, ballet, jazz, hip-hop, and more, trained by faculty from the Professional Performing Arts High School in Manhattan, New York, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and the Purchase Conservatory of Dance. Joe combines technical training with a strong emphasis on musicality, authenticity, and personal expression.

His performance credits include: a TV Series Documentary of West Side Story with The Company BBC In London, So You Think You Can Dance, Americas Got Talent, the Purchase Dance Company performing repertory by Ohad Naharin, Marcus Jarrell Willis, and Norbert De La Cruz lll. Performing at Madison Square Garden, concert’s Disco Ball and Freestyle For All. Joe has worked as not only a dancer but choreographer as well in many collaborations with acclaimed artists and choreographers.

Specializing in contemporary and improvisation, Joe creates an energetic, challenging, and creatively driven environment that encourages dancers to take risks, break boundaries, and discover what makes their movement uniquely theirs. Through his classes and choreography, he aims to push dancers beyond their comfort zones while developing artists who move with intention, individuality, and purpose.

Every great dance family needs a friendly face, and ours is always ready to greet you with a smile! Our receptionist is often one of the first people you meet when you walk through the doors of Dancer’s Dreams, helping make our dancers and families feel welcome from the moment they arrive.

From answering questions and assisting parents to helping keep things running smoothly around the studio, she plays an important role in creating the positive, family-oriented environment that makes Dancer’s Dreams so special.

At Dancer’s Dreams, we believe we are more than just dance steps. We are a family built on encouragement, connection, and community. We are so grateful to have a smiling face at the front desk helping make our studio feel like home!

Ms. Holly is part of the Dancer’s Dreams teaching team. Full bio coming soon!

Ms. Cheyenne is part of the Dancer’s Dreams teaching team. Full bio coming soon!

Nikki Stary began dancing at Dancers Dreams at just 5 years old and spent 10 years on the competition team, making countless memories and building a love for dance that has become such a big part of her life. A 2026 graduate, Nikki has lived in Pasadena her entire life and currently works as a Temporary Support Assistant (TSA) at Bodkin Elementary.

Nikki has always loved working with children and has spent the past 6 years assisting classes at Dancers Dreams. Now, she is excited to continue sharing her passion for dance as the instructor of the Tiny Tots class on Thursdays! Having grown up at Dancers Dreams herself, Nikki loves the opportunity to help the next generation of little dancers learn, grow, build confidence, and discover their own love for dance. 

Sydney Purdy is part of the Dancer's Dreams teaching team. Full bio coming soon!