Instructors

LEA MOORE, Director, Instructor

Mrs. Moore holds a Bachelor of Arts from George Mason University and has been teaching since 1986. She is a professional dancer with a strong background in jazz, lyrical, classical ballet, hip-hop, and tap.  In August of 2006, Lea was contacted by Cirque du Soleil to provide a contemporary class to their dancers the day of their show at the John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville!  

Lea's professional performing career was featured with several top jazz and tap companies throughout the Washington, DC and Northern Virginia areas. Lea choreographed for and participated on dance teams in the NBA and the AFL (Arena Football League). As a choreographer, her work has won recognition in national competitions and featured in national benefit performances and several industrials throughout the East Coast. Lea choreographed and co-taught at an early age with lead instructors for major dance organizations in the United States including Dance Educators of America, Dance Masters of America, Dance Olympus, and Dance Caravan.

Lea has performed at many venues throughout her career. The scholarship pageant she performed with was asked to travel throughout England, Scotland and Wales by Prime Minster Margaret Thatcher in 1987, for which the group received special commendation from the Prime Minster herself. She has performed at the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington, DC and the National Lighting of the White House Christmas Tree Celebration with Sherry Lewis and Johnny Mathis. She was also a featured dancer for the Hispanic Designers Fashion Gala & Benefit, a high-level fashion show in Washington that included top designers such as Oscar De La Renta, Carolina Herrera and Fernando Sanchez.

Additionally, she has choreographed and co-produced musical productions in public schools, and for six years was the choreographer of several productions for the Eastern Virginia School for the Performing Arts in Williamsburg such as: Alice in Wonderland, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Brigadoon, Oliver, and the Wizard of Oz. Lea also has experience in modeling and print work, Hawaiian dance, and Martial Arts. One of Lea’s students that she trained from the age of 9 was the Dance Captain at Busch Gardens, Williamsburg and is now one of the world famous Rockettes in NYC.

Lea’s training in jazz, tap and lyrical developed over the years through various instructors such as Gary Pate, owner Dance Power Convention & Starpower Competitions and through workshops in NYC with Joe Termaine, Doug Cadwell and Frank Hatchett. Her classical ballet training was with Vaganova and Legatt techniques, nurtured by Sandra Balestracci of the Eastern Virginia School for the Performing Arts (EVSPA), and the Kintz-Mejia Academy of Ballet.

TABITHA APPLE, Instructor (Jazz, Tap, Contemporary)

Tabitha holds a B.S. degree from James Madison University and is currently a Ph.D. student at The University of Virginia. She is the coach and choreographer for the UVA Dance Team and judge/choreographer for high school dance teams along the East Coast. Tabitha teaches jazz, tap, and hip-hop styles of dance for ages 9-Adult and has done so for the Boars Head Sport Club, The University of Virginia Aquatic & Fitness Center and most recently for Dance Explosion in Charlottesville, VA. Her specialty is in group/team oriented performance styles and her choreography ranges in fusions of hip-hop, jazz and pom with rock, pop, classical, contemporary and other expressive ideas. Tabitha’s instruction began in Stafford, VA where she received classical dance training in ballet, jazz, lyrical, and pointe from former Joffrey dancer Elizabeth Gauss and director Jan Williams. Early on, she realized her inclination toward group performances and related choreography as a captain and choreographer for her high school dance team, District & Regional Champion Varsity Cheerleader (both at NSHS), and performer and competitor for the nationally awarded JMU Dance Team, The Dukettes. Tabitha has received additional instruction though the Dance Department at JMU, through NDA, UDA and UCA summer intensive camps, and from instructors in Charlottesville, VA. She has performed at Walt Disney World’s Epcot, during the Presidential Inaugural Parade in 2000, and competed throughout VA, FL, and MD in competitions held by the National Dance Alliance and Universal Dance Association.

Jenny Dean, Instructor (Latin & Ballroom)

Jenny Dean holds a Bachelors of Fine Arts degree from Virginia Commonwealth University, and has been teaching Latin and ballroom dance professionally since 1999. She started dancing ballet, tap and jazz in Kentucky at the age of 12. During her junior and senior years of high school Jenny taught ballet to children ages 3-13. She was introduced to ballroom dancing during her first years of collegeand instantly fell in love with the art, movement, expression and the performance of ballroom dancing. She studied under the direct tutelage of her uncle, Terry Dean training intensively with for 8 years and mastering the craft and skill of teaching, dancing and performing. During this time she also received additional coaching from decorated U.S. dance champions David Hamilton, Bob Powers and Julia Gorchakova, and Peter Collins. Jenny has choreographed and performed in many ballroom showcases in Charlottesville which both showcased the talent and skill of her students as well as Jenny’s unique styling and abilities. As well as being a ballroom dance instructor Jenny is also a middle school art teacher. She works full-time to teach young children the passion for fine art.

STEPHANIE FINN, Instructor (Acting & Musical Theater)

Stephanie began acting at the age of four in a production of Gigi at the Barn Theatre in Stuart, FL. She continued to perform through elementary, middle, and high school, where she appeared in a variety of productions, from dramas such as Macbeth and Street Scene to musicals including A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, with her high school Drama Club and local community theatre. Stephanie attended the University of Virginia, receiving her MA in History. While at the University, she took a number of acting and performance classes with the UVa Drama Department, and participated in character and scene study from shows such as Romeo and Juliet, The Memory of Water, The Children's Hour, London Suite, Twelfth Night, Hedda Gabbler, Action, Little Murders , and Anna Christie. Since graduation, Stephanie has immersed herself in theatre. Again taking acting classes, she is currently the producer of A Streetcar Named Desire and stage-manager of WEB at Live Arts, and has acted there in the recent production of The Pillowman and a staged-reading of a work by a local author, The Cracks Between. Stephanie happily dedicates most of her free time to theatre, whether she's on stage acting, singing or dancing or behind the scenes stage-managing, producing or building and painting sets. This summer Stephanie will be traveling to Edinburgh to work the Fringe Festival, the world's largest arts festival.

PATRICK (“PC”) FLEMING, Instructor (Ballroom)

PC Fleming is a PhD student in English literature at UVA. He began dancing as an undergraduate at Pomona College, in California, where he was a member of the collegiate national championship formation team. He now dances with the Ballroom Dance Club at UVA, and was captain of the formation team from 2007-2008. PC has been teaching dance since 2003, and enjoys all styles of partner dancing. He competes as an amateur in International style Latin and Standard, and regularly takes lessons from Lee Santos, Lydia Petrigova, and Dan Calloway.

JESSICA GEISLER, Instructor (Ballet and Jazz)

Jessica holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and Biochemistry from Duquesne University. She has seven years of experience as a ballet and jazz instructor from the Pittsburgh, PA area. Jessica has studied and performed with the prestigious Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre for six years. She trained privately under the tulage of Marianne and Renee Irwin and the Center for Theater Arts where she also participated in musicals such as Grease and Footloose. She studied ballet and hip-hop at Point Park University. Jessica is currently a graduate student at the University of Virginia pursuing her PhD in Pharmacology and is continuing her training in dance and furthering her skills in dance instruction with Lea Moore.

Tessa Nunn, Instructor (Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Yoga)

Tessa has been teaching ballet, creative movement, hip-hop, tap, musical theater, yoga and jazz since 2003 in the Charlottesville and Tidewater areas of Virginia . She is also an Aerobics and Fitness Association of America certified group fitness instructor. Tessa’s diverse dance training includes ballet, hip-hop, jazz, tap, modern, contact improvisation, musical theater, historical social dances, belly dance, and character dance. Her primary training comes from the Chamber Ballet Institute for Dance in Williamsburg , where she was an instructor and member of the Robitshek Dance Ensemble’s touring company. Tessa performed in the L’Art de la Danse tour in various cities in Germany , and was a member of the Institute for Dance’s performing kick line for four years. She has also attended conventions and master classes with Frank Hatchett, Gennadi Vostrikov, Sandra Carlino, and Joan Lather. Tessa is currently a student at UVA pursuing a French and Education major with a minor in Dance and is a member of the Rhapsody Ballet Ensemble.

Rachael Shaw, Instructor (Early Childhood, Jazz, Modern)

Rachael holds a BFA in Dance and Choreography from Virginia Commonwealth University, and possesses eight years of teaching experience with ages three through adult in ballet, jazz, modern, composition, and creative movement. Rachael trained with Donald McKayle, David Dorfman, and Joanna Mendl-Shaw. She is a founding member of R Squared Contemporary Dance Company in Charlottesville. Her work has been shown in Mexico, Richmond and Charlottesville. Rachael currently is the Director of Operations of Miki Liszt Dance Company in Charlottesville, producing and choreographing performances. Rachael has been a part of local companies such as inFluxdance, Uprooted Dance Theater Company, Starr Foster Dance Project, Prospect Dance Group, Zen Monkey Project and Ground Zero Dance Company.

MATT STEFFANINA, Instructor (Hip Hop and Breakdancing)
Matt is a Certified Personal Trainer from the American Council on Exercise (ACE). His teaching experience includes hip hop, breakdancing, and athletic conditioning. Recently, he spent time in New York and Los Angeles taking classes from choreographers such as Dave Scott (You Got Served, Stomp the Yard), Marty Kudelka (Justin Timberlake’s Tour), and Poppin’ Pete (Michael Jackson). His style mixes all the forms of hip hop from popping and locking, to sliding and breaking. Matt also teaches hip hop and breakdancing at the University of Virginia. Additionally, Matt is experienced at performing health appraisals, developing training programs and gym maintenance. He graduated from the Professional Fitness Institute's personal training program in July of 2005, and is currently completing the Well Coaches Program through ACE. Matt also has experience as a Tae Kwon Do instructor, holding a 2nd degree Black Belt, and is an AASI certified snowboard instructor.

ELICIA WILLIAMS, Instructor (Ballet)

Elicia has been dancing for fourteen years and began her training in modern dance at Virginia Tanner’s School of Dance, one of the top modern dance schools for children in the country. When she was seven she began her classical ballet training at the Eastside Ballet Center in Arizona and at the age of ten she was accepted into the school’s performing company. She also participated in the school’s teacher training program, assisting in the education of the children at the school. Elicia was accepted to several prestigious classical ballet programs such as the Brianksy Saratoga Ballet Center in Saratoga Springs NY and the Harid Conservatory in Boca Raton, FL, where she also attended the school for the year. At Harid, Elicia studied under Olivier Pardina, Svetlana Osiyeva, and Victoria Schneider. She received a strict Vaganova training as well as education in pointe, partnering, pilates, kinesiology, modern, character, and variations.

LORI WILSON, Instructor (Jazz, Tap, Modern, and Ballet)

Lori holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in dance with a minor in entrepreneurial studies from Muhlenberg College. She has eight years of experience as an assistant and substitute instructor in Jazz, Lyrical, Tap, Ballet and Acrobatics from Rochester, NY. Lori has studied, performed and competed in ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, pointe and acrobatics. Lori continued her dance training and performing at Muhlenberg College in Allentown, PA. Here she performed in numerous concerts with the Muhlenberg Dance Association and was also a member of the Muhlenberg Ballet Ensemble and Copasetic Rhythms, the tap company. Lori also trained and performed at many conventions and workshops, including the American College Dance Festival and with the Joy of Motion Dance Project in Washington, DC. In 2004, she moved to Orlando, FL for employment with the Walt Disney World entertainment department. At Disney, Lori was a performer in various shows and parades along with additional work at the Disney-MGM Studios and the Magic Kingdom.  Lori is currently a member of the Miki Liszt Modern Dance Company in Charlottesville.  

Lea Moore, Director & Instructor

(434) 953-8268