Jens Lee, a native of New Castle, Pa, is an internationally known and acclaimed Professional Dancer/Teacher/Choreographer in dance styles such as Ballet, Jazz, Modern (Horton), Tap, Contemporary, Musical Theatre and Ballroom. Starting at a young age in Theatre, Jens has been in over 100 productions through out the East Coast. Some of his Equity gigs include TWELFTH NIGHT/COMEDY OF ERRORS (Great Lakes Theatre which included a performance for a GLT Alumni TOM HANKS), PIPPIN-Dance Captain (Cain Park), ANYTHING GOES/MUSIC MAN (Porthouse Theatre), ALTAR BOYZ (Becks Center/Hanna Theatre), and BEAUTY AND THE BEAST-Beast/ANNIE GET YOUR GUN-Tommy/OUR TOWN-George/CHRISTMAS SCHOONER-Oscar (Thunderbay Theatre). As a Choreographer, some of his works include NO NO NANETTE/GUYS N DOLLS (Bedford High School), LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS/LEGALLY BLONDE (John Carroll University) FOOTLOOSE (Medina High School) and THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE (Mercury Summer Stock). He recently was highlighted in the 100th year Gala for the Cleveland Foundation.

Jens’s training in dance started with Classical Ballet with the Cecchetti style under the guidance of Gigi Hazan, Kathie Halbert and the Cecchetti Council of American to become certified in Cecchetti Teacher I. Later on to Vaganova and French styles of ballet from Richard Dickinson (Boston Ballet, Verb Ballets, Great Lakes Ballet), Robert Steele (Boston Ballet, Lake Erie Ballet), Anita Lin (Ballet Western Reserve) and Debbie Parou (New Castle Regional Ballet). Jens is also a trained medal winning Triathlete/Marathon runner. Certified in the 13 styles of American Ballroom/Rhythm, Jens was personally trained and coached by the World Ballroom/Theatre Arts Champion George Hendricks and the Former 10 Dance Champion Martin Lamb. As a Professional Instructor and trainer, Jens has taught thousands of students all around the world from age 3-92. Some have received scholarships in dance to colleges and schools such as OSU, YSU, NYCU, Juilliard, CSU, SUNY, and Alvin Ailey to name a few. He has also been the Ballet Master for multiple Studios including Cleveland School of the Arts, Elite Dance of Brunswick, Ohio and Bingham Center of Midland, Texas. His professional credits as a Guest Artist has been (Nutcracker-Drosselmeyer, Russian, Chinese, Snow Prince, Act 2 Grande Pas Prince, Rat King, Arabian, Marzipan / Peter Pan-Father / Cinderella-Prince, Dance Master / Little Mermaid- Prince) for the New Castle Regional Ballet, Laurel Ballet, Allegro Arts, Ballet Western Reserve, Pittsburgh Youth Ballet Company and Neo’s Dance Theatre (Cinderella-Step Mother / Nutcracker-Trepak, Mouse King. Some of his other works include TOBI ROPPO for the Verlezza Modern Dance Co, Four Pause for the Laurel Ballet and Paquita Pas de Deux, Heinz Poll Pas and Inamorata for Richard Dickinson at Ballet Western Reserve. Other Regional credits included CHRISTMAS ON ICE for SPIRIT OF THE DANCE at the Palace Theatre in Myrtle Beach. He was also with Princess Cruise lines as one of their Professional Dancers and was recently rewarded their CONSUMMATE HOST OF THE MONTH for a heroic action. Sailing with Princess, Jens has had the honor to dance and teach for tens of thousands of people and see such places as the Caribbean, West Coast USA, Alaska, Hawaii, South Pacific islands, New Zealand, Australia, and South East Asia from Thailand to Japan. As a Competitive Judge, Jens has taught Master Classes and Judge for TURN IT AROUND TOUR & Dance Masters of America.

Kaleigh was only with us one year as a student and member of Parallel Performance Company before joining us as an instructor. She was a competitive dancer for 6 years and was a part of the dance company at high school. She’s choreographed several pieces selected for showcase at the Maryland state festival and was the Dance Captain in the KIHS spring musical Wizard of Oz! She recently graduated from Anne Arundel Community College and will be continuing her education at Florida Atlantic University in the fall of 2022. She is super pumped to be able to stay involved in this amazing dance family and beyond excited to have had this opportunity to be able to teach these past 2 years.

Hey guys! Full circle moment for me to be returning to S1D2 as a guest teacher for this season, and I’m SO PUMPED!! Born and raised on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, I started dancing when I was 5, joined the Step One Dance Two fam when I was 10, and trained under Jess and Ashley until I graduated High School. I attended college at Point Park University for two years studying for my BFA in dance, but this all changed when I was accepted into the inaugural class of the CLI Conservatory directed by Teddy Forance. During my time there, I spent the year living in Massachusetts studying under some of the top professional choreographers and dancers in our industry on a daily basis. I feel like I left the conservatory with so much growth and knowledge, and I’m just so excited to share it with you all for some of your “Persevere” season! I will be spending my time outside of the studio working with a couple of conventions and traveling to places such as New York and LA taking classes, networking, and auditioning, and figuring out where I see myself living for a while. Let’s go season 12!

Tia joined S1D2 as a hip hop student during their 2nd year on Kent Island and was a student for 9 years, expanding her classes to also include contemporary, jazz, partnering, and ballet. As her skills grew, she progressed to serving as a Protege, and eventually a Teacher Trainer, as well as becoming a member of Parallel Performance Company.

After high school graduation, Tia headed to Toronto, Canada to study at the College of Makeup Art & Design and graduated from the Complete Makeup Artist Program. Now a freelance makeup artist, she’s returned home and rejoined her studio as an instructor and boutique associate. She has also accepted the privilege of serving as captain of the Parallel and Paradigm companies this year. Tia is so glad to be back and is looking forward to teaching at the studio!

Savannah has been dancing since the age of two, and has been with Step 1 Dance 2 Academy since it’s opening on Maryland’s Eastern Shore in 2011. Her enrollment at S1D2 began with a single hip hop class, but soon grew to include ballet, contemporary, jazz, tap, pointe and partnering. Savannah also trained in gymnastics for numerous years when she was younger, providing her with a strong background in acrobatics and tumbling technique.

In her rapid growth from one class to many, Savannah took part in various master classes, with reputable artists who have worked across the United States. Savannah was also honored to be a part of the first year of Parallel Performance Company, where she expanded her performance horizons to include shows in New York City and New Jersey. With her teammates, she received a scholarship to attend Broadway Dance Center’s four-day Intensive to come and train with various artists and choreographers.

Savannah was introduced to the protégé team her third year of dancing with S1D2. She had the opportunity to assist with dance’s youngest enthusiasts, the Little Movers and Pre-Dance classes. It was through this opportunity that Savannah found her passion for teaching and enthusiasm for sharing her love of dance. In 2017 she was offered the opportunity to teacher train these classes,  and since then has grown to become an instructor. This opportunity has not only pushed Savannah to discover her creative potential by putting choreography onstage, but it has also inspired her to continue to learn and grow as a dancer herself to better her dance education methods for her classes. She is very excited for the opportunity to share another year with her amazing students, and hopes to inspire each and every one of them in some way or another!

Savannah graduated from North Caroline High School in 2018. She then went on to earn her associates in biological sciences from Chesapeake College. Currently, she is studying at Delaware Technical Community College to eventually pursue a career as a Licensed Veterinary Technician. Through her ambitious college endeavors, and even after, she hopes to always keep dancing; but Savannah knows that regardless of where she is, or what she is doing, she will always carry the disciplines and lessons that dancing has taught her.

Heather was born and raised on the Eastern Shore.  After graduating from North Caroline High School in 2002, she had a passion for the medical field and began working “behind the scenes” where she worked alongside a Podiatrist in Annapolis and an Oral Surgeon in Easton for several years.  After becoming a mom and realizing her young daughter’s love of dancing for hours on end, she decided to search out the perfect dance studio for her to enroll in. After a short time, Heather quickly fell in love with the staff and students and their contagious energy for the love of dance. She jumped at the chance to  join the Step 1 Dance 2 Staff in the fall of 2012 . Heather is incredibly grateful for the amazing opportunity to be around the incredible staff and students in such a talented, loving and positive environment.

Heather resides in Centreville with her husband Jason and their 3 children. Outside of the studio, Heather loves spending time with her family and friends, gardening, and traveling in her spare time. Heather is looking forward to another wonderful year where she can first hand see all the students SHINE!

Ashley Lowman graduated from Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania in 2012 with a BA in dance. While studying there, she had the opportunity to train and choreograph in a variety of styles, including ballet, modern, jazz, tap, hip hop, and contemporary. Throughout college, Ashley danced as a company member in Continuum Dance Theater of Pittsburgh under the direction of Sarah Parker. She has also attended many conventions and intensives throughout her life such as; The Pulse, The Radio City Rockette Summer Intensive, Evolve summer intensive in Pittsburgh, The Teachers Workshop in NYC, and the Dance Teacher Summit.

Upon graduating college, Ashley participated in the Broadway Dance Center Winter Workshop Commercial Dance Series with Luam Keflegzy, where she received a full scholarship to train with Tricia Miranda. Ashley was then accepted into the Broadway Dance Center Summer Professional Semester where she trained for eight weeks with the best choreographers in the industry such as: Luam Keflegzy, Neil Schwartz, Jared Jenkins, Rhapsody, Ms Vee, Sheila Barker, Ricky Hines, Al Blackstone, Justin Boccitto, Jim Cooney, Marjorie Fallon, Beth Goheen, Kurt Froman, Matthew Powell, Dawn Hilen, April Cook, Drea Torres, Ashle Dawson, Emily Greenwell, Briana Mercado, Chio, Hannah Frederick, Kourtni Lind, Mishay Pettronelli, Justin Conte, Mike Esperanza and Cat Cogliandro.

Ashley has been involved in numerous projects and performances in NYC, including; working with CATastrophe! Dance Company, a full length concert piece with Bare Dance Company, a music video for the band One Truth, performed with the Andrea Torres Tap Company, and multiple fashion shows dance numbers through Broadway Dance Center.

Before moving to Kent Island in the fall of 2016, Ashley choreographed for Parallel Performance Company where her choreography received the “Creative Choreography” Award through Broadway Dance Centers Aim Invitational in NYC. Ashley is constantly inspired by our students and so thankful for the atmosphere and opportunities Jessica has created here at S1D2. She hopes to share her love for performing and help our students find their own voice in the art form that has become her life.

Jessica is a native of Philadelphia, PA and is a 2005 graduate from Point Park University in Pittsburgh, PA with a BA degree in Jazz and Modern Dance Concentration and a Minor in Business. At Point Park, she was able to study with renowned choreographers, professors and teachers who gave her the proper education to instruct. Jessica also was chosen in 2001 as 1 of 30 dancers selected from the entire state of Pennsylvania to attend the Pennsylvania Governors School at Mercyhurst College in Erie, PA as a Jazz Major and then to return as an ATTRA (assistant to teacher and resident advisor) in 2005.  For the past 16 years, Jessica has been studying and practicing Hatha and Vinyasa yoga and in 2008, she received her 200 hour yoga certification from Yoga Alliance in Vinyasa flow and Ayurveda. She completed her training at Yogasphere in Newtown, PA. Jessica still continues her yoga and dance education by taking private yoga lessons and traveling with students to NYC and other states to attend Broadway Dance Center and various dance conventions. The dance world is always evolving and to be a better instructor, she feels it beyond necessary to keep things fresh and inspiring for her students and herself. She has taught dance in several locations such as Arizona, Pennsylvania, Kansas and currently Maryland. While in Kansas, Jessica owned and directed Step 1 Dance 2 Academy for two and half years, while also continuing to teach master classes at other various studios in the area. Known for her innovative, fun and unique style, she has choreographed and taught for the Sierra Vista Beauty Pageant in Arizona, The Philadelphia Youth Performing Arts Camp in Pennsylvania, Tomorrow’s Choreographers at Point Park University, The Pennsylvania Youth Theater in Bethlehem, PA, The DARE program, Indian Creek High School in Annapolis, Community College of Baltimore County, The Midshore Dance Academy in Easton, and Sudbrook Theater Arts Centre in Baltimore for the Baltimore Youth Ballet. Jessica has performed professionally at the Philadelphia Academy of Music, The Kimmel Center in Philadelphia, PA, numerous casinos in Atlantic City, The Pittsburgh Steelers Fashion Show, Dragonfly Dance Experiment in Annapolis, and has performed and trained professionally with Philadanco and Koresh Dance Company’s in Philadelphia. Jessica is trained in all styles of dance from her break dancing days with a traveling entertainment company, to Horton and Graham Modern Technique, to Luigi and Contemporary and Jazz Styles.

When Jessica is not instructing, dancing, or running the studio and boutique, she loves to be with her family;  her husband of 16 years, her son and her daughter who also LOVE to dance, and travel, read, kayak, enjoy the outdoors and spend LIFE with family and friends.