Self-expression is encouraged.
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The Studio of Dance is made up of teachers who love dance as much as we love our students. With our teachers’ guidance, every student learns strong dance technique while having fun, building confidence and blossoming into their own natural positive self-expression.
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“Just because you don’t want to be a pro doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get the best training you can.” —Karen Conner, Owner
Karen Conner: Owner/Artistic Director
Karen Conner took her first dance class at the age of six. Having fallen in love with dance immediately, she has been dancing ever since. She started attending conventions and workshops as a teenager and was a member of the Montgomery College Dance Company. Karen has been trained in ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical and pre-school children's work. She has been teaching ages three to adults in Montgomery County, at various studios in the area since 1990. She is a graduate of the DMA Teachers Training School and also holds a certificates in Zumba. Having passed national examinations in ballet, tap and jazz, Karen is proud to be an active member of Dance Masters of America. Karen has served as Chairperson of the Scholarship Auditions and is a past president of Mid-Atlantic Dance Masters Chapter 17, Mid-Atlantic Area. Keeping on top of her own education of dance and teaching, she continues to go to various workshops, conventions and Dance Masters Teachers Training School. Karen has a passion for everything dance and loves to share this enthusiasm with all of her students.
Courtney Conner
Courtney Conner has been dancing since the age of 3. Knowing ballet was the key to all forms of dance she began to take it more seriously and attended numerous summer ballet intensives. These include American Dance Institute and Strathmore Center for Performing Arts. She has also competed in ballet, tap, contemporary and musical theater between the ages of 9 and 17. She has completed Dance Masters of America, Teachers Training School and aced all of her exams. She is now a member of MADM. In high school she added poms to her dance background, performing on the Seneca Valley Poms squad for two years. While her college did not offer a dance program, they did have a dance team. Courtney was on the Flagler College Dance Team for all four years reaching the rank of Captain her senior year. Her time on dance team and performing at all the basketball games are some of her favorite college memories. Courtney looks forward to teaching students how to dance, find their groove, and feel confident in themselves.
Sam Taylor
Sam Taylor has been dancing since he was 5 years old. His primary discipline has been in ballroom dancing, but he has also trained in ballet, tap, and jazz. His mother was a professional dancer and instructor and introduced Sam and his siblings to ballroom at an early age. Sam competed in Dancesport competitions all around the U.S. from the ages of 5 to 17, in both International Latin and International Standard divisions. He has a passion for teaching and for working with both children and adults. Sam believes dancing is for everyone and has a profoundly positive impact on those who partake in it. He is excited to cultivate a passion for dance in his students!
Jens Lee
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 Theater and Ballroom. Starting at a young age in Theatre, Jens has been in over 200 productions throughout the United States and over seas. As a Professional Instructor and trainer, Jens has taught thousands of students all around the world from ages 3 - 92. Some have received scholarships in dance to colleges and schools such as OSU, YSU, NYCU, Juillard, CSU, SUNY, and AlvinAiley to name a few. His experience blessed him to dance all over the world and he loves to bring his knowledge of dance and its history to the class room.
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"Why I Perform:
Anna Jackson
Anna began her dance journey 15 years ago. Throughout those years, she gained knowledge in many styles such as tap, jazz, ballet, hip hop, contemporary, and poms. During her senior year of high school, Anna became the captain of the Northwest High School Pom Squad for their 2019-2020 season. With a passion for dance, she found that coaching contributed to her growing passion for the sport. She is a graduate of Towson University with a degree in Early Childhood Education. During her time at Towson University, she continued to dance as a member of Vibe, a hip-hop dance team for 2 years.
Katie Reutemann
Katie is a physical therapist and gymnastics/acrobatics/dance enthusiast who has been working at a local sports orthopedic clinic in Germantown for twenty years. She is a native Washingtonian and graduated from Wootton High School in 1994, then the University of Maryland at College Park in 1998 with a B.S. in Kinesiology. She was also on the Gymkana troupe at UMCP all four years, spreading the message of healthy, substance-free living through exhibitional gymnastics performance. While in high school and college, Katie taught various kids' gymnastics classes and programs at local gyms including Hill's gymnastics (original home of Dominique Dawes and other Olympians!), and summer camps through Montgomery county recreation department.
Katie competed in acrobatic gymnastics (back when it was still called sports acrobatics!) for a summer before moving out to California for PT school in the summer of 2000, where she earned her Doctorate of Physical Therapy from the University of Southern California in 2003. While there, she taught gymnastics part-time at two local gyms, and enjoyed playing around and learning from others on the famous "Muscle beach" in Santa Monica and Venice on the weekends. This was much more relaxed than competitive gymnastics and acrobatics, and was filled with stunt men and women, circus performers, and many Latin dancers! She moved back to Gaithersburg in 2004, and competed in three more years/seasons of acrobatics as a women's pair and trio base, while working full-time as a physical therapist.
Katie is very close with her large extended local family, including a 13 y/o daughter who also loves dance, a dog, two cats, and a rabbit. She is proficient in Spanish, and also enjoys Zumba, step aerobics, biking, hiking, skiing, and skating. She loves being outdoors, camping, baking, crochet, and has also been a competitive barbershop choral and quartet singer for the past twenty years in Sweet Adelines International, and more recently with a mixed voice chapter Barbershop Harmony Society. Katie has been dancing with Karen and the Studio of Dance for a year now, in the adult tap and ballet programs, and is very excited to be able to add acrobatics into the mix! Looking forward to an exciting year!