Blog 2 — Miami Valley Dance Center

MVDC Staff and Instructors

Kelly Fuller

Owner/Director, Artistic Director of MVDC Dance Force & Executive Director OCDC

MISS KELLY has been passionate about dance since she was 8 years old. Her commitment to learning, performing, and teaching are evident in the success of today’s Miami Valley Dance Center. She is a 1994 graduate of Wright State University with a B.S. in Business. Miss Kelly is a 25-year member of Dance Masters of America (DMA) and Ohio Dance Masters-Chapter 16, and is certified in jazz, tap and ballet. In July 2022, Miss Kelly received her certification with Acrobatic Arts in Module 1 (Primary-Level 6). Her post-graduate learning continues to keep the studio among the best in the Dayton area. In 2006 she completed the 3-year Master’s in Dance Direction Program with DMA. She was the first in her class to graduate with this honor. Miss Kelly is also an adjunct professor at Wright State University teaching tap and jazz to undergraduates in the Dance and Theater Department. She is a past board member with Ohio Dance Masters and is currently the Treasure for Regional Dance of America, Northeast Chapter. Her career highlights include study with the Dayton Ballet School, performing with Rhythm in Shoes in the “Celebrating America” concert, master class teacher for Miami Valley Dance Teachers Association, featured dancer in the “Inventing Flight” 100-year celebration at 5/3 Field, as well as choreographing numerous award- winning performances. She is currently an adjudicator for Kids Artistic Revue and Rainbow Dance Competition and gets the opportunity to judge throughout the United States. Her students continue to be standouts at many regional and national competitions and hold many title honors. Several former dancers have gone on to professional dance careers including cheerleaders for the Cincinnati Bengals and Indianapolis. In 2015, Miss Kelly was inducted into the Fairborn City Schools’ Hall of Honor. She enjoys sharing her love of dance with students of all ages and ability levels. This is Miss Kelly’s 31st year as owner and director of the Miami Valley Dance Center.

Renae Avey

Instructor/Team Choreographer

MISS RENAE has been dancing since age 4 at Miami Valley Dance Center. She was a member of the competition team for 10 years and won many regional and national titles, including StarQuest Top Scoring Adult Soloist in 2009. Renae is a graduate of the MVDC teacher in training program and is certified to teach through Dance Masters of America and Ohio Dance Masters – Chapter 16. She has studied many types of dance including Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Pointe, Hip Hop, Swing and Contemporary. She was given the opportunity to participate in the NCAA Kick-Off Classic Halftime Show at Giants Stadium as well as the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City. Renae graduated from Wright State University with a B.S. in Marketing/Management and has her Masters in Human Resource Management from Indiana Wesleyan University . While attending WSU, she was a member of the Emerald Jazz Dance Team and competed nationally with other Universities. Miss Renae continuously enjoys sharing her love of dance through teaching.

Lauren Snowden

Instructor/Team Choreographer

MISS LAUREN, born and raised in Dayton, Ohio, graduated cum laude from Ohio University with a BFA in Dance Performance and Choreography. She loves to share her passion and creativity for movement with her students and holding space for them to reach their full potential. She is currently an instructor and choreographer at Miami Valley Dance Center in Fairborn, OH and a solo choreographer at Dance Expressions Dance Studio in Dayton, OH. She has served as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Dayton and as Assistant Director of the University of Dayton Dance Ensemble through the partnership with world renowned Dayton Contemporary Dance Company. She has enjoyed collaborating with fellow artists including Debbie Blunden-Diggs, Shonna Hickman-Matlock, Amy Renee Jones-Gibbons, and Jonathan Pattiwael. Lauren is also a 200 HR Registered Yoga Teacher through Yoga Alliance and an instructor and adjudicator for the Showcase America Unlimited Competition Circuit. When she is not in the studio she is enjoying her time with with her husband, Adam, son, Calvin, and their two cats and five dogs.

Thaliyah Cools-Lartigue

Instructor/Team Choreographer

MISS THALIYAH is a professional dancer and choreographer from Fairborn, OH.

She holds a BFA in Dance from the Ohio State University and extensive training in Contemporary/Modern, Hip Hop, Ballet, African, and Jazz. Thaliyah has also had the pleasure of training with Deeply Rooted Dance Theatre, Kyle Abraham’s A.I.M., KAOS Hip Hop Workshop and Tia RIvera’s BTB Bootcamp.

Thaliyah was a former Jeraldyne Blunden Fellow with Dayton Contemporary Dance Company (2022-2024) and a Dayton Dance Initiative Company member (2023-2024). She was named a recipient of the Ohio Arts Council Individual Excellence Award for choreography in 2024 and has choreographed works on Onyx Contemporary Dance Company and Fort Hayes Metropolitan High School’s Dance Ensemble. Thaliyah teaches Contemporary/Modern, Hip Hop, Jazz and Technique in the Dayton area and is currently a freelance dance artist.

Thaliyah is a former MVDC Dance Force member where she acquired numerous national titles and accolades. She truly loves the art of dance and the ability to share it with others as both a performer and teacher.

Amy Renee Gibbons

Technique Instructor/ Team Choreographer, Onyx CDC Artistic Director

MISS AMY is from Huntington, WV and graduated Magna Cum Laude from Point Park University with a BA in Dance. Amy performed professionally with the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company (DCDC) from 2008-2016, and as a guest artist during their 2017-2018 and 2023-2024 seasons. Amy also served as Co-Director of the Pre-Professional company, DCDC2, alongside her colleague Rebecca Sparks during the 2014-2015 season. In 2019, Amy co-founded and was named the Artistic Director of the Onyx Contemporary Dance Company. Amy served as a full time professor and the DCDC Artist Residence for the Theatre, Dance, and Performance Technology Program at The University of Dayton, where she was appointed Artistic Director and Co-Director of the UD Dance Ensemble from 2016-2023. She was also the resident choreographer for both musicals and operas performed at the University during that timeframe. Amy currently teaches at DCDC, The Miami Valley Dance Center and Dance Expressions. Amy has created choreography for the Ohio Northern University's Dance Department, WSU's 2015 Faculty Concert, DCDC, DCDC2, Midwest Starz National Talent Competition, Sinclair Community College, Kaleidoscope Entertainment, and for several dance studios throughout the Midwest. Amy’s students have performed professionally with both the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company’s first and second company and have received scholarships to study dance in higher education at universities such as Wright State, Oklahoma City, Ohio State, North Carolina School of the Arts, The University of Dayton, and Point Park University.

Elissa Lyons

Instructor/Choreographer

MISS ELISSA has been dancing with MVDC since the age of 5 and will be entering her 28th season with the studio. This will be her 20th year on the teaching staff. She is certified through Dance Masters of America and Ohio Dance Masters. In addition to performing and teaching dance, Elissa uses her artistic talent for studio graphics, program design and prop creation. She is also an alumnus of the MVDC competition team. In her 10 years of competing, she has won numerous high point and overall awards and titles. Elissa continues to be involved with the Dance Force team as a choreographer. In 2008, she graduated from Wittenberg University with a B.A. in studio art and a concentration in computer imaging. She has performed with Wittenberg’s student dance company at the American College Dance Festivals (ACDF) in Athens OH and Mason, WN. Her other highlights include being a featured dancer in the Inventing Flight Opening Ceremony, dancing in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Meadowlands Kickoff Classic and the Ohio Performing Art Institute's (OPAI) The Nutcracker. She currently resides in Medway with her husband, Doug, and their daughters, Justyne, Piper and Veda.

Jennifer Priest

Office Manager/Director of Teacher Apprenticeship Program/Instructor

MISS JEN has been dancing since the age of three and will be in her 32nd year of dance this year; 25th with MVDC! She began under her mother's direction at Van Wert Academy of Dance in Van Wert, Ohio. In 1998, her family moved to Enon, which is when she joined the Miami Valley Dance Center family! She has experience in ballet, jazz, hip hop, clogging, tap, contemporary and lyrical as well as cheerleading and theatre. She continued her dance career in college, but always came back to participate in the MVDC recitals. Miss Jen received her B.S. in Psychology from Eastern Kentucky University and her M.Ed. in School Counseling from Wright State University. Miss Jen has gone from student, to teacher, to dance mom, to Office Manager at MVDC and is hopeful to be a positive familiar face for the dancers. “It is so fun to be around all of the smiling dancers & their families! It brightens my day to be surrounded by so much excitement!” Miss Jen says it is such an honor & truly humbling to now share her love of dance with her mother (Mrs. Howell) & two daughters at MVDC. She resides in New Carlisle with her husband, John and their three children, Jaycee, Jentry and John, and their dog, Jocko.

Lisi Reynolds

Instructor

MISS LISI is a native of the polynesian island of Western Samoa🇼🇸 Faith and worship in Jesus is central in the Samoan culture and throughout Polynesia, integrated in songs, dance and community gatherings. Since childhood the knowledge of various polynesian island cultures and its unique styles of dance and songs, which include Samoa, Hawaii, Tahiti, New Zealand, Tonga, Fiji has been through osmosis. She has passionately shared her culture with her children and extended family and the community for over three decades. She is the director of Ke Aloha Entertainment, whose members include both daughters, several MVDC Dance Force and OCDC. KAE performances have been an authentic luau, Concert Days at Fairborn Community Park, birthday parties and outreach events. Polynesian dance focuses on storytelling and musicality and moving in harmony as one family. Miss Lisi’s classes assisted by Miss Kiona and Miss Keilani reiterate the importance of cultivating strong family relationships and fellowship that secures the polynesian culture will succeed onto the next generations.

Grant Shaffer

Choreographer

MR. GRANT has been dancing at Miami Valley Dance Center since he was 4 years old. He was a member of the MVDC Dance Force for 8 years. He graduated from the Dayton Regional STEM School in 2019 as Valedictorian and is now attending Wright State University pursuing a degree in Neuroscience and Pathology. He is also certified by Dance Masters of America and Ohio Dance Masters, Chapter 16, in Tap and Modern. Mr. Grant has participated in numerous master classes, conventions, and intensives held by institutions such as the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company (DCDC), Dayton Ballet, Miami Valley Dance Teachers Association, and Ohio Dance Masters. During his time on the Dance Force, Mr. Grant earned many regional and national awards and titles such as Kids Artistic Revue Mister Dance of America 2018 in Panama City Beach, Florida. He has also competed twice in the Teen Mister Dance of Ohio Pageants. He has performed at the Harlem Globetrotters Half-time Show and also in the production of “…And the Greatest of These is Love” at the University of Dayton as a guest artist. Mr. Grant is honored to have the opportunity to share his love and passion for dance with others at MVDC.

Gabrielle Sharp

Technique Instructor

MISS GABI is a passionate and dedicated dance and fitness instructor, as well as a competitive ballroom dancer. She began her classical ballet training at Dayton Ballet, which led her to the start of her professional dance career. The highlight of her time dancing at Dayton Ballet was earning the Josephine and Hermene Schwarz award, as well as working with faculty and guest choreographers, Dermot Burke, Gregory Robinson, Alan Hineline, Susie Payne, and Christopher Fleming. After dancing professionally for Dayton Ballet, she furthered her career and is now Co-Director of Dayton Ballet School Ensemble (formerly DBII).

In her transition from ballet dancer to co-director, she found a new passion for competitive ballroom dance. She is DaVida trained in American Smooth and currently competes in American Rhythm ballroom. She has had the opportunity to work with Tony Meredith, Sam Sodano, Kimberly Mitchell, and Mark Brock. In the past decade, she has achieved national titles at United States Dance Championships, Ohio Star Ball, Cleveland DanceSport, and Michigan Dance Challenge.

With over a decade of experience in teaching and a strong background in ballet and ballroom dancing, Gabrielle brings a wealth of knowledge and enthusiasm to every class.

Gabrielle works with students of all ages and skill levels and is also certified in Progressing Ballet Technique, Sugar Foot Therapy, and currently teaches barre fitness and cycling classes.

Gabrielle believes the importance of strong fundamentals, while also encouraging individual growth. Gabrielle strives to instill confidence and a love for dance in each of her students, helping them reach their full potential.

Karen Simpson

Instructor

MISS KAREN has been teaching at the Miami Valley Dance Center for 37 years. After dancing as a child, she studied Modern Dance for 2 years at Indiana University before switching majors to Spanish and Physical Education. She continued to take classes throughout her college career and beyond. After moving to Ohio in 1981, she began taking classes, and then teaching a few years later with Noreen Poppell at Noreen’s Dance and Fitness Academy (later known as the Miami Valley Dance Center). It was during her time with Noreen that Karen initially developed and began implementing the Teacher-in-Training class which continues today. Karen is thankful to Miss Kelly for keeping her on as a teacher upon acquiring the studio and for continually working to make the Miami Valley Dance Center a studio of the highest quality and values. Karen retired from Champaign County Board of Developmental Disabilities as a PLAY Project Consultant, working with young children with autism and their families. She presently works part-time providing support for teachers of preschool-age children with autism. In her spare time Karen is a coach for the Clark County Special Olympics, loves spending time with family, hiking, traveling, and listening to audio books. Karen has been married for 46 years to a wonderful, supportive husband. They have 3 grown children all of whom have had the exciting experience of dancing at Miami Valley Dance Center.

Chelle Vollmer

Technique Instructor

MISS CHELLE began dancing with River Cities Dance Company in Greenup, Kentucky. After dancing with River Cities Dance Company for 15 years, Chelle was accepted into Wright State University’s Dance in Fine Arts Program in Dayton, Ohio. With the Wright State University Dance Ensemble, she performed eleven shows, in which she choreographed five different works. During her college career, she also had the opportunity to serve as dance captain in Wright State’s musical Hairspray and train and perform with Dayton Ballet II. After graduating from Wright State University with a bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts Dance and a minor in Business Management, Chelle began dancing with Fueled & Aflame Dance Company, teaching and choreographing for youth dance companies. Chelle loves traveling to choreograph for competition teams, show choirs, theater programs and to judge dance competitions.

McKenna Wagers

Instructor

MISS MCKENNA is from Fairborn OH, and has been dancing at Miami Valley Dance Center for 10 years with 4 of those on the Dance Force and has been assistant teaching for 5. Miss McKenna graduated from Fairborn High School in 2021 and is currently studying at Wright State University to earn a degree in elementary education. While on the Dance Force she earned many regional and national awards for her groups and specialty performances. Miss McKenna is very excited to start her 11th year at the studio and another great year of dancing!

Office Staff