We are so lucky to have the best instructors in the area. Read below to see the talent and passion that each possesses for dance:
Elena Cortes
Elena is a Virginia Tech sophomore majoring in Interior Design. For 15 years she’s trained in ballet, jazz, tap, and contemporary, but by far her favorite was always hip-hop. In high school, she enjoyed dancing and competing on her school team in addition to her studio’s senior team. Now, she continues her dance journey on the Virginia Tech dance crew, Dancing’s Our Poison (DOP), and is thrilled for her 1st year teaching at NRVAD!.
Teaches: Hip-Hop
Hanna Howell
Hanna is an incoming Senior at Virginia Tech studying Public Health. Her dance training began at the age of 3 and grew into a creative outlet and escape for her. She danced at a non-competitive studio for all her dance career, which allowed her to focus on her artistic abilities. In high school, she attended Burton Center for Arts and Technology where she was a part of the performing arts program. There, she learned many valuable skills which and was presented with many wonderful opportunities such as being accepted into Radford’s Summer Residential Governor’s School for Performing Arts. In addition, she student taught at her dance studio which is where her love for children and passion for dance flourished. Hanna is grateful to be a part of the NRVAD team for her 2nd year, and is delighted to share her passion for dance with her students.
Teaches: Acro, Jazz, Lyrical
Sarah McPherson
Sarah is a Christiansburg native who began training at our studio, formerly under the ownership of Danielle Bland, at age nine. She graduated from Christopher Newport University in 2017 with a degree in Sociology. There, she took classes in ballet, jazz, and modern dance. Although she appreciates many styles of dance, she especially loves ballet. She loves being back in her home studio to teach and share her love of dance!
Teaches: Ballet, Tap
Lexi Perry
Lexi is a graduate student at Virginia Tech. She was put into dance at the age of two and immediately fell in love. Growing up in the competition world, she found she enjoyed the workshop side of it more because she could just simply dance. She began assisting for the Manhattan Dance Project so she could learn from some of the best dancers and choreographers in the country. Lexi is excited to take what she has learned over the years and to now share her love of dance with the students in her
3rd year at NRVAD!
Teaches: Acro, Ballet, Jazz, Pointe
Alena Sims
Alena began her dance journey at the age of 4 in her Tennessee hometown. She has had many great opportunities along the way, including the Tennessee Governors School for the Arts and the Joffrey School of Ballet. She says that while she has had training in many styles of dance, her favorite is ballet. She is so exited to be teaching at NRVAD for
her 3rd season!
Teaches : Ballet, Tap, Pointe
Jodie Wall
Jodie Wall has been studying dance in every form possible since she was five years old. From the classics to hip-hop, African jazz, and even clogging–she has taken at least one class in everything, but her heart lies with tap! Beginning her studies at Lynda Bell’s Floyd Ward in Lynchburg, she auditioned for and joined her first competition troupe at the age of 9. She continued her education and her group winning streak with Ray Hollingsworth Dance Studio in Martinsville until she graduated from high school. While majoring in Chemistry at Virginia Tech, she continued to dance by teaching at the Dance Place and acting as Technical Director of the Contemporary Dance Ensemble. Today, she loves to share her skills with our students!
Teaches : Lyrical, Musical Theater, Tap