Studio Owners
Chris and Jill McDonald
Office Managers
Heather DeGarmo
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Chris McDonald
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Our Student Assistants
Meet Our Qualified Teaching Staff
Jill Pickens McDonald (Owner)
Hip Hop, Tap, Clog, Musical Theatre, Ready Set Hip Hop, Adult Classes
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Jill McDonald is a qualified Hip Hop choreographer with over ten years teaching experience involving competitive and non-competitive classes. She specializes in hip hop, clogging and tap, and has received extensive training in several genres over the years. She is a dedicated leader with demonstrated ability to train dancers, motivate our youth, and maintain an award winning team.
One of her most memorable accomplishments to date was receiving an invitation to serve as the guest "hip hop" choreographer for the prestigious Dance Masters Convention in February, 2014. Jill began dance at the age of 5 with Marjorie Sellers and continued her dance career with Darla Fox until the age of 17. Through out her youth, Jill was blessed with opportunities to dance all over the United States, such as; Ameri-Flora (Columbus, Ohio), Opryland Hotel (Nashville, Tennessee) and was even invited to dance in the Olympics in Seville, Spain. Jill has been happily married to her husband, Chris for nineteen years. Together they have four beautiful children. Christopher, Lexi, Austin, and Gracie. They currently reside in the Tri-Valley School District. In their spare time, Jill enjoys working on crafts, spending time with her birds, Ohio State Football, and spending time with her family. The famous quote by Dr. Seuss, "Why blend in when you were born to stand out?" is something she very much believes in and has always strived to live by. She believes in dreams and helping every child's dreams come true! She gives 100% credit for all their success to our Lord and Savoir, Jesus Christ! |
Frankie Zimmer
Contemporary, Jazz
Miss Frankie has ten years of dance studio experience. She has experience in tap, ballet, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, hip hop and kick-line! She was a cheerleader for four years in high school at Sheridan, and one season for ISU Hockey! She has danced and also choreographed several numbers for Orchesis II at Iowa State University. She was also the President of ISU TAP! Miss Frankie and Miss Lexi work together as co-teachers and make a wonderful team!
Lexi Hunt
Jazz, Hip-Hop Production
Miss Lexi is currently attending Ohio University- Zanesville. She is majoring in Early Childhood Education and is working to become a school teacher in the near future! Besides being a student in college and teaching our Jazz program at the studio, she is also employed at Vista View Golf Course in Nashport, Ohio and runs and maintains our website and app!
Lexi has been raised in a home with a family full of dancers. She began her dance career at four years of age at Patty's Dance Center, and has spent many hours in her family owned studio over the years. Her favorites are bonding with the children, creating unique relationships with each child, learning about them, and lending a hand to do whatever needs done.
Over the years she has trained with Ohio Dance Masters Instructors, KAR dance Instructors, and has even trained at the Broadway Dance Center in New York City and performed in Miss Ohio. As a dancer herself, she took Hip Hop, Tumbling, Clog, Tap, Jazz, and Kickline. Lexi has also taken a pilates course for college credit and has taught fitness classes herself, too. Lexi has much experience in numerous areas of dance and is so happy to be able to share her love for dance with our students at the A2J Crew Dance Kompany!
Lexi has been raised in a home with a family full of dancers. She began her dance career at four years of age at Patty's Dance Center, and has spent many hours in her family owned studio over the years. Her favorites are bonding with the children, creating unique relationships with each child, learning about them, and lending a hand to do whatever needs done.
Over the years she has trained with Ohio Dance Masters Instructors, KAR dance Instructors, and has even trained at the Broadway Dance Center in New York City and performed in Miss Ohio. As a dancer herself, she took Hip Hop, Tumbling, Clog, Tap, Jazz, and Kickline. Lexi has also taken a pilates course for college credit and has taught fitness classes herself, too. Lexi has much experience in numerous areas of dance and is so happy to be able to share her love for dance with our students at the A2J Crew Dance Kompany!
Katie Willey
Ballet, Lyrical, Pointe, Acro, Big/Little Leaps
Miss Katie is a motivated instructor with a decade of experience teaching dance and fitness education. She has taught a range of genres including: ballet, modern, lyrical, jazz, tap, acro, tumbling, cheer, pilates, yoga, and cardio.
Her background includes: Tri-Valley High School for four years as their Flag Core Instructor, she worked as an instructor at "Melody and Motion" dance studio for three years (she taught private lessons for eight years), and has also taught as a personal instructor.
She is a devoted, loving, qualified instructor with an abundance of teaching experience. She is looking forward to the upcoming season with her competition dancers as well as her recreational dancers!
Her background includes: Tri-Valley High School for four years as their Flag Core Instructor, she worked as an instructor at "Melody and Motion" dance studio for three years (she taught private lessons for eight years), and has also taught as a personal instructor.
She is a devoted, loving, qualified instructor with an abundance of teaching experience. She is looking forward to the upcoming season with her competition dancers as well as her recreational dancers!
Gracie McDonald
Technique, Jazz Funk, Hip-Hop, Hip Hop Production
Miss Gracie is a young asset to our team. She has been raised in the studio and recently graduated high school at MidEast with a cosmetology license. She has been seen teaching summer classes, pre-ballet, assisting with Miss Jill's classes, and working at the front desk. She has many plans to use her dance career and is excited to officially be a part of our teaching staff!
Gracie has trained in New York City with the Rockettes, Broadway Dance Center, attended World’s in NYC, trained with Mia Michaels, trained with Patty's Dance Center in Newark, OH, and many others! Gracie is planning to pursue dance in some aspect of her life in the future. Her dream is to take a large part in A2J Crew Dance Kompany one day!
Gracie has trained in New York City with the Rockettes, Broadway Dance Center, attended World’s in NYC, trained with Mia Michaels, trained with Patty's Dance Center in Newark, OH, and many others! Gracie is planning to pursue dance in some aspect of her life in the future. Her dream is to take a large part in A2J Crew Dance Kompany one day!
Danielle Simross
Acro, Baton, Jazz
Danielle has been sharing the joy of twirling and dance with her students for the past 20 years. Her teaching styles include baton twirling, acro, tap, jazz, and ballet. She is currently a member of the United States Twirling Association and recently finished her Acro Arts certification.
She began as a student at Reinita's Baton and Dance Studio, then joined the teaching staff during college. After graduating with a bachelor's degree in business from The Ohio State University, she purchased the studio and operated the business for 14 years. Her students have performed at the Cleveland Caviler's pre-game show and in Disney World.
Danielle has been married to her husband Kurt for 8 years. They have been blessed with 2 children, Addison and Jacob. They live on a farm in Licking county and enjoy camping at the various state parks around Ohio.
She began as a student at Reinita's Baton and Dance Studio, then joined the teaching staff during college. After graduating with a bachelor's degree in business from The Ohio State University, she purchased the studio and operated the business for 14 years. Her students have performed at the Cleveland Caviler's pre-game show and in Disney World.
Danielle has been married to her husband Kurt for 8 years. They have been blessed with 2 children, Addison and Jacob. They live on a farm in Licking county and enjoy camping at the various state parks around Ohio.
Carlee DeGarmo
Ready Set Ballet (Pre-Ballet)
Miss Carlee graduated from John Glenn High School in 2021 and decided to join us at the studio to teach in 2022! She spends most of her time at her family farm and at the studio. She has been taking lessons with Miss Jill for 15 years and has been a part of the studio since it opened! Her teaching style is ballet with our Ready Set Ballet program using curriculum that features Nickelodeon.
Carlee has had lessons in New York and has participated in many conventions all over. She has competed in many different dance genres including Hip Hop, Jazz, Kickline, Clog, and Musical Theater. She is working on her last term as president of Perry Merry Mixers 4-H club showing steers and feeder calves with plans of continuing in a leadership role.
Carlee has had lessons in New York and has participated in many conventions all over. She has competed in many different dance genres including Hip Hop, Jazz, Kickline, Clog, and Musical Theater. She is working on her last term as president of Perry Merry Mixers 4-H club showing steers and feeder calves with plans of continuing in a leadership role.
Brianna Anderson
Technique, Jazz Funk, Hip-Hop
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Miss Bri is currently attending The Ohio State University- Newark and majoring in business. Bri attending Licking Valley High School and was a varsity cheerleader all four years of high school. She danced through middle school and part of high school at Reinita's Baton and Dance where she also taught four classes in her final year at the studio: lyrical, ballet, and two levels of cheer. This was before the studio closed due to COVID-19.
Then, she joined the A2J Crew Dance Kompany where she found a perfect fit! In her younger years, when she lived in Texas, she attended workshops with the choreographer Afton Beadles. She has participated in many competitions and conventions since moving to Ohio, and placed third runner up for Miss Dance of KAR. |
Scott Ritchie
Our amazing tumbling instructor!