Shannon Rush Dance
Whether you seek a professional career in dance or just want to make friends and have fun, we are here to help you accomplish your dreams. At Shannon Rush Dance, our goal is to nurture and motivate children in a warm and friendly atmosphere. We have instructed many of the area's finest dancers for over 40 years. Our instructors are professional choreographers holding many degrees, certifications, and awards.
OUR FACULTY
Ms. Amanda J. Karsner
Studio Manager & Instructor. Ms. Amanda took on the role of Studio Manager in September 2016. Since 2005, Amanda has been an instructor for dancers in all levels and styles including ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, contemporary and hip hop and has experience teaching on a competitive and recreational level. She especially enjoys our youngest dancers and being able to share her love of dance with them while creating a fun and educational atmosphere.
Amanda has been dancing at the Wheaton Studio since she was 5 years old. Amanda became DMA certified in 2015 through the Teachers Training School program in Buffalo, NY, where she studied dance education in levels from beginner to advanced. She has since been a member of Dance Masters of America (DMA) Chapter 17, and continues to attend workshops, classes, and conventions, both locally and out of state. She has attended the N.Y.C. Dance Teachers Summit in 2017, and also received her certification in Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT) in 2018.
Amanda has choreographed for the multiple competition teams at the Wheaton & Damascus Studio. Her dancers have won overall high scores and titles in both jazz and lyrical routines and attended National Competitions in the Poconos & Ocean City where they placed in the top ten overall scoring. Amanda will be choreographing for the teen, junior, petite, and rising stars teams this upcoming season in addition to multiple solos.
As an educator, Amanda believes in the artistic potential of every student, and emphasizes that dance should be fun for all. Amanda looks forward to another dance season and is excited to pass on her love of dance to her returning and new students.
Ms. Shauntrese Ambush
During her 20+ year career as a dancer and choreographer Ms. Shauntrese has traveled all over the United States performing and choreographing in shows for dance companies, organizations, dance competitions, and events. Many of her former students have gone on to perform with Beyonce, Usher, and Rihanna as well as on Broadway, Professional Dance Companies, Cruise Ships, and become dance instructors themselves. She studied locally with Maryland Youth Ballet, Jones and Haywood Ballet Academy, and The Washington School of Ballet. She trained in Jazz, Tap, Lyrical, Gymnastics and Musical Theatre with Terry's School of Dance and Gymnastics as well as Frans Studio of Dance . While there she danced on their company teams ,and as a soloist, winning many Regional and National Titles along with numerous Overall awards. She recieved scholarships to Alvin Ailey, Gus Giordano and Philadanco where she trained and danced on their companies. Miss Shauntrese has also judged local and national competitions for dance and cheer. She has received numerous awards for her choreography from Overall High Scores, Top Teacher and Outstanding Studio. Throughout her travels she tries to remain humble and give her all in everything that she does. Her goal is to teach and uplift students in all areas of dance. She wants her students to love and appreciate the art form of dance as much as she does.
Ms. Sara Bache
Ms. Sara has been dancing since 1996. She was the captain on the Good Counsel Poms Dance team. She went on to become the captain and President of the Salisbury State Poms Dance team from 2012-2015. She has been teaching dance for many years now and received her degree minoring in dance from Fulton School of Liberal Arts. Miss Sara's course work was dance appreciation, creative modern dance, ballet, jazz, and dance teaching. She has received many awards at dance competitions in the WMA area. She has taught all ages of dance teaching ballet, tap, jazz and lyrical. She participated in the Dance Teacher Summit in New York where she was able to gain information to further her teaching career while taking class with Mia Michaels, tWitch, and Mandy Moore. Miss Sara recently obtained her certification in Acrobatic Arts and is excited for the new acro program at the studio!
Ms. Tenay Graham
Ms. Tenay has been dancing for 18 years. She started her training at Wheaton Studio of Dance with Ms. Shannon, and continued to grow through Blake High School, and Shenandoah University as she studied dance. Throughout her dance journey, she has taken many masterclasses in New York, as well as in Washington D.C., learning from different choreographers and companies. Tenay has been fortunate enough to assist in choreography for musicals, such as Beauty In The Beast at a local private school. In addition, she has assisted the development of cheer choreography in Winchester, VA. She is very excited to be teaching for her home studio for the first time!
Ms. Tiffanie Horner
Ms. Tiffanie received her BFA in Dance from the State University of New York College at Brockport. She studied on full scholarship at The Draper Center for Dance Education, STEPS on Broadway, and Broadway Dance Center. Ms Horner has also attended summer intensive training programs with the Joffrey Ballet, Rochester City Ballet, and American Ballet Theatre. She completed a Pilates Apprenticeship program with Mirea Pineda in Tucson, AZ and is certified in Progressing Ballet Technique developed by Marie Walton-Mahon. Additionally, Ms Horner has taught classical ballet, pointe, variations, modern dance, creative movement, and stretch classes at dance schools throughout the US for more than fifteen years. Her privately coached students have been accepted to noted college dance programs and dance teams. Professional performance credits include Rochester City Ballet, Ballet for Young Audiences (New York City), Eglevsky Ballet, Upside Down Dance (Honolulu), Minou Lallemand's Onium Ballet Project (Honolulu), Honolulu Dance Theatre and Ballet Tucson. Ms Horner also works in Arts Integration as a Teaching Artist for the Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts and Arts for Learning Maryland.
Ms. Molli Martin
Ms. Molli has been dancing her whole life. She's classically trained in many styles including ballet, jazz, tap, modern, lyrical, hip hop, heels and more. She has a deep love for teaching and is so excited to spread her love of dance to younger generations. As an educator she leads with compassion and kindness, and aims to create a nurturing environment for her dancers to grow in technique, but also as people.
Ms. Jen Nardi
Ms. Jen joined our staff at the Damascus Studio of Dance in 2019. She has trained in the styles of Ballet, Jazz, Lyrical, Hiphop and Tap. She studied and took classes at Rhode Island College, Commotion Dance Studio and Shining Stars School of Performing Arts. She recently graduated from Rhode Island College with a Bachelors of Arts in Theatre with a concentration in Musical Theatre. She recently performed in Rhode Island College’s productions of Beauty and Beast, and Seussical. She has also worked with Damascus Theatre Company. Most recently she was a part of their production of Into The Woods Jr. She is very excited to teach and continue sharing the love of the arts.
Ollie
Olie Mass is an emerging young artist who started dance at the age of 6 and grew up training within all styles. From Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Lyrical, Contemporary, and Musical Theater to Hip-Hip, Modern, Fusion and Commercial dance, Olie has competed and performed in many different spectrums. Along with attending Middle and High School dance programs, Olie furthered their training outside of local studios and predominantly gained training from places such as Artist Simply Human, Broadway Dance Center NYC, REVEL dance, The Washington School of Ballet, WILD Dance Intensive, The Ballet Theatre of Maryland, and Joffrey Ballet Schools Spectrum Jazz/Contemporary Dance Program. Olie has received various solo, title, and overall regional and national awards/scholarships like the Joffrey Jazz & Contemporary Trainee Program Merit Scholarship, the Fine Arts Classical Dance Scholarship from Bishop McNamara High School, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago Studio Art BFA Merit Scholarship, and several Artist Simply Human Apprentice Scholarships. Olie was also a member of the National Honor Society of Dance Arts during their education, but as of late, has been in pursuit of their self-found focus of integrating the infusion of styles, with the main focus of Lyrical/Contemporary and Hip-Hop Fusion. They hope to discover more influence and knowledge from teaching at the Wheaton and Olney Studios, helping students achieve their utmost desires within dance, movement styles, and overall confidence.
Ms. Rachel Timmerman
Ms. Rachel has been dancing since she was 5. She has been teaching since 2017. She has lived in Maryland her whole life. Miss Rachel is currently attending the university of Maryland. Her major is dance education with a minor in Humanities, Health, and Medicine. Her education is well-rounded in different styles of dance. Rachel’s favorite styles to teach are Ballet, Jazz, and Modern. She has a passion for teaching as well as helping others learn and grow their love for dance. She can’t wait to see you in class!
Ms. Kaitlyn Valle
Ms. Kaitlyn began dancing at the age of 2 and has since been dancing at all the Studio locations. In her 14 years of dancing she has trained in various styles including ballet, pointe, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, acro, and musical theatre. She has been dancing on the competitive team at Damascus Studio of Dance for 8 years, winning various awards and scholarships. In addition she is also an active member of her high school dance team, and is in the dance program at the Academy for the Fine Arts. She is very excited to teach as well as watch future generations of dancers learn and grow in class this year!!
Mr. Darren Wilson
Mr. Darren's love for sound and rhythm began at a young age. He studied dance at Knock on Wood Tap Studio in Silver Spring, Maryland as a member and dance captain of the resident Tappers With Attitude Youth Tap Ensemble. The countless rehearsals, master classes, and performances in venues such as the Kennedy Center and Wolf Trap were made all the more enjoyable because he could share it with his mother; who was a member of the co-resident Step Aside. He went on to attend Michigan State University to pursue a degree in broadcast journalism. While there, he served as a rhythm and Broadway tap instructor for the award winning Synergy Dance Academy competition team in Okemos, Michigan. Darren's passion for teaching extends far beyond the studio. He is entering his 9th year teaching in the Montgomery County Public Schools System. Darren is excited to join this amazing faculty and can't wait to hit the floor. In the words of one of his favorite dancers Sammy Davis Jr: "If I should die, let me do it with my tap shoes on."