Dance teachers

Christina Valenti

Studio Owner

Christina grew up dancing at Backstage Dance Studio in Columbia, Maryland at the age of 4. She continued dancing through high school in the styles of ballet, jazz, and lyrical, and competed as part of her studio's competition team. She was the captain of the high school dance team, member of the school dance company, a varsity cheerleader, and on the varsity track team. Christina attended James Madison University, where she was on the nationally-ranked JMU Dukettes dance team and also incorporated dance into her studies. After graduating from JMU in 2005 with a Bachelors of Science, she worked in the media and tourism industries in Washington, DC for several years, and was a dancer for the NBA's Washington Wizards. Christina also lived overseas for several years teaching English and dance in Beijing, China. She moved to Virginia Beach in 2014 and after working at Channel 13 for several years, she decided to pursue her dream of opening a dance studio. It was her goal to create a dance studio where everyone is welcome and feels comfortable, while having fun learning the art of dance.

Kendall Grant

Director of Moonlight Dance Company,Tap, Jazz, Hip Hop

Kendall has over 30 years of dance training, choreographing, and teaching experience. She is technically trained in ballet, tap, jazz, modern, and lyrical. Kendall recently moved back to the area after spending ten years performing in Atlanta for a variety of artists including Sean Paul, Ludacris, and Lil' John. She was also the director of Future Shock Atlanta and was a member of Culture Shock Atlanta, an international non-profit organization of professional hip hop dancers. Kendall was also an instructor for Atlanta Ballet, The Studio Atlanta Dance, Heather Wayne Dance Academy, and West Cobb Dance Explosion Companies. She is currently the Director and Founder of Choreographers of Virginia.

Janice Elliott-Britton

Ballet/Tap, Creative Movement, Broadway Tap and Jazz

Jan Elliott-Britton, a native of the DC area, she is a credited dancer of all genres. A professional performer ~ Lazy Susan Dinner Theatre, Woodbridge VA ~ "Show Boat" & "Cabaret" ~ Choreographer for: The British Embassy Players, Washington, DC "Old Time Music Hall" & Wild World's Largo, MD "A Broadway Carousel", Port Tobacco Players, LaPlata, MD "Little Mermaid". "On Call" in 1975 as a summer replacement for the NYC Rockettes. Owned & directed her studio, "The Dance Company" in Maryland for 9 years before coming to Virginia Beach to raise her family.

MELISSA BAKA

Contemporary, Ballet, Jazz, MDC Coach

Melissa grew up in Virginia Beach and began dancing at the age of 3. She graduated from Salem High School's Visual & Performing Arts Academy and went on to attend The University of the Arts in Philadelphia, PA where she received her BFA in Dance. While at UArts, Melissa was awarded the Promising Artists Scholarship for her choreography. Melissa has worked with and under the direction of many great artists including Wayne St. David, Gary Jeter, Nicholas Leichter, Anne White, Douglas Becker, Jen McGinn, and Ayo Jackson.

Jessica LorinG

Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Conemporary, Irish, Director of Moonlight Irish Dance Company

Jessica has over 20 years of teaching experience in a variety of styles including ballet, tap, jazz, modern, lyrical, and Irish. She choreographed several modern pieces while attending the University of Pittsburgh and was the captain of the University of Pittsburgh dance team. She led the team to several awards for performances she choreographed. She is currently 8th in the world for Irish dance, and 4th in the nation.

Lindi Denning

Ballet

Miss Lindi is a certified Dance Instructor and was the owner and creative director for Midwest Dance Synergy of North Central Missouri for the past 17 years before moving to Virginia. She has been associated with Dance Masters of America, Dance Educators of America, and the Youth Protection Advocates in Dance. In April 2019 Miss Lindi added Progressing Ballet Technique to her list of certifications. Miss Lindi first began performing in theater at age 3 and began her formal dance training in 1995. After high school she went on to train with both the Kansas City Ballet School under the direction of Mr. Devon Carney, and for a short period of time the St. Louis Ballet School under the direction of Mr. Gen Horiuchi. Miss Lindi has studied many styles of dance focusing mainly on Ballet (R.A.D. method), Jazz, Musical Theater, Lyrical, Contemporary & Tap. She has had the opportunity to teach across the nation at various programs and studios, as well as southern Italy; and still choreographs for several studios throughout northwest Missouri and the Kansas City area, and now across Hampton Roads as well. Aside from her love for dance, Lindi is a huge animal lover and has her degree as a veterinary technician. She been married for 14 years and is the mother of three.

Director credits include:

MDS Ballet of Peter and the Wolf (2013) and The Nutcracker (2008 & 2010)

Choreography credits include the Gallatin Theater League’s productions of South Pacific (2004) Lil Abner (2005) Auntie Mame (2006) & Oklahoma (2011)

Naples Italy DODEA High School musicals - Shrek the Musical (2017) Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (2018)

kim louis

Hip Hop, MDC Coach

Kim Louis is a trained and seasoned dancer and choreographer from the Hampton Roads area. Kim has over 20 years of dance experience and professional training. She has spent the last 10 years choreographing and directing for various dance studios and teams. She has a degree in Exercise Science with a minor in Dance from George Mason University and is currently in a Social Work Master’s program with hopes to become a Dance and Movement Therapist. Kim uses her extensive knowledge of all styles of dance and passion for helping others to assist her students in becoming better dancers as well as better individuals.

kelsey thomas

Ballet, Contemporary, Jazz, Hip Hop

Kelsey was born and raised in Norfolk, VA and began her dance journey at the ripe age of just two years old. She has training in classical, commercial, and competitive dance and has studied at Academy of Classical and Contemporary Dance/Fusion Dance Team, Governor’s School for the Arts, the 2015 Summer Residential Governor’s School Program, and James Madison University, where she obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Dance and a minor in Creative Writing. Kelsey has a passion for storytelling through movement and loves to inspire others through performative and written art. She feels most fulfilled when she is choreographing and educating young dancers on the power of movement. When she is not teaching, she can be found working her day job at VistaGraphics, Inc., the publishing company of Coastal Virginia Magazine and others, spoiling her pups or spending quality time with her family.

JALYN LASALA

Hip Hop

Jalyn is a Hip Hop Instructor at Moonlight Dance Studio, Music In Motion Dance Studio and Denise Wall Dance Energy. She has been dancing since her freshman year of High School and has been teaching for 7 years. Her biggest dance inspirations are Brian Puspos and Chris Martin. Through her experience in the 757 dance community, she has competed and performed in shows along the DMV area such as Coalescence and Prelude. She strives every day to be a better teacher, leader and student while hoping to inspire along the way!