![teachersandstaff](https://christinesstudioofdance.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/teachersandstaff.png)
![smallspacer1](https://christinesstudioofdance.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/smallspacer1.png)
![Brianna M. Smith](http://www.csodnj.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/bree.png)
Brianna M. Smith
Owner/Instructor
Ms Bree has attended Christine’s Studio of Dance since age 5 where she took a wide range of classes. She began student teaching her freshman year of high school and became an instructor in 2011 and office manager in 2012. Ms Bree was part of A.P. Schalick High School’s Dance Academy for 3 years where she concentrated her studies in dance history and modern dance. She holds two dance teaching certificates from the University of Las Vegas, Nevada. She attended Dance Teacher Web Conference and Expo for 6 consecutive years where she studied studio business, injury prevention, and costuming, in addition to classes in all forms of dance. She holds Bachelor’s degree in Business Management from Wilmington University. During the spring of 2018, with the retirement of Ms Chrissy, Ms Bree was named director of CSOD. After dancing at CSOD for over 26 years, in January 2024 she was proud to announce her ownership the studio that has been her second home. Ms Bree has continued her dance education by attending adult classes at Powerhouse Dance in Cherry Hill. She’s attended Relative Rhythm’s improvisation workshop where she tap danced with a live jazz band. She is a member of Dance NJ and has attended Dance NJ’s workshop with famous tap dancer, Jason Samuels Smith. She’s also taken tap courses with Pamela Hetherington at the Philadelphia Jazz Tap Ensemble. She’s taken the Karida Griffith Tap Teacher Lounge course and is currently enrolled in Hillary-Marie’s iTapOnline course which she will complete August 2024. In the fall of 2023, Ms. Bree became a member of the National Dance Education Organization where she founded CSOD’s first National Honors Society for Dance Arts Chapter, inducting over 20 students into the Junior and Secondary Chapters and inducting over 10 students with honors status. Even with normal challenges of running a business, Ms Bree always pushes through and works the hardest she can for her students and dance families to make sure that they have the same amazing experience she had growing up here at CSOD.
![Jennifer Hanner](https://christinesstudioofdance.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/jenfinish1.jpg)
Jennifer Hanner
Instructor
Ms Jennifer began taking ballet classes at the age of six in Bordentown, NJ at “The Ballet School.” At the age of ten, she continued her training with Ballet Austin Academy, the official school of Ballet Austin in Texas. She went on to perform with that company in the corps de ballet. Jennifer was also fortunate enough to receive private coaching with Pixie Bevans of London Festival Ballet, now the English National Ballet, Barbro Roland of Ballet Caravan (the original New York City Ballet) and the Birgit Cullberg Ballet, and Thomas Hanner of San Fransico Ballet. She also has performed as a soloist with the Mt. Vernon Ballet Company of Baltimore, MD and Ballet South. Jennifer has taught regularly and given guest classes at over 30 different schools in the Delaware Valley. She looks forward to many more years of working with young people on developing their skills and character through the discipline of ballet. We are excited and honored that Ms Jennifer joined our CSOD family in the fall of 2018.
![Karly Meehan](http://www.csodnj.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Khs9bw-scaled.jpeg)
Karly Meehan
Competition Instructor
Karly Meehan is a dance educator, freelance performer, and MFA candidate based in Philadelphia. She earned her BFA in Dance at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas with a concentration in choreography. While living in Las Vegas, Karly worked alongside Cirque du Soleil and Academy of Villains, and had the privilege of studying under Ari Mayzick, Christopher Huggins, Victoria Dale, and Katherine Duke. In addition, she developed and operated her own dance program for gymnasts for the Salcianu Academy of Gymnastics. Now in Philadelphia, Karly is a Lead Teaching Artist with BalletX’s Dance eXchange program. She is so excited to join the team at Christine’s Studio of Dance this season as the competition instructor!
Andrianna Beebe
Instructor
![Alexandra Grundlock](http://www.csodnj.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/IMG_7496.jpeg)
Alexandra Grundlock
Instructor
Alexandra Grundlock has been passionate about dance since she was 2 years old. For eleven years, Alex trained at Christine’s and was a member of the CSOD competition team during its inaugural year. Alex took part in tap, ballet, pointe, jazz, lyrical, and modern. Currently, Alex is proud to be part of the Rowan dance team for her freshman year of college. Alexandra recently graduated from high school, where she was honored to be a member of both the National Honor Society and the National Honor Society for Dance. During her high school years, she was actively involved in the dance academy and the varsity cheer team, performing regularly on stage and on the football field. Alex has also self-choreographed various dances for the dance academy. She helped student-teach many different styles of dance while at CSOD, and had the privilege last year to be the acro teacher. In addition to dance, Alex has been involved in gymnastics for eleven years, competing on the competition team. Over the past two years, she has taken the initiative to self-register for various dance competitions, further honing her skills and showcasing her dedication to the art of dance. Alexandra has also taken many open classes at different colleges, attended open clinics for colleges, and taken classes at Power House. In her free time, Alex loves to go to workout classes, take extra dance classes, and go to the beach. Alex is entering her freshman year of college, pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education at Rowan University, with the ideal plan of being a Pre-K teacher. Alex loves to watch kids grow into young adults and inspire kids to do their best.
![Sarah Layton](http://www.csodnj.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/image000002.jpeg)
Sarah Layton
Instructor
Sarah Layton brings with her 20 years of dance experience. She has trained extensively in many disciplines of dance, but specializes in Modern, Lyrical, Contemporary and Jazz. She has had the privilege of studying with the New Jersey Ballet, and continues her dance education by taking classes with the Philadelphia Ballet and Dance Masters of America. In 2023, Sarah graduated from the Dance Masters of America (DMA) Teacher’s Training School, passing the Modern, Jazz, Ballet, and Tap tests with all high scores. She also completed her beginner Zumba Fitness Instructor Certification Class. In 2021 Sarah became certified in the Progressing Ballet Technique Program, having completed a rigorous workshop. In 2018, Sarah was honored with the title of Miss Vineland, completing an impressive 105 events during her reign. In 2022, she founded the Miss Tri-City scholarship program and proudly continues to mentor young women competing for the title. In her free time, Sarah likes to attend yoga classes and study paleontology. Currently, Sarah is pursuing a Bachelors degree in Psychology at Rowan University, with aspirations of becoming a mental health therapist. Sarah loves spreading her love of dance and the freedom of movement to her students.
![Leah Parks](http://www.csodnj.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/IMG_8633.jpg)
Leah Parks
Acro Coach
Leah Parks is a dedicated and passionate acro teacher with a rich background in gymnastics, cheerleading, and conditioning. As a former competitive gymnast turned competitive cheerleader at Starbound Gymnastics Academy, Leah brings a wealth of experience and expertise to her teaching. Leah takes great joy in seeing her students succeed and master new skills. With a keen eye for technique and a deep understanding of gymnastics, Leah is adept at breaking down complex moves into manageable steps, making learning both fun and rewarding. Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced performer, Leah is dedicated to providing top-notch instruction and support, ensuring that every student can soar to new levels of success.
![Christine Shimp](https://christinesstudioofdance.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/129033483_926946234503625_8185492894654328369_n.jpg)
Christine Shimp
Founder & Historian
Christine started her dance training with Barbara Adams at the age of three. As a teen, she taught at Adam’s Dance Academy in Elmer and was a member of the Delaware Valley Jazz Company, also, taking tap lessons from Corrine Gangi in Pitman and teaching at South Jersey Danceworks, also in Pitman.
She began her teacher training in 1982 with Mary E. Sisome of Audobon, in the Royal Academy Ballet Syllabus, receiving distinction and honors on her exams in grade 1-5. And in 1983 began a small summer program, with eight students, at Old Cedar Campground in Monroeville.
Christine furthered her dance training at West Chester University in Pennsylvania as a member of the WCU Dance Team, before transferring to Rowan University in New Jersey. She continued with her summer program that was growing year by year. Upon graduating from Rowan, she decided to turn the summer program into a full-time studio.
However, opening the studio is not where the training ended. Christine began taking classes and performing with Ballet South under the direction of Shawn Doyle, as well as attending various workshops in NYC and Las Vegas. She attended the Dance Teacher Web Conference and Expo in Las Vegas, and ITDI workshops in NJ for several years. In addition to the Royal Academy Teaching Certification, she has completed a three year program from Dance Educators of America in NYC & Las Vegas, with certification in tap, ballet and jazz dance, and was a member of DEA and was a director and member of International Teachers of Dance. Each summer she travelled to Las Vegas for the Dance Teacher Web Convention & Expo, to learn from the country’s top “teacher’s teachers” and was very excited and fortunate to be able to bring her whole staff to learn from these masters of dance. In May of 2018, after 35 years, Christine announced her retirement from teaching and managing of the studio with her move to Houston, Texas. In May of 2023, she has officially pass on ownership in the very capable hands of her prodigy and surrogate child, Brianna Smith. Christine will now serve as the CSOD historian in all photography, videography and documents that share the legacy of CSOD.
Student Teachers