Jewell is a dedicated dance professional and experienced instructor committed to sharing the transformative power of dance.
Her goal is to empower dancers of all levels to connect with their authentic selves and cultivate unwavering confidence through self-expression. Jewell believes movement is a powerful, universal language, and she’s to be a part of an inclusive, dynamic, and growth-focused community like Crown Dance Studio where every student feels connected and supported. She guides dancers beyond just technique, encouraging them to move with purpose, intention, and unapologetic self-expression.
To Emily, dance is not only a great way to enhance physical and mental wellbeing, but it is a universal language; one that allows individuals to communicate and express their authentic selves wordlessly. She views dance as a vibrant celebration of being alive, fostering deep self-connection and presence while uniting people from all walks of life.
She began her dance journey at the age of nine, developing skills in ballet, jazz, and contemporary. In 2018, she discovered her fiery passion for ballroom dance. Within two years of taking her first beginner group class, she completed Diane Jarmolow’s Ballroom Dance Teachers College program and officially started her career as an instructor. A comprehensive education in American Smooth and Rhythm combined with two years of teaching experience allows Emily to offer both technical proficiency and a fresh approach to her instruction.
Emily’s mission is to help others grow and achieve their goals while experiencing a sense of joy, grounding, and community. Whether they are beginners taking their first confident steps, wedding couples preparing for their special day, or competitive dancers refining their technique, she is dedicated to helping students connect with the music, their partner and their own potential in a supportive and uplifting learning environment.
Over 10 years ago, Suelene took her first salsa class at Crown Dance Studio—and instantly fell in love. Dance quickly became her favorite way to express herself, offering freedom, joy, and a deeper connection to herself through dance.
Now as an instructor, Suelene is dedicated to helping others find that same spark. She brings her warm, approachable energy into every class, creating a fun and supportive environment where students can grow, gain confidence, and truly enjoy themselves on the dance floor.
Whether you’re stepping into your first lesson or looking to refine your style, Suelene is committed to helping you move with confidence and feel at home through the rhythm of dance.
With over 10 years of experience in diverse dance styles, Paola Montenegro brings passion, discipline, and cultural richness to the dance floor. Originally from Bolivia, her journey began with traditional Bolivian folk dance and expanded into styles such as Bachata, Salsa, Pole Dance, Belly Dance, and more.
Paola has performed on national and international stages, earning awards including “Best Dancer” and 2nd place in Belly Dance at C.I.A.D. Argentina. She has taught both children and adults and continues to inspire students through her warm energy and love for movement.
Paola is now bringing her wealth of experience to Bachata, Salsa, and Ballroom, and is committed to helping students build confidence and connection through these beautiful styles. She offers classes in both English and Spanish to create an inclusive and welcoming environment for all. Her mission is to help others discover joy, self-expression, and community through dance.
Ariel Faith is a ballroom dancer with a rich and diverse background in movement, bringing 16 years of experience and a deep love for the art of dance. She began her journey at six years old with jazz, later expanding into ballet and contemporary, where she refined her technique and expressive style. Along the way, she performed, competed, and even ran her own dance studio, sharing her passion with students across multiple studios.
Known for her warm and encouraging approach, Ariel believes that dance is not just about mastering steps but about feeling truly at home on the dance floor. She blends technical expertise with a joyful, lighthearted teaching style, making every lesson both inspiring and fun. Now, she brings her extensive experience to the ballroom, guiding dancers of all levels with grace, artistry, and a genuine love for movement.
Gabriela begins her former training in ballet at eight (8) years old in Honduras. It was
then that she quickly fell in love with the performance aspect of dance. And you don’t
have to look hard to see her desire and passion for dance through her movement. As a
teacher, she’s committed to communicating sharing her gift with as many people as she
can.
Her love for dancing early on propelled her to transition into Latin Rhythm (Bachata,
Salsa), Hip Hop, Jazz, & Reggaeton. She has extensive training in Salsa ON1, Salsa
ON2, & Bachata with some of the industry’s best instructors.
Additionally, she has participated in live performances, competitions, and choreography.
As a director and competitor, her team has represented at the World Salsa Summit
placing 1st & 2nd in various categories.
She took her dancing skill to another level when she was cast in the hit Broadway show
“On Your Feet” in 2019. She’s one of the top Bachata & Salsa female dancers and
teachers in the area and she’s well known and liked by her peers and students who
have had the opportunity of working with her.
As a member of Crown Dance Studio, Gabriela is excited to add to our growing
community. He passion, dedication, and commitment to dance is a breath of fresh air
and uniqueness to the team. Students who have worked with her say it’s a joy to watch
her move and a privilege to dance with her. She looks forward to sharing this joy and
passion with you.
You can book a private dance lesson with Gabriela on the calendar by selecting “private
lesson.”
Bianca discovered her love for Latin dance & music while studying for her bachelor’s at Boston College. After a few dance socials she realized she wanted to learn more. On her return home to Jamaica, she began taking classes and dancing regularly. Thursday night socials were her dance therapy!
Dancing brings her joy and brings her to life! She enjoys sharing this passion with others so that they too can feel this joy within them. Her sessions are a good balance of fun, technique & musicality. She looks forward to getting you started on your dance journey! Book your first complimentary lesson today with Bianca.
Jose, also known as ‘Akuma’ in the dance community, unexpectedly started his international dance career in summer of 2008. Self-taught from a young age, he fell in love with the competitive aspect of Breakin’, the opportunity to take one’s skill set and creativity to see how it fares against others. Akuma has won various competitions in Breakin’ and Open Style Format against some of the highest level dancers on the East Coast. His expansive career includes him competing internationally, in music videos with the talents of Martin Garrix, performing at EDC Las Vegas and working alongside companies Redbull NA & more.
He now has found a new love and appreciation for teaching the youth in recent years and passing on knowledge and positivity to the community. He gets a thrill from seeing people grow in different ways through dance, whether it’s gaining confidence or just having a good time. Akuma has a passion for Hiphop culture given it has helped him find himself and he always reminds people, “Thanks to this dance/culture I have met some of the most amazing and influential people that I get to call family.”
Everything he has learned through experience and workshops has contributed to his vast knowledge and skillset, allowing for a setting in which you can learn in a relaxing, fun yet detail oriented manner.
Miss Avril Hernandez started her love affair with dance in the Philippines at the age of four, rooted primarily in ballet which continued until she emigrated to the United States. Utilizing the fervor and energy of her early teen years, she expanded her artistic repertoire and undertook Jazz and Hip-Hop. That experience would later provide a smooth segue into Modern and Tap Dance, even dabbling in Ballroom through her college years. In 2007, she was accepted into the summer program at New York City’s Amy Marshall Dance Company, a company known for its provocative and strong choreography.
In 2011, after graduating Dance Master’s of America Teacher Training School at UB & getting certified in Ballet, Jazz, and Modern, Miss Avril followed her dreams to Los Angeles. She got accepted with a $10,000 scholarship at American Musical & Dramatic Academy (AMDA) where she studied Dance Theatre. After moving back home, she taught at Dance Institute of Washington for two years and continued to teach in various schools and dance studios in DC, Maryland, and Virginia.
In 2021, she decided to take a break from teaching full-time and focus on her training. She started training in Ballroom with Abraham at Crown Dance Studio and won 1st place at her first competition at the Yuletide Ball. She started her mentorship under Alex Schoendorf and traveled twice to Berlin to train under Alex and Denis Weckbach in 2022. She also trained with Malou Linders in Amsterdam alongside Pedro Reis from Brazil.
Currently, Miss Avril continues her pursuit of her dance career. She hopes to feed the aspirations of the would-be dancers she’s met and will meet, so that they too may further their dreams and find their heart’s desires as she is. She continues to teach private lessons and choreograph for competitions at Perfect Pointe Dance Studio plus choreographs for weddings and quinceñearas. She is excited to join Crown Dance Studio as a Marketing Director and Professional Dance Instructor Teaching Hip Hop classes on Wednesday nights and assisting with other group classes. When she’s not learning choreography or teaching dance, Miss Avril travels as much as she can, and spends time with her family and friends.
Anastasiia was born in Ukraine. Here first experience in dance came at the age of four (4) when she partnered with her brother. Shortly after that Anastasiia and her brother began to attend ballroom dance competitions together as kids.
But her passion for dancing didn’t stop there. She took another step in the direction of hip hop while still partnering with her brother in ballroom dancing. She will go on to win her first dance competition at the age of 12 in both hip hop and ballroom dance championship in Ukraine.
At 18 years old Anastasiia traveled to China With her dance team where she was the lead choreographer. Anastasiia spent four years in China traveling all over China on tour with her team in various places inspiring others through dance.
Because she’s literally incapable of saying no to dancing, she then took on another dance style in modern and classical style dancing. During this time Anastasiia began to work on her personal training certification to enhance her knowledge of the body.
Anastasiia dedication to health and wellness can be shown in the way she carries herself. She has also gone on to participate in bodybuilding competitions, placing in the top 3 of the final. No matter here skills and experience, nothing has come close to Anastasiia passion and love for dancing. Now she has decided to share this amazing passion with as many people as she can.
Lina immediately immersed herself in the world of salsa joining an On2 salsa/mambo group and wasted no time performing at the first DC Salsa Congress. In her eyes salsa and latin dance are like riding a bicycle – once learned, never forgotten. She firmly believes that salsa transcends cultural barriers, enabling perfect harmony between strangers across the globe without the need for choreography and believes it is the most beautiful universal language.
Remarkably, Lina considers the perceived disadvantage of no formal background as inspiration for her passion. She takes great joy in working with students who feel they are entering the dance game late or may be grappling with discouragement for various reasons. These challenges resonate with her and she looks forward to helping dancers break down these barriers.
Following an unexpected long break from dance, Lina has returned with an even stronger connection to her art, focusing on fundamentals and vowing to never part ways from it again.
Abraham (Abe) took ownership of Crown Dance Studio in 2014, with the mission of making the studio an affordable dance home for all, no matter your economic circumstance. With over 24 years of dance — including 14 years of teaching, and 11 years of competing — his hope is to empower people from all walks of life to discover their purpose and accomplish their dreams. If you ask him what his favorite part of being an instructor is, he’ll always emphasize his love and passion for helping students and staff develop their dance skills as they transform into better versions of themselves. His warm, friendly and energetic personality — paired with his high level knowledge and skillset of dancing — always makes learning easy, fun and exciting.
Abe likes to remind us, “never let your past circumstances define you. You have the power to make a decision to create the changes you need for the life you desire.” Joining our Crown Dance Studio family would be a great decision, in our very unbiased opinion.
Sophia started dancing almost as soon as she could walk, and while her first dance love was ballet, she has since explored many different dance styles: from bollywood, to jazz, to Latin ballroom, to salsa and bachata. In high school, Sophia spent four years on her school’s dance team while also pursuing competitive Latin ballroom, winning national titles in competitions for both. She started social dancing in college and has been hooked ever since!
Alex Teleshko – Professional Dance Instructor (Ballroom, Latin, Smooth, Rhythm, & More…).
With over 22 years of experience in Ballroom & Latin dancing, Alex brings with him a wealth of knowledge in all dance general under the umbrella of “Ballroom Dancing.” He’s a teacher, coach, chorographer and a former dance studio owner in Krakow, Poland and Kiev, Ukraine. In addition, Alex is a fully certified dance instructor with National and International Federations such as (IDCA, WDO). He’s great at teaching people of all ages and levels. His experience working with kids and adults who have a passion and desire for dancing at all levels and ages makes him uniquely qualified to be your next dance teacher in all these dance generals. Alex passion and dedication to dance is second to none. His students and peers admire him for his hard work, effort, and determination to bring the best out of his students while making dancing a fun and fulfilling experience.
As an educated teacher and choreographer, Alex holds a “Magister Degree of Sports in Dance” and was the head of the ballroom choreographer at the Kiev Choreographic College. He has competed all over Europe at both the amateur and professional level in the World Dance Federation. And now, he’s excited to do the same here in the United States with his students and his professional partners representing Crown Dance Studio.
Alex strongest skill is in personal motivation. Holding the title of master of Sports of Ukraine as professional dancer and 10 dance champion, has not deterred him from working harder for the next opportunity. Alex has represented Ukraine and Poland at Several European Dance Competition where he and his partner took top placements. In addition, Alex has been featured in many dance articles included but not limited to “NOVA Magazine” Ukraine.
#MaximizeYourpotentialWithAlex
Always an athlete, Nick’s love of dance initially came to be from his mother’s encouragement to attend class as a child — since day one, he was hooked. It wasn’t until college, however, that Nick began to teach and compete in ballroom dancing; and although he had attended college for history and secondary education, his love and passion for this art form drew Nick back to the dance floor. As an instructor, he hopes to get to witness his students’ excitement as they gain confidence in their moves. “I love to see that ‘aha’ moment!”
Join Nick on the dance floor for plenty of fun and learning!
Since early childhood, Allison has been extremely active and full of energy. During her elementary and high school years, she was a track & cross country champ, which got her a full scholarship to Eastern Kentucky University — the place where she was exposed to the art & joy of ballroom dancing. Allison has been a professional instructor since 2006 and has earned numerous awards at American Smooth & Rhythm dance competitions.
Allison is known for her in-depth knowledge of dance techniques, as well as her passion for having fun on the dance floor. Be sure to book a private lesson, and don’t forget to join her every Saturday for Styling Class as she walks you through perfecting your form, rhythm, and muscle group focus.
