Our Team
Meet Our Instructors
Our instructors bring years of professional training and a genuine passion for teaching to every class.
Jessica Beran
Founder and Owner
Founder and Owner of Dance Moves Charleston, mom of two teenagers, and happy, longtime resident of James Island! I've also been a lifelong dancer since I got my first taste of movement and rhythm at the age of 3. I studied dance at my highschool, as well as, danced with a pre professional company until graduation. I then decided to pursue my dream of being a dance professional in college, even though everyone told me "You will never do anything with a dance degree". I earned my BA in dance from the University of South Carolina and studied intensely at the Alvin Ailey School in New York City. It was then that I first understood the power of dance—the sense of security, discipline, and confidence it gave me as well as it being an outlet for me to express myself authentically. Not surprisingly, dance has remained a steadfast love in my life and I have been honored to share this with the Charleston community for the last 22 years.
Aimee Butsch
Studio Manager and Artistic Director
Aimee, a dynamic movement specialist, brings a rich tapestry of interdisciplinary art practices to her craft. Originally from North Carolina, Aimee's journey led her to the vibrant artistic hub of London, England, where she pursued and earned her Master of Fine Arts in Dance and Embodied Practice from the University of Roehampton. During her time in London, Aimee carved her niche as a versatile freelancer, leveraging her skills as a dance videographer and filmmaker. Her evocative films found resonance on the international stage, gracing festivals throughout the UK, EU, and Asia. Now, Aimee is poised for a triumphant homecoming to Charleston. She is set to make an indelible mark as the new Artistic Director of the Dance Moves Youth Company, infusing it with her innovative vision. Additionally, Aimee will be rejoining the esteemed Annex Dance Company, further enriching Charleston's vibrant dance scene with her passion and expertise.
Taylor Bennett
Traveling Manager and Instructor
Taylor Bennett, originally from Aiken, SC, is in her sixth season with Annex Dance Company and her third as a full company member. A graduate of the College of Charleston, she holds dual degrees in Dance and Early Childhood Education. During her undergraduate years, Taylor performed in both faculty and student works and choreographed original pieces for the student dance concerts Finding Place (2021) and Wanderlust (2022). Her work was also selected for presentation and adjudication at the American College Dance Association Southeast Conference in 2022 at Brenau University. Based in Charleston, Taylor is deeply involved in dance education as a teacher with Dance Moves of Charleston, the Assistant Artistic Director of the Dance Moves Youth Company, and the Traveling Manager. Through these roles, she supports and inspires young dancers across the Lowcountry, combining her experience in early childhood education with her passion for movement and the arts. In addition to her work with Dance Moves, Taylor is a lead teaching artist with Annex Dance Company, facilitating curriculum-based residencies for students in grades K–6. She also spent four summers on faculty at Camp Ballibay, where she taught, choreographed for concerts and musicals, and helped set Annex repertory during the company's residencies. In 2023, she was named Head of Dance, leading her department and producing multiple performances throughout the season.
Kristen Bertolino
Instructor
Kristen Bertolino grew up in Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina, where she trained in several styles of dance at Center Stage School of Performing Arts. While in college at UNC Chapel Hill, she was a member of Blank Canvas Dance Company where she choreographed numerous dances, and served on the executive board for two years. Upon moving to Charleston in the fall of 2021, Kristen joined The Dance Space, where she continues to take dance classes and has been a member of the performing companies for three years. This is Kristen's first season with Dance Moves and she is excited to bring the joy she has found through dance to her students.
Carmella Della-Peruta
Instructor
Carmella graduated from The College of Charleston in 2022, where she received a Bachelors in the Arts, double majoring in dance and psychology. While there, she focused on the performance aspect of dance and regularly participated in MainStage shows. She is now a lead teacher at a local preschool, where she works with children aged 3-4 years old. She loves working with younger children and being a vital aspect of their growth. Her love for dance began right as she was born as her whole family was involved in dance. As a baby she would watch her mother teach dance at her studio and the rest is history. She's trained in hip hop, jazz, modern, and ballet. This will be her first year at Dance Moves and she's so excited to get moving!
Natalie Davis
Certified Yoga Instructor
Natalie is passionate about mindfulness practices like meditation and yoga. She has worked with kids for most of her life and is now teaching kids yoga! Natalie completed her 250hr teacher training at Satsang Yoga in Mount Pleasant. Her training pays special attention to joy and non-harming, she loves to share these concepts with children and hopes to have a positive impact on many kids and adults. She believes that mindful practices like yoga can help children learn to regulate their emotions, be aware of their bodies, and be more at ease when handling challenging tasks.
Chloe Parker
Nexton Manager
Chloe Parker is originally from Buffalo, NY, and began dancing at age 10, competing for five years. She previously served as Head Instructor and Choreographer for summer camps at Impact Creative Arts Academy and has extensive musical theatre experience, performing in over 20 productions and later teaching Musical Theatre and Jazz. Chloe is a certified yoga instructor through Yoga Renew and a certified personal trainer through ISSA Sports Science. Now in her third season with Dance Moves of Charleston, Chloe serves as our Nexton Manager , bringing her passion for dance, fitness, and education to the team. She continues her training through Dance Lab and actively pursues performance opportunities.
Marley Delovich
Instructor
Marley has been part of Dance Moves for 16 years, growing up as a dedicated dancer and now stepping into a teaching role. As an SOA graduate, she currently serves as the assistant manager at Francesca's while balancing her passion for dance by teaching both in schools and at the studio each week. Marley is a true embodiment of the Dance Moves culture, exemplifying the values of commitment, growth, and trust. Her journey from student to teacher reflects her deep connection to the studio and its mission.
Adam Whitten
Instructor
Adam began his dance journey while he was studying for his Marketing MBA at Stony Brook University in Long Island, NY. Originally taking up hip hop dance to get exercise, he instantly fell in love with it and eventually committed more time to the craft by joining multiple dance groups, even running as director/captain for 3 dance teams in a single year. Outside of being a hip hop dancer of 9+ years, he also actively trains in other styles in contemporary, modern, jazz, ballet, theater, heels, and tap at The Dance Space and Dance Lab. Since moving to Charleston, Adam has choreographed and performed in various productions/live events across the southeast region. Outside of dance, Adam also works as a professional actor and model, as well as live performer for multiple organizations, such as The Dance Space and Out on a Limb Circus. Adam is very excited to get the fun vibes going and share his love for dance with everyone at Dance Moves
Katie Winch
Instructor
Katie, originally from Spartanburg, SC, trained at Ballet Spartanburg and the SC Governor's School for the Arts before earning her B.A. in Early Childhood Education from the University of South Carolina. She is trained in ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, lyrical, modern, contemporary, and is a 200-hour Registered Yoga Teacher. With over three years of experience teaching in both studio and private settings, Katie has worked with dancers of all ages and levels, from preschoolers to advanced students. She has choreographed award-winning routines and led classes in technique, conditioning, and performance. In addition to her work in dance, she teaches child development in the Charleston County School District and holds dual master's degrees in Teaching & Learning and Trauma-Informed Education. Katie's teaching philosophy emphasizes inclusivity, positivity, and empowerment. She creates a supportive space where students feel confident to grow and express themselves. In 2024, she was recognized with a OneBeat Standout Award from Groove Dance Competition for her tap piece Footloose , celebrating her creativity, attention to detail, and love of movement.
Jayden Zayas
Ballet Instructor
Jayden Zayas, originally from Atlanta, Georgia, trained as a soloist with the Roswell Dance Theatre. Her passion for dance was evident from an early age, as she represented the ballet company and Pre-Professional company as the RDT Dance Captain. Over the years, Jayden performed many principal roles including the Sugar Plum Fairy, Clara, and Snow Queen in the The Nutcracker , and Mary in Mary Poppins . Jayden has participated in numerous national competitions, including Youth America Grand Prix and Universal Ballet Competition, along with performing in various Regional Dance America Southeast festivals. She spent her summers attending intensive training programs with prestigious ballet companies such as Carolina Ballet, Louisville Ballet, Charlotte Ballet, Burklyn Ballet Theatre, Ballet Magnificat, and Nashville Ballet. Now in Charleston, South Carolina, Jayden is pursuing her professional ballet career along with her love for teaching dance, choreographing, and instructing reformer pilates. Jayden is currently going into her third season with Palmetto City Ballet as a company dancer. Her repertoire with the company includes Mustardseed in A Midsummer Night's Dream and Haberdasher in The Nutcracker . She also performs with the professional contemporary ballet company, Unbound Ballet Project.
Kayleigh Everhart
Instructor
Kay began dancing at Great Gig Dance Co. in Kennesaw, GA at age 3 and danced competitively until 2021. She is trained in ballet, tap, jazz, and modern, but is especially proficient in tap. Kay began teaching in high school and continued through college, teaching both youth and adult classes as well as choreographing for performing company members. She is a recent graduate of the University of Georgia and was heavily involved in the Department of Dance and their performances.
Emily Falcone
Instructor
Emily began dancing at the age of two in Rhode Island and has been performing competitively since she was twelve. She holds a BA in Dance with a concentration in performance and choreography from the College of Charleston. At CofC, Emily performed and choreographed in many mainstage shows and has had her work showcased alongside faculty and guest artists. Emily is trained in jazz, contemporary, tap, modern, acro and ballet. She's won numerous awards for her choreography at dance competitions and has been teaching master classes for all ages since graduating high school, Currently, she is teaching and dancing professionally in Charleston and is so excited to continue her passion for teaching at Dance Moves!
Maya Alizzeo
Instructor
Maya Alizzeo recently graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Design from Elon University, where she also minored in Dance. While she was in college she was actively involved in a campus dance organization called ‘Danceworks' as a performance and class choreographer, dance photographer, and PR board member. Through an Elon program, she studied Dance and Dance Film/ Photography in LA for nine weeks, where she trained under various choreographers, and prepared for an annual Elon Fall Showcase. Originally from Meadville, Pennsylvania, Maya started dancing at the age of three, training in Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Tap, and Contemporary at Allegro Dance Arts. Her love for dance deepened through years of performance, including seven years with Oil Region Ballet Company, where she refined her technique and developed a passion for storytelling through movement. Now stepping into her teaching journey Maya is excited to share her energy, passion, and love for dance with the next generation of creatives and movers.
Maddie Newman
Instructor
Ms. Maddie has been a part of the Dance Moves of Charleston family since 2018. She began dancing at age three and is a proud College of Charleston graduate, holding bachelor's degrees in Dance and Computer Science, as well as a master's in Elementary Education. She specializes in lyrical and jazz, and her lifelong passion for dance is evident in every class she teaches.
Serena Madden
Instructor
Dance has been a part of Serena's life for over 20 years - from working as a ballroom dance instructor for almost 3 years to training in various styles of dance (including ballet, tap, musical theatre, and social dance). She is so grateful for the opportunity to foster that love of dance in the new generations! The performing arts and teaching have always been passions of hers - leading to her graduating Summa Cum Laude with a BA in Theatre Performance and a music minor. Since then she has founded and created her own acting program for ages 5-17, as well as choreographing for various musicals in the community. She truly loves getting to pour into her students and show them how much they are capable of through the unique gifts they have been given.
Cat Teel
Instructor
Cat Teel is from Albuquerque, New Mexico and has been dancing for 22 years. She has experience in ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, hip hop, heels, and pom. She has eight years of choreography experience with high school and college age dancers. She was captain of her high school dance team for two years, and president of Dancers Unlimited at New Mexico State University. Along with a love of dance, she has a BS in Early Childhood Education, and loves teaching young children. Before moving to South Carolina she worked as an elementary school teacher in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Educating through dance is her passion.
Elizabeth Vazquez
Instructor
Elizabeth is from Columbia, South Carolina and began dancing at a young age. She will earn her BA in Dance from the College of Charleston in May, where she has performed in multiple mainstage productions and worked closely with faculty and guest artists. Elizabeth is trained in jazz, contemporary, modern, ballet, and Latin dance, and is passionate about sharing her love of movement through teaching and performance. She is excited to continue growing as an artist and educator while connecting with dancers in the Charleston community.
Aja Duncan
Instructor
Aja is an ISSA-certified group fitness instructor who brings a powerful blend of movement, mindset, and joy to every class. As a mental health therapist, nutrition coach, and proud mom of five, she understands the impact of movement not only on physical strength, but on stress relief, confidence, and emotional well-being. Known for her high-energy, full-body workouts, Aja creates classes that are uplifting, inclusive, and empowering—designed to help every participant leave feeling stronger, lighter, and more confident than when they arrived.
Vayia Tsantilis
Instructor
Vayia Tsantilis is originally from Long Island, New York, where she owned and directed K&V Dance Studio from 2004–2014 and DeeVa Dance Studio from 2014–2024 before relocating to Summerville, South Carolina. Throughout her 20 years as a studio owner, Vayia focused on creating a safe, supportive, and welcoming environment where dancers of all ages and levels could grow, build confidence, and develop a lifelong love of dance. Vayia is thrilled to join the Dance Moves family and looks forward to continuing to share her passion for dance while inspiring and nurturing the next generation of dancers.
Rosel Laborte
Administrative Assistant
Rosel brings a background in education, administration, and communication to Dance Moves of Charleston. She holds a Bachelor of Secondary Education degree in MAPE and is a Licensed Professional Teacher with several years of classroom experience, where she developed strong organizational skills, adaptability, and a passion for helping others. As Dance Moves' Admin Assistant / Virtual Assistant, Rosel combines her administrative expertise with her love for dance and creativity, supporting the studio's mission through organization, collaboration, and behind-the-scenes support.
Ready to Dance With Us?
Try your first class free at James Island or Nexton.