Our Faculty – Elite Feet Dance Studio

Gay Lynn Meadows

owner / directorJoined EFDS in 2005Radford UniversityBachelor of Science in Dance and a minor in Secondary Education

Gay Lynn is the Director and Owner of the Elite Feet Dance Studio. She has been teaching and choreographing for the past 38 years, in the techniques of Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Pointe and Lyrical. Besides being the Dance Director at Elite Feet Dance Studio Ms. Meadows is the Director of the Elite Feet Dance Company. Company students compete 3 to 4 times a year winning numerous platinum and gold awards, overall high scores and choreography awards. You will also see the company performing at various events in the surrounding area.

Jennifer Shipley

teacher / office managerJoined EFDS in 2005University of MarylandBachelors of Arts in Dance

Jennifer has been at EFDS since we opened in 2005, and has taught with Gay Lynn since 2000. She teaches Jazz, Lyrical, Modern, Ballet and Tap. Along with teaching responsibilities she has worked with the Elite Feet Dance Company choreographing and rehearsing competition numbers. Several of Jennifer’s pieces won top scores as well as choreography excellence awards.

Amanda Tomasello

teacher / office managerJoined EFDS in 2012University of Maryland-Baltimore CountyBachelor of Arts in Dance

Amanda began her dance training at age 5 in the Frederick area and has been dancing ever since. She was a member of the Urbana High School Dance Company and joined Elite Feet Dance Company for her last two years of high school. Amanda then attended the University of Maryland-Baltimore County as a full Linehan Artist Scholar. There she performed and choreographed many pieces for various UMBC dance productions and was awarded Outstanding Junior in Dance in her third year.

Whitney Courtney

teacher / office managerJoined EFDS in 2007Shenandoah UniversityBachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Education

Whitney Courtney is a 2008 graduate of Shenandoah University where she received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Education, leading to her Virginia teaching license in dance for K-12. Following a comprehensive training program, Whitney also received her Pilates Mat Certification from the Pilates Method Alliance. During her four years at Shenandoah, Whitney performed in every main
stage concert and many special events at the invitation of the faculty, including performances at The Virginia Historical Society, The Winchester Country Club, and many others.

Karen Ferguson Wall

teacherJoined EFDS in 2007Linda Elower Sicilia Studio of Dance

Ms. Ferguson Wall is a native of Frederick County and joined EFDS in 2007. She has been involved in dance and gymnastics since the age of 2. She has been teaching dance for over 10 years at various studios in the Frederick area. Along with her teaching responsibilities, she has previously served as co-director of other competitive dance troops. Her choreography has won top honors at various local and regional competitions.

Elizabeth Irvine

teacherJoined EFDS in 2015University of North Carolina, GreensboroBachelor of Fine Arts in Dance

Elizabeth began dance at the age of 3 in central Virginia at a local community center. By age 5 she knew dance was for her and has worked hard to hone her skills ever since. She spent 5 years at a wonderful studio in Warrenton Virginia studying Ballet, Jazz and Modern and then auditioned for her first summer intensive with the School of American Ballet and fell in love with the school, moved to New York and stayed at SAB for 6 years.

Katie Moore

teacherJoined EFDS in 2015University of Maryland College ParkBachelor of Arts in Dance & Theater

Katie Moore is a 2013 Graduate of The University of Maryland, College Park where she received Dual Degrees in Dance and Theater Performances. At UMD she received dance training under Alvin Mayes, Julia Smith, Sharon Mansur, Adriane Fang, Kwame Shaka Opare, Karen Bradley and Patrik Widrig all in modern, ballet and West African Dance. During her time at UMD, Katie was one of the founding members of Delta Chi Xi an Honorary Dance Fraternity, dedicated to dance and dance education. With a love for both dance and theater, Katie also studied theater at UMD under Dave Demeke, Leslie Felbain, Dr. Walter Dallas, and Scott Reese. Prior to college, Katie studied with many dance teachers in the Hagerstown, Frederick and Glen Bernie, MD areas. Receiving training under Kelly Jenkins, Alferdo Jimenez, Tom Waters, Donna Grimm, Susan Strider-Copen, Gina Korrell and Ashley Canterna (former Miss Dance of Dance Masters of America).

Jonathan Hsu

teacherJoined EFDS in 2019University of Maryland College Park BA in Dance and BSA in Kinesiology

Jonathan Hsu has a BA in Dance and BSA in Kinesiology from the University of Maryland College Park. Currently dancing with Orange Grove Dance and PEARSONWIDRIG DANCETHEATER, he has also performed with Rennie Harris Puremovement, Project ChArma, and Culture Shock DC both nationally and internationally in Russia, Germany, Cuba, Mexico, the Kennedy Center Terrace Theatre, San Diego Civic Theatre, and many local venues in the Maryland and DC area.

Mark Chichester

teacherJoined EFDS in 2024British Association of Teachers of Dancing

Mark began dancing at age five at the Marilyn Baker School of Dance in Doncaster, England, training in tap, modern, ballet, jazz and acro. He accompanied his dance studies with a successful competitive career, which he capped off by winning the All-England Tap Championship at The London Coliseum in 2009.

Kerry Rudy

teacherJoined EFDS in 2021University of DelawareEarly Childhood Education and Special Education

Kerry Rudy has a daughter that has been dancing at Elite Feet since 2012. Growing up, Kerry has always been involved with tumbling and acro. Through college, she cheered for the UCA nationally ranked, University of Delaware Cheerleading Team. She was an assistant coach for Towson University Cheerleading Team and has been coaching gymnastics for the last 10 years. Kerry has coached both recreational level gymnastics and competitive gymnastics.

Victoria Sinnett

teacherJoined EFDS in 2023Shepherd University

Victoria was born in Laurel, MD, and moved to Frederick County as a toddler. She started her dance training at the age of 3 in the Frederick area, her early training was at Artistic Dance Center under the direction of Tom Waters. In 2011 Victoria transitioned her training to Elite Feet Dance Studio and joined Elite Feet Dance Company that same year. During her time in the Elite Feet Dance Company Victoria was acknowledged at many competitions for her technical abilities. In addition to her performance opportunities with Elite Feet, Victoria was also an active member of the Oakdale Dance Team for 3 years. Upon graduating high school Victoria went to Shepherd University where she became a part of the Shepherd Dance Team. Victoria received additional training from tap, hip hop, lyrical, and jazz experts by attending many conventions in D.C. and New York City throughout the years.

Julia Fish

teacherJoined EFDS in 2023University of Maryland, College ParkBA in Psychology

Julia Fish is entering her first full year with Elite Feet Dance Studio as part of the teaching team. She grew up in the Frederick community and attended Oakdale High School. Julia started her dance training at the age of 3 years old. She trained at Elite Feet in tap, jazz, lyrical, ballet, and pointe and was a member of the Elite Feet Dance Company from 2009-2019 Julia won many top awards during her time in the Elite Feet Dance Company including a top overall award for her solo at StarQuest Nationals. She traveled to New York to attend the Big Apple Tap Festival four times to take classes from many tap greats. Julia continued to perform while in college first with the Fusion Dance Team at Virginia Tech from 2019 - 2020 before transferring to the University of Maryland. While at the University of Maryland Julia earned a Bachelors of Arts in Psychology and continued her dance training by taking classes within the dance department at the university, getting additional training from Sara Pearson, Patrik Widrig, Gerson Lanza, Kendra Portier, and Marielis Garcia. Julia's teaching experience includes being part of our assistant teacher program from 2012 until she graduated high school in 2019 and then she returned in the summers and school breaks as a substitute teacher on our staff. We are excited to add her to our staff this year and look forward to seeing her help our students grow throughout the year.

Hannah Schwartz

teacherJoined EFDS in 2021Hood College

Hannah Schwartz is entering her third year with Elite Feet Dance Studio as part of the teaching team. She grew up in the Walkersville community and attended Walkersville High School. Hannah started her dance training at the age of 2 years old. In 2012 she transitioned her training to Elite Feet Dance Studio and the following year she became part of the Elite Feet Dance Company. She spent years training in ballet, jazz, lyrical and tap with a focused energy on ballet and lyrical. She was recognized for her performance ability at many competitions throughout her years as part of our dance company. Hannah pursued additional training at conventions like Jump where she took classes from industry leaders in the dance world.

Zaneta McKoon

teacherJoined EFDS in 2024University of Maryland; Baltimore CountyBachelors in Dance

We are excited to have Zaneta McKoon rejoining our staff for the fall of 2024.

Ms. Zaneta started her dance training at age 6 in Carroll County, MD. She started her training at Carroll County Dance Center with Caryl Maxwell. Through her high school years, she attended many intensives and master classes with local instructors, Lester Holms, Paula Lind and Heidi Robitshek as well as being captain of her high school dance team. She’s been awarded high metals in the Dance Masters of America and Youth America Grand Prix. After high school graduation, she competed in Peru at the Ballet Internacionel de Trujillo Competition. During college she danced with the Butler Ballet while studying at Butler University training with their award-winning faculty; Derek Reid, Susan McGuire (former member of Paul Taylor Dance Company), Cynthia Pratt, Merek Cholewa and guest artist Thaddeus Davis. She later graduated from UMBC with
a bachelor’s in dance. Zaneta has worked in numerous roles within the dance realm Soloist Company Dancer, Productions Manager, Assistant Development/Marketing Manager, and Studio Director. She’s excited to teach at Elite Feet. “I love sharing the joy of dance to my students"

Jasmyn Aljouny

Joined EFDS in 2024Frederick Community College

We are excited to bring Jasmyn on board as a part of the teaching team at Elite Feet Dance Studio, working alongside the teachers that have seen her grow as a dancer and a professional. Jasmyn will be teaching some of the beginning through teen hip hop classes.