Studio Directors
Miss Shayla
Miss Carly
Shayla Doherty began her dance journey back when she was three years old, which opened her heart to the world of performing arts. Throughout the years she has studied and performed various styles of dance leading her to numerous tremendous opportunities in her dance career. Shayla was a member and captain of her middle school and high school dance teams. She has performed at many charity events as well as world famous stages such as Lincoln Center’s Avery Fischer and Alice Tully Halls. Shayla has won state titles and national awards at the National Dance Alliance in Orlando and Daytona, Florida as well as Dance Team Union in Las Vegas. Shayla continued her dance education at the Ramapo College of New Jersey where she was a member of the 2x national champion Ramapo College Dance. She also had the opportunity to perform at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ and performed at all men and women’s D3 basketball games. She graduated from Ramapo College with a Bachelor’s Degree in Contemporary Arts. As an educator, Shayla has been assisting/instructing classes since she was 16 years old. She was a head coach and choreographer for Middle School and Varsity dance teams. Shayla’s choreography has won Platinum and Xtreme Platinum awards in Kickline, Jazz, Lyrical, and Contemporary. Her choreography has won overall and top scoring awards as well as many special judges awards.
Carly has been in the world of dance since she was just three years old. Growing up in her sister’s dance studio, Precision Dance Academy, fostered a love and appreciation for all styles of dance. Carly has had the incredible opportunity to perform at Lincoln Center’s Avery Fischer and Alice Tully Hall. Carly always enjoyed performing at local charity and town events as well. Carly was a member of the dance team throughout middle and highschool with Miss Shayla, where their team was continuously awarded state and national titles. Carly learned that dance and theater go hand in hand and started participating in local theater and school plays into highschool, receiving lead roles. She became the Theater Director at Fairleigh Dickinson University’s Camp Discovery at age 19, creating, directing, and producing theater and dance productions for all students ages 5-18. Carly also spent time coaching flag cheerleading, eventually returning to cheerleading in her freshman year of college. Along with cheer, Carly took years of gymnastics where she learned the importance of form, practice, and confidence! At age 16, Carly began teaching dance classes at multiple dance studios throughout New Jersey and New York. She knew from that moment on that her calling in life was to share her love and knowledge of all things dance and theater. She is so excited to give students the opportunity to grow in all styles and become well rounded dancers. Carly graduated from Ramapo College with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management.
Instructors
Miss Michele
Michele began dancing before the age of 3 and has not stopped since. She studied ballet, tap, jazz, and lyrical growing up and decided to continue her dance education by attending Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University, earning a BFA degree in Dance. While at MGSA Michele expanded her studied with Modern Dance and Improvisation and began performing with University Danceworks, the department’s touring company. Upon graduation she began teaching at a local studio. Six years later Michele became the Owner and Artistic Director of On the Move Performing Arts Center where she was honored to reach so many wonderful dancers the next 12 years. A Wife and mother of two, Michele began teaching Enrichment dance classes in her children’s school district. She has had the opportunity over the years to teach students at other local studios and is thrilled to join the EDC family. Michele has a love for dance and a passion for sharing that love, fueled by her students.
Miss Rachel
Rachel has over 16 years of competitive dance experience. She started at three years old, and continued throughout the end of high school. She went to Morris County School of Technology for high school to further her dance studies on top of her competitive training outside of school. She trained forty hours a week for years, Throughout her time at MCST she was able to choreograph multiple pieces for professional performances. During this time she was also vice president of the National Honors Society for Dance Arts where she organized different master classes, fundraisers, and experiences. She has won numerous awards throughout her dance career including multiple national championships. Towards the end of high school Rachel began teaching dance. She assisted her senior year at EDC, and continues to do so whenever she can. Rachel is now about to be a junior at New York University where she studies communicative sciences and disorders, and recently completed a minor in American Sign Language. She looks forward to continuing her passion of dance in all different capacities!