Meet the Team

Beverly began dancing at age 3, studying classical ballet, jazz and tap. She continued dancing while working as a research scientist, and rehearsed with the Philadelphia Civic Ballet Company at night and on weekends. In class, she delivers her technical expertise in a structured but relaxed and supportive environment. Kids will still learn discipline, focus and technique, but with a more laid-back approach than what you might find at a traditional ballet school. In addition to instructing, Beverly serves as the studio manager and can answer questions about registration, scheduling, or anything else.

Emily is a dance teacher and a mom. She has a passion for dance and believes that it is the best way to stay fit and active while having the most fun. As soon as Emily hears music, she’s dancing along. Ask Emily any questions you have about our kids’ programs!

Alex is a singer, actor, and cabaret performer originally hailing from Orlando, FL. She studied Theatre Arts at the University of South Florida and has been performing since the age of three in plays, musicals, short films, and performance art pieces of many different varieties. A trained vocalist, Alex has had the opportunity to perform in numerous states all along the East coast over the last 7 years and settled in Philadelphia in 2021 to further pursue a life of the arts here in the city. She has been teaching and working with children in both traditional and non-traditional settings since 2013 and is very pleased to be able to bring her love of musical theatre and experience to the PDF after school program.

Aliya is a New Jersey native who has been performing professionally for 15 years and teaching and directing for 7. Graduated from AMDA in New York City. She performed on the broadway national tour of Spring Awakening and has performed in many regional theatre productions. Aliya has done 2 sold out solo concerts in Philadelphia at Franky Bradleys. She loves teaching drama and creating a space for students to feel comfortable to be themselves.

Ashanti Jenkins

Instructor

Originally from New Jersey, Hannah graduated from Cornish College of the Arts in 2021 with a BFA in Dance. While in college, she interned for Kaleidoscope Dance Company, where she worked with over 30 kids on their own pieces, as well as choreographed for a few showcases. Prior to that, Hannah was a choreographer/ assistant director for four summers at KD Vocal Studio, where she helped put on various musicals. Hannah is also an inductee into the International Thespian Society. Hannah believes there is no greater joy than sharing the love of dance. Students can expect a safe and fun environment where they can explore the unlimited bounds of their own creativity. Hannah encourages students to be themselves, because nobody can do it better than them!

Lesly Fernandez Gomez

Instructor

Lesly currently is a student at Temple University majoring in Dance. She is a native Philadelphian from Dominican descent. She began her dance career as an early teenager, training in many dance forms such as ballet, modern, jazz, contemporary, african, hip hop, and many styles of Latin dance. She desires to get her bachelors in dance and to continue her dance career throughout life. She wishes to enter a dance company after college and later on in life open up her own dance company for younger dancers.

Skye is studying at University of the Arts to get a BFA in Dance and a minor in Musical Theater. She has had intense dance training for over a decade, as well as standard education in child development. She has been teaching dance for over five years, and loves working with children. Her musical theater background stems from professional training in her home state California, as well as frequent intensives at Broadway Artists Alliance in New York, where she takes classes from Broadway performers. Skye has also performed in recreational theater programs in shows such as “The Wizard of Oz”. She has performed original choreography on off-Broadway stages for years, and is super excited to bring her knowledge to the upcoming generation of stars!