The METstar Elite Dance Staff 2006
Sara Thompson - Director / Instructor . . . Sara is the Director and President of METstar Elite Dance Company, Inc. She has over 25 years of dance and drill team experience as a performer, instructor, coach and choreographer. She was a 3 year member of her high school dance team, and later became a founding member and dancer of the George Mason University Masonettes Dance Team. Once she graduated from GMU, Sara became the Head Coach of the Hylton H.S Dance Team , and she was a District Director for Creative Dance Center in Chantilly. For four years, Sara was the Head Coach for the GMU Masonettes where they ranked 6th place in the nation at the Universal Dance Association (UDA) Collegiate National Championship televised on ESPN. After coaching at GMU, she worked for UDA for 4 years as a Coach’s /Directors Trainer and as an adjudicator for their ESPN televised national championship . While coaching at GMU and working with UDA, Sara was a freelance choreographer to many area middle and high schools where they have won numerous local, state, and national champion titles. Currently, Sara works with the METstar Competition dancers ( 7 time National Champions titles in 2006 ) , and continues to serve as a judge for numerous dance competitions and team tryouts such as the Washington Redskins Cheerleader auditions.
Instructors / Staff
Amanda Baker . . . Amanda began her dance training in Stafford, VA at Barton & Williams School of Dance, and was member of their Junior and Senior Dance Company earning numerous team and solo titles. She was a varsity member of the award winning North Stafford High School Dance Team where she traveled to New York to perform in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Amanda majored in dance at George Mason University, and was a 3 year member and Captain of the 6th place nationally ranked GMU Masonettes. After graduating from GMU, she became an NBA dancer for the Washington Wizards. Currently, Amanda instructs all levels of dance in the Prince William and Fairfax area and Coaches the Brookepointe High School Varsity Dance Team.
Kimi Earley . . . Kimi is from Centreville and has been dancing for 14 years. She has performed at Disney World while in middle school, on the Royal Caribbean her sophomore year in high school, at the Kennedy Center as a Cappies dancer her junior year of high school, and was awarded a scholarship to STEPS on Broadway. She was a Charger Dancer at Chantilly High School, and is a 4 year dancer for the nationally ranked GMU Masonettes Dance Team. Kimi has choreographed for the Chantilly dance team, as well as for GMU, and her METstar choreography has won local and national titles.
Erin Hughes . . . Erin has been dancing for 13 years. She danced at Creative Dance Center in Chantilly for 7 years. In high school, she was on the Paul VI dance team for four years. She is a 3rd year member on the nationally ranked George Mason Masonettes. She has choreographed for the Masonettes as well as for Paul VI High School.
Maureen Jamieson . . . Maureen has 19 years of dance training in ballet, jazz, tap, lyrical, and hip hop at the studio and dance team level. She was Captain of the Woodbridge Vikettes, 4 year member and Captain of the Radford University Rockers Dance Team. Once graduating from RU., she was the Director / Coach of the RU Rockers for the 2005-2006 season. She is a 3 time All American dancer through Eastern Dance Association, and was ranked 3rd in the dance solo competition in the 2001 NFL Pro Bowl Scholarship Invitational in Hawaii where she earned a college scholarship. Maureen continues to choreograph for various middle school and high school dance teams, and national solo competitions.
Sarah Jones . . . Sarah has been training in all areas of dance since 1984 at Barton & Williams School of Dance and was a member of their competitive group. She has earned scholarships to Broadway Dance Center in NYC, Edge Performing Arts in L.A and West Coast Dance Explosion Conventions. Sarah was an apprentice for the Gus Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago Company, and her choreography has been featured in the Young Choreographer’s Showcase in New York. She graduated Summa Cum Laude at the State University of New York at Buffalo with a B.F.A. in Dance / Fine Arts and was a University Teacher’s Assistant in Ballet and Jazz.
Ashley Matthews . . . Ashley has 17 years of tap, jazz, and ballet experience as well as four years of pointe dancing. She was a part of the competitive traveling dance team for most of her dance years. She was “Dancer of the Year” for her high school and has danced various roles in plays. Ashley was a cheerleader in high school. She has two years of cheering and dance experience with the Washington Redskins Cheerleaders.
Cara McGaughey . . . Cara began her studio training 13 years ago. She was a member of a selective performance group called 5th Position, a performer on the Lake Ridge Middle School Dance Team, and a 4 year member of the Nationally ranked Woodbridge HS Vikettes. Cara has performed at the Warner Theater as a Washington Post Music and Dance Scholarship Finalist. She is a Universal Dance Association instructor ( UDA ) and is a member of the George Mason University Dance Company working on a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in dance. Most recently, Cara was the 2006 recipient of the Harriet Mattusch Scholarship Award, and she currently choreographs for area middle school dance camps, and does high school dance team national choreography.
Melinda Paradise . . . Melinda received her BA in Secondary Education from Niagara University in New York. She currently instructs tap, ballet and pointe from beginner through advanced levels. She trained at Broadway Dance Center and completed grade 1 at Dance Masters of America Teachers Training School. She was a high school Varsity Cheerleading Coach, and recently has overall top-scoring choreography at local and national talent competitions.
Jenn Pyles . . . Jenn danced with Gary Pate as apart of his Superstar Dance Troupe for 4 years, performances included Redskin half times, Broadway Dance Center performances and National competitions. She was a Fran Peters company dancer for 4 years, performances included 2 Disney Shows, DMA and ADA Nationals, Christmas performances at Children’s hospital with former first lady Hillary Clinton. She was a dance minor at JMU where she danced with the nationally ranked dance team for 4 years. She Is a 2 time NCA all-American, traveled abroad performing for the Prince of Monaco, as well as in France, Italy, and Ireland. She has received the American Dance Awards (ADA) young choreographer award in 2002. Jennifer was the Centreville High School Dance Team Coach for 5 years, an UDA head instructor for 7 years and a special event staff & UDA nationals judge. She is a dance team guest choreographer & instructs technique clinics.
Kathleen Raney . . . Kathleen started dancing at the age of three, and by the age of nine began her dance training in ballet/pointe/partnering at DeGrasse Dance Studio (DDS). While at DeGrasse for 10 years, Kathleen was a 7 year member of the award winning DDS Competition Troupe. While dancing many hours per week at DDS, she was a member and captain of the Woodbridge Senior High School Vikette Dance Team . In 2003, Kathleen graduated from Radford University with a double major of dance and international economics. As a dance major, she studied modern, jazz, pilates and tap, however, she chose ballet as her degree’s concentration. From 2001 to 2003, Kathleen was an instructor at Center Stage Dance Studio in Pulaski , Va.. During the Summer of 2003, she attended a professional dance training program at Bates University in Maine where she studied ballet and modern and extended her training to Capoeira and site specific choreography.
Heather Parks - Master Class Instructor / Choreographer . . . Heather has been dancing since the age of three, training in all areas including tap, jazz, ballet, lyrical, modern, and hip-hop. She attended Barton & Williams School of Dance. Heather was a captain of the Wolverettes for 3 years at North Stafford High School where she performed in the Peach Bowl and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. After high school, Heather attended George Mason University and joined the Masonettes Dance Team. She was a captain for 3 years and traveled to several national competitions. Heather danced professionally with the NBA Washington Wizards for 2 years and currently is a member and Co-captain of the Washington Redskins Cheerleaders.
Student Teachers and Assistants
Courtney Belson - Teaching Assistant . . . Courtney began training in gymnastics at the age of 2 and went on to compete compulsory and optional routines through level 7. At age 11, she began her dance training and has competed for 6 years. Courtney danced on the Benton Middle School Dance team for three years as a captain, and currently is dancing her 4th year as Co-Captain of the Forest Park Dance Team. Courtney is a member of METstar's Senior Elite Competition Team.
Brittany Bosak - Teaching Assistant . . . Brittany has been dancing competitively for the past 6 years.. She was a member of the Saunders Middle School Dance Team, and continues to dance as a 3rd year veteran as a Co-Captain of the Forest Park Dance Team. In April 2005, Brittany was selected at the EDA National Dance Competition to participate in the 2006 National Scholarship Invitational & Pro Bowl Performance Tour in Hawaii. She has assisted with choreography for the Saunders Dance Team, the Forest Park Dance Team., and is a member of METstar 's Senior Elite Competition Team.
Eryn Cody - Senior Student Instructor / Teaching Assistant . . . Eryn started dancing at the age of three and has been dancing for 15 years. She was on the Benton Middle School Dance Team as Captain. She is a 4th year member and Captain of the nationally ranked Osbourn Park Dance Team. She has been a competitive dancer for 6 years earning titles such as Hall of Fame All-Stars and Footloose Extreme Team Winner, and 2 National Champion Titles in Jazz and Lyrical as a METstar Senior Elite dancer in 2006. She has been nominated for scholarships with NDA, EDA and UDA. Eryn is a member of METstar's Senior Elite Competition Team and is METstar’s senior student head-instructor.
Lindsay Schreiber - Teaching Assistant . . . Lindsay has been dancing for 10 years, taking ballet, pointe, jazz, tap, lyrical, and hip hop. She was a 3 year member and captain of the Parkside Middle School Dance Team and is a 3rd year member on the nationally ranked Osbourn Park High School Dance Team. She was named to the Hall of Fame Dance Challenge All Star Team, the UDA All Star Team, and has received bids 3 times at competitions to participate in the National Scholarship Invitational & Pro Bowl Performance Tour in Hawaii. Lindsay is a member of METstar’s Senior Elite Competition Team, and in 2006 earned 2 National Champion titles in the solo and duet Jazz division.