FOUNDER & Advanced Jazz Funk Instructor

Nia Lonette, a talented dancer, model, and choreographer originally from Temple Hills, Maryland, made the move to California in 2017 to pursue her passion for the entertainment industry. Since then, she has had the privilege of collaborating with renowned artists such as Beyonce, Taylor Swift, Kali Uchis, Ciara, Kem, and prestigious brands like Tiffany & Co. Nia not only showcases her skills as a dancer but also as a model and choreographer. Her goal is to create art that tells enduring stories and resonates with audiences on a deep emotional level. Nia's mantra is for both her art and the artist to always "Be The Moment."

Beginner/ Intermediate Contemporary Instructor

Baltimore native, Aubree Brown Nelson, honed her craft at the prestigious Baltimore School for the Arts and attended elite summer intensives including the Debbie Allen Dance Academy, Pennsylvania Regional Ballet, and The Ailey School as a fellowship scholar. She furthered her training at SUNY Purchase College, where she earned her B.F.A. in Dance Performance. At SUNY, Aubree studied both ballet and modern technique, receiving training in classical and Balanchine styles as well as various modern approaches. Her talent and dedication have led her to work with renowned choreographers such as Troy Powell, Jessica Lang, Ray Mercer, Dwight Rhoden, Desmond Richardson, Jennifer Archibald, Amy Hall Garner, Otis Sallid, Tessandra Chavez, Rich & Tone, Anthony Burrell, JaQuel Knight, Oth’than Burnside, Sarah O’Gleby, Chris Bailey, Kevin Maher, Marguerite Derricks, and more.

In 2013, Aubreelaunched her professional career with Ailey II and has since thrived as a freelance dancer and model, now represented by Bloc NYC. Her standout performances include working with major artists like Beyoncé, Lil Mo’, Silento, CNCO, and Becky G, and appearing on SNL, The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, the national tour of Chicago the Musical, NBC’s New Year’s Eve with Julianne Hough, and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Aubree has also been featured in major campaigns and commercials for Panera Bread, Samsung, Shea Moisture, Exhale Spa, Heineken, and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, as well as Amazon Prime’s The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. She currently appears on the Chicago the Musical billboard in Times Square and is featured in the new Downy Unstopables commercial.

Advanced Contemporary Instructor

Marcus Isaiah is a choreographer, educator, and creative director whose work exists at the intersection of movement, storytelling, and cultural connection. He is the Founder and Artistic Executive Director of Textures Dance Theatre in Prince George’s County, Maryland, a contemporary modern dance company dedicated to “weaving the human experience” into performances and programs that inspire, educate, and connect communities. A native of Washington, DC, Marcus is a graduate of Suitland High School’s Center for Visual and Performing Arts and holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance and Choreography from Virginia Commonwealth University. His career has taken him across the United States and abroad, performing, directing, and choreographing for professional companies, arts organizations, and academic institutions. He currently serves as the Director of Dance at The Conway Academy.

In 2023, Marcus premiered MANIFEST at THE REACH at The Kennedy Center a personal work exploring themes of resilience, transformation, and community. Known for blending contemporary modern technique with influences from jazz, ballet, and social dance, his choreography is physically rigorous, emotionally resonant, and culturally rooted. Marcus is committed to amplifying the presence of artists of color onstage and behind the scenes. Through Textures Dance Theatre’s Pathways mentorship program, he provides young artists with professional development, hands-on experience, and performance opportunities to help them envision sustainable careers in the arts.

Beginner/ Intermediate Hiphop Instructor

Sabina Monet' Henry, hailing from Prince George's County, MD, is a multidimensional creative, including but not limited to being a dance artist, performer, choreographer, teacher and media creative. As a graduate of Towson University, she has earned a B.F.A in Dance Performance and Choreography, as well as a B.S in Electronic Media and Film with a concentration in Audio/Radio. She has experience both on and behind the camera, and with this plans to continue merging the two worlds together to explore different concepts and movement styles. Sabina has trained in a variety of styles of dance including modern, hip hop, jazz, street jazz, stepping, contemporary, ballet, tap, West African, Tahitian/Hawaiian and heels technique/performance. She has also taught a few of these styles across the DMV and beyond. She has been able to perform and travel nationally and internationally, with intentions to share her gifts with the world. She is an advocate for black art/artists and overall black excellence, and has much to give to her community.

Advanced Hiphop

A Virginia native from the Hampton Roads, Julika Cuffy has been dancing in the art of Hip Hop Choreography for years and has always loved to share her movement. Having been a part of different dance company’s such as Capitol Movement Inc (DC), Culture Shock DC XV, and CREWcial Alum (Va Beach). As well as many events, East Coast Dance Competiton (Washington, DC), Something in the Water (Va Beach, VA), The John F. Kennedy Performing Arts Center Urban Festival ( Washington DC), etc . During her spare time Julika loves to teach and share  as much as she can to different communities. In her class she hopes to give inspiration, passion for dance, and motivation digging into being the best version her students can be. She feels her brand, Junono will reach not only through the dance community but worldwide.

Beginner/Intermediate Jazz Funk Instructor

Shannon Ashlia is a professional dancer and award-winning choreographer who has toured the US, the UK, Africa, Asia and Canada with Grammy award-winning singer Mya and various artists, and has been seen on national television networks VH1 and Bravo as a dancer and model.  

Shannon has worked as a competitive dance choreographer for 15 years, and currently provides artist development services and choreography for musical artists and more. Shannon also serves as the marketing director for DMV local arts nonprofit, Joe’s Movement Emporium. 

Pilates Instructor

Raeya Monique Cobb is a PG County, MD raised and DMV-based dance artist, Pilates apprentice, and theater technician whose movement journey began at age three at her mom's co-owned studio, RJV Performing Arts Center. She built a strong foundation in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Horton, and West African through BodyMoves Contemporary Dance Company, Vision Contemporary Dance Company, and Capitol Movement. Raeya has trained in both Los Angeles and New York City at studios such as Debbie Reynolds Dance Studio, Millennium Dance Complex, and Ripley Grier Studios, studying with top choreographers of the industry.

Raeya's credits include but are not limited to: Monaleo, FKA Twigs, Rackelle Jurdi, Goldlink, UTZ Chips, Soka Tribe, Culture Shock DC, Washington Wizards Halftime Show, and touring internationally with Armed Forces Entertainment. Her smooth, dynamic, and versatile style is rooted in technical training and enriched by collaborations with industry choreographers and community-based projects.

She is currently completing her comprehensive Pilates certification through Club Pilates. Raeya's approach to her Pilates practice includes passion, focus, and discipline. Her mission is to make Pilates accessible to different communities-specifically queer and Black/PoC spaces-through her movement brand, RAEMOTION, to spread awareness of why movement is medicine.

Offstage, Raeya is an herbalist-in-training, founder of Amulets + Alchemy, Co-host of the Yas Black Girl Podcast, and has worked various technical theatre roles with Dance Place, The Theatre Lab, GALA Hispanic Theatre, Two Strikes Theatre Collective, Culture Shock DC, and Adventure Theatre. Blending movement, media, and healing arts, she enjoys the life of a multi-hyphenate creative. She earned her BS in Broadcast Journalism with a Dance Performance minor from Bowie State University and continues to expand her work across creative and wellness disciplines