Studio Profile
Well into it's fifth year in business, To the Pointe. Dance Studio & Supplies is owned and operated by Brienne Garland. Now located in the Ridgely Industrial Park, we have well over 5000 square feet of space, including two large studios, a small rehearsal studio, a waiting & reception area, men & women's bathrooms and a store. Quality brands of dance shoes, attire and gifts are available in our Supply Store. It is our hope that To the Pointe. will prove to be an asset to the children and adults in our community as it continues to grow with Caroline County.
Faculty and Staff
We are very excited to have a highly qualified faculty and staff dedicated to educating students in the artform of dance. All of our teachers are required to follow a basic syllabus/class plan each year and to go through First Aid and CPR training. It is very important that our teachers also be appropriately trained in working with and educating children of all ages. This ability is gained through workshops, college classes and experience. Each teacher has a performance appraisal at least twice per year. We also have monthly staff meetings to track progress and stay on 'the same page.'
Brienne A. Garland "Ms. Bri"
Owner/Dance Educator
Brienne began dancing at age three. As a pre-teen she was privileged to receive many scholarships for the gifted and talented to take classes at the Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts in Annapolis. At MD Hall she was able to study under the direction of Barbara Easter, the late Bobbie Smith (a Broadway tap artist who danced with tap great Gregory Hines), and the Ballet Theatre of Annapolis (currently the Ballet Theatre of Maryland). Inspired by the passion of some of her own teachers (Miss "A", Miss Leslie, Miss Deb, Lynda & Nina), she knew she wanted to also teach dance. Teaching for over twelve years now, for both an Annapolis studio and through Caroline County Recreation & Parks, Brienne has taught children of all ages ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical and modern, as well as some adult classes. She decided in high school to work towards owning a studio so she focused on studying business and dance in college. Brienne is an alumni member of the AACC Dance Company and has a degree in Business Management and Fine Arts - Dance. She serves on the Board of Directors of the MD Council for Dance and participates in their annual Dance Festival where she has the opportunity to take a variety of classes taught by professional dancers from all over the country. She is also a member of the National Dance Association, of the American Alliance for Health, Physical Activity and Recreation and is a Regional Director for National Dance Week. Brienne feels very fortunate to have the continuous encouragement and loving support of her husband - Jason, children - Brett & Rorie, and her parents and sisters - George, Maggie, Lauren & Jillian. Their love has helped her through trying times and enabled her to reach her goals.
Lauren A. Burkhead "Miss Lauren"
Modern IV & Irish Teacher
Nurse Practioner
Lauren began dancing at age three and has continued dancing all the way through college. She has studied many different styles of dance including ballet, Pointe, jazz, tap, modern, African and Irish. She is an AACC Dance Company alumnus and a member of the Maryland Council for Dance. Lauren has her Masters Degree and works in the Annapolis area as a Family Nurse Practioner, but dance continues to have a very special place in her heart. She loves teaching and choreographing and hopes to instill a passion for the artform in her students.
Jillian A. Burkhead "Miss Jilly"
Tap/Jazz II, Modern II & III Teacher
Massage Therapist
Jillian also began dancing at age three. She has studied various styles of dance including ballet, Pointe, jazz, tap and modern. She was the Captain of her Dance Team in high school and enjoyed classes at Anne Arundel Community College under the direction of Lynda Fitzgerald - Dance Director at AACC, Tommy Parlon - of the Tommy Parlon Dance Project, Laura McNeal - of the Ballet Theatre of Maryland and others. She is also a member of the Maryland Council for Dance. Jillian has a degree in Massage Therapy and continues her college education. She works as a Massage Therapist on Kent Island and Baltimore specializing in Deep Tissue, Hot Stone and Table Thai Massage.
Heather Crenshaw "Ms. Heather"
Classical Ballet II, III & IV and Pointe Teacher
Heather began studying dance when she was 4 years old under Diana Cook Green, and spent 7 years in the youth company, the Montgomery Ballet Company. With Montgomery Ballet, she performed 5-6 shows annually at various theaters, including the Kennedy Center and in the Bahamas. Heather was awarded various honors for her dancing, including being a National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist, and, under the tutelage of Florence Gardner in Frederick, passed Cecchetti grades 1 through 5. She received her B.F.A in Dance from Adelphi University, where she received excellent training from, among others, Rochelle Zide Booth, Loren Hightower, Katja Geleznova, Norman Walker, and Regina Larsen. While in New York, she performed professionally, continued teaching, and modeled as a dancer. Heather has taught ballet to children, adults, and competitive ice skaters throughout the intervening years. A Denton resident for over six years, Heather keeps busy in her spare time by making use of her Juris Doctorate and Master of Science in Business Management (Finance) by practicing law-- when not caring for her three active children.
Becky Kettering "Ms. Becky"
Hip Hop
Bio Coming Soon
Kimberlee Laisure "Miss Kim"
Teaching Apprentice
Kim has danced for ten years now, taking classes in Ballet, Pointe, Tap, Jazz and Modern. She has been able to take classes at the Maryland Council for Dance Annual Festival under the direction of master teachers from all over the country. She enjoys performing as a member of the Dance Company. Kim also likes to study photography. Some of Kim's photos of dance subjects have even made it to a semi-final round in a photography contest and have been published. She graduated high school in 2008 and hopes to major in dance and photography in college. As an older sister of a disabled sibling, Kim has extraordinary traits of compassion, patience and maturity. These traits enable her to reach out to the children in her classes. She has had a desire to teach dance for some time now, assisting Ms Bri with classes for over three years and substitute teaching for the past three years, as well as teaching her own class for two years. Kim is looking forward to teaching again for To the Pointe during the upcoming dance year under the direction of Ms Bri.
Haley Pumphrey "Miss Haley"
Teacher Trainee
Haley has been dancing for over 10 years now. She has participated in many dance competitions, plays and workshops over the years. Over the past five years that Haley has danced with To the Pointe. she has taken classes in several styles, performed with our Dance Company and participated in the Md Council for Dance state dance festival. Along with assisting Ms Bri in Creative Movement and Combination Ballet & Tap classes, Haley has been trained to substitute classes and teach choreography. She was able to attend the Dance Teacher Summit in NYC with Ms Bri, Miss Lauren & Miss Jilly during the summer of 2010 where she took master classes from dance greats such as Mandy Moore, Bob Rizzo, Doug Caldwell, Ray Leeper, Ofer Ben & Avi Miller, Greg Russell, Broadway star/choreographer/director Andy Blankenbuehler and the legendary Frank Hatchett. Haley loves to encourage and teach dancers from all age ranges. She also frequently joins her mom to assist in the Zumba classes here at the studio.
Tiffany Polly-Foster
Stability Ball & Pilates Teacher
Tiffany lives here in Denton with her husband. She has been teaching Pilates at the YMCA in Easton for 6 years now. She is also certified to teach other various types of classes there, including stability ball and sports conditioning. Along with teaching group exercise classes, Tiffany enjoys traveling, shopping, & spending time with friends & family.
Wendy Pumphrey
Certified Zumba Instructor
Bio Coming Soon
Alyssa Huff "Ms. Alyssa"
Guest Yoga Instructor
Owner of Shore Kids Yoga
Reiki Certified
At Shore Kids Yoga, we are dedicated to helping children become healthy from the inside out. We believe everyone needs an outlet to express themselves, relieve stress and have FUN. We encourage children to use their imagination, relax and become strong confident individuals. Children enriched by our programs will learn the tools they need to carry with them throughout life. Children will become more focused, balanced and flexible. This can help in so many ways such as, studying for a big test, playing sports or even facing a bully. And since Yoga is non-competitive, children are able to achieve success at their own rate without any pressure!
Founder Alyssa Huff is a Certified Radiant Child Yoga Practioner (RCYP) and will be certified through Karma Kids Yoga from NY this summer. She is also a dedicated yogi, avid runner and holds a degree in Communications. After being a stay-at-home mom to her two yogis Marissa and Karter, she decided to pursue her passions, working with children, yoga and fitness. After discovering how much her children love yoga she decided she wanted to share this gift with other children. She lives on the Eastern Shore, Maryland, with her husband, two children and her two dogs who also love yoga (down dog is their favorite pose).
Alyssa is also Usui Reiki I certified. Reiki is a Japanese technique of natural healing for stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing. Alyssa believes all children should benefit from the gift of Yoga!
Amanda Showell Cook
Guest Ballroom Instructor
Owner of Dancing on the Shore
Professional Dance Instructor
Amanda started dancing ballet and tap at 6 years old. Intrigued by her parents social ballroom dance lessons she started taking ballroom dancing at the age of 9. From that time Amanda knew ballroom dancing would be her life path. Amanda entered in her first competition at the age of 10. From there Amanda would go on to become US Amateur Junior Pro - am Champion in both International Latin & Standard , Ohio Star Ball ( aired on PBS ) Ladies Pro - Am Adult Standard Champion and US National Grand Finalist in International Standard, Latin and American Smooth. Before turning professional Amanda went undefeated in the International Standard for over a year. In 1996 Amanda decided to turn professional and began teaching. Amanda competed in the Professional International
Standard division from 1996 - 2001. Some of her titles included:
2000 & 2001 US PROFESSIONAL RISING STAR STANDARD GRAND FINALIST
2001 SOUTHEASTERN US RISING STAR PROFESSIONAL CHAMPION
2000 DANCESPORT MONTREAL RISING STAR STANDARD CHAMPION
Amanda is proud to have instructed at some of the largest dance schools on the East Coast .She is also the former coach of the University of Delaware & Princeton University Dance Teams. In 2001 Amanda decided to retire from professional competition. At that time she also returned back to her native
Eastern Shore of Maryland and began instructing in Easton. In the past 6 years she has built "Dancing on the shore" which has now expanded to be in 5 locations. She is available for private & group instruction in International Standard, Latin, American Smooth and Rhythm at all levels beginners to advance. Amanda is also Vice president of the Easton's USA dance chapter. Amanda resides in Greensboro with her husband Earnest.
Dancing on the shore offers high quality ballroom and Latin dance instruction
throughout the Eastern shore. Owner and professional dance instructor Amanda Showell Cook
started Dancing on the Shore 8 1/2 years ago after retiring from professional competition. What
started as a small business at one location has expanded to 6 locations with 4 instructors
Amanda is proud to be able to offer her 20 years experience in Ballroom Dancing to the
mid-shore
We are always looking for more teachers!
Please give Bri a call if you feel that you or someone you know may be qualified.
