Studio Profile
Newly established, 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 "Miss 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 is an active member of the MD Council of Dance, participating 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
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 "Miss Heather"
Classical Ballet I, II & III and Pointe Teacher
Heather began dancing at age 4 at Montgomery Ballet in Silver Spring under Diana Green, and spent 7 years in the Montgomery Ballet Company. With Montgomery Ballet, she performed at such diverse locals as the Kennedy Center, where she starred as Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz, Easton's own Avalon Theatre and in the Bahamas. Heather was awarded various prizes for her dancing, including the U.S. Presidential Scholar Semi-finalist in Performing Arts, local talent shows and, under the tutelage of Florence Gardner in Frederick, passed Cechetti grades 1 through 5. She received her B.F.A in Dance from Adelphi University in New York, where she received excellent training from some of the top names in dance, including among others Norman Walker, Regina Larsen, Rochelle Zide Booth, Loren Hightower, Sabatino Verlezza, and Judith Jamison. She also performed professionally with Huntington Ballet. Heather continued teaching dance to children, adults and competitive ice skaters through the years. A Denton resident for four years, Heather also has her J.D. and M.S. in Business Management (Finance), and practices law from her home office --when not busy with her three children ages 5 and under and the Caroline Moms & Tots Playgroup she moderates.
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.
Megahn Davis "Miss Megahn"
Guest/Substitute Teacher
Megahn has performed her entire life. She has danced since the age of four and started her love for theatre in the fourth grade. Megahn joined Miss Bri during her junior year of high school and tries to fit in time to still improve her technique. Megahn was in the drama club all four years of high school, under the direction of Keith Shaffer. She became a member of the International Thespian Society during her sophomore year and graduated in 2006 as an Honor Thespian. You may have seen Megahn portray Erma, a gangster’s girlfriend, in the production of Anything Goes during April of 2006. Megahn continued to study visual and performing arts in college. She has also taken early childhood education classes and counseling classes to improve her teaching skills.
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 Miss Bri with classes for over three years and substitute teaching for the past three years, as well as teaching her own class during the 2008-09 season. Kim is looking forward to teaching again for To the Pointe during the 2009-10 dance year under the direction of Miss Bri.
Wendy Pumphrey
Certified Zumba Instructor
Bio Coming Soon
Christina Sulfridge
Polynesian Instructor
Bio Coming Soon
Amanda Showell Cook
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 Easton 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 6 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.
