PRESTIGE DANCE STUDIO - Key Persons
In 2014, Christy Burke became the owner of Prestige Dance Studio in Midlothian, Virginia.
Christy started to dance at the age of five in Jacksonville, Florida. She moved to Austin, Texas in 1988 and continued her dance education at Shirley McPhail's School of Dance, where she was also in their Performing Company. Along the way she fell in love with dance.
At the age of 14 she moved to Richmond, Virginia where she danced on Midlothian High School's dance team, performed for both of Midlothian High School's show choirs (City Lights & Just for Show), as well as studio and competitive dancing. She attended Radford University where she received a Bachelors of Science Degree in Dance in 2001. She was a member of the RU "Rockers" dance team all four years in college.
Christy's dance teaching experience includes 13 years at Jessica Morgan's School of Dance, coaching Midlothian High School's "Trojanette" dance team, and choreographing for both the Clover Hill and Midlothian High School show choirs. She has choreographed dozens of numbers for the "Company" at Jessica Morgan's School of Dance, many of which have received high scores and awards.
Christy and her husband, Josh, are blessed to have two beautiful daughters, Katelyn and Courtney, who are both students at Prestige Dance Studio and love dancing just as much as their Mom.
Christy feels blessed to have the opportunity to teach with so many talented educators and work with so many amazing dancers. She loves having the opportunity to educate her students and teach them an appreciation, and hopefully a love, for dance.
Katelyn began dancing at the age of 4 in Collinsville, Illinois. She moved to Midlothian, Virginia at the age of 7 and found her home away from home at Jessica Morgan's School of Dance. Out of the 11 years dancing at JMSD, 5 of them were spent on the performing group JEMS. She was on Cosby High School's Titania in high school, earning the title of captain her senior year. Throughout high school, Katelyn worked as a dance assistant for 4 years which led her down a path to double majoring in Dance and Elementary Education at James Madison University.
Keyara is so excited to be a part of Prestige Dance faculty. She was previously a dance assistant for 2 years and training with PDC company and school. She has found a passion for teaching and choreography.
She is graduate from Henrico HS Center for the Arts, in Dance and Musical Theatre. She began dancing at the age of 3 with her parents dance studio. She has trained with
many different teachers and loves all styles of dance. As a sophomore in High School, was accepted into the Governors Summer program for dance at Radford University. As a Junior she attended Joffrey School of Ballet summer program in NY on Scholarship. She was very involved with Dance Team and earned the position as Captain.
Her choreography was chosen to be in Richmond Dance Festival- Next Generation. Her musical Theatre performances include: "Adams Family", "Hairspray", "Newsies", and "Cinderella". She is excited about what the future has to offer.
Stefanie has studied dance since the age of seven. She began dancing at local dance studios around the Buffalo, New York area and continued her education at the University of Buffalo, graduating in May 2005 with a B.A. in dance.
During her college career, Stefanie had master classes with several dance companies including Limon, Bill T. Jones, Martha Graham and Giordano. In 2001-2002, Stefanie cheered professionally for the NFL's Buffalo Bills. Stefanie also spent two years as the choreographer for the University of Buffalo dance team, as well as a member of the dance department's Zodiaque Studio Dance Ensemble. She spent five years teaching in Lockport, New York until moving to Richmond in 2005.
Stefanie spent nine years teaching for Jessica Morgan School of Dance, the Chital location. Throughout her time here, she has worked closely with the studio's performing company and competition dancers. She has received several special awards and recognitions such as Teacher's Choice Award and Best Choreography.
"Stay true to the dream…" These words once said to Stefanie, for which she has never forgotten and uses to help inspire her students. Living your passion is possible, very possible. Being a part of Prestige Dance Studio is an absolute honor, a dream come true, and Stefanie is excited to continue to create, grow, and inspire the lives of students through her love of dance.
Tristi is a native of Carson City, Nevada, where she began her early training at Pinkerton Dance Academy, under the direction of Fern Pinkerton. Later she went on to train with Barbra Monibi, and then moved to California at 15 to study with Maria Vegh, Ruth Petrinovic, Jocelyn Volmar and Margaret Swarthout, Melinda Bach, among others, at the Marin Ballet School and Company in California.
Her career has spanned over 30 years as a professional dancer and teacher. She was formerly a Principal dancer with the Washington Ballet and Richmond Ballet, as well as a soloist with the Atlanta Ballet and a member of the Milwaukee Ballet Company. She has also performed across the nation as a guest artist.
In 1997, she was awarded OYA, Outstanding Young Women of America. She has taught many different levels and styles of dance including Ballet, Pointe, Variations, Tap, Jazz, Creative Movement, and dance exercise classes.
She is the Artistic Director for a new non-profit PDM Productions, Inc which will begin their 3rd season and provides performance opportunities for those in Richmond and the surrounding counties. She has directed the Ballet "The Nutcracker Sweet" for 6 seasons, now under the new non-profit organization, PDM Productions, Inc.
She is married to Norvell Robinson. They have three beautiful children who are constant reminders of humility, love, joy and happiness.