Meet the Team
Rachel Solomon - Director
Rachel received her BS in Dance Education with a minor in health education from Wayne State University in Detroit. She has received choreography awards from Star Talent Productions, Rainbow Connection Dance Competition, and International Dance Challenge, and won the Wayne State University Copperfoot Award for contribution to repertoire in 2005. She holds a k-12 teaching certificate and established dance companies at Fairfield Magnet School for Math and Science as well as Summerville High School.
Aimee Butsch - Studio Manager and Artistic Director of the DMYC
Aimee, a dynamic movement specialist, brings a rich tapestry of interdisciplinary art practices to her craft. Originally from North Carolina, Aimee's journey led her to the vibrant artistic hub of London, England, where she pursued and earned her Master of Fine Arts in Dance and Embodied Practice from the University of Roehampton.
During her time in London, Aimee carved her niche as a versatile freelancer, leveraging her skills as a dance videographer and filmmaker. Her evocative films found resonance on the international stage, gracing festivals throughout the UK, EU, and Asia.
Now, Aimee is poised for a triumphant homecoming to Charleston. She is set to make an indelible mark as the new Artistic Director of the Dance Moves Youth Company, infusing it with her innovative vision. Additionally, Aimee will be rejoining the esteemed Annex Dance Company, further enriching Charleston's vibrant dance scene with her passion and expertise.
Kara Lindsey - Traveling Program Coordinator
Kara is a dancer, teacher, and choreographer originally from Greenville, SC. She has been dancing for 25 years and teaching for 11 years, specializing in jazz, lyrical, and contemporary styles. Kara has received several accolades for her work, including the recent 'Best Choreography' award at Fluid Nationals in Phoenix, AZ in 2022. She graduated from the College of Charleston in 2017 with a bachelor's degree in Business Administration. Kara has taught and choreographed for studios across the country and performed as a member of the Orlando-based dance company, Crawford Jazz Project. Passionate about teaching and choreography, Kara loves guiding and encouraging her students to achieve their full potential both in and outside of the classroom.
Taylor Bennett - Lead Instructor and DMYC Assistant Artistic Director
Taylor is an alum of the College of Charleston, where she double-majored in Dance and Early Childhood Education. She served as President of Dance Alliance, received several dance awards, and has performed in main stage shows since 2019. Taylor has choreographed for concerts, assisted with the production of Cabaret, and will present her work at the American Collegiate Dance Association. She has taught at Camp Ballibay, where she will become Head of Dance, and remains active in the local dance community through Dance Moves of Charleston and as a company member of Annex Dance Company. Taylor is a lead instructor and the Assistant Director of the DMYC.
Samantha Campbell - Instructor
Samantha Campbell has recently graduated from The College in Fall ‘22 and received her B.S. in Marketing, as well as a minor in Studio Art with a photography concentration. Before college, Sam spent her time competing with her hometown dance studio, participated in her school’s theater program as a dance captain, and organized their high school’s first nationally recognized UDA Dance Team. Before coming down south, Sam was a professional dancer with Six Flags Great Adventure NJ while finishing high school and transitioning to college. While in school, she was briefly a member of the CofC Cougarettes Dance Team, a teacher for CofC Dance Alliance, and completed various photography collections featuring dancers form the CofC Theater & Dance program. Sam has been trained in many styles, but finds herself drawn to Hip-Hop and Contemporary choreography and how the two can be complemented by each other. During her additional philosophy studies, Sam researched and compiled a detailed analysis of competitive contemporary dance and the aesthetic line between athletics and artistry, as well as the influence that hip-hop culture has taken upon this new-age style of jazz/lyrical/contemporary dance in the competitive field.
Kaitlyn Hernandez- Instructor
Kaitlyn Hernandez is from Summerville, South Carolina. She is a rising senior at the College of Charleston majoring in dance with a concentration in performance and choreography. Before attending the College of Charleston, Kaitlyn spent two years at Point Park University studying dance with a concentration in jazz. She started dancing at the age of 10 and continued her dance education at the South Carolina Governor's School for the Arts and Humanities. Kaitlyn has choreographed for the Miss South Carolina Teen competition two years in a row. This is her first year teaching at Dance Moves, and she's excited to share her love of dance!
Amanda Evans - Ballet Instructor
Amanda Lane Evans is a ballet dancer and instructor from Copper Canyon, Texas. She trained with The Ballet Conservatory in Lewisville, Texas and performed with Lakecities Ballet Theatre from 2009-2014. She attended summer intensives at American Ballet Theatre, Joffrey, Boston Ballet and Centre de Dansa de Catalunya. She studied at The University of Oklahoma earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Ballet Performance, Magna Cum Laude, where she performed with Oklahoma Festival Ballet and Contemporary Dance Oklahoma. She also choreographed for The Young Choreographers Showcase from 2015-2018 and awarded the Miguel Terekhov Ballet Choreography Award. She received honors including the Ballet Ovation Award for excellence in performance, the Julie Busken Memorial Scholarship for devotion to the arts and the Yvonne Chouteau Ballet Excellence Award. Amanda currently dances with Palmetto City Ballet and Unbound Ballet Project. Her goal is to continue to foster love for the performing arts in diverse communities throughout her professional career and lifetime.
Emma Hudspeth - Instructor
Emma Hudspeth is a current sophomore at the College of Charleston majoring in Middle Grades Education and a minor in Dance. From Rock Hill, South Carolina, she started her dance career at the age of 2 and continued dancing competitively for 15 years at Step South Dance. In her first year, Emma is excited to share her love for dance and teaching at Dance Moves. in her second season with us!
Noelle Verrusio - Instructor
Noelle started dancing at Anne Fattal’s Footnotes in Chatham, NJ when she was three and danced there all the way through high school. In middle school she began studying at New Jersey School of Ballet. Her training focused on classical ballet and pointe, as well as tap, modern and jazz. She started assistant teaching in high school where she realized that she loves working with children and teaching dance. Since then she has continued to teach dance and is excited to continue with Dance Moves!
Leila Crane - Instructor
Leila Crane is a current sophomore at the College of Charleston, majoring in English and minoring in Dance. For 14 years she has learned, competed, and performed several genres of dance, with a special love of ballet, all around metro Atlanta. She hopes to spread her love of dance to all of the students of Dance Moves whenever she is assisting or teaching during this school year.
Vivian LeCerda - Instructor
Vivian LaCerda began her dance training at Northern Cincinnati Youth Ballet and Cincinnati Ballet where she was part of the inaugural Professional Training Division Program in 2017. Vivian then attended the University of North Carolina School of the Arts on scholarship, where she earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts with a Minor in Arts Entrepreneurship in 2022. While at UNCSA, Vivian completed teaching certifications in Mat Pilates and Progressing Ballet Technique. In her final year of college, Vivian was invited to be a Trainee with Charlotte Ballet. Vivian is currently in her second season with Palmetto City Ballet and Dance Moves of Charleston.
Candace Herrman - Instructor
Candace is an alumni of Oklahoma City University, graduating with a Bachelor of Performing Arts degree with a focus in Dance Performance. While at OCU, she had the opportunity to choreograph for and perform with collegiate level dancers, while also training in styles such as ballet, tap, jazz, musical theatre, and precision line. Originally from Charleston, SC, she has spent many years teaching and performing in the Lowcountry and is thankful to be back in the area. She is very excited to continue to share her love for movement through Dance Moves!
Chloe Parker - Instructor
Chloe Parker is from Buffalo NY. She began dancing at the age of 10 and danced competitively for 5 years. She was a head instructor and choreographer for summer camps at Impact Creative Arts Academy for 3 years, as well as a substitute teacher. Chloe also has a deep passion and love for musical theatre. She has been in over 20 productions and competed throughout high school, winning several awards. After graduating, she taught Musical theatre and Jazz. She has obtained her yoga teacher certification from Yoga Renew and her personal trainer certification from ISSA Sports Science. In 2018 Chloe received an award for the most innovative and breathtaking choreography from World Class Dance. Wanting to constantly further her education, she continues to take classes at Dance Lab and grasp at any performance opportunities when possible.
Marley Delovich - Instructor
Marley has been part of Dance Moves for 16 years, growing up as a dedicated dancer and now stepping into a teaching role. As an SOA graduate, she currently serves as the assistant manager at Francesca's while balancing her passion for dance by teaching both in schools and at the studio each week. Marley is a true embodiment of the Dance Moves culture, exemplifying the values of commitment, growth, and trust. Her journey from student to teacher reflects her deep connection to the studio and its mission.
Adam Whitten- Instructor
Adam began his dance journey while he was studying for his Marketing MBA at Stony Brook University in Long Island, NY. Originally taking up hip hop dance to get exercise, he instantly fell in love with it and eventually committed more time to the craft by joining multiple dance groups, even running as director/captain for 3 dance teams in a single year. Outside of being a hip hop dancer of 9+ years, he also actively trains in other styles in contemporary, modern, jazz, ballet, theater, heels, and tap at The Dance Space and Dance Lab. Since moving to Charleston, Adam has choreographed and performed in various productions/live events across the southeast region. Outside of dance, Adam also works as a professional actor and model, as well as live performer for multiple organizations, such as The Dance Space and Out on a Limb Circus. Adam is very excited to get the fun vibes going and share his love for dance with everyone at Dance Moves
Delaney Ridley- Instructor
Delaney, originally from Orangeburg, South Carolina, currently resides in downtown Charleston, where she is pursuing her studies at the College of Charleston with a minor in dance. Having danced since the age of three, she received her training at Chosen Dance Academy of Lexington and Orangeburg Civic Ballet. Delaney's deep love and passion for dance drive her excitement to share her artistry and knowledge with the students of Dance Moves of Charleston.
Natalie Davis - Certified Yoga Instructor
Natalie is passionate about mindfulness practices like meditation and yoga. She has worked with kids for most of her life and is now teaching kids yoga! Natalie completed her 250hr teacher training at Satsang Yoga in Mount Pleasant. Her training pays special attention to joy and non-harming, she loves to share these concepts with children and hopes to have a positive impact on many kids and adults. She believes that mindful practices like yoga can help children learn to regulate their emotions, be aware of their bodies, and be more at ease when handling challenging tasks.
Kristen Bertolino - Instructor
Kristen Bertolino grew up in Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina, where she trained in several styles of dance at Center Stage School of Performing Arts. While in college at UNC Chapel Hill, she was a member of Blank Canvas Dance Company where she choreographed numerous dances, and served on the executive board for two years. Upon moving to Charleston in the fall of 2021, Kristen joined The Dance Space, where she continues to take dance classes and has been a member of the performing companies for three years. This is Kristen’s first season with Dance Moves and she is excited to bring the joy she has found through dance to her students.
Carmella Della-Peruta - Instructor
Carmella graduated from The College of Charleston in 2022, where she received a Bachelors in the Arts, double majoring in dance and psychology. While there, she focused on the performance aspect of dance and regularly participated in MainStage shows. She is now a lead teacher at a local preschool, where she works with children aged 3-4 years old. She loves working with younger children and being a vital aspect of their growth. Her love for dance began right as she was born as her whole family was involved in dance. As a baby she would watch her mother teach dance at her studio and the rest is history. She’s trained in hip hop, jazz, modern, and ballet. This will be her first year at Dance Moves and she’s so excited to get moving!