Dance Foundations - About Us - Staff Bios & Pictures - dance school, dance studio, Columbia, Maryland, art of dance, dance class

Cortney Baca

Cortney has been an entertainer from the very beginning. Always looking to try something new and different, she has applied herself to acting, singing, athletics, music, and studio art, but nothing stole her heart quite like the expressionism, emotion, and joy of dancing.

Growing up in the small town of Hobbs, New Mexico, Cortney studied at both of the two dance studios there. Under the direction of Diana Franco at Star Dance Academy and Karen Salb at Maciolek School of Dance, she learned the basics and necessity of good technique, but it was over the next few years that she would discover the community and soul of dance. Working with theater and dance professionals under the direction of Neil Hess in Texas Dance Theater's summer production cast drove her to pursue further education in the performing arts. Studying theater and dance at New Mexico Junior College and New Mexico State University, she learned so much about the craft, as well as herself, from the brilliant minds of John Rice, Debra Knapp, and many other excellent faculty members.

As member of the NMSU college dance company Dancers Unlimited, Cortney got to stretch her wings as a choreographer and company member. She graduated with an Associate of Arts degree with a focus in performance art in 2007, and moved to Maryland as a newlywed seven months later.

Cortney was thrilled to find a place at Dance Foundations in 2008, where the sense of family and creativity was so inspiring and nurturing. She enjoys being on the faculty and working with all the staff and students. Cortney's classes are focused on teaching students how to tap into their inner creativity in a safe and comfortable environment, and on bettering ourselves physically, mentally, and emotionally through the art of dance. She hopes to continue learning and growing, finding new inspiration, choreographing new pieces, inspiring others, and seeing her students grow to love dance just as much as she does.

Manolito Desmet

Manny has been trained by Andrew Currie in Florida, who was a Principal dancer in Andrew Lloyd Webbers CATS, Starlight Express and La Cage Aux Folles. Manolito teaches a unique style of Hip Hop which varies from POP Videos such as Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake to the Pussy Cat Dolls. The other styles he loves to teach are Musical Theatre, Jazz, Lyrical and The Classic Cabaret.

He made his Hollywood debut as a Principal Dancer in the motion picture ‘Gods & Generals’ starring Robert DuVall and Mira Sorvino, and in television as a dancer in TBS’ Buffy The Vampire Slayer. His proudest moment has to be co-teaching a class with the PCD creator Robin Antin and PCD herself, Kimberly Wyatt, in the UK.

His choreography was used for the Miss Hibiscus Beauty Pageant Opening and The Cancer Relay for Life. He and girlfriend, Rebecca Goodman, have won several awards including outstanding performance, Judges Choice for favorite Choreography, and Choreographer on the Rise. He also won Platinum and High Gold Awards for NYCDA, Starpower, Showstoppers, JUMP, Hall of Fame, and West Coast Dance Explosion.

His theatre background includes: “Grease” as Danny and Choreographer; “Peter Pan” as Hook; “Guys & Dolls” as Choreographer; “Annie Get Your Gun” as Choreographer and Russian Dancer; “Hello Dolly” as Cornelious Hackel and Choreographer; and “Hairspray” as Link and Choreographer.

Rebecca Goodman

Rebecca has been dancing for 16 years, trained by many different teachers/studios all over Maryland - starting off with just ballet/pointe and making her way up to Lyrical, Jazz, Tap, Modern, Musical Theater, Contemporary, Hip Hop, Yoga, Cheerleading, Gymnastics and Zumba.

In the past, Rebecca has trained with Travis Wall, Mandy Moore, Jaquel Knight, Laura Edwards, Wade Robson, Tabitha and Napoleon, Adam Sevani, Chris Scott and many more. Rebecca is not unfamiliar to the big screen as she can be seen in Step Up 2, High School Musical 3, Gossip Girls, Bumper, Rocket Science, He's Just Not That Into You, Washingtonienne, Past Life, and various Under Armour Commercials!

Each month, she takes trips up to New York for auditions, workshops, and dance classes at Steps. Rebecca has participated in many competitions like NYCDA, Hall Of Fame, Jump, Starpower, Showstoppers, and West Coast Dance Explosion. Today, she loves to bring fun and excitement into her classes, showing kids different styles of dance.

Elizabeth Miller

Elizabeth Miller is a self-taught hip hop and lyrical dancer. Originally from Michigan, Liz worked with various studios, ministries, and churches and has already begun to create dance pieces in Ellicott City for the Bethany Lane Baptist Church’s multiple Christmas productions. She is also working with Unchained Talent, a non-profit organization located on the Lake Clifton High School campus, which celebrates the arts through its after-school student program.

A graduate of Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids, Michigan (B.S., 2006), Liz began dancing in her freshman year. Within a few months, she had founded a dance team and was sharing her love of dance with others. Her team of fellow Cornerstone students performed on campus and throughout the greater Grand Rapids area. She is particularly gratified that, through performance, her team helped bring Hip Hop to a wider audience and changed perspectives on how this dance form can be a positive influence for performers and audience members alike, irrespective of their backgrounds or familiarity with Hip Hop culture.

In 2004, Liz was invited by a local studio to supervise its Hip Hop dance program. While this studio had been oriented traditionally toward ballet, Liz worked hard to demonstrate that newer dance forms have serious artistic merit. In short time, and unable to say “no” to any dancer who wished to join, Liz’s classes were soon filled to capacity and became the talk of the studio. The Hip Hop program’s size doubled in one year, drawing students from tap, ballet, and jazz who were curious about this fresh, kinetic, and expressive dance. Through HIS dance studio she was able to stage manage, solo dance, and choreograph for a large scale dance/theatre production, involving coordinating 400 kids. Through this organization, Liz was invited to work with the GEMS (Girls Everywhere Meeting the Savior) Girls’ Club. She is one of two choreographers that choreograph and perform on their internationally-distributed worship DVDs. Liz travels to venues throughout the country to perform their songs live for their worship tour.

In Baltimore, Liz has worked with Unchained Talent, which is a non-profit that brings dance to inner-city underprivileged high school students. She works with several studios and just last year won awards and trophies (platinum and high gold) for her competition team pieces which were entered into two large local dance competitions. In nearby Ellicott city, Liz choreographs and coordinates dance with a church which does seasonal Christmas and easter pageants, complete with full scale, hair, makeup and costume. While there are many organizations that she has networked between and shared her gifts with, each of them have strengthened and helped Liz become the choreographer she is today.

Linda O’Brien

Linda O’Brien is a professional instructor and award winning choreographer, teaching in the Maryland area since 1987. An active member of Dance Masters of America, she received her teaching certification in Ballet, Pointe, Jazz and Tap in 1996, and continues to further her education through DMA’s Graduate program.

Over the past ten years, she has acted as Assistant Director, Artistic Advisor and Ballet Mistress for the Harford Ballet Company. Linda is a faculty member at the Community Colleges of Baltimore County, where in addition to teaching ballet, jazz, and dance appreciation, she also acts as Associate Director of their resident company.

A lifelong student, Linda has studied extensively in Maryland and New York under many renowned teachers including Tom Ralabate, Bob Rizzo and jazz legend, Frank Hatchett.

Studio Information Studio Location About the Director Staff Bios & Pictures Our Accomplishments

Class Descriptions Style Descriptions Dress Code Current Class Schedule Summer Class Schedule Accelerated Program Information

Master Teachers Scholarship Programs Testimonials Top 5 Reasons to Choose Us Four C's of a Quality Dance Studio