Instructors

Get to Know Your Instructors

LaShonda Chaney

LaShonda has studied all genres of dance and holds a B.A. in Business Marketing from Rutgers, The State University. She started her performing career as a dancer for the NBA, New Jersey Nets, as well as a dancer for the NJ Rockin’ Rollers Hockey Team. Winning several awards through “Dance Educators of America”, “Dance America”, “Dance Olympus”, and recognized for outstanding work and leadership with children, she continues her love with assisting schools with creating dance curriculums for their programs. LaShonda is a certified dance and fitness instructor for New Jersey and has taught in public and private school on the elementary and high school level. She has danced in many music videos and performed with several artists. And is highly known for her choreography, dance and modeling productions. Her T.V. credits include MTV’s “Lip Service”, NBA “Inside Stuff”, a guest dancer on “Good Morning America”, “The Joe Franklin Show”, as well as the movie “Juice”. Her choreography has won many awards for dance and cheerleading. LaShonda continues her love to help encourage individuals to dream big, walk in faith, and follow their inner spirit to obtain their maximum potential to ultimate happiness.

Tamia Chaney

Tamia, a prodigy of LaChaney’s Dance Academy and has trained in all genres of dance. She continues to travel all over the USA where she furthers her training and love for dance under the tutelage of some great choreographers in the industry. She is also a member of Generation X, where she continues her extensive training in Hip-Hop. Tamia has choreographed Top Award Winning routines for our company, produced many concept videos, and continues to choreograph for upcoming artist. She continues to implement a strong foundation here at LaChaney’s. Projects include:  Summer Walker's "THE FIRST AND LAST TOUR" featuring Melii, Made In America, SoulFrito, Former NBA Nets Kids Dancer, Apollo Theater, Dancer for artist Becky G., Anne Bowen, Nike Grand Opening Dancer, Lead Dancer for Swarovski Promo Video, TRL (MTV) Dancer, and Serena Williams launch party performer.

Weslyn Stephens

Dancer, Educator and Choreographer, who has spent 25 years exploring the art of dance and the last fourteen years teaching and training students how to connect with their gifts and talents utilizing their skills through dance and spatial movement. Weslyn Stephens, is a native of St. Lucia, where she began her dance training at St. Lucia School of Ballet and Modern dance which follows Royal Academy of Dance syllabus, and later continued her studies at the Dance Theatre of Harlem School in NYC and Staten Island ballet.  Her performance credits include Dance Theatre of Harlem's School and Staten Island Ballet Company. Weslyn holds a Master of Arts in Arts Politics from NYU Tisch School of the arts, a Bachelor of Arts in Dance and Anthropology from Rutgers State University and a Teacher Certification with Dance endorsement from the State of New Jersey. Weslyn continues her love of dance as a certified Dance Instructor for the Newark Public School system, as well as being a veteran teacher at LaChaney’s for 10+ years. Her goal is to continue to instill her love of dance with her students, to help them realize their gifts and talents.

Instructors

Our Diverse Team of Instructors

Silinea Hilliard

Silinea Hilliard, a Maryland native, began her ballet training at Jones-Haywood School of Ballet. Her love of dance eventually led her to Howard University where she earned a BFA in Musical Theatre. She has performed with various theaters throughout the United States including The Shakespeare Theatre and The Kennedy Center. She has taught African, ballet, tap, contemporary, modern, hip-hop, and musical theater. She specializes in teaching children of various abilities, including those differently-abled and/or with special needs.

Sabina Ellis

Having a passion for dance for 20+ years, and trained in ballet, tap, jazz and hip-hop. Sabina is the head of our Pre-school program for the past 17 years and specializes in children with special needs. She enjoys sharing her passion of dance and loves contributing to the development of our younger students.

Shakira Washington

Shakira Washington is a an alum of LaChaney's Performing Arts Company and has received her BFA in Dance from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Her love of dance and dedication allows her students to become well rounded artists. While focusing on anatomy to aid her students in understanding their bodies, Shakira specializes in ballet, tap, jazz, and acro.