Tony E Colden Jr of Portsmouth Virginia began his dance training at the young age of five.  He began learning genres ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, modern, and African dance at a local studio in Portsmouth, The Gail Harts Dance Company, and later continued education in the magnet dance program at Chruchland High School.

Tony attended Virginia Commonwealth University where he earned his BFA in Dance and Choreography, and worked with numerous guest artist, Gerri Houlihan, Heidi Weiss, Jawole Willa Jo Zollar, Tania Issac, Robert Battle and many faculty as well. Upon graduation from VCU Tony received full scholarship for the Deeply Rooted Dance Productions Summer intensive in Chicago IL where he was an apprentice.

Tony later returned to Richmond where he worked with the Starr Foster Dance Company and Studio 4 Dance Agency as he began his teaching Journey at Henrico High School in the Center for the Arts Program. Tony continues to educate himself to bring forth new and bright ideas to today’s youth. He strives to teach the unspoken language of the body to deepen the structure of his work. Tony is currently teaching at Chesterfield Dance Center, Coaching at Virginia Union University and doing workshops, and guest artist residencies through the Studio 4 Dance Agency as well.

In Tony’s 9th Season at CDC, he passed away unexpectedly (1/13/2021). The immense sorrow in our CDC Family's hearts is unbearable from this incredible loss. A scholarship in his name was started in 2021, and Rave, the new hip hop teacher that took over his classes was a student of Tony's.

Tony's memory lives on at CDC, and he will always be in our hearts. Rest in peace, Tone...we love you and miss you dearly...but promise to do good in your honor, and never let your legacy die.

Carrie graduated cum laude with a B.F.A. in dance and choreography from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2000. During her time at VCU she performed in faculty pieces by Chris Burnside and the late Audrey Jung, and trained with amazing faculty and guest artists such as: Chris Burnside, Barbara Grubel, Arnott Mader, Judy Jacobs, Audrey Jung, Melanie Richards, Nicolas Leicter, Judy Steel, Martha Curtis, Scott Putnam, Taylor 2 Dance Company, BeBe Miller, and many others. She was selected to attend American College Dance Festival in 2000 for her piece “Phantasm”, and again in 2001 for her performance in "Reel Elements".  In 2002 she moved to NYC to pursue her performance career. While there, she realized that her true passion in dance was with her students. She returned the following year to continue teaching and has built a modern department at CDC that cannot be matched, and in 2006, she became the owner of CDC.   

The founder and artistic director of CDC's acclaimed contemporary company, dELIRIUM (est. 2006), she  has received numerous awards for her choreography including Outstanding Contemporary, Outstanding Partnering, Choreographic Distinction Award, Outstanding Concept and her personal favorite; "Most Interesting Use of Music".  Carrie has also done choreography for Cosby High School's dance team, Titania.

Most recently, Carrie performed around the Richmond and D.C. area with rva dance collective. In their first season, rva performed at the Jack Guidone Theater (D.C.), Artworks Studios (RVA) and Grace Street Theater (RVA).  Their evening length show, 'breakthrough', received rave reviews by the Richmond Times Dispatch and they were the 2010 recipients of the Theresa Pollak Excellence in Arts Award in dance.    She resigned from the company in 2011, after 2 seasons, to focus solely on the studio.  

In October 2021, Carrie became certified by Youth Protection Advocates in Dance (YPAD). Since she is all about safety in dance, and the proper training of her students, she was thrilled to be a part of this amazing organization and hopes that their principles help shape the future of dance. Carrie is also certified in Adult and Pediatric CPR/First Aid.

Carrie is thrilled to be in her 19th year as Chesterfield Dance Center's owner and director, and proud to say that this is her 26th year teaching at CDC. She is overwhelmingly grateful to be able to do what she loves every day. 

Contact:  carrie@chesterfielddancecenter.com

Jamie Skates, a native of New York, began her dance training at Coupe Dance Studio under the tutelage of Nenette Charisse.  She continued her training at the North Carolina School of the Arts and went on to dance with the Richmond Ballet for four seasons. While in Richmond, she performed in ballets such as Colin Connor's Vestiges, Mauricio Wainrot's Now and Then, Vladimir Angelov's Bouncing Light, Malcolm Burn's Cinderella, and Balanchine's Serenade, Valse Fantasie and Who Cares. 

Jamie continued her career with the Ballet Theatre of Maryland in Annapolis. She performed roles such as Hester in The Scarlet Letter, Carmen in An American Southwest Carmen, Jo in Little Women, and the Snow Queen and Dewdrop in The Nutcracker. Jamie was Ballet Mistress to the professional company for four years and a Faculty Member in the school teaching ballet, acting for dancers, dance history, pre pointe, and pointe for five years. She staged and rehearsed works on the company as well as staged and choreographed works for the school and local high schools.

In 2008, Jamie retired from dancing and moved back to Richmond where she continues to teach dance and spend time with her three beautiful children. 

This is her 14th year teaching for CDC.

Contact:  JamieS@chesterfielddancecenter.com

Lauren Stiglich was born and raised in Richmond, Virginia where she trained in tap, jazz, ballet, and modern at Chesterfield Dance Center. She majored in dance at Appomattox Regional Governor’s School for the Arts and Technology. While attending college at Virginia Commonwealth University, Lauren spent her summers living in New York City furthering her dance education. She found a unique niche tap dancing with the bands Party Crashers and Dawg! Mama throughout the Richmond area.

She moved back to Virginia after a two year stay in New York City. While living in NYC, Lauren worked as a professional tap dancer in Undertoe Dance Project; performing in numerous shows and venues throughout the five boroughs. She has trained extensively with such greats as Lynn Schwab, Barbara Duffy, Michelle Dorrance, Danny Wallace, Andrew Nemr, Dormeshia Sumbry-Edwards, Jason Samuels Smith, Aaron Tolson, and many others.

With over nine years of teaching experience, Lauren’s tap classes emphasize the importance of technique and musicality. She challenges her students to use their whole body when tap dancing: to loosen their ankles, work from their hips, incorporate and use their arms, engage their core, and feel the groove throughout their body and soul. Lauren plays a variety of genres and styles of music in her classes to highlight her creative and distinct rhythmic abilities. Students learn to clap rhythms, sing rhythms, and count rhythms. Lauren’s newly found passion for playing the drums has greatly expanded her musical knowledge and this is incorporated into her classes as much as possible. She pushes her students to challenge themselves and strive for more than they believe they are capable of. She brings her wealth of knowledge and unique style to her students and dares them to think outside of the box. That is perhaps what Lauren is most passionate about when it comes to tap dance; the idea that this art form is an expression of oneself and that they are no limits to how you choose to do so because tap dance is a rhythmical journey that requires one to not only be a dancer but a musician as well. 

Lauren is thrilled to be teaching with the inspiring faculty for her 19th year at CDC but has been a fam member for all 26 years!

Contact: LaurenM@chesterfielddancecenter.com

Catherine Faszewski’s early training began at Chesterfield Dance Center in modern, tap, jazz, ballet, hip hop, and other styles. While growing up, she attended dance conventions and workshops with her studio where she took classes from a variety of teachers and choreographers. Catherine attended Virginia Commonwealth University and received her BFA in Dance and Choreography in 2014. While at VCU, she trained with the incredible faculty including Christian Von Howard, Courtney Harris, Scott Putman, Melanie Richards, Martha Curtis, Judy Steele, James Frazier and Autumn Waddell. She was selected to work with guest artists such as Kate Weare, Nathan Trice, and Stephanie Martinez where she traveled and performed at the American College Dance Association in both her junior and senior years. In 2013, Catherine traveled to Italy and trained with World Dance Movement with such amazing faculty as Desmond Richardson, Bruno Collinet, Michele Assaf, and Igal Perry. 

After graduation, Catherine became a full-time faculty member at Chesterfield Dance Center teaching a range of classes as well as choreographing for dELIRIUM, CDC's competitive company.  While working, she traveled as a member of Malayaworks and the REDproject and began performing on the east coast. Catherine was featured on film in Courtney Harris and Charli Brissley’s “Left of Canvas,” which was a piece of their multi-media immersive performance salon event “20 Rue Jacob,” in which she portrayed the twentieth-century painter Romaine Brooks.

In 2016 Catherine moved to Los Angeles where she was signed with the Movement Talent Agency. She continued to train in a mixture of styles at Millennium Dance Complex and The Edge Performing Arts Center and with Los Angeles Contemporary Dance Company.  During her stay in LA, Catherine had the chance to perform all over the city including at Club Jete with The Ladies of Purr all the while continuing her love for teaching at Danceline LA and Carlos Santana School of the Arts. 

Catherine’s raw, energetic energy provides a dynamic environment for students to challenge themselves physically, and to help them improve upon their technique, musicality, and artistry. 

While Catherine has taught/choreographed off and on for the last 11 years, this is her 26th year as a part of CDC! In 2023, she became to co-artistic director of dELIRIUM, alongside Carrie Hughes.

Contact: Catherine@chesterfielddancecenter.com

Sheila Gunderman is a native of Tampa, Florida and has lived in Chesterfield, Virginia since 2003. She has been connected to dance, choreography, coaching and instruction her entire life. She studied ballet, jazz, tap, modern, lyrical, musical theater and hip hop for 16 years under the direction of Sandra Sears, Artistic Director and Owner of Atelier of Dance in Tampa. Sheila was a leader on her high school dance team for four years and served as captain and choreographer for three of her four years on the Carolina Coquettes Dance Team, performing at SEC football and basketball games while a student at the University of South Carolina. Throughout college and for several years after, she judged dance auditions and competitions, coached high school dance teams, and taught jazz, ballet and lyrical classes to children and adults before focusing on a career outside of dance and becoming a mom. 

Sheila became a certified Zumba® Fitness Instructor in 2007 after taking classes locally and quickly falling in love with the fun and energetic Latin-dance inspired music and choreography. Since then, she has taught Zumba® throughout the Metro Richmond area, bringing her passion for music, movement, health and wellness to every class she leads. She firmly believes everyone, no matter their age, physical fitness or level of coordination, can experience the benefits of adding Zumba® dance fitness to their routines – benefits that are not just physical:  weight loss, greater muscle tone, and improved cardiovascular endurance are often accompanied by increased self-esteem and confidence and overall reduced stress and tension.

Her two young daughters, Lyla and Madeline are both CDC students and are thrilled to be part of the CDC family! 

This is Sheila's 4th year teaching at CDC.

Lifelong Richmond native, Rave "Rah" Williams has had a passion for dance his entire life. His desire to dance had him studying numerous different genres up and down the East Coast. Rave attended the School of Richmond Ballet, Jessica Morgan School of Dance, Alvin Ailey's Summer Intensive, Bates Dance Festival, and Center for the Arts at Henrico High School. He is well versed in Hip Hop, Breakdance, Modern, Tap, Jazz, Ballet, and much more.

Rave has been blessed with the opportunity to learn from CDC's own Tony Colden, be a part of Tedx Talk, dance alongside Chloe Arnold in Alex In Wonderland, attend Kaos Dance Convention and Monsters of Hip Hop Dance Convention, and be nominated for Best Hip Hop Choreography and Best Hip Hop Freestyle in RVA Dance Awards 2019.

His overall mission is to positively impact the world through dance. He's excited to see where his dance journey will continue to take him and the lives he will impact along the way.

The students and faculty are thrilled to have Rave return for his 4th season!

Colleen Edwards is from Boulder, Colorado where she was trained at the Boulder Ballet Academy under the founder, Barbra Demaree as well as Jon Prinz, Ana Claire and Lucia Martin. Colleen also trained with world renowned choreographer Robert Sher-Machherndl  of the Lemon Sponge Cake Contemporary Ballet. After attending the Boston Conservatory and earning her B.F.A in Dance Colleen has taught dance in many styles in Virginia, New York, Louisiana, Maine, Georgia and Massachusetts where she continues to challenge her students in both technique and performance. 

Colleen has enjoyed a career of dancing in diverse companies including Urbanity Dance, Baton Rouge Ballet Theater, Portland Ballet, North Atlantic Dance Theater, where also served as Ballet Mistress, and Savannah Ballet Theater. Colleen is excited to be in Richmond connecting with new students.

This is Miss Colleen's 2nd year of teaching with CDC!

Keyara is so excited to be a part of Chesterfield Dance Center faculty. She has been teaching for

4 years and was a dance assistant for 2 years. She has found a passion for teaching and

choreography.

She began dancing at the age of 3 with her mom and dad at Pilates Dance and more, The Art of

Fitness. She has trained with many different teachers in central Virginia and loves all styles of

dance. She also attended dance competitions and conventions as part of her training and has

performed and assisted in PDM Productions “Nutcracker Sweet” since it began in 2012.

She graduated in 2019 from Henrico HS Center for the Arts, in Dance and Musical Theatre. As a

sophomore in High School, was accepted into the Governors Summer program for dance, on full

Scholarship 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 senior year. As a senior, her choreography was chosen to be in Richmond Dance

Festival- Next Generation. Not only has she grown up training and performing in dance, but also

musical theatre; In HHS “Adams Family”, SPARCs “Hairspray” and “Newsies”, and

“Cinderella” for VA Rep theatre.

Keyara has performed with a local artist, (Kiara) where she was featured in a music video

“Overdrive”. She also works 3 other part time jobs: at Prestige Dance Studio, as a dance

instructor: at Starbucks, as a barista: and as a bartender at Kickback Jacks.

She is so thankful to be a part of the CDC dance family. She loves the opportunity to grow and

learn each year. She aspires to be the best she can be and is always excited about what she can

give back to the arts community.

Neo Lynch is a former competition dancer from Alexandria, VA where she studied jazz, ballet, tap, pointe, lyrical, gymnastics, contemporary and hip hop for 15 years. She attended Virginia Commonwealth University as a Division1 Track & Field athlete and received a B.S. in Criminal Justice, then pursued a career as a professional dancer.

She danced for Beyonce, Ciara, P. Diddy, Gucci Mane, Nelly, Bow Wow, Keri Hilson, Ying Yang Twinz, The Dream, Dirty Money and Cherish. She has graced the stages of the MTV VMA’s, BET Awards, BET HipHop Awards, MTV's Sweet 16, MTV Japan and Good Morning America, in addition to being a principal dancer in dozens of national and international music videos. She has toured with Ciara, Mary J Blige, Jay-Z, New Kids on the Block, Chris Brown, and the International Raggs Kids Club Tour. Neo has been featured in commercials for Dunkin Donuts, Tyler Perry and Verizon Wireless, and was a hip-hop Coach on MTV’s hit series “Made.” Neo has worked with JaQuel Knight, Sean Bankhead, Jamaica Craft, Frank Gatson, Fatima Robinson, Marty Kudelka, Jamie Parrish, James Alsop, Laurieann Gibson and Richy Squirrel.

Her creativity, warm spirit, and certification as a personal trainer has landed her opportunities to serve as specialty choreography consultant to music videos for R&B artists Ciara, Keri Hilson, Tami Chynn, and Cherish. With over 20 years' experience teaching and choreographing, Neo has served as a judge for Kids Artistic Review, as Artistic Director to Dancensations Dance Center and is a company choreographer to multiple nationally competitive dance studios and academies in Virginia and Maryland. Neo was honored at the RVA Dance Awards for Best Heels choreography and Best Lyrical Choreography, while also being nominated for Best Jazz Choreography. Her competition choreography consistently places in the Overall High Score rankings, as well as winning Choreography Excellence Awards and Entertainment Awards. Her students and mentees have gone on to dance for Beyonce, The Rockettes, SNL, The Billboard Awards, BET Awards, Nickelodeon, NFL dance teams, SYTYCD, World of Dance, Dance Moms, Mariah Carey, Lil Nas X and Rihanna.

Neo’s mission is to positively influence others through her passion for dance. She loves helping her students identify, work towards and accomplish their dreams. Neo currently holds residency teaching positions at 4 studios, is a certified personal trainer by day, a nationally competitive bodybuilder in her free time and is the mother to a beautiful boy. 

This is Neo's first season with Chesterfield Dance Center.

Sonia's journey in the world of dance began at a young age of 2, when she joined Jessica Morgan School Of Dance, which later transformed into Prestige Dance Studio. Her passion for dance led her to start competing at the age of 6, and she absolutely adored every moment of it.

When she turned 15, Sonia moved to Chesterfield Dance Center, where she became a part of dELIRIUM, and later the edge. Alongside her dancing, she also found joy in assisting various classes, which sparked her interest in teaching.

Throughout her dancing career, Sonia has been fortunate to receive numerous scholarships in different genres such as Contemporary, Jazz, and Hip-Hop. Additionally, she has been selected to perform in the closing shows of multiple competitions. During her high school years, Sonia attended Thomas Dale High School and was a part of the Thomas Dale Specialty Dance Company and Ensemble.

Currently, she is pursuing her BFA in Dance with a minor in Business at Marymount Manhattan College in NYC. She feels incredibly grateful for the opportunity to continue her artistic journey, to grow as a dancer, and to inspire the lives of students through her deep love for dance.

This is Sonia's first summer as a teacher at CDC!