Meet Our Team
At Elevate Dance Center, our faculty isn’t just experienced—they’ve lived the journey. As former dancers and coaches from the nationally ranked Rutgers University Dance Team, our instructors bring a deep understanding of what it takes to succeed in both the studio and the collegiate dance world. Each member of our team is passionate about mentorship, technical growth, and building confidence from the inside out.
From private coaching to team leadership, we’ve been in your shoes—and now we’re here to help you rise.
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Elevate Dance Center Founder & Director of the Rutgers Spirit ProgramChristine began dancing and cheering at the age of 5, going on to become a member of nationally ranked high school teams in both the U.S. and in London. She was on the first Rutgers Dance Team invited to compete at the UCA & UDA National College Cheerleading and Dance Team Championship in 1993, and led the team as captain to a seventh place finish the following year. Upon graduation, Christine became an Assistant Coach for the Cheerleading and Dance Teams. She was named Head Coach in 1998, which proved to be a great year for the program, ending in the first National Championship won by the Dance Team. While Christine continues to oversee the entire Spirit Program including Coed Cheer, the Dance Team, and the mascots, she works on a daily basis with the nationally ranked Dance Team. In 2018 and 2019 she was the head coach for the US National Pom Team when Rutgers represented USA at the ICU World Championships, the team won gold in 2018 and silver in 2019. As the current head coach of the Rutgers Spirit Program she works closely with Marketing and Fan experience for football and basketball. She is a graduate of Rutgers University, receiving both a BA and an MBA. She is married and has two beautiful sons.
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Senior Instructor
Junior Spirit CoachChristine “Rizzo” DeMartin has been studying, performing, and teaching dance for over 20 years, including competing, teaching and coaching atthe regional and national levels. Throughout the years she studied ballet, jazz, lyrical, tap, hip hop, and pom. Christine graduated from Rutgers University with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Sociology. During her time at Rutgers, she was also a four year letter winner and captain of the nationally ranked Rutgers University Dance Team. After graduation, she became a certified UDA instructor with Varsity brands, and created and coached a nationally ranked high school dance team in NJ. Christine works in marketing full time at the Rutgers University Foundation and enjoys continuing to share her passion for dance by consulting with and teaching dance teams and being a dance team advocate.
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Senior Instructor
Junior Spirit CoachAlexis, a Long Island native, began her training in New York City through the Children and Teens Program at Broadway Dance Center, where she also performed with their Arts in Motion Company. She went on to dance with prominent East Coast companies including AbstraKT Beings, directed by Theresa Stone, and Catastrophe!(too), under the direction of Cat Cogliandro.
Alexis continued her dance career at Rutgers University, where she was a four-year member of the Rutgers University Dance Team, competing annually at the Universal Dance Association Nationals. She served as team captain during her senior year.
Since graduating, Alexis has remained actively involved with the Rutgers Spirit Program. In 2021, she began assisting the Rutgers Dance Team coaches with the Rutgers Junior Spirit Team and continues in that role today. She is currently on staff with UDA, teaches and choreographs at Athletic Dance Institute in Milltown, NJ, and serves as the Assistant Social Media Coordinator for the Rutgers Spirit Program.
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Senior InstructorBorn and raised in New Jersey, Caley Scheuing is a passionate dancer, coach, and mentor with a deep-rooted love for performance and leadership. She began her athletic journey exploring various sports before fully committing to dance at 14 years old. Her training spans a wide range of styles—including ballet, pointe, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, hip-hop, musical theater, and acrobatics—and she spent her competitive years training at En Pointe Dance and Acrobatics, where she also began teaching and assisting classes.
Caley earned a spot on the Matawan Regional High School Varsity Dance Team as a freshman and served as captain for the 2019–2020 season. She was later recruited to the Rutgers University Dance Team, where over four years, she competed nationally in the D1A Pom and Jazz divisions at UDA College Nationals. She was honored to serve as team captain for her senior year, helping to lead the team to a top ten finish in Division IA Jazz.
In addition to her dance accolades, Caley works professionally in collegiate athletics as a marketing, game presentation, and fan experience coordinator. She brings a unique dual perspective to her teaching—combining technical training, real-world performance experience, and a deep understanding of sports entertainment. With over ten years of competitive dance and leadership experience, Caley is dedicated to inspiring the next generation of dancers with energy, insight, and heart.
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Junior Spirit Coach
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Elevate Instructor
Justin Stillwagon is a third year member and captain of the Rutgers Dance team. He trained at Studio L Dance Company where he was captain for three years and learned various styles of dance such as jazz, lyrical, contemporary, ballet, hip-hop, pom, and tap. Justin has worked with well-known industry professionals such as Rudy Abreu, Manny Castro, Zach Hudson, Janelle Ginestra, and many more. He also has an extensive professional background working in the dance industry. Justin has toured with Mariah Carey as a backup dancer in her “All I Want For Christmas Is You” concert in both New York and Las Vegas. He has also appeared in season one of Nickelodeon’s “Lip Sync Battle: Shorties” as well as performed on Broadway in Nickelodeon’s Upfront event. Justin has received many individual awards including 4 national titles, 1 world title, and multiple national and regional first place awards. His freshman year on the Rutgers Dance Team, he was awarded Rookie of the Year by his teammates and coaches as well as being recognized as a member of the All Big Ten Dance First Team. In just his sophomore year, Justin was awarded as Veteran of the Year and once again recognized as a member of the All Big Ten Dance First Team. Justin was recently hired as a UDA Staff Member where he teaches and consults teams across the US at an elite level. In the future, he hopes to pursue a career in dance, continuing his love for performing and choreography. Justin is known for his passion, determination, and hard work ethic which pushes him to be the best dancer, teammate, and leader he can be.
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Elevate Instructor
Junior Spirit CoachLauren Sahu is a student-athlete pursuing a B.A. in Health & Wellness Communication with a minor in Health & Society Sociology at Rutgers University, where she is one of four captains for the Rutgers University Dance Team. In addition to balancing academics and athletics, she brings creativity and energy to her role as a marketing intern with Rutgers Athletics, where she develops engaging content and supports game day promotions. Passionate about wellness, media, and entertainment, she is also a trained singer and has performed the national anthem at major athletic events. Lauren’s experience also includes, sales and teaching dance and tumbling to youth. She looks forward to spreading her love for dance and Rutgers with the Junior Spirit Program!
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Elevate Instructor
Trained in all styles of dance since the age of 2 at Star Struck Dance Studio. Has over six years of teaching experience, including group classes, private lessons, and social media promotion for the studio. Performed with the Knicks City Kids at a young age and earned top convention titles such as Power Pak Apprentice and Wild Dance Intensive apprentice. Currently a third-year member of the Rutgers University Dance Team, performing at Division 1 athletic events and national competitions, including a Top Ten finish at UDA Nationals in Jazz and Pom. Passionate about teaching, choreography, and inspiring the next generation of dancers.
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Elevate Instructor
Chandra Joy, originally from Southern California, is a third year member of the Rutgers University Dance Team. Chandra's determination and focus to elevate her dancing earned her Most Improved Dancer of the Year this past season.
Prior to Rutgers, she was a competitive dancer for 13 years on the Elite Team at The Dance Factory, where she developed a strong foundation and training in all styles of dance including jazz, contemporary, hip hop, lyrical, ballet and tap. Chandra also gained four years of teaching experience, working with dancers of all ages, levels and styles. While competing in dance, Chandra was a member of her high school Dance Team at Palos Verdes High School where she specialized in pom and gameday routines.
Currently, she is a veteran dance instructor of two years with The Spirit Consultants (TSC), working with diverse teams of all levels to build technical skill, confidence, and team unity. Chandra works in high-energy settings providing personalized instruction, as well as leading material sessions, technique classes, and performance workshops. Her role as a veteran TSC Dance Instructor has strengthened her leadership, choreography, and teaching skills while helping athletes grow on and off the field.
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Junior Spirit Coach
Cameron is excited to return for her second season with the Rutgers Jr. Spirit Program! She started dancing at age 2 and trained in several styles such as ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, and hip hop. Cameron was a four year team member of the Rutgers University Dance Team and was a captain her senior year. She graduated from Rutgers Business School in 2023 with her Bachelor’s of Science in Marketing. Since graduation she has worked in account management and social media for Student Athlete NIL, as well as marketing for NBC Sports. She is currently back at the Rutgers Business School pursuing her Master’s in Digital Marketing and working full time as an Account Executive for a media agency. Cameron has a life long passion for dance and Rutgers and can’t wait to start her second season!
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Elevate Instructor
Elinore is a highly passionate and dedicated dancer who has 12 years of technical training in ballet, contemporary, hip-hop, and jazz. She trained at Studio L Dance Company where she was a strong and integral member of the UDA Varsity All-Star Team. Elinore played a crucial role in securing multiple national titles and achieving a world title. In addition to her extensive technical training, Elinore has taught dance for the past 5 years to a wide variety of ages. Elinore's dance experience extends into film and television, with notable credits such as Netflix's "Happy Gilmore 2," Nickelodeon's "Lip Sync Battle Shorties," The Knocks and Wyclef Jean's "Kiss the Sky" music video, and The Harlem Globetrotters Halftime Show. These experiences highlight her adaptability and professional presence in diverse performance settings.
Currently, Elinore is a sophomore at Rutgers University where she is pursuing a business degree and a minor in psychology. She is going into her second year on the Rutgers University Dance Team and during her freshman year she received Rookie of the Year and the All-Big Ten Dance Rookie Team. Elinore was recently hired as a UDA staff member, giving her the opportunity to work with a multitude of teams across the country. Known for her passion, dedication, leadership, and lighthearted personality, Elinore is a wonderful teacher and mentor that brings a positive experience to her students!
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Elevate Instructor
Lexi Edelman is an accomplished dancer and leader entering her senior year as one of the captains of the Rutgers University Dance Team. Lexi began her competitive dance career with Studio L in Waldwick, New Jersey, where she earned numerous national titles and played an instrumental role as a founding member of the studio’s inaugural Varsity All-Star Team, contributing to its first national championship. She also served as a captain on Studio L’s UDA All-Star Team from 2021–2022, earning multiple national titles.
At Rutgers, Lexi made an immediate impact, being named Freshman of the Year and earning All-Big Ten Freshman Honors for the 2022–2023 season. She has continued to excel both athletically and academically, recognized as a Scholar-Athlete for both the 2023–2024 and 2024–2025 academic years. Lexi is known for her dedication, leadership, and passion for dance, consistently bringing positivity to every team she represents.
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Elevate Instructor
Mia Ciociano has been a dedicated competitive dancer for over 15 years. Throughout her dance career, she has earned numerous first-place awards, along with many regional and national titles, and has been recognized multiple times for her outstanding technique. As a young child, Mia was cast on Dance Moms (Season 6 – “The Minis”) and appeared on the show as part of the mini team. Most recently, she performed as a dancer in the movie Happy Gilmore 2.
Currently, Mia is teaching and working with various teams as a UDA staff member while also proudly representing the nationally ranked Division IA Rutgers University Dance Team. At Rutgers, she continues to train, perform, and compete at an elite level. In her freshman year on the team, Mia was honored as the All-Big Ten Dance Rookie Team, followed by being awarded the All-Big Ten Dance Second Team in her sophomore year.
Known for her dedication, hard work, and passion, Mia brings a positive and motivating energy to everyone she works with, always uplifting her teammates and students. After college, she hopes to pursue a professional career in dance, continuing to perform, teach, and share her love of the art form with others.
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Elevate Instructor
My name is Lexi Lo Presti, and I’m a dedicated dancer with a strong background in performance, leadership, and assisting. I grew up training at Epic Dance Company in Flemington, NJ, and began my formal dance education during my freshman year at a vocational high school for dance.
Throughout high school, I was a two-year captain of the Hillsborough High School Dance Team, earning Team MVP both junior and senior year, and was recognized as a UDA All American in both seasons.
I’ve had the opportunity to help run and teach tryouts for the Hillsborough High School dance team, choreograph and teach for my high school’s Spirit Night, and serve as co-assistant for Reflection Dance Company, where I helped choreograph and teach routines for our annual showcase. I also assisted at the NRG Dance Project convention and am currently teaching at TSC (The Spirit Consultants) camp in California.
In addition to my leadership and teaching experience, I’ve continued to train and grow as a dancer by taking class with industry professionals, including Marinda Davis.
I’m currently a member of the Rutgers University Dance Team, where I continue to grow in both technique and team performance at the collegiate level.
I’m passionate about dance and love helping others feel confident and strong through movement. I’m excited for the opportunity to bring my energy, creativity, and experience into a teaching role!
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Elevate Instructor
Yeri began dancing at the age of four, initially training at Showbiz Kids Dance Center for five years before relocating to East Brunswick, New Jersey. She continued her training at Central Jersey Dance and Gymnastics, where she developed a strong technical foundation across multiple styles. Over the years, Yeri has grown into a versatile and passionate performer, earning three national championship titles with her dance team. Her favorite styles are jazz and pom, which highlight her precision and performance energy.
Currently, Yeri is a sophomore at Rutgers University, studying Business while being a proud member of the Division IA Rutgers University Dance Team. Passionate about teaching, she has led numerous drop-in classes and private lessons over the years. Most recently, she worked as a UDA staff member, teaching at various camps throughout the region during the summer.
Outside of dance, Yeri enjoys baking and loves traveling to Disney World.
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Elevate Instructor
Julia Kenney is a rising senior at Rutgers University, a 4th Year member on the dance team, majoring in Psychology and minoring in Digital Communications, Information, and Media. This past year, Julia interned with the Communications Department for Rutgers Athletics. She been dancing since she was six years old and taught young dancers throughout her High School experience. One of her main goals when she graduates is not just to peruse a career, but to continue dancing and teaching dance after college.
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Elevate Instructor
Sophia DeStasio is a rising senior and one of the captains of the Rutgers University Dance Team. A dedicated dancer since the age of two, Sophia began her training at Jazz Unlimited in Marlton, New Jersey. During her time there, she developed a strong foundation in a wide range of dance styles, including ballet, contemporary, lyrical, jazz, hip hop, and tap. Throughout her dance career with Jazz Unlimited’s competition team, Sophia earned numerous regional and national titles for her solo performances and was recognized for her excellence in technique and artistry. Her passion for dance extended beyond competition as a member of the Artists Simply Human Company and a Pro Reveler Assistant for Revel Dance Convention, assisting in professional level workshops and masterclasses. Sophia has had the privilege of working with several dance industry professionals, including Misha Gabriel, Teddy Forance, and Mia Michaels. Her commitment to giving back is evident in her teaching, where she inspires the next generation of dancers through private lessons and classes.
Sophia’s passion and dedication to her team has not gone unnoticed. She was named the All Big Ten Freshman Team during the 2022-2023 season as well a the All Big Ten First Team in 2023-2024. As Sophia enters her final year, she continues to leads with positivity and professionalism, in order to drive the teams success.