Meet Our STAFF
Our team at Dance Revelation is made up of an incredible group of faculty, leaders and guest teachers. Each of them has an incredible gift of teaching, loves to dance and carries the culture of the Kingdom in everything they do!
Lead Staff
Johannah Leach
Founder & Director
Johannah is the Founder and Director of Dance Revelation (DR).Dance Revelation was established November 7th 2007. As a business owner and mother of four young children, she understands and values the importance of creating a space where all can feel loved, challenged, and well-trained. Dance Revelation began when Johannah was just 21 years old, and since then she has continued to refine and grow DR to the fullest.
Learning from life lessons, leaving room for new experiences, and surrounding herself with amazing leaders has been the framework in pursuing Dance Revelation’s fullest potential. Her passion in running a dance school is fueled with the opportunities of developing healthy, strong, and loving characteristics in each student.
“My love for dance began at the age of 6. It took a few years for my parents to realize this passion was not just something that would come and go, but they eventually realized that dance was a part of who I was as a person and would be a part of me for the rest of my life. When my parents allowed me to explore my passion for dance, they found so much joy in watching me do what I love. As an adult, I can say I love what I do, and I love my job.”
Dance Revelation believes that it is important to recognize the gift and passion inside of you. We want you to use it! For Johannah, her calling was to dance and to train others to become the dancer & best version of themselves. Our staff is excited to help foster each student’s passion for dance. One of our goals is to help our students discover the potential within them! We hope you will consider joining Dance Revelation!
Leah Wallace
Ballet Mistress since 2009
Leah began her dance training in classical ballet at Degnan Ballet Center, Home of Ballet Northeast in Wilkes-Barre, PA. She also trained at four Ballet Magnificat! Summer Intensives in Jackson, MS. Leah is a graduate of Slippery Rock University in Pennsylvania with a BA in Dance. For over 15 years, she has trained and performed classical, contemporary, and modern dance. She has also taught ballet and modern technique, along with choreographing classical, contemporary ballet, and modern dance at both Ballet Northeast, Slippery Rock University Dance Theater Company, and co-directed Company for Dance Revelation. Leah was commissioned by Anastasis Ballet Company of San Francisco to set evening length works of ballet and modern for their tour repertoire of 2014.
"I feel that it is vital to the role of being an excellent dance instructor that students have a sense of safety and confidence in order to accomplish the very best results in expressing their dance practice. My goals are to impart to eager and passionate dance students the goodness and wisdom of the life of a dancer."
Kristin Shearer
Overseer of Hip hop since 2015
Originally from Toms River, New Jersey, Kristin began her dance training at the age of four and has studied ballet, tap, jazz, and hip hop. She had the opportunity to continue her passion through college, where she held multiple positions on Shippensburg University’s In-Motion Dance Troupe’s Executive Board, choreographing routines for the annual performance and the school’s Homecoming Spirit Rally. Kristin has performed in national competitions such as UDA College Nationals in Orlando, Florida, and has taken dance workshops with Brooklynettes Dancers.
Kristin has a passion and love for mentoring and teaching the art of dance to young children, teens and adults, and is excited to enter her fifth year teaching and choreographing at Dance Revelation.
Victoria West
Administrator since 2008
Victoria has worked with Dance Revelation since its foundation. She holds a Master’s Degree from the University of Pennsylvania and has a passion for non-profit leadership. Victoria has worked with Johannah to expand and grow Dance Revelation and has enjoyed seeing it evolve. She spends three days a week working in the office.
Support Staff
Kendra Cook
Instructor & with DR since 2013
Kendra started dancing at a very young age, training in all styles, and decided she wanted to pursue dance as a career after High School. She started training more seriously and researching opportunities the world had to offer, including intensives, conventions, and master classes. She went on to complete the Professional Semester at Broadway Dance Center in NYC, earning a certificate. She has since then trained with some of the best choreographers/ dancers in the industry in NYC and Los Angeles focusing on street styles. She has performed in the Macy’s Thanksgiving day parade and has been in a couple music videos. She has strong training in street styles and is excited to share her passion and knowledge.
Suzie D’Souza
Ballet Instructor since 2018
Suzie was trained in classical ballet, modern, and jazz at the Ballet Theatre of Central PA. She was a member of the BTCP company for six years and performed in many full-length ballets with the company. She went on to dance with Light of the World Ballet Company, based in Syracuse, NY. Suzie has well over a decade of teaching experience with students of all ages and levels. Discovering a love of teaching early in her dance career, she has spent years striving to learn and grow as a teacher.
In addition to her hours in the classroom dedicated to helping her students grow in technique, she has directed fairy tale dance camps, choreographed an original ballet, and founded and directed a lyrical dance program that focused on choreography and performance outreach. Passionate about sharing her love of dance with children, youth, and adults, she is an enthusiastic and engaged teacher. Suzie is excited to join DR as a Ballet Conservatory instructor!
Brianna Gibbons
Instructor & with dr since 2011
Brianna discovered her love of dance at the Frederick School of Ballet in Frederick, Maryland when she was 3 years old! She then went on to take classes at Margret McCann School of Dance through elementary school until her family moved to Dillsburg, Pennsylvania. This is where her journey began at Dance Revelation.
She trained in the Ballet Conservatory while in high school. This includes her training under Miss Leah & training en pointe. Bri also was apart of the Student Leadership Program, where she learned vital skills as an assistant instructor, work ethic, and dedication. “Every job I have ever had, I can apply something I learned from the Student Leadership Program to that job. An example being when I walk into work, I look at it as if it was my business that I owned. I want to take pride in how it looks, feels, and how others perceive it.”
In 2014 Bri was selected out of the Ballet Conservatory by Miss Leah, who was commissioned by Anastasis Ballet Company of San Francisco, to accompany her to California as her assistant for their performance tour. In 2015, Brianna performed the lead in DR’s Swan Lake as Odette.
After high school, Bri taught at DR all throughout her years of attending Harrisburg Area Community College. This includes her completing their accredited Dental Assisting Program in 2018 as a Board Certified Dental Assistant. She currently works at Meadow Ridge Dentistry in Mechanicsburg. Bri loves spending time with her family, friends, boyfriend, and her rescue dog-Xena!
Georgi Maldenoff
Instructor & with dr since 2014
Georgianna Mladenoff started dancing at the age of 4 and joined DR her freshman year of high school. She has always had a deep passion for dance and dreamed of having pointe shoes. Dance allowed her to express herself in ways she was feeling without actually speaking. She also has a huge passion for kids and helping them learn and grow as people.
Kelly Strange
Instructor & with dr since 2021
Kelly Strange hails from Detroit and, at nineteen, moved to New York and began her career as a professional dancer and actress.
Her credits include commercial and print modeling, numerous theatrical productions, extensive work on television including several soap operas, commercials, an early MTV video, the NBC drama Do No Harm and Billions on Showtime. She also appeared in the films Lucky Numbers and Brave The Dark which were shot in the mid-state. Kelly is a member of Actor’s Equity Association (AEA) and Screen Actor’s Guild/American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA).
Kelly has choreographed hundreds of dance numbers for studios in the mid-state; for the dance company at Dickinson College, industrials, and several musical revues. She has enjoyed teaching Master classes in the fields of tap, jazz and theater dance in Virginia, Michigan, and throughout the Central Pennsylvania. She also taught 4 semesters and an adjunct professor of jazz dance at Dickinson College. She is proud to have been a substitute teacher of theater dance classes at New York’s famed Broadway Dance Center – a hub for dance students from around the world. Kelly oversaw the tap, jazz and theater dance department for a pre-professional studio for 22 years and was the Artistic Director of a commercial dance studio for 16 years.
She has choreographed for Hershey Area Playhouse, Theatre Harrisburg, Oyster Mill Playhouse, The Playhouse at Allenberry, and for Open Stage. Her work has also been seen in a few of the local high school’s spring musicals – primarily CASA’s (Capital Area School for the Arts.)
Kelly’s students have gone on to perform off-Broadway, in National and International tours, in regional theaters, on cruise ships, and have obtained degrees in theater and dance from colleges and universities.
Student Leaders & Student Teachers
Eva Escalet
Student Leader
Eva has always loved dancing from a very young age. She started dancing at Dance Revelation at 5 years old. She later took a break from dancing to try other sports and activities such as gymnastics, basketball, and softball. Then she later realized that dancing is what truly makes her happy. Eva returned to DR when she was 9. She did 2 years of rec, then started BCDR, and the following year she started company. As Eva went to competitions and spent more time at the studio she started to become more and more passionate for dance. This year she decided the next step in her dance journey was to start being an SL. She truly loves assisting and being around kids. Her favorite genre of dance is contemporary. “DR has become my second home. I love my DR family so much! I am so grateful that I get to work with these amazing ladies every day.”
Reagan Schnell
STUDENT LEADER
Reagan has been training with Dance Revelation since 2015. She started dancing with the Entry Level Program and then joined The Ballet Conservatory two years later. She knew she found her passion for dance when she quit swimming to commit to DR. Reagan is in high school and is hoping to continue to study dance after high school. She knows this is the perfect school to best set her up for success for life beyond DR. She is so excited to be participating in the Student Leadership Program this season. “While spending so much time at DR, I hope to better my character, grow in wisdom, strengthen my skills to be more organized, responsible, dedicated and disciplined. I know I will advance in technique and artistry by being part of the BCDR and Company Program. I feel I have the support of the teachers and dancers around me and that is most important! Dance Revelation has not only made me a better dancer, but a better person too.”
Emily Wirt
mentoree
Emily began dancing at age 4 and has been dancing at DR since she was 7. She is a part of the Company program and is in the highest level of BCDR. Emily wants to pursue dance as a career. She hopes to one day train at Joffrey Ballet School in New York to further her dance training. Emily is excited to take the next step at DR this year being a Student Leader.
Parent Leaders
Jenna Geissler
parent leader since 2018
Jenna Geissler came to Dance Revelation in the fall of 2014 after enrolling her 3 year old daughter, Olivia, into the Entry Level Program. The studio’s mission statement and overall atmosphere are what drew her to Dance Revelation. Over the past 5 years Jenna quickly learned that the students are not just a number but are loved, nurtured, and taught proper technique by well-qualified instructors. In the past, Jenna has been an Entry Level Class Mom (3 years), Entry Level Program Leader and Co-Costume Manager (1 year) and currently the Entry Level and BCDR Program Leader, Co-Costume Manager and Dance Revelation App Leader. Jenna volunteers backstage during the Annual Performances and at all Dance Revelation events. Jenna has one dancer enrolled in the Ballet Conservatory and as a Mini Jazz Company Performer.
“Dance Revelation has a foundation similar to those of our family as a whole. Faith and love are always seen and felt when you are in the building. Each year has a new concept which helps shape the dancers and encourages them to grow in new ways and in new experiences. I couldn’t picture our family being a part of any other dance family.”
Nicole Miller
Parent Leader since 2018
Nicole Miller came to Dance Revelation in the fall of 2015 in search of an opportunity for her then 12 year old who did not have dance experience. After reading the mission statement, Nicole brought Sabrina to audition for the Ballet Conservatory; this placement based on skill gave Sabrina the opportunity many studios do not allow when classes are age-based. Since then volunteering at DR has become a family affair; Nicole has worked backstage during Company and Annual Performances, as Entry Level program lead, and most recently as Co-Costume Manager. Nicole is beginning her second year as Company Program Parent Lead. She has 2 dancers at DR, one in the Ballet Conservatory and the one in Entry Level Program. As a mother of 3 daughters she understands balancing life and activities. This year Nicole will be at the go-to-mom table to assist families and visitors.
“Dance Revelation is family to me. I love working with the families and dancers, each bring something special to our program and dance family. DR offered an amazing opportunity to my middle daughter, and I am forever grateful that she was able to find her dreams here.”
Seasonal Guest Teachers
Nicole Monville-Ridgway
lancaster, pa
Nicole Monville-Ridgway received a bachelor of the arts in dance with a minor in film and media studies from Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania.
Nicole is a dance professor at Lancaster Bible College and a dance educator at The Sight & Sound Theatre’s Conservatory. Nicole is a judge for Legacy Dance Championships, Celebration Talent Competiton, and a national master class teacher.
Nicole is the founder and director of Catalyst Dance Company; a professional contemporary dance company whose purpose is to initiate change, evoke thought, and create opportunities. Her choreography has been nominated for various awards and presented at festivals internationally.
She has worked as a performer with Jump Rhythm Jazz Project in Chicago, The Pillow Project in Pittsburgh, and a choreographer and dancer at Exhalations Dance Theatre in Pittsburgh.
Nicole hopes to continue to educate and inspire the next generation of performers.
