Jessica Winters
Jessie Winters began her Classical Ballet training at a young age under the prestigious Royal Academy of Dance syllabus in conjunction with the Royal Ballet in England. She has had the privilege of participating in various summer intensives affiliated with the Royal Academy of Dance including an intensive course with the Royal Academy of Dance Headquarters in Battersea England.

In her Royal Academy training, Jessie has trained under ballet masters such as David Howard, Hazel Merry, Sue Goodman, and others with additional special coaching from former Ballet Russe legend, Hereda May. Upon mastering her major examinations, she continued her training at the University of Oklahoma where she fell in love with teaching & choreography and obtained her BFA in Ballet Pedagogy with distinction. She was thrilled to work with Mary Margaret Holt, Donn Edwards, Alan Kinzie, and Martha Graham's prodigy, Denise Vale.

Jessie started using her degree immediately upon graduation, and continued her training at the Tulsa Ballet. She has performed professionally with various companies including the Oklahoma Festival Ballet, toured nationally on staff with the Dance Revolution Convention Circuit, and internationally to Costa Rica and China with the Arrows International Dance Company. She was the Artistic Director & co-founder of the ARTS International Dance Company in Oklahoma where she was also a performer.

Jessie has a great passion for teaching Classical Ballet and, as a teacher, she is a technician who stresses precision and artistry. She loves instilling joy and enthusiasm for the beautiful discipline of ballet. She brings her 10 years of teaching experience to Chesterfield from Oklahoma City where she also implemented dance programs for special needs children and adults, mentored at-risk youth through movement and ballroom dance and has seen incredible and life-altering growth in her students! Miss Jessie and her husband are happy to call Richmond their home for the next few years.

Heather W. Mehl
Miss Heather was born and raised in Battle Creek, Michigan where she started her dance training at the age of two at Center Stage Dance Studio under the direction of Lisa Dubois. Miss Heather was trained in all styles of dance ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, acro and musical theatre. While at Center Stage dance studio she started competiting at the age of 6 and had the opportunity to travel all over the Untied States and Europe. Competiting at Center Stage, Miss Heather won national titles at competitions such as Showbiz and Star Power. Miss Heather started teaching her teaching career at Center Stage Dance Studio.

After graduating high school Miss Heather followed her dream to dance at the University Of Nevada Las Vegas on a Dance Scholarship. While there she was a member of the UNLV Rebel Girls dance team and a member of the Dance Department Company. As a company member she has performed in Germany at the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh Scotland. She graduated from University of Las Vegas with a BFA in Dance Performance and Choreography.

While Living in Las Vegas, Miss Heather took advantage of the access to the entertainment industry by taking classes from legedonary perforers and choreographers in Vegas. She performed in “EFX” at the MGM Grand, “RumJungle” at the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino, and at the RIO hotel and Casino in their production of "Show in the Sky". In addition to performing in Las Vegas, Miss Heather taught all ages and styles of dance at a local studio.

Upon graduating, Miss Heather returned to Michigan where she was the choreographer and trainer for a dance team that was affiliated with the semi-pro basketball team and was the head coach and choreographer for the Harper Creek High School Dance Team.

Miss Heather is excited that her husband’s job brought her and her family to Virginia. She is excited to bring her expertise to the students of Encore. Miss Heather is very well rounded and technically trained in all styles of dance and eager to share her knowledge and passion of dance. When not teaching Miss Heather is busy at home with her two children Jordan who is 5 and Reagan who is 2. Miss Heather is hoping that her daughter Reagan will follow in Mommies footprints and want to dance someday.

Katie Monfalcone
Bio to come

Karen King Flores Artistic Director/Owner
Karen is a certified dance instructor through Dance Masters of America and the owner and Artistic Director of Encore Studio. Karen’s early career allowed her performing opportunities with the Beaumont Civic Ballet, The Houston Ballet, The Concert Ballet of Virginia, and The Richmond Ballet. She performed with the Southwest Regional Ballet Festival and served as an apprentice under Robert Joffrey. Karen has studied with many great dancers over her years of training, but chose to share her passion to educate dancers by opening Encore Studio in 1991. Karen’s enthusiasm for dance allowed her the pleasure to work with many students in her first years, but as the demand for classes grew, Karen focused on developing a curriculum for the staff members to implement. Under Karen’s direction, Encore Studio services over 1000 students throughout Chesterfield County.

Karen has led the students of Encore Studio to stages in Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom and on Grand Bahamas Island. Karen’s students have been accepted at Virginia School of the Arts, Royal Academy of Ballet, local and regional Governor’s Schools, as well as Thomas Dale Specialty Center for the Arts. Encore students often continue to dance in College, and some have gone on to a professional career in dance. Currently, Karen focuses on developing continued curriculum for the students of Encore Studio and bringing them the best instruction. Karen continues her work of sharing the love of arts to the community, and produces an annual recital production that has become an anticipated event in Chesterfield County.

Karen is entering her 22nd year of teaching and serving her 19th season as Artistic Director. She and her husband "Dondi" will be active in all three studios, and they have an 13 year old daughter, Mallory, who is an aspiring little dancer and part of the Encore Curriculum and the Pink Ladies Competition Team!

Angelina Gallo Competition Director/Instructor

Miss Angel was born and raised in Plymouth, Michigan and studied under the direction of Theresa Valchine and Cyndi Buczek at “Dance Extreme.” Miss Angel participated and won many Regional and National titles. She was “Star Systems” top Regional soloist in 2003, 2004 and 2005; and she was the National Top Soloist winner in 2004 in Las Vegas Nevada. Miss Angel began her career teaching at “Dance Extreme”, and was the recipient of the “California Contemporary Workshop Scholarship” in 2007 and “SHOCK The Intensive Scholarship” in 2005. Miss Angel was a feature performer in the “Make a Wish Celebration of Dance Showcase” and has assisted Kevin “Tokyo” Inoue and Sonya Weast.

Miss Angel followed her desire to study dance in New York City where she was enrolled in the work/study program at Broadway Dancer Center. The program allowed her the opportunity to train at the top dance facilities in New York City. Miss Angel credits her training to industry greats such as: Mia Michaels, Sonya Tayeh, Mandy Moore, Zandra Thomas, Mike Minery, Tabitha and Napoleon Dumo, Gil Stromig, Jake McWilliams and Nick Lazzerini. After studying extensively with them in Jazz, Tap, Contemporary and Ballet for two years in New York, Angel was eager to get back into the classroom to share her style and techniques with students.

Miss Angel is widely recognized for her unique and edgy style of dance and her award winning choreography. Recently she has received awards for Overall Junior and Senior Top Scoring Small Groups, Large Groups, and Duo/Trios, Fabulous Feet, Overall Choreography Excellence, Best Original Contemporary and Lyrical Choreography, Best Open Choreography, and Best All-around Choreography. She has had an impressive run with the Pink Ladies and is enthusiastic to continue the journey with them. She not only choreographs and trains the competitive dancers, but she has found comfort in teaching and inspiring dancers of all levels. She has a way of touching her student’s lives with passion, emotional expression and a creative style of dance.

Since Angel began the Contemporary trend in the Richmond market, her classes are desired from students from other dance venues. Her classes fill quickly since she can inspire, educate, create unique movement, and make the experience of her class positive and uplifting. She teaches her students to understand their bodies and how they have the ultimate control to create any movement asked or desired. Miss Angel’s forte is giving her students the opportunity to dig deep within themselves and try movement that may not “feel “natural. Miss Angel will be joining the Encore staff for a fourth year to share her vast competitive background with the Pink Ladies and all the dancers of Encore Studio.

Kyoko Ruch
Kyoko Ruch was born in Tokyo, Japan and raised in Vienna, Virginia. She trained at the Classical Ballet Academy of Northern Virginia under the direction of Cynthia Donavin, focusing primarily on Ballet. She attended many summer programs at prestigious ballet schools such as Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, The Rock School of Pennsylvania Ballet, Miami City Ballet, and School of American Ballet.

After graduating from James Madison High School, Kyoko went on to study dance at Virginia Commonwealth University while also dancing at Richmond Ballet as a trainee. After 2 years, Kyoko was promoted to a company apprentice position at the Richmond Ballet, after two years of intense training at the Richmond Ballet, Kyoko returned to VCU and graduated with a BFA in Dance Performance in December 2010.

Kyoko's teaching experience began while attending VCU where she taught a Classical Ballet curriculum and taught private lessons for students in the Richmond area. Her choreographic work has been noted and selected to be featured in Starr Foster's 9th annual Choreographer's Showcase. Kyoko has recently performed with KDance and the Von Howard Project and hopes to continue with her performing career as much as possible. She is very excited to join the Encore family this season.

Kate Austin
A native of Southern California Miss Austin began dancing at the age of 5. After several years of dancing locally in California she was asked to dance at the Kirov Academy of Ballet in Washington, DC where her training was furthered in the Vaganova technique under the instruction of Ludmila Morkovina. She spent her summers at American Ballet Theatre, Kirov Academy of Ballet, Atlanta Ballet, Houston Ballet, Richmond Ballet and Milwaukee Ballet.

She then pursued a collegiate career and earned a BFA in Dance Performance and a minor in French. She has performed classical roles in Swan Lake, Giselle, Cinderella, La Bayadere, Fairy Doll, Graduation Ball, The Little Humpbacked Horse and Paquita; as well as the leading role as the Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker. She has also performed contemporary roles in Bella Figura, Whereabouts Unkown, Journey into Elsewhere, Farewell to the Singing Earth, LOVE, Pulse, and Rainmakers.

Currently Miss Austin is dancing as a trainee with the Richmond Ballet while teaching at Encore Studio!

Cheryl Brower Instructor

Born and raised in Point Pleasant, NJ, Cheryl Brower started her extensive training with Denise Daniele Dance Studios where she trained for 15 years. There she participated in the "City Lights Dance Company" and participated in competitions throughout the East Coast. On the competitive circuit, Miss Cheryl was a standout and won scholarships in Jazz and Tap from conventions such as,Jump, NYCDA and the Tremaine Dance Series.

Miss Cheryl continued her training throughout high school where she focused her training in Ballet, Tap, Jazz and Modern dance styles. She attended East Carolina University's Dance program where her choreography was well received due to her intensity and high energy style. She has recently graduated with a BFA in Dance Performance with a Concentration in Jazz Dance. Miss Cheryl has trained with dance masters such as: Michael Minery, Doug Caldwell, Desiree Robbins, and Keri LaGrand.

Growing up close to the many performing outlets in New York City, Miss Cheryl took advantage of as many opportunities to train and perform as she could. She continues to take classes to provide her students with stimulating and innovative material. Miss Cheryl will be sharing her unique talents in Tap and Jazz with the students of Encore. Her professional credits include participation in the annual "Dancers Responding to Aids Benefit" in Bryant Park, NYC for an audience of over 3,000. She has also performed in the Broadway production of "Broadway's Greatest Showstoppers" featuring the New York Philharmonic, Marvin Hamlisch, and Tony Award winners Kristin Chenoweth, and Raul Esparza. Miss Cheryl has also performed as part of Mike Minery's tap intensive in the off Broadway production of "SLIDE" accompanied by the Duke Ellington Orchestra.

The Encore family is honored to have Cheryl's expertise, extensive training and choreographic abilities on staff. She is anxious to meet all the dancers of Encore Studio and share her talent with the competitive and novice dancers. She has planned her curriculum to progress each student to a higher level of training and is prepared to push and challenge each class. Cheryl is extremely excited to make Richmond her home and join the family at Encore Studio. She can't wait to get started on her second productive and fun year!

Chelsea Moss
Bio to come.

Allison Day Meyer
Allison Day Meyer holds her BFA in Performance and Choreography from VCU. While at VCU she had the privilege of performing in works by guest artists Daniel Gwirtzman and Stefanie Batten Bland along with faculty pieces by Christian von Howard and Melanie Richards. Allison also had the opportunity to perform in many pieces created by her peers. She has represented VCU at the College Dance Festival for the past 3 years along with performing at the Kennedy Center for the National Dance Festival in 2010. She has performed at Alvin Ailey and the Dance Theater Workshop in NYC with the Von Howard Project. Allison has been a recipient of the Joan Oats Scholarship, the Carpenter Scholarship and the Dean’s Scholarship during her time at VCU. Miss Meyer began her training at age 3 at the Chris Collins Dance Studio where she was a member of the company for 10 years. She attended Woodbridge High School’s Center for Fine and Performing Arts and also studied at Cuppett Performing Arts Center. She was a member of Fusion Dance Company and has been on the faculty for several Cecchetti Council of America, East Coast Committee’s Conferences. She is currently a featured performer at Kings Dominion Theme Park.