Zumba Instructors

Jen is a California girl who thinks teaching dance is her dream job. She has been dancing since the age of 6 in ballet, hip-hop, jazz, and musical theater. In college she was the choreographer for her travelling show choir and graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Human Development. After becoming a mother to three children she stumbled into a Zumba class and was hooked. She is a certified Zumba and Zumba Kids Instructor. She has taught over 200 Zumba Kids classes and hopes to stay dancing for life! When she’s not dancing Jen does a lot of administrative work for NOVA Kids in Motion. So chances are, if you email us, she might be the one replying!

Toneshia is a Native Washingtonian, but now residing in Manassas, Va. She grew up dancing since the age of 7. As a cheerleader in high school and college, Toneshia also assisted in teaching hip hop, jazz and cheer dance. She studied elementary education at Towson University and is a licensed Zumba Instructor as well as a certified AAFA group fitness Instructor. Toneshia has had a passion for dance since a young girl and also shares this passion with her own 2 young children. Toneshia also coaches and is the commissioner for the Fairfax county SYA basketball leagues. She enjoys teaching Zumba and loves all forms of dance. Toneshia believes everyone should Laugh, Love and DANCE!!!!

My name is Susan Haldeman, I am a mother of 4. I love music and I have been dancing since preschool. I received a Bachelors Degree in Psychology in South America, Lima, Peru, where I was born and raised until I was 21. In order to pay my college, I was a background stage dancer on a Peruvian TV channel. I moved to America after college, about 20 years ago. I currently work independently as a personal trainer and dance fitness instructor. I came to Kids in Motion in 2017 and I instantly loved it!! I want to thank all of you parents for allowing me to incorporate my music, my dance moves, and myself to your beautiful treasure!! I can’t wait to get to meet you all. (Ms.Susy)

Kayla is an athlete who has been practicing yoga for the past five years and enjoys sharing her love of yoga with kids. She has her bachelors and masters degrees from West Virginia University in the college of Media. This university is where she actually developed her love for Yoga. She started taking dance lessons when she was ten years old, and she went on to pursue her love for dance by receiving a minor in dance. With being naturally flexible, she decided to not give up on her talents. She received her 200 hour RYT training in Vinyasa yoga at Thrive Yoga in Rockville, MD, and has high hopes to strengthen her Yoga practice by someday teaching at a resort overseas. She also was a sprinter and hurdler on her middle and high school track and field team, where she won multiple awards and medals for her fast running ability. She currently works full-time as a Communications Officer for the government. When she’s not doing yoga she dedicates her spare time to increasing her flexibility, reading love novels, binge watching a great TV series, spending time with her Golden Retriever, taking videos/photos, traveling/hiking, and hanging out with her friends and family. Kayla teaches kids yoga, dance, and run club with a dynamic, energetic, compassionate, humorous, and fun approach.

Johanna Barbosa is a 25-year old Graduate from The University of the Arts 21′ (Philadelphia) Dance Major. Johanna has been studying different genres of dance for over ten years. Her primary focus includes Ballet, Modern (Graham), contemporary and Improvisational scores. She was granted a full scholarship to the Rioult Dance Company, NYC., where she learned and trained on the Martha Graham technique. In 2018, Johanna worked with Boris Charmatz on a collective dance project which showcased in the United States for the first time. In the past few years, she had the pleasure of working with different artists such as Douglas Becker, Curt Haworth, Tommie Waheed Evans, and Katie Swords Thurman. While attending school, she created different projects to showcase at Uarts. Since then, she has adopted her passion for teaching by working in charter public schools and local studios, by teaching recreational dance and concert dance/ traditional classes. Johanna aims to create a dance learning environment that is fun, exciting, and positive while improving each student’s talent. Johanna loves to share her passion for dance with her students and always creates a space to make her students feel secure, inspired, and motivated.

Originally from Manassas, VA, Jenna recently moved back to the DMV area and wants to continue sharing her love for dance! She graduated with a Bachelor’s in Psychology, which led her to receive her Master’s in Psychology while living in Vermont. While working and studying, Jenna loved to dance and choreograph movement with her friends. Ever since the age of 3, she has been dancing and competing alongside her teammates and mentors. She started teaching various styles of dance while in high school and college, and she has won numerous regional and national awards for dancing and choreography. Jenna has a dance background in various styles and genres: tap, ballet, pointe, jazz, lyrical, modern, and hip-hop. Other hobbies of Jenna’s include playing the piano, relaxing with a movie, and spending time outside with her dog, Moose. She loves to move and stay active, and she is excited to share the importance of fitness and fun through dance.

Picture Coming – Jailyn Montgomery is from Bryan’s road; a small Maryland town, and has felt her love for the art of dance since adolescence. She has been dancing since the age of 11 in contemporary, lyrical, jazz, hip-hop, ballet, and modern. Although she is studying Environmental Science at Georgia State University, she also has been teaching dance for 4 years and strives to be a back up dancer. After watching Dance Moms at the age of 11 and taking her first class, she knew dance would become her life. She has earned dozens of regional and national champion awards and has received countless choreography, artistic, and costume awards for solos and groups routines she has choreographed. If she’s not teaching or dancing herself, she’s studying environmental science to save the planet from climate change! The future is in our youth, from artists all the way to scientists!

Rithika is a student studying computer science at George Mason University. She grew up in Northern Virginia and has loved dancing from a young age. In high school, she was on the Field Hockey team. Her introduction to dance was Bharatanatyam, a form of Indian classical dance, which slowly led to her passion for other Indian dance forms including, Bhangra, Raas/Garba, and Bollywood. She choreographed dances with her friends for summer performances, danced in high school, and finally was part of her fusion college dance team, Mason Ke Raang! Her hobbies include watching anime, dramas, art, henna tattoos, and fashion. She believes dance brings people together and spreads joy, and is so happy she gets to do that through Kids in Motion!

Marwa earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting and is now in the fitness field. She really started to love fitness after having her twins. She wanted to get back in shape and help others improve their lifestyles as well. She loves to help people achieve their fitness goals as a group fitness instructor and personal trainer. She can’t wait to teach children with Kids in Motion!

Quinn was born and raised in Minnesota where she was part of a jazz dance group, musical theater casts, and show choir. She received a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from Gustavus Adolphus College. During college Quinn cultivated a strong personal yoga practice and would go on to receive 200HR RYT with Yoga Renew and recently completed 300 RYT with Lakshmi Rising Yoga School. After spending the last few years in California Quinn now resides in the District of Columbia.

Val is a creative from Moldova who loves crafting, writing, spirituality, holistic healing, and dance! She was a competitive Irish dancer for 7 years, competing throughout central Europe and the Southern Region, US. In 2012, she placed 4th at the European Championships and 2nd in the German Open Championships. Her passion for Irish dance expanded when she began dancing with McGrath Morgan Academy’s performance group in 2016, where she put her creative ideas to light! Val’s expertise lies in dance choreography and dress designing. She has a passion for teaching all forms of movement including running, yoga, and of course, our beloved dance!

Angel is a student at George Mason University studying Accounting and Environmental Science. She loves dancing and listening to music. Her introduction to dancing started from a young age with ballet. Angel has taken college classes in modern dance and had participated in Quinceañeras since she was 12. Her hobbies are reading, and she is currently a swim safety instructor and a dance fitness instructor for kids. 

My name is Katherine – Kathy. I’m from Quito Ecuador where I was born and raised until I was 24 years old. Since I moved to this country I have been working with children and now I’m a preschool teacher in a Spanish immersion program. Dancing is part of my life and culture. Now that I have joined Kids in Motion I am so excited to teach kids dance!

Edita was born in Armenia and moved to the US with her family in 2009. She speaks Armenian, Russian, and English. Music and Sports have been her focus all her life. She played field hockey for 16 years with the Soviet Armenian champion team. She also worked as the vice-principal of an art-youth center in Yerevan, Armenia, where she taught thousands of kids. She also has a Master’s Degree in classical vocal performance from the Komitas Conservatory. At her Church, she is a soloist and choir master for the choir. Zumba is her passion, and every class she teaches is a chance to spread joy and fun. She has certifications in Zumba, Zumba Kids + Kids Jrs, Aqua Zumba, Zumba Gold, Zumba Gold Chair, Zumba Step, Zumba Toning. She is a certified Group Fitness Instruction (AFAA) and teaches at Sports and Health and a number of private clubs. She lives in Vienna with her family (four strong sons).

Tseyon (Tee) is originally from Ethiopia and has lived in Virginia for almost 16 years with her brothers and sisters. Tee has a Master’s degree in Information System and Business Administration. She has worked as a Sunday school teacher at an Ethiopian Orthodox Church with kids ranging between 4 and 13 years of ages. She offers an excellent and fun-filled Bible educational experience to her students. She has a 6 years old daughter who loves to dance and read books. She can’t wait to start dancing with the kids after school! 

My name is Jen, and I’ve been teaching children since I got my B.A. in Education, from the University of Northern Iowa (Go Panthers!). I grew up loving everything active and all sports, especially dancing and playing basketball and volleyball. So, after graduating, it was natural to meld the joy of being an educator, with my passion for health and fitness. I began by teaching teens the basics of health, math, and reading. Over time, I  broadened my scope to include fitness classes for all ages of children and coaching school sports. Along the way, I’ve picked up a personal training certification through the US Military Academy at West Point, taught soldiers and their kids, and designed workout programs for everyone from elementary school students to US Army generals. I’m eager to bring my creative, compassionate approach to teaching your children self confidence through movement, self discovery, and an understanding of their own mind body  connection. Be brave, be bold, be you!

Dawn grew up in a military family and has traveled all over the world. She played a few sports as a kid but was not a ‘natural athlete’ and preferred reading to physical activity. She graduated with a BA in International Relations from Michigan State University and moved to Washington, DC. In 2001, she decided to challenge herself to run the Baltimore Marathon and found that she actually did like exercising! She ran Marine Corps Marathon in 2002 and the Army 10-miler in 2005. In 2009 she attended her first Zumba class and fell in love! She became a Zumba instructor, focusing on Zumba Kids, to share her love of exercise with children, especially her own!

Theresa recently moved here from Arizona to Washington DC. She has been doing dance and theater all her life. She started working in 2000 at a rec center with children doing movement and theater, She also taught adults Latin dance, Zumba, and cardo fitness. She moved from Ohio to Arizona and started teaching kids dance classes for ten years. She really loves kids and dancing! She became assistant director for Art and Sole musical theater in Arizona where she helped choreograph and give kids the energy to shine on stage and her love has not stopped to this day for fitness and teaching kids.

Originally from Norway, Line Corvari has lived in the US since age 5. She has lived in McLean, VA for 20 years and is married with three children, whom she has coached in multiple sports over the years. Although Line started her career in advertising and has a BA from James Madison University, she is now in her 5th year of teaching preschool. Since her favorite part of the preschool day is when she does music & movement with her students, Line decided to combine her love of Zumba and teaching children by becoming certified in Zumba Kids. Staying active is a priority for Line and her family and she tries to share that spirit and enthusiasm with her Zumba kids.

Anna (“Anya”) Avilov is originally from Russia and has lived in Virginia for more than 20 years with her family. Anya has a Master’s Degree in Computer Science and currently works as an Independent Consultant in the Information Technology and Project Management fields.

Anya’s love of dance began at age 6, and Zumba is the best dancing outlet she has found in years! She pursued her teaching certifications in 2010 after taking her very first Zumba class and is currently certified to teach Zumba, Zumba Kids, Zumba Gold and Zumba Toning. Teaching Zumba motivates Anya to constantly practice and stay in shape while encouraging others to do the same! She has a passion for working with children. While her two daughters were little, she taught at their Montessori school and once they started public schools in Reston, she continued to volunteer there. Teaching kids and adults Zumba is a fun and rewarding experience for Anya where she can share her love of dance with others!