Meet
KELLY LAX
Owner
Kelly has a passion for the developmental value and community that dance provides children. A career educator with advanced degrees in early childhood development, elementary education, and curriculum and instruction, she wholeheartedly believes in a structured and individualized approach to performing arts.
Her mission is to ensure that Kelly’s Dance remains a special, non-competitive space for children of all ages to learn the love of dance. Creating a happy learning environment where students achieve high levels of personal accomplishment and learn the life skills to come into their own as young adults is her priority.
Meet
PARIS JONES
Assistant Director/Instructor
Paris has been dancing for twenty years in many different states and also, several other countries.
She has extensive training in various styles such as Contemporary, Modern, Jazz, Ballet, Hip Hop, and Tap. Paris said, “My favorite style of dance is Modern because I love how you can make it your own and how fun and unique it can be.” She goes on to explain, “I love teaching dance because I get to see my student’s progression and improvement. I love making dance fun and exciting for all my
students.”
Paris has been an instructor at Kelly’s for the past five years and is currently the Assistant Studio Director.
our instructors
Meet
PEYTON TAYLOR
Instructor
Peyton is in her fourth year as an instructor and creates a sense of fun in all her classes which span from the Littles all the way through Hip Hop Advanced. She has danced for eighteen years and loves all genres but has a special place in her heart for Jazz, Hip Hop, and Contemporary.
Her work with the Hip Hop program has been so successful, new classes had to be created to
serve the abundance of interest. Her favorite part? “I love being able to watch students achieve
their goals throughout the season”! Peyton is from, and continues to reside in, Summerville.
Meet
JENNIFER LAZO
Instructor
In her first year at Kelly’s Dance, Jennifer has had a huge impact on her Jr. Jam students.
Including a multicultural approach, Jennifer has the children moving and learning while also
being introduced to Spanish music. Her dancers are always excited to participate and Jennifer
provides is a great asset in providing a native speaker to the KDS Family.
Meet
JESSICA MERIAM
Instructor
Jess is originally from Brooklyn, New York, but moved to Summerville when she was 6 years old.
She has been dancing at Kelly’s Dance since she was 7 years old, and in her own words, she “grew up at the studio.” This is her second year as an instructor after several as an assistant.
Favorite style of dance? Jess said, “That’s a hard question! But, if I had to choose one, I’d say jazz. Jazz is a really fast and fun genre and I’ve always excelled in it.
Teaching it is just as fun! Big smiles, big stage presence, and big attitudes!” Jess added, “Dance has changed my life by being a creative outlet for me since I was little. Even before I started taking classes, I remember being a little girl and doing ballet in the grocery store. It’s always been a way to express myself, and now as an instructor, I get to share that with others!”
Meet
AMANDA BENIASH
Instructor
Amanda was born in South Carolina and lives in Summerville. She has been dancing for six years and is in her first year with Kelly’s Dance as a Pre Ballet/Tap instructor. Contemporary and lyrical have a special place in her heart although she thoroughly enjoys other genres such as hip hop, ballet, and tap. On being an instructor, Amanda says, “It brings me pure happiness knowing that I have something to do with these young smiles. Getting to see them not only trust me, but their peers and learn with them is something incredible, I’m glad to be a part of it.”
On being a part of Kelly’s Dance- “What I enjoy most about my time with Kelly’s Dance is how immediately welcomed I was; it truly is a family.”