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Miss Renee (Owner/Director) comes from a long history of dance studio life. Not only is Miss Renee a dancer, dance instructor and studio owner, her sister has had a dance studio in Des Moines, Iowa for over 35 years. Miss Renee opened her first dance studio in St. Louis in 1991, she is well known and respected throughout the dance community and is excited to be further expanding her knowledge and experience in the St. Louis area. Contact Miss Renee: renee.rjds@gmail.com.
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Miss Gretchen (Assistant Director/Competitive Team Director): This marks Miss Gretchen's 13th year teaching at the studio. A graduate of Webster University, Gretchen holds a BFA in Dance. She has trained and performed with the Tennessee Ballet company, the Memphis Ballet company and the Nashville Ballet. In the St. Louis area, Gretchen has performed with MADCO and in several shows at Stages St. Louis as well as numerous industrials around the city. Currently she runs the competition team at Renee's and spends time with her husband and two children. Contact Miss Gretchen: gretchen.rjds@gmail.com.
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Miss Maggi (Instructor/Assistant Competitive Team Director) is a Summa cum Laude graduate from Webster University with a BFA in Dance and a BA in History. Following college, she lived in Chicago where she trained on scholarship with Giordano Dance Center, Melissa Thodos and Dancers, and River North Dance Chicago. She performed regionally with Gus Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago II, and as a freelance artist with Melissa Thodos and Dancers and Chicago Arts Project, among others. She also performed onboard Royal Caribbean's Sovereign of the Seas and served as Dance Captain to the cast. Maggi is an adjunct faculty member in the Dance Program at Webster University. Additionally, she has taught at Northwestern University, Giordano Dance Center, and numerous studios throughout the St. Louis and Chicagoland areas. Contact Miss Maggi: maggi.rjds@gmail.com.
Miss Dyane (Instructor/Class Schedule Administrator/Seamstress) is in her 17th year teaching at Renee’s. She also spent seven years teaching at Ray Park’s Academy. Dyane attended St. Louis University. She was a member of St. Louis Professional Cheerleaders and Dancers and tumbled with the St. Louis Gymnastic Association. Dyane danced on the Big Red Line for the St. Louis Cardinal football team and on the Steam Heat Line for the St. Louis Steamers and St. Louis Storm soccer teams. Dyane is married and has three daughters. Contact Miss Dyane: dyane.rjds@gmail.com.
Miss Simonie (Instructor) is a graduate of Truman State University in Kirksville, Missouri. She is the dance instructor and choreographer at St. Louis Universiy high school, choreographing such productions as 42nd Street, Hello Dolly! and Fiddler onthe Roof. She also recently choreographed Beauty & the Beast for Spotlight Productions. Simonie has taught ballet, tap, jazz and lyrical at Renee's for eight years. Contact Miss Simonie: simonie.rjds@gmail.com.
Miss Megan (Instructor/Office Staff) has a bachelors degree in elementary education with an emphasis in early childhood. She taught 4th grade for three years before beginning her family. This is Megan’s tenth year teaching dance after finishing her high school years as a student at Renee’s. Outside of the dance studio, Megan spends most of her time caring for her three children. Contact Miss Megan: megan.rjds@gmail.com.
Miss Debra (Instructor) is originally from southern California, where she performed at Disneyland for four years, attended Riverside Community College, and worked with several regional choreographers. She continued her studies at the University of Utah and with local companies in the Salt Lake City area before transferring to Lindenwood University. She graduated with a B.A. in Dance and a B.S. in Athletic Training. While in Missouri, Debra has performed as an intern and apprentice with MADCO. She has been teaching at Renee Johnson’s Dance Studio since 2002 and Dance Floor since 2007. Contact Miss Debra: debra.rjds@gmail.com.
Miss Mistie (Instructor): earned her undergraduate degree in history from the University of Arkansas, where she was a four-year member of the Razorback dance team. She teaches poms at Renee’s and helps girls prepare for high school and college dance team auditions. Mistie was a ten-year head instructor for Universal Dance Association (UDA), the nation’s largest high school and college dance team training and competition company, and performed and taught with UDA in New York, Orlando, Los Angeles, London and Paris. Additionally, she judged numerous College National Dance Team Championships and High School National Dance Team Championships televised on ESPN. As the four-year head coach and choreographer for the Parkway South JV and Varsity dance teams, Mistie led the JV team to two National Dance Team Championship titles in pom and jazz, and the Varsity team to top 20 finishes in pom and jazz. She has also choreographed award-winning state and national competition routines for many high school and college teams in Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma and Arkansas. In addition to teaching dance, Mistie owns strategic marketing firm Sweet Tea Communications, cares for her husband and two children, and is currently writing her first novel. Contact Miss Mistie: mistie.rjds@gmail.com.
Mr. REDD (Instructor): brings significant performance, choreography, and teaching experience to his role as hip-hop instructor at Renee Johnson's Dance Studio. He has performed on tours, in music videos, and in television commercials for some of hip-hop’s biggest recording artists including Marques Houston, Beyoncé, Corbin Bleu, Lady Gaga, Angela Winbush and for Adidas Industrial. His choreography has been performed by such legends as Nelly and featured at such venues as Showtime at the Apollo and the Missouri Black Expo. He has worked with choreographers such as Laureianne Gibson, Cecily & Olisa, Ro Ro, Kennis, and Rosero & Jamal. He has assisted with choreography for artist Kishaya in Starbucks Dancing Commercial and D Girl Music Video. Williams has been fetured regularly at Grand Center’s Dancing in the Streets festival and at Better Family Life’s Black Dance St. Louis. In 2004, he won the U Got Served Dance Off for choreography. Williams also teaches hip-hop at the Millennium Dance Complex and the Debbie Reynolds Dance Studio, both in Los Angeles. Contact Mr. Redd: redd.rjds@gmail.com.
Miss Ebony (Instructor): loving mother of two, distinguished honor graduate from Clarksville, TN. Heavily influence by the hip hop and jazz funk era. Extensive firsthand training with choreographers for artists such as Beyonce, R Kelly, and Nelly, and also trained with mainstream professionals as well. Master of southern, midwest, and west coast hip hop technique. Teaches hip hop for Renee Johnson's Dance Studio as well as Dance Floor. Currently a hip hop program coordinator, assistant hip hop director and hip hop instructor for Center of Creative Arts. Principle dancer for ReddStLa productions where stage credits include Grand Centre Dancing in the Streets, Black Dance USA, Missouri Black Expo, Traffic Music Awards and a submission for artist Ciara. Freelance back-up dancer experience for groups B.O.S., Kahlia, Brittany J, and opened for artist Soulja Boi. Contact Miss Ebony: ebony.rjds@gmail.com.
Miss Kelsey (Instructor): Contact Miss Kelsey: kelsey.rjds@gmail.com
Miss Ashley (Instructor): Contact Miss Ashley: ashley.rjds@gmail.com
Miss Shannon (Instructor): Contact Miss Shannon: shannon.rjds@gmail.com
Miss Ashley (Pointe Instructor): Contact Miss Ashley: ashleyh.rjds@gmail.com
Melissa Peterson (Voice Teacher): graduated cum laude with a bachelor of music in vocal performance from Millikin University and earned a master of music in vocal performance from the University of Missouri in Columbia where she studied with internationally acclaimed opera singer Jo Ella Todd. Melissa is an active soloist in concert, recital and opera. Notable opera roles are Giannetta in Donizetti’s L’Elisir D’Amore, Alison in Gustav Holst’s The Wandering Scholar, Ida in Johann Strauss’ Die Fledermaus, Laetita in Menotti’s The Old Maid and the Theif and Bastienne in Mozart’s Bastien and Bastienne. As a concert performer Melissa has been heard as the soprano soloist in Handel’s Messiah (understudy role), Orff’s Carmina Burana (understudy role), and Bach’s Sacred Cantata No. 4. In 2006, Melissa received first place at the Missouri Music Teachers Association Graduate Honors Auditions and in 2007 received honorable mention at the Missouri Teachers National Association Young Artist Auditions. She most recently performed Villa‐Lobos' Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5 with internationally acclaimed cellist Andres Diaz at the 2011 Innsbrook Institute Summer Music Festival. For more information, visit Melissa's website. Contact Melissa: melissapeterson08@gmail.com