At Dream On Dance, we build happy dancers. Our studio is a comfortable, inclusive space where every student is taught to explore their own relationship with dance, without judgement.
Meet the Team
Grace Martin, Artistic Director
Grace Martin opened Dream On Dance in 2018 and has been dancing since she took her first class at the age of three. She studied ballet, jazz, and tap, among other styles of dance at Encore Performers in Chantilly, VA and went on to receive her Bachelor of Arts in Dance at the University of Kansas (https://dance.ku.edu). Grace has studied with the American Ballet Theater and the Dance Theater of Harlem and has trained with famous choreographers such as Regina Klenjoski, Lane Gifford, Autumn Eckman, Grady Bowman, and Talia Beck. She has also danced in the International Children’s Festival in Beijing, China and participated in a multi city student dance tour in Spain.
Grace realized her passion for teaching at a young age. While completing her dance degree, Grace taught ballet, jazz, tap, and musical theatre to students ages 5-16 at Sunflower State Dance in Lawrence Kansas. She has extensive choreography experience including 12 different productions at the Young Actors Theater in Reston, the competition team at Sunflower State Dance, musicals at Freedom High School and Broad Run High School, and show choir at Broad Run High School. She is thrilled to see her dream of owning a studio come true in Loudoun County and looks forward to continue her participation in the community!
Elizabeth Spikes, DAnce instructor
Elizabeth started her dance career in pampers at Regina’s Dance Studio in Albuquerque, New Mexico. After moving to Virginia at age eight she resumed her dance training at Swan Ballet Dance Schools and Russell School of Ballet, until finally finding a home with Encore Performers. After joining Encore Theatrical Arts Project (ETAP) in early 2000s, Elizabeth has traveled to China, Greece and South Africa with Encore’s International Stage. Elizabeth attended Virginia Tech where she continued to dance as a full company member of the Contemporary Dance Ensemble at Virginia Tech for four years.
As of August 2015, Elizabeth volunteers with the Westfield High School Varsity Dance Team, in Fairfax Virginia, as an assistant coach and a teacher at Encore Performers in Chantilly, Virginia. She has starred as lead dance soloist in By Any Means Necessary, the first stage play written and directed by Omeeka Lucas out of Winston-Salem, North Carolina; Dora Bailey in Singing in the Rain at Next Stop Theater in Herndon, irginia; an ensemble dancer in the debut of 19: The Musical with the Through the 4th Wall an award-winning theater, film and interactive digital media company out of Washington, DC.
Sydney Gondringer, Ballet INSTRUCTOR
Sydney graduated with highest honors earning a B.F.A. in Dance and a minor in Business Administration from Mercyhurst University in 2022, where she attended on both academic and dance scholarships. Her fundamental training was in a variety of dance technique including ballet, modern, contemporary, tap, and musical theatre. Sydney currently Dances as a Company Member, as well as, teaches at Virginia National Ballet. She has previous experience dancing with Ballet Eddy Toussaint, SoMar Dance Works, and The Mercyhurst Dancers.
She also appeared in the works of renowned choreographers such as Maria Caruso, Kenneth Nickel, Gina Patterson, and over twenty contemporary works. She attended summer intensives including Urbanity Dance, Bodiography, Ballet Eddy Toussaint, and has worked with well-known dance instructors Shura Baryshnikov, Mike Esperanza, Maleek Washington, and Jackie Nowicki. She is certified in Maria Caruso’s Fitness and Strength Training Program.
Lisa Rizzo, Early Education Dance INSTRUCTOR
Lisa began dancing at age 3. She continued her training for years, performing and competing in the disciplines of ballet, lyrical, modern, jazz, hip hop, and tap – which became her favorite. As a busy teenager, she was also a member of her high school dance team and show choir, attended camp with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and took master classes at STEPS on Broadway in NYC.
Lisa continued to pursue her dance passion through college, while earning her degree in media studies. Post college led her to a career in corporate marketing but through it all, she never stopped dancing in her kitchen or taking classes at various studios.
Lisa resides in Aldie with her husband and is mom to her 9 year old sports loving son and her very own 6 year old ‘Dream On’ Dancer.
Lisa is excited to nurture the youngest students at Dream on Dance, so they build confidence, coordination, skills and friendships - as she remembers so fondly growing up under ‘Bright Lights’ in Centreville, VA.
Jordan Kesler, Ballet & Pointe INSTRUCTOR
Jordan holds a BFA in Ballet Performance from the University of North Carolina Schoolof the Arts, where she trained under Susan Jaffe, Jared Redick, Laura Martin, JennetZerbe, and Eva Draw. Originally from Bristow, Virginia, she began her dance training atGainesville Ballet School at the age of 9. At 11, she performed as Young Aurora in theMariinsky Ballet’s Sleeping Beauty at the Kennedy Center. Her training continued atManassas Ballet Academy, where she performed corps roles in Swan Lake, Giselle,Cinderella, and Sleeping Beauty, as well as Clara in MBT’s The Nutcracker (2014 &2015).
She has attended summer programs at The Harid Conservatory, Ellison Ballet,American Ballet Theatre, and Joffrey Ballet School, all on scholarship. Additionally, shehas competed and placed at Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) under the guidance ofSara Ordway and Joshua Burnham.During her time at UNCSA, she performed in George Balanchine’s Serenade, EthanStiefel’s The Nutcracker, Frederick Ashton’s Symphonic Variations, and the premiere ofSusan Jaffe’s Carmina Terra. She was also a featured dancer in the film MUTE withDissonance Dance Theater.
Taylor Smith, Hip Hop Instructor
Taylor began her Dance education at the age of 8 in her hometown, Birmingham, AL, at the J. LockhartPerforming Arts Institute. As a teenager she studied Musical Theatre at Shades Valley Theatre Academy.During her high school career, Taylor performed in local productions of Cats, Children of Eden and CampRock: The Musical at Virginia Samford Theater.
Taylor later went on to earn her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance and Choreography from VirginiaCommonwealth University. While studying at VCU, Taylor co-established the hip hop student danceorganization Black Ice Dance Crew. After completing her education, she taught high school dance forRichmond Public Schools. Taylor later relocated to Los Angeles, CA, where she collaborated and performed with local professional artists. Some of her professional commercial performance credits include Doc and Meghan Trainor.
Aida Ogunfiditimi, Early Development & Ballet Instructor
Aida is honored to be joining Dream on Dance this season! She is a dancer, actress, singer and music producer. Ida grew up studying dance and training at the Metropolitan School of the Arts, San Francisco Ballet School and Steps on Broadway. Aida received training from renowned instructors in a wide variety of dance disciplines. Through her training, she developed a deep understanding of technique and quality of movement and she is passionate about sharing that knowledge with her students. Through her teaching, she aims to bring out the unique artistry that each dancer possesses and she is honored and excited to contribute to their growth and success.