Meet the Staff!
Amanda Schaeffer - Owner/Director/Instructor
Miss Amanda has been teaching at LimeLight since 2008. She has over 20 years of dancing and teaching experience in hip hop, jazz, ballet, pointe, tap and lyrical. She is an award winning choreographer and is in charge of the LimeLight Dance Studio's competition team. In 2006 she was a member of the Reading Express Dance Team for the indoor professional football league. In 2012, she received her Zumba certificafion by attending a training in the Philadelphia area. She has studied from many professional choreographers including Tabitha & Napoleon Dumo, Dave Scott, Geo Huebela, Tyce Diorio, Kevin Maher, Jamal Sims, Luther Brown, Lisette Bustamante, Chonique Sneed. Rhapsody James, Brian Friedman, Laurieann Gibson and Debbie Wilson. One of her favorite accomplishments is currently being the choreographer for 'Dance The World' Nashville, co- choreographer for 'Dance The World', and a guest judge for 'World Dance Competition' - two of the largest dance events held in Walt Disney World. Any time Miss Amanda is not at the studio, you'll most likely find her
watching her two sons play sports.
Miss Amanda has been teaching at LimeLight since 2008. She has over 20 years of dancing and teaching experience in hip hop, jazz, ballet, pointe, tap and lyrical. She is an award winning choreographer and is in charge of the LimeLight Dance Studio's competition team. In 2006 she was a member of the Reading Express Dance Team for the indoor professional football league. In 2012, she received her Zumba certificafion by attending a training in the Philadelphia area. She has studied from many professional choreographers including Tabitha & Napoleon Dumo, Dave Scott, Geo Huebela, Tyce Diorio, Kevin Maher, Jamal Sims, Luther Brown, Lisette Bustamante, Chonique Sneed. Rhapsody James, Brian Friedman, Laurieann Gibson and Debbie Wilson. One of her favorite accomplishments is currently being the choreographer for 'Dance The World' Nashville, co- choreographer for 'Dance The World', and a guest judge for 'World Dance Competition' - two of the largest dance events held in Walt Disney World. Any time Miss Amanda is not at the studio, you'll most likely find her
watching her two sons play sports.
Brianne Tempesco - Instructor
Miss Brianne has been teaching at LimeLight since 2007. She has over 20 years of dance experience and over 15 years of teaching experience in ballet, tap, jazz and acro. She is in charge of our competing acro team and has won
multiple awards for her choreography. The students around the studio refer to her as the "formation queen" as she is always super successful at coming up with any formation on the spot with any number of dancers. Brianne has taken many classes with professional choreographers such as Cris Judd, Ashle Dawson, Debbie Wilson, Brian Friedman and Tyce Diorio. Any time Miss Brianne is not at the studio, you can find her spending time with her husband Zack and two
daughters, Hazel & Lilly.
Miss Brianne has been teaching at LimeLight since 2007. She has over 20 years of dance experience and over 15 years of teaching experience in ballet, tap, jazz and acro. She is in charge of our competing acro team and has won
multiple awards for her choreography. The students around the studio refer to her as the "formation queen" as she is always super successful at coming up with any formation on the spot with any number of dancers. Brianne has taken many classes with professional choreographers such as Cris Judd, Ashle Dawson, Debbie Wilson, Brian Friedman and Tyce Diorio. Any time Miss Brianne is not at the studio, you can find her spending time with her husband Zack and two
daughters, Hazel & Lilly.
Sarel Rentschler - Instructor
Miss Sarel is our all levels tap and musical theater teacher from ages 8 - adult. Sarel has been tapping since the age of 3 and has 14 years of tap dancing experience and 11 years of teaching experience. She also has many years of acting experience in multiple shows during her school years. She studied at Marie Shaw School of Dance throughout her dance career, and has attended workshops and master classes for tap. Miss Sarel currently lives in the Fleetwood area. When she is not at the studio, you can find her enjoying any sort of family time; especially with her husband and daughter.
Miss Sarel is our all levels tap and musical theater teacher from ages 8 - adult. Sarel has been tapping since the age of 3 and has 14 years of tap dancing experience and 11 years of teaching experience. She also has many years of acting experience in multiple shows during her school years. She studied at Marie Shaw School of Dance throughout her dance career, and has attended workshops and master classes for tap. Miss Sarel currently lives in the Fleetwood area. When she is not at the studio, you can find her enjoying any sort of family time; especially with her husband and daughter.
Amy Miller - Instructor
Miss Amy has been with LimeLight for 14 years. She teaches ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop and musical theater to ages 4-7. She has studied many styles of dance including ballet, pointe, salsa, hip hop, jazz, contemporary, and musical theater. She had the pleasure of being casted in two musicals at a local theater and also has a Bachelor of Science degree from Alvernia University. When is not at the studio, you can find her spending time with her family, being out in nature as much as possible, and trying new things!
Miss Amy has been with LimeLight for 14 years. She teaches ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop and musical theater to ages 4-7. She has studied many styles of dance including ballet, pointe, salsa, hip hop, jazz, contemporary, and musical theater. She had the pleasure of being casted in two musicals at a local theater and also has a Bachelor of Science degree from Alvernia University. When is not at the studio, you can find her spending time with her family, being out in nature as much as possible, and trying new things!
Kassia Esbenshade - Instructor
Miss Kassia teaches ballet, pointe and contemporary for ages 14-18. She is also the choreographer for all of our contemporary and lyrical routines for the competition team. She is originally from San Jose California and started dancing at the age of 4. Kassia has studied ballet, pointe, tap, jazz lyrical, modern, contemporary and a little bit of hip hop. She taught ballet to a variety of age groups at the studio she previously attended in California. Kassia is ABT Ballet certified and was on the Penn State Berks Dance Team for two years. Miss Kassia attended Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences where she got her Bachelor's in nursing and also currently works at The Reading Hospital. When Miss Kassia isn't at the hospital or studio, you can find her spending time with her husband Josh and two dogs.
Miss Kassia teaches ballet, pointe and contemporary for ages 14-18. She is also the choreographer for all of our contemporary and lyrical routines for the competition team. She is originally from San Jose California and started dancing at the age of 4. Kassia has studied ballet, pointe, tap, jazz lyrical, modern, contemporary and a little bit of hip hop. She taught ballet to a variety of age groups at the studio she previously attended in California. Kassia is ABT Ballet certified and was on the Penn State Berks Dance Team for two years. Miss Kassia attended Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences where she got her Bachelor's in nursing and also currently works at The Reading Hospital. When Miss Kassia isn't at the hospital or studio, you can find her spending time with her husband Josh and two dogs.
Ashley Victory - Instructor
Miss Ashley has been teaching at LimeLight for over 10 years. She teaches ballet, tap, jazz and hip hop for ages 8 through adult. Ashley started dancing at the age of 3 and has been dancing ever since! She attended the Dance Teacher Summit workshop in NY for all styles as well as other hip hop conventions to further her training. Miss Ashley's favorite. When she is not at the studio, you can find Ashley spending time with her son Noah.
Miss Ashley has been teaching at LimeLight for over 10 years. She teaches ballet, tap, jazz and hip hop for ages 8 through adult. Ashley started dancing at the age of 3 and has been dancing ever since! She attended the Dance Teacher Summit workshop in NY for all styles as well as other hip hop conventions to further her training. Miss Ashley's favorite. When she is not at the studio, you can find Ashley spending time with her son Noah.
Emily Madden - Instructor
Miss Emily teaches hip-hop, contemporary, ballet and pre-pointe to dancers ages 8-15. She was born in California, moving to 2 other states before the age of 5. She started dancing at the age 3 and continued dancing at LimeLight Dance Studio at age 10. She was one of the first members of the LimeLight Dance Studio's competition team and has helped to teach new members in the past. Through LimeLight, she has participated in many dancing events including Dance the World: Disney and the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. After graduating from high school, she attended a 5 year physician assistant program. She is now a physician assistant working at St. Joseph's Cancer Center who continues to participate in dancing by teaching at LimeLight.
Miss Emily teaches hip-hop, contemporary, ballet and pre-pointe to dancers ages 8-15. She was born in California, moving to 2 other states before the age of 5. She started dancing at the age 3 and continued dancing at LimeLight Dance Studio at age 10. She was one of the first members of the LimeLight Dance Studio's competition team and has helped to teach new members in the past. Through LimeLight, she has participated in many dancing events including Dance the World: Disney and the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. After graduating from high school, she attended a 5 year physician assistant program. She is now a physician assistant working at St. Joseph's Cancer Center who continues to participate in dancing by teaching at LimeLight.
Courtney Fichthorn - Instructor
Miss Courtney teaches ballet and contemporary to dancers ages 8-15. She also has experience in tap, jazz, pointe and acro. She started dancing at age 3 and later started competing. She was on the Reading Phillies Jr. Dance Team, Reading Express Jr. Dance Team, Misericordia University Dance Team and most recently was an Ice Angel for the Reading Royals. She was choreographer for Rainbow Theater and was costume director for Muhlenberg High School's musical where she also helped with choreography. Courtney also has experience with judging dance competitions. After graduating High School, she received her Bachelors and Masters Degree in Radiologic Sciences. Along with teaching dance at LimeLight, Courtney is an X-ray technologist at an orthopedic office and a professor at RACC and Alvernia. When Miss Courtney is not working, you can find her seeing local bands with friends and family and water skiing in the summer.
Miss Courtney teaches ballet and contemporary to dancers ages 8-15. She also has experience in tap, jazz, pointe and acro. She started dancing at age 3 and later started competing. She was on the Reading Phillies Jr. Dance Team, Reading Express Jr. Dance Team, Misericordia University Dance Team and most recently was an Ice Angel for the Reading Royals. She was choreographer for Rainbow Theater and was costume director for Muhlenberg High School's musical where she also helped with choreography. Courtney also has experience with judging dance competitions. After graduating High School, she received her Bachelors and Masters Degree in Radiologic Sciences. Along with teaching dance at LimeLight, Courtney is an X-ray technologist at an orthopedic office and a professor at RACC and Alvernia. When Miss Courtney is not working, you can find her seeing local bands with friends and family and water skiing in the summer.
Victoria Ziemba - Instructor
Miss Victoria teaches ballet and tap from ages 3 to 7. Victoria has been dancing since she was 4 years old first at Berks Ballet Theater in Reading studying ballet, tap and jazz and finishing out her high school years here at LimeLight studying tap, jazz, and hip hop. She attended Elizabethtown College and graduated in 2018 with a degree in Early Childhood Education. During her years at Elizabethtown, she participated in Emotion, the college's dance group, mainly dancing in tap and jazz pieces. After graduation, she returned to LimeLight and continued taking adult classes. She has substitute taught in both the Reading School District and at Conrad Weiser West Elementary and currently works at West as a certificated instructional aide.
Miss Victoria teaches ballet and tap from ages 3 to 7. Victoria has been dancing since she was 4 years old first at Berks Ballet Theater in Reading studying ballet, tap and jazz and finishing out her high school years here at LimeLight studying tap, jazz, and hip hop. She attended Elizabethtown College and graduated in 2018 with a degree in Early Childhood Education. During her years at Elizabethtown, she participated in Emotion, the college's dance group, mainly dancing in tap and jazz pieces. After graduation, she returned to LimeLight and continued taking adult classes. She has substitute taught in both the Reading School District and at Conrad Weiser West Elementary and currently works at West as a certificated instructional aide.
Breanna Roland - Instructor
Miss Breanna teaches our Mommy and Me classes and ballet, tap, and jazz for 3 to 7 year old dancers. Breanna started dance at 18 months old when her mom was teaching the mommy and me classes at LimeLight, back when it was still called Kinder Dance. She grew up taking ballet and tap classes but added jazz and hip hop when she started high school. Breanna graduated from Alvernia University with a medical degree in 2019 but is a lower elementary Emotional Support teacher for the Reading School District now. Teaching is her passion! She feels like she is living every little dancer's dream; getting to be a dance teacher with the teachers she grew up learning from. When Breanna is not in a classroom she is almost always outside with her niece, working with the cows or going for a run.
Miss Breanna teaches our Mommy and Me classes and ballet, tap, and jazz for 3 to 7 year old dancers. Breanna started dance at 18 months old when her mom was teaching the mommy and me classes at LimeLight, back when it was still called Kinder Dance. She grew up taking ballet and tap classes but added jazz and hip hop when she started high school. Breanna graduated from Alvernia University with a medical degree in 2019 but is a lower elementary Emotional Support teacher for the Reading School District now. Teaching is her passion! She feels like she is living every little dancer's dream; getting to be a dance teacher with the teachers she grew up learning from. When Breanna is not in a classroom she is almost always outside with her niece, working with the cows or going for a run.
Kaitlyn Lessard - Instructor
Miss Kaitlyn joins our team this year teaching ballet, pointe and contemporary for ages 8 and up. She began her dance journey attending Joanne Hykes school of dance at the age of three, continued to the Amore School of Dance, and finally, Elite Performing Arts School of Dance. Throughout her career, Kaitlyn has attended seminars, workshops, and masterclasses, learning from choreographers Jeremy Arnold, Lynne Mariani, and countless others to advance her technique and teaching abilities. Kaitlyn has studied fosse style jazz, jazz, musical theatre, contemporary, ballet, kickline, tap, modern, lyrical, and pointe. After graduating high school, Kaitlyn opened K&K Dancin’ Dreamzzz in Stroudsburg, PA with her father. The father/daughter team owned the studio for 9 years together before closing their doors where she acted as Director and Choreographer. The studio offered classes for all ages and skill levels and also featured a vigorous competition team. During this time, her dances and studio won a plethora of awards including but not limited to: Top High Score at Nationals, Dance Studio of Excellence, and Best Choreographer awards. When Miss Kaitlyn is not teaching dance, she is a High School Chemistry teacher and avid health/fitness enthusiast.
Miss Kaitlyn joins our team this year teaching ballet, pointe and contemporary for ages 8 and up. She began her dance journey attending Joanne Hykes school of dance at the age of three, continued to the Amore School of Dance, and finally, Elite Performing Arts School of Dance. Throughout her career, Kaitlyn has attended seminars, workshops, and masterclasses, learning from choreographers Jeremy Arnold, Lynne Mariani, and countless others to advance her technique and teaching abilities. Kaitlyn has studied fosse style jazz, jazz, musical theatre, contemporary, ballet, kickline, tap, modern, lyrical, and pointe. After graduating high school, Kaitlyn opened K&K Dancin’ Dreamzzz in Stroudsburg, PA with her father. The father/daughter team owned the studio for 9 years together before closing their doors where she acted as Director and Choreographer. The studio offered classes for all ages and skill levels and also featured a vigorous competition team. During this time, her dances and studio won a plethora of awards including but not limited to: Top High Score at Nationals, Dance Studio of Excellence, and Best Choreographer awards. When Miss Kaitlyn is not teaching dance, she is a High School Chemistry teacher and avid health/fitness enthusiast.
Hilda Madden - Administrative Assistant