Acrobatics | Cirque | Aerial | Dance
Meet our amazing staff members!
Meredith Caruso, Director
Meredith Caruso received her comprehensive dance training under the guidance of Laura Foti at the New Hampshire Academie of Dance, where she trained in ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, contemporary, hip hop, musical theatre, and acrobatics. As a competitive dancer, Ms. Meredith participated in numerous national and regional dance competitions and conferences, earning various awards and recognitions. Her passion for teaching emerged during her five years as an assistant dance instructor.
In 2008, Ms. Meredith expanded her horizons by studying abroad, traveling, and dancing globally. She later graduated from the University of North Carolina Wilmington with a Bachelor of Arts in Education and furthered her education by earning a Master of Arts in Education from Southern New Hampshire University. Throughout her academic journey, Ms. Meredith continued to refine her dance skills and teaching methodologies.
Ms. Meredith is certified in Rhythm Works Integrative Dance and has initiated programs for dancers with diverse abilities and special needs at New Hampshire Academie of Dance, the Manchester School District, and the DoDea School District. Her professional experience includes teaching Kindergarten for the Department of Defense at Camp Lejeune as well as in New England, although she now dedicates herself full-time to Lejeune Dance Company.
Ms. Meredith married her childhood best friend, a retired United States Marine who now co-owns Lejeune Dance Company. Together, they have three children who participate in classes at LDC. She founded LDC during her husband’s fourth deployment and takes great pride in the program's growth and its impact on the military community at Camp Lejeune.
Ms. Meredith's commitment to lifelong learning is evident in her ongoing participation in master classes and workshops. She holds current certifications in Rhythm Works Integrative Dance, Alixa Flexibility Modules 1 & 2, and Acrobatic Arts Modules 1 and 2, with a focus on aerials and back handsprings, as well as various trainings in Aerial Arts Silks, Lyra, and Rigging Safety.
Angela Lundquist, Office Manager
Angela Lundquist, a native of Pennsylvania, is a seasoned educator and dedicated community volunteer. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Hawaii Pacific University, graduating Magna Cum Laude. Following the birth of her two children, Angela spent five fulfilling years as a stay-at-home mother before dedicating 18 years to the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) at Camp Lejeune. During her tenure, she excelled in roles spanning general education, special education, and front office operations, demonstrating her versatility and unwavering commitment to student support and educational excellence.
In addition to her professional endeavors, Angela has made significant contributions to her community. She taught Sunday school for eight years and has been an active member of her church's production team for the past decade. Her involvement extends to serving on PTA boards, managing youth sports teams, overseeing high school concession stands, assisting with high school marching band performances and competitions, and facilitating Project Graduation.
Angela's technical proficiency with various platforms and her active participation in local civic and educational organizations underscore her deep commitment to both her professional and community roles. As a long-time military spouse, her unique perspective and adaptability have greatly enriched her ability to contribute meaningfully to educational settings and local initiatives. Now empty nesters, Angela and her husband, a retired Marine, enjoy traveling and spending time with their two dogs.
Savannah Schoenborn-Gimon
Savannah Schoenborn-Gimon is a distinguished dancer, choreographer, and teacher from North Carolina. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Dance Performance from Winthrop University and is an alumna of the American Dance Festival. Savannah has been recognized for her exceptional talent and dedication both on and off the stage.
Throughout her career, Savannah has had numerous opportunities to showcase her talents, including performing at Carowinds Theme Park, where she participated in six shows and two parades. She also served in various roles such as dance captain, choreographer, assistant choreographer, parade assistant, and Show Quality Supervisor. Additionally, she was a Company Dancer at Charleston Performing Arts, performing in nine original shows and one written production, "Sweet Charity."
Savannah's passion extends beyond performing; she is deeply committed to teaching and building confidence in the next generation of dancers. In 2023, she was honored with the “Most Outstanding Teacher” award at the Dance Revolution Convention for her dedication to her students.
Megan Kinsey, Instructor
Megan began her dance training at the age of two, studying at various studios, including the Virginia Davis School of Dance in Madison, WI. At Virginia Davis, she specialized in ballet and pointe and also trained as an assistant teacher. She has extensive experience as a competitive dancer, having trained under the Chicago National Association of Dance Masters instructors as well as classes from the Royal Academy of Dance.
After relocating to Okinawa, Japan, Miss Megan established and led a small group ballet program, further showcasing her dedication to dance and teaching.
Megan resides in North Carolina with her retired Marine husband and children.
Hannah Hearsey, Instructor
Hannah Hearsey has been a dedicated instructor at Lejeune Dance Company (LDC) for one year. Before joining LDC, she danced competitively with her childhood studio, United We Dance, performing across the Southeast from 2008 to 2019. She holds bachelor's degrees in Dance, Secondary Education, and History from the College of Charleston in Charleston, SC.
During her time at the College of Charleston, Ms. Hearsey performed in multiple dance concerts, taught dance and history classes to various age groups, and focused on professional development as an educator. Following her graduation, she moved briefly to Twentynine Palms, CA, where she taught and assisted creative movement, ballet, lyrical, and Pom classes for dancers aged 3-13 at American Spirit Athletics.
Ms. Hearsey is enthusiastic about her role at LDC and looks forward to contributing to its vibrant dance community.
Patti DesMarais
Patti DesMarais is a distinguished performer with notable Broadway credits, including roles in Sugar Babies alongside Mickey Rooney and Ann Miller, and 42nd Street with Jerry Orbach. With a wealth of experience in the performing arts, Patti has taught jazz and tap to both children and adults.
In addition to her performance career, Patti has extensive experience in education, having taught public elementary school, homeschooled her own children, and instructed at Bible camps and home fellowships.
Married for 42 years, Patti has three children and relocated from Hampstead to Sneads Ferry in 2021. She is enthusiastic about sharing her extensive dance experience with the local community.
Skylie Pitt, Instructor
Ms. Skylie has been an athlete since she could walk, growing up in an active lifestyle in Arvada, Colorado, due to her parents being bodybuilders. In her younger years, she participated in soccer, volleyball, and gymnastics. In high school, she competed in track and field, served as an equipment manager for the football team, and engaged in weightlifting. She also attended the Arvada Police Teens Academy during summers.
After high school, Ms. Skylie worked at a gym as a personal trainer while attending trade schools to explore her passion. She studied fire science and emergency medical technician training before discovering her passion for teaching in 2018.
Ms. Skylie began her teaching career at Fremont Elementary, working in their Level 3 ASD classroom. She obtained various certifications to work with children with special needs, including ASL. She also coached a youth volleyball team and ran outdoor camps with the YMCA to promote physical activity for kids during the summer.
In 2019, Ms. Skylie moved to Twentynine Palms, where she worked as a P.E. assistant instructor at Oasis Elementary, managing classes of 40 children each. She hosted Jump Rope for Heart events and coached the track team. In 2021, she relocated to North Carolina and worked as a paraprofessional in a LIMS classroom for the Department of Defense on the Lejeune campus. During summers, she collaborated closely with ABA during ESY to support students. She paused her career in the fall of 2023 to welcome her first child.
Ms. Skylie married her high school friend, a United States Marine, in 2019. They have a sweet baby boy and two dogs.
Jamie Bartek, Instructor
Hailing from the Georgia mountains, Jamie is a dedicated fine arts educator with a BA in Theatre Performance and an MAEd in Curriculum and Instructional Design. With extensive experience in the arts and education sectors, Jamie has worked and performed across the country. After performing and choreographing in New York City, she contributed to the nonprofit dance performance sector in California. Her diverse career includes touring with StarQuest International, instructing and choreographing at her alma mater, and teaching at studios in Arizona and Maryland.
Now, Jamie focuses on making the arts accessible to passionate and diverse students, inspired by her own journey as a disabled performer and educator. A passionate advocate for inclusivity, she embraces constructivist teaching methods, emphasizing emotional awareness, improvisation, and connection in movement. Jamie's work is driven by her belief in the transformative power of the arts to inspire and connect individuals from all walks of life.
Peyton Lotz, Instructor/Assistant
Peyton Lotz is a skilled dancer, choreographer, and teacher based in Charlotte, North Carolina. She began her dance journey at the age of five and has since dedicated twelve years to competitive dance. Peyton is well-trained in a variety of styles, including ballet, jazz, tap, lyrical, contemporary, hip hop, and musical theater, under the direction of Lynn Russell at Let’s Dance Studio.
Throughout her career, she has earned several prestigious dance titles, including Miss Regional Boogie Fever USA 2024 and Miss Inspire Dance 2023. Peyton has also achieved notable success in regional and national dance competitions.
Peyton completed an Associate in Arts and is currently pursuing her Bachelor’s degree at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, further advancing her dance career and academic achievements.
Kalene Little, Instructor/Assistant
Ms. Kalene is a dancer and musical theatre performer, having received her training at the renowned Debra Collier's School of Dance. With five years of competitive dance experience and four years in musical theatre, she has graced numerous productions with her talent. Married for ten years, she is a devoted mother to two children and is expecting another.
In addition to her performing arts career, Ms. Kalene actively contributes to her community on Camp Lejeune. She dedicates her free time to coaching soccer and basketball and has been honored with an award for her commendable service, having volunteered over 300 hours. Furthermore, she serves as a substitute teacher at local schools during the academic year.
Ms. Kalene's passion lies in making a positive impact on the lives of children within her community.
Savannah Miller, Instructor
Savannah Miller, originally from the Panhandle of Texas, began her dance journey training in ballet before transitioning to competition dance. During her high school years, she worked as an intern and assistant to her instructor, which sparked her passion for choreography. By her senior year, Savannah earned a dance scholarship and the prestigious Achievement of Excellence award.
After high school, she moved to West Palm Beach and furthered her training under esteemed alumni from Alvin Ailey, The Rockettes, and The New York City Ballet. At Palm Beach Atlantic University, she focused on Modern, Ballet, and Improvisation, honing her technical and creative skills. Savannah's talent was recognized at the university’s Student Choreography Showcase, where she was scouted by The Natural Movers Foundation. This opportunity allowed her to choreograph for various events, including presenting two original works at The Norton Museum of Art.
Savannah now resides in Jacksonville, NC, where she supports her husband, a Marine, while continuing her work in dance and choreography.
Coming Soon!
Lejeune Dance Company is looking for qualified, enthusiastic, and dedicated instructors to join our staff and expand our classes offered. We are now hiring an instructor with prior experience in a wide variety of dance styles to teach students of all-levels, ages 18 months-adult. Circus, aerial/hoop, baton instructors needed as we are hoping to grow and interested in adding new classes for our clients!
APPLY NOW ! Send a resume & reel (if available) to: lejeunedancecompany@gmail.com