Directors
We created a place for dance dreams to take flight!
Our partnership began years ago as dancers for the Philadelphia Sixers and later expanded to high school dance teams as choreographer and coach.
We created Monarch in 2014 with a commitment to building a dance school that would offer quality classes in a positive environment.
We stand on the shoulders of the teachers who inspired us during our extensive dance training at some of the most prestigious dance schools in the Chicago and Philadelphia areas including; Academy of Movement & Art, University of the Arts, Pennsylvania Academy of Ballet, Pennsylvania Ballet, Philadanco and Freedom Theater.
As a team we are motivated by our love of dance and the joy we gain from sharing our knowledge and experience with young dancers each day.
Quality classes in a positive environment.
As Artistic Director, Ms. Chiquita brings a wealth of performance experience having worked with some of the most prominent music directors and choreographers in the industry such as, Hype Williams, Diane Martel, Paul Hunter, and Fatima Robinson. She has also appeared in videos and live performances with artists such as Mariah Carey, Michael Jackson, Missy Elliott, and Will Smith.
As Managing Director, Ms. Kamilah leverages her dance, PR, and media training with her 15+ years of marketing, advertising, and sales experience to run Monarch's business operations and communications.
Teachers
Ms. Aynsley
Ms. Catherine
Ms. Aynsley
Ms. Aynsley trained at The School of First State Ballet Theatre and Washington DC’s prestigious ballet boarding school, the Kirov Academy of Ballet. She attended American Ballet Theatre’s Summer Program in New York City and received two gold medals from the Youth America Grand Prix in the Classical and Contemporary Categories. She joine
Ms. Aynsley trained at The School of First State Ballet Theatre and Washington DC’s prestigious ballet boarding school, the Kirov Academy of Ballet. She attended American Ballet Theatre’s Summer Program in New York City and received two gold medals from the Youth America Grand Prix in the Classical and Contemporary Categories. She joined First State Ballet Theatre as a principal dancer and
The Universal Ballet Company in South Korea. She has performed numerous roles in ballets such as Swan Lake, the Nutcracker, Kenneth MacMillan's Romeo and Juliet, Onegin, Giselle, The Sleeping Beauty, Don Quixote, La Bayadere, Shim Chung, Jiri Kylian’s Sechs Tanze and Ohad Nadin’s Minus 7. She has worked as a teacher at Monarch since 2018. She helped develop the Pre-Professional program and co-created the annual Nutty Nutcracker production. She is married and lives in Oaklyn with her dog and two cats and loves to garden in her spare time.
Ms. Alex
Ms. Catherine
Ms. Aynsley
Ms. Alex is a University of the Arts graduate with a BFA in Jazz Dance Performance. While in school, she had the opportunity to work with a variety of teachers and choreographers including Roni Koresh, Wayne St. David, Molly Misgalla, and Hope Boykin. Ms. Alex had the privilege to work with David Parsons at the Parsons Summer Intensive
Ms. Alex is a University of the Arts graduate with a BFA in Jazz Dance Performance. While in school, she had the opportunity to work with a variety of teachers and choreographers including Roni Koresh, Wayne St. David, Molly Misgalla, and Hope Boykin. Ms. Alex had the privilege to work with David Parsons at the Parsons Summer Intensive of 2013 and danced for the Putty Dance Project in 2015 under the direction of Lauren Putty.
After graduating from the university with Honors in 2014, Ms. Alex moved home to Southern New Jersey where she began teaching a variety of styles at local dance studios, including Monarch starting in 2018.
Ms. Alex is in her 8th season with Project Moshen Dance Company, Philadelphia’s only all female Jazz dance company. She is also a certified Lead Teacher for Pure Barre Philadelphia, where she developed a new love for fitness while using her background in dance.
Ms. Catherine
Ms. Catherine
Ms. Catherine
Former soloist of Kozlov Dance International, Ms. Catherine has danced throughout the US, Europe, and the Caribbean, and has placed in international competitions and festivals in ballet, contemporary, and Russian character dance. Some of her renowned mentors include Leonid Kozlov, Jacqulyn Buglisi, Christine Dakin, and Luigi. She current
Former soloist of Kozlov Dance International, Ms. Catherine has danced throughout the US, Europe, and the Caribbean, and has placed in international competitions and festivals in ballet, contemporary, and Russian character dance. Some of her renowned mentors include Leonid Kozlov, Jacqulyn Buglisi, Christine Dakin, and Luigi. She currently dances as a free-lance dance artist with several Philadelphia-based companies and is the founder of Poético Dance Collective. She has taught and directed students of all ages for over 10 years and loves it, and specializes in Vaganova technique. Ms. Catherine is a certified yoga teacher and Licensed Social Worker, and enjoys paddle board board yoga in the summer!
Ms. Jay
Ms. Katie
Ms. Catherine
Ms. Jay graduated from Pennsylvania State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and a minor in English. She has studied Tap, Ballet, Hip Hop, Lyrical, Jazz, Jazz funk, and Musical Theater. She has showcased her talent in numerous competitions throughout the Tri-state Area and coached several competition teams to success. She
Ms. Jay graduated from Pennsylvania State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and a minor in English. She has studied Tap, Ballet, Hip Hop, Lyrical, Jazz, Jazz funk, and Musical Theater. She has showcased her talent in numerous competitions throughout the Tri-state Area and coached several competition teams to success. She prides herself on helping young dancers develop self-confidence and ways to express themselves through dance and movement.
Ms. Katie
Ms. Katie
Ms. Katie
Bio coming soon...