Staff
valerie smith
Owner/Director
Ballet/Elite Ballet/Pointe/Musical Theatre/Tap/Lyrical/Jazz/Technique
A Delaware native who started dancing at the young age of 3 and went on to have over a 30-year distinguished professional career in dance and choreography. From New York City to Los Angeles, from Broadway to Film, Val has worked extensively in all manner of media. She has trained and studied all across the country with many renowned teachers, dancing with the Eglevsky Ballet and Wilmington Ballet Companies. Some of her Broadway show credits include Beauty and the Beast, 42nd Street, Evita, Meet Me In St. Louis, along with the Radio City Christmas Spectacular in New York City. Other shows include A Chorus Line, West Side Story, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Pajama Game, Crazy for You, Anything Goes, King & I, Me & My Girl, Once Upon a Mattress, Shenandoah, Can Can, Annie, South Pacific, Guys & Dolls, Legends and staring in The Great American Songbook. She also spent three seasons in country music singing and dancing along side the Country Legend Glen Campbell.
Her credits span television, film, commercials and industrials, working with many renown entertainers such as Tony Danza, Joe Mantegna, Gary Sinise, Ossie Davis, Heather Headley, Charlotte Church, Chicago, Tom Hanks, Steve Martin, Barry Bostwick, Richard Chamberlin, Yolanda Adams, Little Richard, Bebe Neuwirth, Elliott Yamin, Jordin Sparks, Jimmy Smith, Josh Groban, Tom Bergeron, Aretha Franklin, Chuck Berry, Kenny Chesney, Alan Jackson, Brad Paisley, Lee Ann Womack, Steve Buscemi, Megan Hilty, Matthew Broderick, Kelli O’Hara, Josh Turner, Amber Riley and Kool & the Gang.
In the New Millennium, Valerie has worked along side the Emmy Award Winning Director/Choreographer Walter Painter who Inspired her to turn her attention to teaching and choreography. She has choreographed for major celebrities for stage and screen, along with creating musicals, commissioned pieces and award winning competition entries.
In 2009 she choreographed the film “The Sophomore” starring Bruce Willis and Micsha Barton.
In 2010 she had her beautiful son, Reed.
In 2011, 2012 she was the associate choreographer of A Capitol Fourth PBS special.
In 2015, Valerie received a Global Arts Award in Los Angeles for her choreography.
In 2019 her studio was given the “Studio of Excellence” award.
In 2020 her studio received the “Best Dance Instruction” award.
In 2021 she was inducted into the Delaware Business Hall of Fame for "Best Dance Instruction" for Two Consecutive Years.
In 2021, Valerie received the Global Arts Award as her dancers received "Excellence in Dance" while representing the state of Delaware, at the Global Dance Festival in Los Angeles, California.
In 2022, her studio's received the "Best Dance Instruction" award for the third consecutive year.
In 2023, her studio has been inducted into the Delaware Business Hall of Fame for "Best Dance Instruction" for four consecutive years.
In 2024, her studio has been inducted into the Delaware Business Hall of Fame for "Best Dance Instruction" for five consecutive years.
In 2024, her studio has been chosen the BEST Dance School in Delaware
Valerie is also a well known dance instructor at Universities, Performing Arts high schools and travels extensively throughout the United States, teaching and judging dance competitions/conventions.
She is a proud breast cancer survivor and her favorite thing to do is spend time with her son, Reed and dog "Barkley"!
Elizabeth Warfel
Vocal/Acting/Musical Theatre
Though not a native of Wilmington, DE, Beth has spent her older youth and most of her adult life in Wilmington. Currently, Beth is the Choral Director at Talley Middle School in the Brandywine School District where she also serves as the Fine Arts Department Chair and is the head of the Drama Department. She also serves as a Lead Teacher for the district and this summer ran a Musical Theater Camp to help bring back the district Fine Arts Summer Camps. Beth holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from the University of South Alabama and a Master of Music in Choral Conducting from the University of Mississippi. Beth was part of many theater productions, including a few shows with the local Brandywiners, during her time in school as well as two seasons with the Mobile Opera Company before beginning her masters work. She also ran an after-school program for inner city youth in Mobile, AL that centered around musical theater. During graduate school though her studies focused on the choral ensemble, Beth’s love for the stage continued through performances in the opera workshop, as well as competitions such as the NATS vocal competition where she won first place in the Musical Theater category. Beth’s love for the stage started in the annual Christmas pageants and children’s musicals in church and she has continued to carry her passion for church work through her life. She has sung for numerous churches, was the music director at two different churches during her college years and spent the better part of the last 20 years running youth ministry and youth music programs at Richardson Park United Methodist Church here in Wilmington. Beth is a member of the American Choral Director’s Association-and served the Co-founder and Co-Chair of their annual Bass Voices Festival, the National Association for Music Education, Sigma Alpha Iota - Women’s Music Fraternity. Some of Beth’s most recent theater experiences include a four-day Broadway Teacher’s Workshop this past summer in New York City where she got to meet, work with, learn from, and even dance with many of the people who are working in shows currently on Broadway. As a child, Beth’s dream was to dance with the Rockettes, and while never making it to NYC she is NOT afraid of a good pair of tap shoes, and she is excited to help build our young dancers into kind and confident all-around performers who will feel good about their participation in the arts and have the skills to do whatever it is they dream to do!
Matthew Grassa
Hip Hop/ Tap
SaraBeth Miller
Ballet / Lyrical / Jazz
Dance Team Director
SaraBeth is a local special education teacher with over 25 years of dance
experience. She started dancing at age two and never stopped. SaraBeth is trained in a
variety of styles but her favorite is Ballet. She has studied with New York City Dance
Alliance, as a scholarship recipient, giving her the opportunity to perform with multiple
industry professionals in New York and surrounding areas. As a performer she has
studied with Mid-Atlantic Ballet Company, Ballet Theatre of Maryland, and Koresh
Dance Company. As a member of the National Dance Education Organization she
firmly believes to be the best teacher she can be, she must always remain a student
first and continues her education annually at multiple trainings and workshops and also
still takes class! She is an award winning choreographer in the competitive space and
enjoys inspiring students to produce their best work every time they’re in the studio.
SaraBeth works everyday to make sure performing arts are accessible to all, creating
spaces for special needs students from youth to adults in Delaware. Most recently she
was on staff at XSTREAM summer providing arts access to high needs populations in
conjunction with Cab Calloway School of the Arts. Additionally, she is Broadway League
Apple Educators Award nominee for connecting underserved populations to the
performing arts. When not in the studio, she is a busy mom to two teenage girls. All her
free time is spent enjoying marching band competitions or soccer games. Occasionally
she sees her husband Cameron, who has always fiercely supported her dedication and
passion for arts.
Gabby Caputo
Tap, Contemporary, Jazz, Technique
Gabby trained in tap, ballet, pointe, jazz, lyrical and contemporary, Gabby has been dancing for over 14 years. Throughout her dancing career, Gabby has been recognized in many categorizes with special awards, first place standings, and scholarships including the Pricilla Payson Foundation and more. Gabby has participated in many intensives including the Jersey Tap Fest, Lady Hoofers Summer Intensive, The Grier Gala and Maryland Dance Festival and has had the opportunity and pleasure to study with renowned teachers such as, Lex Ishimoto, Mike Minery, Michael Keefe, Katy Spreadbury, and Akira Uchida. Currently, Gabby is pursuing Medical Diagnostics with a concentration on Pre-Physician Assistant degree at The University of Delaware. Gabby is excited to share her passion for dance and immense knowledge and dedication on to the next generation of young dancers.
Natalie Kazanjian
Jazz/Contemporary
Hi everyone! Please welcome one of our newest teachers Natalie Kazanjian. Miss Natalie is currently a member of the National Championship winning Dance team at The University of Delaware and has been training for 15 years. She is super excited to be joining Dance Delaware as our Tuesday night Jazz teacher! She also will be choreographing some competition routines/solos this season. Natalie has always had a passion for styles of dance but her favorites are Jazz and Contemporary, where her talent and abilities shine. Miss Natalie grew up alongside Mr. Matt and even performed duets with him! She is ecstatic to get to know each and every one of you and watch you grow throughout the season!
Adalynn Taylor
Gymnastics
Adalynn’s achievements as a gymnast shape the way she coaches today. With over 12 years of competitive experience, she reached Level 9 status and earned multiple titles, consistently ranking among the top athletes in national competitions. Her journey took her across the U.S. and internationally, competing at some of the highest levels in the sport. She understands what it takes to push through obstacles, whether that’s overcoming injury or battling mental blocks. Adalynn has lived the highs of winning medals and the lows of setbacks, which makes her especially empathetic to her athletes’ struggles. As a coach, she draws on those personal experiences to inspire her athletes, constantly reminding them that the path to success is not always linear. She knows what it feels like to experience both the exhilaration of a perfect routine and the frustration of hitting a wall in training. But through every challenge, Adalynn has learned that resilience is key. She always emphasizes to her athletes that progress is a journey, not just a destination. There are days when things won’t go perfectly—and that's okay. What matters is showing up every day, putting in the work, and giving it your best. Her ability to connect with athletes on a personal level stems from the understanding that it’s not just about the medals or titles, but about the growth that happens through the process. Adalynn always encourages her athletes to celebrate small victories, whether it’s mastering a new skill or simply staying positive after a tough practice. She knows that gymnastics has taught her about perseverance, discipline, and the importance of believing in yourself—lessons she now instills in every athlete she works with. By helping them understand that setbacks are part of the journey, she enables them to continue growing, just as she did throughout her own career.
Avery Snyder
Musical Theatre/ Jazz/ Lyrical/ Hip Hop
Avery starting dancing ballet at the YMCA at the young age of three, joining Dance Delaware shortly after. After obtaining her black belt in karate at the age of nine, Avery joined the Dance Delaware dance team. Throughout each competitive season, Avery has been awarded various scholarships and power packs, including Jump Dance Convention and a musical Theatre scholarship to Dancer Palooza by Al Blackstone. Participating in the Dance Delaware Assistant Teacher program at DD for 7 years, Avery is now exited to step into the co-teaching role alongside Nora. She will also be choreographing the team production number for the 24-25 dance year. When not in the studio, you can find Avery on the lacrosse field playing goalie. She loves the emotional filled movements that music compels her to show, and is very excited to continue to share that with Dance Delaware in her new role.
Nora Ellis
Hip Hop
Nora originally from Hungary, Nora moved to Delaware in 2016 and jumped straight into dancing where she found her second home. Training with Dance Delaware in ballet, and pointe, jazz, lyrical, tap, musical theatre, hip hop and acrobatics. She competed competitively on the Dance Delaware dance team and has had the opportunity to perform competitive pieces all around the east coast. Nora is very excited to now transition into her new role here as co-teacher of Hip-Hop with Avery, after spending five years in the Dance Delaware Studios assistant teacher program. In her free time, Nora loves to take care of and spoil her dog; She enjoys spending time with her family and friends. Nora also finds time to stay active while enjoying swimming and soccer.
Artists in Residence:
Haley Alexander
DanceDelaware is thrilled to have Haley join us in our Artists in Residence Faculty and as a choreographer for our Award Winning Dance Team.
Haley began dancing at the age of 3 and hasn't turned back since. Starting with ballet and tap, her love for dance snowballed into her training amongst a wide range of styles. From Jazz, Ballet, Tap, Lyrical, Acro, Pointe, Hip Hop, Modern & Contemporary. Haley has been with DanceDelaware from the beginning and has competed on the dance team as an original "mini" at the age of 5. Throughout her time at DanceDelaware, she has won numerous First Overall, Title, High Score, and Special Awards for solos over the years, convention faculty recognition scholarships, as well as performing in award winning group dances. Haley graduated from Cab Calloway School of the Arts where she was a dance major since the 6th grade. Her time a Cab included being a member of the dance team, and dance company. She has also been a specialty chosen assistant teacher volunteer for Cab's "Beyond the Dancer" camp that provided dancers with Cerebral Palsy & Autism a chance to discover the joy of dance! In 2021 Haley won the distinguished title of "Miss Delaware's Teen" in the nationally recognized Miss America Organization where she received a nearly perfect score for her lyrical dance in talent portion of the competition. She went on to serve the State of Delaware and represent the diamond state at the Miss America's Teen Competition! With the opportunities provided by the Miss America Organization, Haley is currently a rising junior Dance & Kinesiology major at the University of Alabama! She is honored to have received the Outstanding Sophomore Award chosen by the Dance Professors in the Theatre & Dance Department. Throughout her time at UA Haley has been cast in numerous pieces for Dance Alabama, as well as, the prestigious and super selective Alabama Repertory Dance Theatre(ARDT) fall 2022, Spring 2023, Fall 2023 shows! She was recently elected to the Executive Board of the esteemed student organization: Dance Alabama, where she is excited to serve as the Social Media Coordinator for this upcoming year!
Matt Loehr
Matt Loehr is a professional actor, singer, dancer, choreographer, director, and teacher who believes in the transformative power the arts can inspire in all.
As a performer, he has played Elder McKinley in the blockbuster hit, The Book of Mormon, on Broadway. Additionally on Broadway, he has appeared in the original casts of The Producers, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Mary Poppins, Promises, Promises (2010 revival), and Elf the Musical, as well as stepping in to the productions of Fosse, Movin’ Out, and Evita.
Most recently, he made his Off-Broadway debut starring as GJ in R.R.R.E.D. a Secret Musical as well as playing the duel roles of Albert Harmon and Englishman in the world premiere of the new musical, The Sting, starring Harry Connick, Jr. at the award winning Papermill Playhouse in Millburn, NJ. He is a four time Carbonell Award Winner, South Florida’s highest theatrical honor, for Me and My Girl (Bill Snibson), The Music Man (Harold Hill), Crazy For You (Bobby Child), and Hello Dolly! (Cornelius Hackl)- all performed at the Maltz Jupiter Theatre in Jupiter, FL. He has co-starred in the world premiere of IDAHO! (Slim) at the Smith Center in Las Vegas and has performed starring roles in numerous professional productions around the country that include Nice Work if You Can Get It (Jimmy Winter) at Broadway at Music Circus in Sacramento, CA, Singin’ in the Rain (Don Lockwood) at North Shore Music Theatre in Beverly, MA, Kiss Me Kate (Bill Calhoun) at the Cape Playhouse on Cape Cod, and White Christmas (Phil Davis) at Houston’s Theatre Under the Stars.
As a teacher, Matt was a visiting Guest Artist for two years at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts where he taught dance for the School of Drama as well as directing and choreographing the University’s mainstage musical, The Drowsy Chaperone, in the Fall of 2015. Additional teaching/ choreographing experiences have been on faculty for The Performing Arts Project (TPAP), The Broadway Experience in NYC, the Commercial Dance Intensive at UNCSA School of Dance, Wake Forest University (guest Choreographer for their Fall dance concert in 2014), Center Stage in Westport, CT, and Mobile Ballet in his home town of Mobile, AL.
Samantha Butler
Samantha is a Graduate of Rider University, where she studied Dance and Elementary Education along with English as a second language and multidisciplinary studies. She grew up at DDstudios taking every class possible, competing for the competition team, and teaching classes. She is a part of the Rider Dance Team and club. With experience in ballet, pointe, jazz, tap, acrobatics, hip-hop, lyrical, contemporary, modern, her main passion lies with musical theatre. She has performed with the Young Americans in California, been awarded many titles through dance competitions/conventions, and worked with the Radio City Rockettes during their summer intensives in New York City. She hopes to continue dancing for the rest of her life.