ESDA INSTRUCTORS 

& OFFICE STAFF

Ms. Lauren Carnesi Daniels is an artistic director, director, choreographer, teaching artist, and arts manager in the greater Baltimore region. She studied at Mid Atlantic Center for The Performing Arts for her early dance training and received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Performance and Choreography at Shenandoah Conservatory where she was the recipient of the Elizabeth Weil Bergmann choreography award. Lauren earned her Masters of Science in Arts Administration from Drexel University. 

As a dance educator, Lauren specializes in helping young dancers develop their artistic voice. Her work as a college prep mentor and technique teacher has led to her students receiving acceptances and scholarships to The Juilliard School, University of Southern California Glorya Kauffman School of Dance, NYU Tisch School of the Arts, Fordham University, Marymount Manhattan College, Point Park University, Boston Conservatory, Shenandoah Conservatory, PACE University, Univeristy of Arizona, and many more. She is currently the Contemporary Director of The Dance Academy of Loudoun’s Pre-Professional Program and on staff as a technique teacher and lead choreographer at E-Street Dance Academy.

Lauren’s independent choreographic works have received many accolades and selections for performance at several venues including the Manhattan Movement and Arts Center (NYC), City Center Studios (NYC), Jack Guidone Theater (DC), Athenaeum Theatre (Chicago), Lang Performing Arts Center (PA), Capital Fringe Festival, and Hatch Presenting Series (NY). Her work has been performed abroad at the Macedonia National Opera and Ballet Theater and other notable performance venues in Canada, England, Greece, Macedonia, and on tour through the Catalonia region of Spain. Lauren is also a highly sought-after choreographer for competitions and ballet competitions. Her work has earned numerous international, national, and regional titles, choreography awards, overall high scores, and special awards. Lauren has been named Outstanding Choreographer by the Youth American Grand Prix twice and Universal Ballet Competition once. Additionally, she was named Outstanding Contemporary Coach by the Universal Ballet Competition in 2022. Her work has consistently placed in the top 12 or higher at YAGP, with her quartet, “Approach to Cubism,” taking third place at the 2021 International Finals and receiving an invitation to perform in the “Stars of Today Meet the Stars of Tomorrow” Gala. 

One of Lauren’s most notable accomplishments is her work as artistic director and lead choreographer for Harford Dance Theatre’s annual contemporary, dance-narrative production. Lauren began directing in 2014 and is proud to be producing her 11th full-length, original production and the 9th installment of the Kinetic Canvas Series in the summer of 2025.

Ms. Lenaya Williams is a graduate of Towson University and University of Maryland's School of Medicine. Receiving Bachlors degrees in Chemistry and Medical Research/Microbiology. She has been dancing since the age of two, receiving most of her training from Dance Dynamics and Spotlight Studio of Dance. 

Being skilled in a variety of dance styles including classical ballet,jazz, lyrical, tap, modern, musical theatre, contemporary, and hip-hop. She has studied under many acclaimed teachers and choreographers such as Stephanie Powell, Linda-Denise Fisher-Harrell, Frank Hatchet, Gus Giordano, and many others.  Winning various scholarships from New York City Dance Alliance, Monsters of Hip Hop,West Coast Dance Explosion, L.A. Dance Force, and many others. Making television appearances on The Morning Show with Rudy Miller, Showtime at the Apollo and The Morning Show with Marty and Don. Also receiving and completing full scholarships to Alvin Ailey's summer intensive.

Although she is a full-time Scientist, Lenaya is still dancing and giving back every ounce of her talents to those just as passionate about dance as she is. Traveling seldomly to stay abreast of the latest and greatest advances in this world of dance while completing cerfitications and participating in continuing education forums for educators in dance to ensure she is providing the proper guidance to her students. While still having tons of fun!

Ms. Maggie DeFrees, a native of Chester County, Pennsylvania, is an interdisciplinary artist whose art is influenced by movement. She started dancing at the age of three, training in Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Hip Hop, and Contemporary styles. She graduated from Shenandoah University with a Bachelor of Arts in Dance and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Design and Production (Scenic Design) in May of 2023. While at SU, DeFrees had the opportunity to perform works by Roderick George, Danielle Sten-Guillermo, Kim Fields, Daniel Padierna, Tiffanie Carson, and Ting-Yu Chen. Her highlight includes being cast as a soloist in a re-staging of Ballet Hispanico's Batucada Fantastica. DeFrees is also a sought after lighting designer and choreographer. In her time at Shenandoah, she designed multiple dance concerts, both faculty and student produced already has professional work in the DMV area. As a choreographer, DeFrees creates work that challenges the mind and body, drawing inspiration from her integrative arts. It is important to her that the audience can take something away from an experience with her work. Her choreographic works include Kinetic Canvas, MA.DE Dance Collective, and more. DeFrees thrives on interdisciplinary collaboration and aims to further cultivate her passion for dance performance and enhanced production value. 

Mr. Christian, a former professional ballet dancer with over 30 years of top-level experience in teaching, directing, choreographing, and coaching, this intensive is designed to inspire and elevate dancers of all levels.   Mr. Christian brings a body-positive and inclusive approach to the studio, encouraging each dancer to discover their unique artistry and tell their own story. Whether you're passionate about ballet, modern, jazz, lyrical, or contemporary, this program emphasizes ballet as the **essential technical foundation** for all movement styles.   Mr. Christian is the founder of Rock Star Ballet.  

Mr Doug  Green grew up in Harford County, Maryland and started dancing when he was 15. He took classes at Aberdeen High School where he was a captain of the Aberdeen Dance Company and a part of the National Honors Society of Dance Arts. Doug continued his dance career here at E-Street Dance Academy on the competition team, exploring & learning the other styles of dance.

After graduation, Doug studied for an Associate of Arts degree before transferring to Towson University where he obtained a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Performance and Choreography. He spent his time at Towson dancing on the Vibe Dance Team and studying under dance educators such as Linda-Denise Fisher-Harrell and Runqiao Du, while also taking outside classes from choreographers such as Jonte’ Moaning at Broadway Dance Center. 

Doug now spends a lot of time working with the youth in the community. He teaches in public schools where he is certified in Youth Mental Health First Aid and supports students academically. Doug has been teaching at E-Street Dance Academy since 2018 and he has been awarded for his choreography at multiple national competitions. Awards include Industry Dance Award, Best In Show, Special Judges Awards, etc. Doug Specializes in Hip Hop, Jazz and Musical Theatre.

Ms Jamie Sisk grew up in Bel Air, Maryland and began her dance training at an early age. She went on to be apart of E- Street Dance Academy’s competition team. She has a background in a diverse range of styles including ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary, modern, improvisational techniques, and creative movement. Jamie is excited to return to E- Street for her second year as a staff member. 

Jamie recently graduated from the Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University in 2024 with a BFA in Dance. While training at Peabody, Jamie had the opportunity to perform choreography by Danah Bella, Pat Taylor, Tristan Griffin, Mike Esperanza, Azumi Oe, Diedre Dawkins, and Marquis Clanton. Besides Jamie’s love of performance, she has found that her true passion is working with children of all ages as a dance educator. She has had the pleasure of spending two summers working with Ailey Camp Baltimore, a summer program developed by the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre for middle school aged students. Jamie is currently the dance teacher at Tunbridge Public Charter School and teaches children in grades Pre K- 8th. She loves fostering relationships with children and their families and seeing them grow as dancers, but most importantly as humans. 

Ms Devin grew up in Howard county & has trained in all styles throughout her dance career. Her true passion is ballet, but she also enjoys jazz, lyrical & musical theatre. She started dance in elementary school and competitively danced throughout high school. She continued her dance career in college and was on the Towson fusion dance team. She took a break from dance when her daughter was born in 2016. 

During the day, Ms. Devin is a special education para for the infants & toddlers community team through HCPS. She is beyond thrilled to be back in the studio teaching littles and sharing her joy for dance again!