115 East Main Avenue, Myerstown, PA,
717.628.1667 • generationdancellc@gmail.com
Emily has been teaching ballet at Generation Dance since 2017, following a lifelong passion that started at age five. She trained with Berks Ballet Theatre in Reading, PA, a pre-professional ballet company. Emily performed yearly roles in The Nutcracker with BBT and the Reading Symphony Orchestra and in Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, The Farmer’s Daughter, Coppelia, and Cinderella. She attended and performed in Regional Dance America festivals including a national festival. Emily spent 2 summers training at Burklyn Ballet Theatre at Johnson College in Vermont. She has had the privilege to study under Carol Ennis, Cherie Noble, Thomas Hanner, David Howard, Chen Yu Tsuei, and Angela Whitehill. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from Eastern University and manages Grose Funeral Home's business operations. Emily lives in Myerstown with her three children.
Theresa has been teaching at Generation Dance since 2020. She began dancing at the age of three, studying various styles of dance including Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Tap, Modern, Contemporary, and Hip Hop, under the direction of Judy Wiliams Henry at Movement Laboratory. Some of her fondest dance memories include various performances of repertoire and excerpts from The Nutcracker, performing at the United Nations, Gullah Islands (Golden Isles, Georgia), Disneyland Paris, and throughout Italy. During college, Theresa was able to continue her passion for dance through Arcadia University’s Knight Club where she was able to explore her creativity as a choreographer while earning her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. She also attended Eastern University to pursue her Master of Arts in School Counseling (Pre K - Grade 12). Theresa has substituted in various dance studios throughout Lebanon and Lancaster counties and was choreography assistant for Donegal High School’s musical production of “Seussical The Musical” in 2020. Outside of teaching at the studio, Theresa is a High School Counselor at the Lebanon County Career and Technology Center. She enjoys reading, spending time outside, and being a season ticket holder to Hershey Bears hockey games.
Emily Huie
Ballet & Pointe Instructor
Karis Brashear
Ballet Instructor
Mackenzie's love of dance began at six years old, in which she enjoyed all genres. Hip hop has always held a special place in her heart, and her time as a student at Generation Dance immensely grew that love. After graduating from the studio in 2013, she attended Millersville University and graduated in May of 2017 with a degree in communications and is currently working for her family’s business, Smith's Candies, as their Operations Manager. Mackenzie returned to Generation Dance in 2017 to teach hip hop and has taught Combo and various levels of tap over the years. She enjoys building relationships with her students and watching them grow from sweet, tiny dancers to beautiful, strong young adults. Mackenzie married her wonderful husband, Nicholas, in September of 2022 and resides in Middletown, PA.
Jennifer has been dancing since childhood. Under the tutelage of her beloved mom, Gail Reese, Jennifer inherited the trait of complete enthusiasm for all things dance. She also studied at One Broadway under Nancy Watson, Wendy Watson, and Bethe Nardis. Later, Jennifer moved to New York City, where she trained with several professionals at Broadway Dance Center. Some strong influences were Frank Hatchett, Savion Glover, Germaine Goodson, and Judy Bassing. Jennifer danced professionally at Hersheypark, for Bob McGrath and Sesame Street, on Club MTV, at Carnegie Hall in NYC, and as a cheerleader for the Philadelphia Eagles. She first ventured into choreographer mode when she filled her mother's shoes at ELCO High School as she composed their material for show choir and musicals. Realizing this newfound ability, she was fortunate to have strong support as she returned to the intense dance classroom environment, taking on a main role in the production at the seasoned and accomplished studio from her teenage years. In 2011, Jennifer realized her dream of owning a studio, hoping that others who shared her love of dance would join her. Years later, many incredible students and instructors have made Jennifer's dream a reality. Her goal is to provide an environment where students can learn, have fun, and build self-esteem and confidence in the dance classroom and life. Jennifer shares a wonderful life with her high school sweetheart, Sean, while cherishing their four beautiful daughters.
Jennifer Firestine
Owner, Tap & Jazz and Instructor
Mackenzie Capretti
Hip Hop Instructor
Dance has always held an incredibly special place in Miss Kendra’s heart. Beginning at a local studio at age 5, Hip Hop and Tap quickly became a favorite, as it came most naturally. Throughout her youth and teenage years, when she began to focus heavily on playing field hockey, it became truly clear that dance was her therapeutic escape, and when Generation Dance opened her senior year of high school – she immediately felt like she was coming home. During this time, Miss Jen allowed her to experience leading classes and choreography, and this solidified her desire to teach and choreograph. After graduating from ELCO High School, she attended Lebanon Valley College, where she studied International Studies and Political Science, was a member of the field hockey team, and met her husband, Ryan. After a few years hiatus, Miss Kendra returned to Generation Dance as a Hip Hop instructor in 2022, now teaching levels 1, 2, and 3. Outside of her time in the studio, Miss Kendra loves spending time with her husband and daughter, Sylvie, nieces, and dogs, Bennett and Parker. She serves as the Retail Store Manager for Longstreth Field Hockey and is the Head Field Hockey Coach at Pope John Paul II High School. She is grateful for the opportunity to teach and looks forward to working with each student each dance season, as well as, making amazing memories with her classes and fellow.
Kira is the Starz Class Instructor who began her dance journey at the age of 2 with ballet and tap. She later expanded her expertise to include jazz, pointe, and hip hop, and competed in tap competitions. Kira has also pursued adult ballroom dance classes to further develop her skills. As an instructor, she specializes in teaching dance to special needs students in the Starz Class, where she brings her passion and patience to each lesson. In addition to her role as a dance instructor, Kira works as a para educator with the Lancaster Lebanon IU13, supporting special needs students in their educational development. She is also the co-owner of Minor Details Designs, a custom hat and bag company. In her spare time, Kira enjoys working out and watching her children’s many sporting events. She resides in Myerstown with her boyfriend Brandon, four children—Hailey, Jonathan, Nolan, and Bennett—and two dogs, Sophie and Petey.
Greta Barnhouse
Tap Instructor
Theresa Tobias
Ballet & Hip Hop Instructor
Audrey Graham
Tap & Jazz Instructor
Generation Dance Instructors
Emily Glant
Combo & Ballet Instructor
Emily began teaching at Generation Dance in 2023. She started dancing at age 3 taking classes in tap, ballet, and jazz at Stephanie’s Body Talk in Lebanon, Pa. Throughout high school and college she took on the role of first a student assistant and then dance instructor at her former studio. Emily resides in Lebanon where outside of teaching dance she works as a dental hygienist and enjoys spending time with her husband Josh, as well as her son, Grayson and daughter, Harper.
Amanda Strine
Combo Instructor
Kendra Peugh
Hip Hop Instructor
Kira Lawrence
Special Needs (Starz) Class Instructor
Karis began dancing at 6 years old. She joined Generation Dance in its debut year in 2011 and later served as an assistant for jazz and ballet classes at the studio. She began instructing in 2017. While she experienced multiple genres of dance over the years, she always remained partial to ballet. She credits her abilities to her phenomenal instructors Ashley Britt, Christina Yerke, and of course, the one and only Jennifer Firestine. She adores working with kids and enjoys sharing her love of dance with some of the studio’s youngest dancers.
Audrey is a proud Generation Dance alumni. She began taking classes at Generation Dance in 2015 and continued to take classes for 6 years until graduating from ELCO in 2021. In that time, she also became a certified Zumba instructor and gym enthusiast. Her love for teaching others flourished when she was hired on to be a tap and jazz instructor at Generation Dance. Audrey resides in Lancaster County with her husband, Hudson, and is a member of Ephrata Community Church.
Greta has enjoyed teaching tap at Generation Dance since 2022. She’s been dancing since age 5 and found her love for tap and jazz at Gail’s School of Dance. During high school, she performed jazz choreography as a member of the color guard. Greta continued her love of dance throughout the many changes in her life. In 2019, she renewed her passion for tap at Generation Dance, while her son found his love of hip hop in the special needs Starz class. Greta resides in Lebanon with her loving and encouraging family, Reeves, Colton, and Cade.
Amanda started dancing at 4 years old with Rosedale Tap & Ballet in Baltimore, MD. She trained in Ballet, Tap, Jazz and Pointe. In 2002, she was accepted into the Dance Magnet Program at Patapsco High School & Center for the Arts. She studied various genres of dance in both the studio and classroom. After her family relocated to North Carolina, Amanda joined the high school cheerleading and competition squad. In 2005, Amanda was hired as a dance instructor at Ginger’s School of Dance and Fitness in Bakersville, NC. In addition to teaching, Amanda created competition choreography and provided private lessons to young dancers participating in NC state beauty pageants. Amanda was hired in 2009 by a private health insurance company and is currently a Senior Manager specializing in Project Management & Vendor Support within Medicare Enrollment. Additionally, Amanda is a student at
Colorado Technical University and serves as the Child Registration Impact Team Director at her church. Amanda resides in Myerstown with her husband Scott and two daughters Brooklyn and Lennon. Amanda joined the Generation Dance family as a dresser in 2017 and transitioned into an instructor in 2024.