About Us

Founded in 2016 by Sarah Welz, PowerWorx Dance (PWD) is a Northern Virginia-based Dance studio that focuses on each dancers’ development, growth and confidence.  PWD provides dancers of all ages and all levels with a studio home that puts each dancers personal development first, enabling them to grow in a positive and constructive environment.   With a staff of locally-based, award-winning instructors and choreographers, PWD offers all dancers the opportunity to train with the best that Northern Virginia has to offer.

Our staff consists of locally-based renowned choreographers, instructors, competition team coaches and recreational class teachers.  With a caliber of talent that brings more than 30 years of experience, our team has won awards at the local, regional and national levels.  We work with dancers of all ages and levels to bring out the best in each student while fostering growth in those who want to train in a more intensive program.

 

Sarah Welz, Owner and Studio Director

A former Public Relations executive, Ms. Sarah launched her second career teaching dance and directing a Northern Virginia dance studio after the birth of her third child.  With her passion for dance reignited, Ms. Sarah decided to start her own studio that offers a family environment that provides dancers of all ages and levels the opportunity to grow.

 

Margaret Otto, Studio Manager and Senior Instructor

A studio director and dance instructor for the past 18 years, Ms. Margaret brings a wealth of experience to our PowerWorx Team.   Ms. Margaret teaches studio classes and competition team dancers, as well as managing day-to-day studio operations.  Ms. Margaret specializes in teaching Jazz, Lyrical, Ballet and contemporary for all ages. Previously, she taught and competed ballroom for Arthur Murray. She is currently studying to be certified as a Certified Personal Trainer.

 

Staci Frye Kieffer, Team Director

A former dancer and accomplished, award-winning choreographer, Ms. Staci oversees our entire competition program with a keen focus on growing each dancer’s technique and performance levels.

Ms. Staci started dancing at the age of 5, competing at 8 and spent more than 10 years dancing competitively a regional and national level.  Additionally, Ms. Staci was a varsity cheerleader with her squad placing first in district in 1998, 1999 and 2000 and regional champions in 2000 and 2001.  Ms. Staci attended George Mason University where she was a member of the GMU Masonettes Dance Team.  While in college, Ms. Staci started teaching competitive dance.   As a teacher and choreographer, Ms. Staci has won numerous choreography awards, regional titles and nationals titles.  In 2013, Ms. Staci and her sister, Ms. Jamie Frye Pelmore, won choreographer of the year for their piece “Falling Slowly” at the KARTv Dance Awards and Benefits Show.  In 2014, her choreography won seven World Dance Championship Titles from the Star Dance Alliance.

Ms. Staci has judged both regional and national level dance competitions including Dance USA, Star Systems National Talent Competition and Nexstar National Talent Competitions.  She has also judged national title ballet classes and taught master classes for national competitions.  Ms. Staci has choreographed and trained pageant contestants in Miss America’s Outstanding Teen circuit.  Outside of dance, Ms. Staci has a Bachelor’s degree from GMU in Integrative Studies with a concentration in Special Education and a minor in Psychology.  She also has Master’s Degree in Special Education and teaches Ancient World History at Chantilly High School.

 

Jamie Frye Pelmore, Senior Instructor

Ms. Jamie started dancing at the age of 3 and followed her big sister’s footsteps in competitive dance at the age of 5.   After 13 years of dancing competitively and achieving numerous achievements and National titles, Ms. Jamie attended George Mason University for her BFA in Dance.  While at GMU, Ms. Jamie had the pleasure of working closely with many inspiring artists including Doug Varone, Lar Lubovitch, Elisa Monte, Mark Morris, Christopher D’Amboise, Susan Shields, Luis Torres, and Karen Reddy.  Upon graduation in 2012, Ms. Jamie went back to school to receive a BS in Nursing.  She now works as a dance teacher/choreographer and Labor and Delivery Registered Nurse.

As a teacher and choreographer since 2006, Ms. Jamie has been awarded numerous choreography awards along with being named KARtv Dance Award’s Choreographer of the Year in 2013.  In 2014, Ms. Jamie led her students to four World Championship titles at the Star Dance Alliance World Dance Championship.  In emphasizing ballet technique, strength and determination, Ms. Jamie aims to harness her dancers dreams revolving around dance and other avenues in life.

 

Geralyn Ward, Senior Instructor

With more than 30 years of dance teaching experience, Ms. Geralyn has choreographed and taught for performing companies and competition teams, as well as staging and directing the Nutcracker performances for many years. A constant on the regional and national competition judging circuit, her dancers have performed in New York and at Disney World.

 

Nicole Otto, Senior Instructor

With a B.F.A. in Dance and B.S. in Psychology from Towson University, Ms. Nicole has been choreographing and teaching dancers for the past 5 years. A competition team dancer from the age of 5, Ms. Nicole continued to dance in multiple performances while at Towson and performed with the ballet company, Ballet ADI.

 

Lindsay Wochok, Senior Instructor

Ms. Lindsay has been teaching and training dancers in the Northern Virginia area for nearly a decade. With a B.F.A. in dance from University of Alabama, Ms. Lindsay brings a strong background in ballet training and in creating beautiful choreography.

 

Kayli Hueston, Acro Specialist and Dance Instructor

Originally from Michigan, Ms. Kayli grew up competing in both dance and gymnastics, training with some of the top in the industry, including Olympic gymnast Elise Ray. Ms. Kayli is a certified USAG instructor and she has been trained and certified to teach acrobatic dance through the Acrobatic Arts for Dance program. Ms. Kayli brings her combined dance and gymnastics experience to help drive our Acrobatic dance program.

 

Zoey Cruz, Hip Hop Director

An alumnus of Culture Shock DC and Las Vegas, Zoey Cruz is a proven teacher, choreographer and dancer.  He has taught workshops all around the world with dancers from So You Think You Can Dance and America’s Best Dance Crew.  He has been a guest teacher/choreographer at several colleges and universities including Georgetown, Wagner College, University of Maryland and Brown University, and has held the position of adjunct faculty at Shenandoah University.  Zoey is a World of Dance network partner as a choreographer and has been the host of one of the nation’s biggest Urban Hip Hop competition/showcases, Prelude Dance Competition.