About | Step 1 Dance 2

2026 WHAT'S UP? MEDIA AWARD WINNER FOR BEST DANCE STUDIO ON THE EASTERN SHORE

WHO WE ARE

We are a non-competitive dance studio with a family atmosphere and judgement-free environment to nurture our students and help them grow not only in dance, but in life.

We have highly trained and college-educated instructors, some from Top 5 dance schools in the country, who seek to instill discipline, professionalism, and positive attitudes. Our instructors continually enhance their skills by attending professional classes, industry conventions, training programs, and guest workshops.

Studio Manager, Instructor & Company Director

Ashley Lowman graduated from Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania in 2012 with a BA in dance. While studying there, she had the opportunity to train and choreograph in a variety of styles, including ballet, modern, jazz, tap, hip hop, and contemporary. Throughout college, Ashley danced as a company member in Continuum Dance Theater of Pittsburgh under the direction of Sarah Parker. She has also attended many conventions and intensives throughout her life such as; The Pulse, The Radio City Rockette Summer Intensive, Evolve summer intensive in Pittsburgh, The Teachers Workshop in NYC, and the Dance Teacher Summit.

Upon graduating college, Ashley participated in the Broadway Dance Center Winter Workshop Commercial Dance Series with Luam Keflegzy, where she received a full scholarship to train with Tricia Miranda. Ashley was then accepted into the Broadway Dance Center Summer Professional Semester where she trained for eight weeks with the best choreographers in the industry such as: Luam Keflegzy, Neil Schwartz, Jared Jenkins, Rhapsody, Ms Vee, Sheila Barker, Ricky Hines, Al Blackstone, Justin Boccitto, Jim Cooney, Marjorie Fallon, Beth Goheen, Kurt Froman, Matthew Powell, Dawn Hilen, April Cook, Drea Torres, Ashle Dawson, Emily Greenwell, Briana Mercado, Chio, Hannah Frederick, Kourtni Lind, Mishay Pettronelli, Justin Conte, Mike Esperanza and Cat Cogliandro.

Ashley has been involved in numerous projects and performances in NYC, including; working with CATastrophe! Dance Company, a full length concert piece with Bare Dance Company, a music video for the band One Truth, performed with the Andrea Torres Tap Company, and multiple fashion shows dance numbers through Broadway Dance Center.

Before moving to Kent Island in the fall of 2016, Ashley choreographed for Parallel Performance Company where her choreography received the “Creative Choreography” Award through Broadway Dance Centers Aim Invitational in NYC. Ashley is constantly inspired by our students and so thankful for the atmosphere and opportunities Jessica has created here at S1D2. She hopes to share her love for performing and help our students find their own voice in the art form that has become her life.

Office Manager

Heather was born and raised on the Eastern Shore. After graduating from North Caroline High School in 2002, she had a passion for the medical field and began working “behind the scenes” where she worked alongside a Podiatrist in Annapolis and an Oral Surgeon in Easton for several years. After becoming a mom and realizing her young daughter’s love of dancing for hours on end, she decided to search out the perfect dance studio for her to enroll in. After a short time, Heather quickly fell in love with the staff and students and their contagious energy for the love of dance. She jumped at the chance to join the Step 1 Dance 2 Staff in the fall of 2012 . Heather is incredibly grateful for the amazing opportunity to be around the incredible staff and students in such a talented, loving and positive environment. Heather resides in Centreville with her husband Jason and their 3 children. Outside of the studio, Heather loves spending time with her family and friends, gardening, and traveling in her spare time. Heather is looking forward to another wonderful year where she can first hand see all the students SHINE!

Instructor & Company Captain

Tia joined S1D2 as a hip hop student during their 2nd year on Kent Island and was a student for 9 years. Throughout her time as a student, Tia expanded her classes to include a wide range of styles such as contemporary, jazz, partnering, and ballet. As her skills grew, she progressed to serving as a Protege, and eventually a Teacher Trainer, as well as becoming a member of Parallel Performance Company.

After high school graduation, Tia headed to Toronto, Canada to study at the College of Makeup Art & Design and graduated from the Complete Makeup Artist Program. She has since returned home and rejoined her studio as an instructor. She is enjoying teaching at the studio and is happy to be entering her 4th year as the Company Captain of the Parallel and Paradigm performance companies.

Instructor

Diana Eugenio grew up in Pasadena, MD. She started dancing at the age of 3 at Edna Lee Dance Studio (now known as Artistic Movement Academy of Dance). She trained in multiple styles, including ballet, tap, pointe, contemporary, and jazz, under the instruction of Mary Moran and Ashley Canterna-Hardy. Alicia Canterna, Adrienne Canterna, and Brandon Burnett have also been a huge part in her training. She was a part of the award-winning competition team from age 8 until she graduated from high school in 2016. She danced various corps and soloist roles in the production of The Nutcracker with the Maryland Festival Ballet. She was a part of the Nutcracker every holiday season from 2005-2015. She also performed with the Maryland Festival Ballet for the show Alice in Wonderland.

Not only is Diana a talented dancer, but she is also a dedicated professional. She graduated from Salisbury University in 2020 with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. During her time at the university, she was a member of the Salisbury University Dance Company for 3 seasons and was recognized with the “Most Outstanding Dancer” award in 2017. She also shared her passion for dance as a choreographer for the competition team at Footsteps Dance Academy for 4 seasons, where she ran the jazz/contemporary program. Her commitment to the art of dance is further demonstrated by her continued choreography for their award-winning competition team.

Currently, Diana is living in Queenstown, MD with her husband Kyle and their two dogs, Maxwell and Ruby. She is pursuing her Master of Science in Nursing at Salisbury University while working as an instructor at Step 1 Dance 2. Her passion for dance continues to thrive as she choreographed for the Parallel and Paradigm Performance Company during the 2022-2023 season and started working as an instructor during the summer of 2023. She is excited to be a part of the S1D2 family and looks forward to further growth and success as an instructor and choreographer.

Owner, Creative Director & Instructor

Jessica Gallew is a native of Philadelphia, PA and is a 2005 graduate from Point Park University in Pittsburgh, PA with a BA degree in Jazz and Modern Dance Concentration and a Minor in Business. At Point Park, she was able to study with renowned choreographers, professors and teachers who gave her the proper education to instruct. Jessica also was chosen in 2001 as 1 of 30 dancers selected from the entire state of Pennsylvania to attend the Pennsylvania Governors School at Mercyhurst College in Erie, PA as a Jazz Major and then to return as an ATTRA (assistant to teacher and resident advisor) in 2005. For the past 16 years, Jessica has been studying and practicing Hatha and Vinyasa yoga and in 2008, she received her 200 hour yoga certification from Yoga Alliance in Vinyasa flow and Ayurveda. She completed her training at Yogasphere in Newtown, PA. Jessica still continues her yoga and dance education by taking private yoga lessons and traveling with students to NYC and other states to attend Broadway Dance Center and various dance conventions. The dance world is always evolving and to be a better instructor, she feels it beyond necessary to keep things fresh and inspiring for her students and herself. She has taught dance in several locations such as Arizona, Pennsylvania, Kansas and currently Maryland. While in Kansas, Jessica owned and directed Step 1 Dance 2 Academy for two and half years, while also continuing to teach master classes at other various studios in the area. Known for her innovative, fun and unique style, she has choreographed and taught for the Sierra Vista Beauty Pageant in Arizona, The Philadelphia Youth Performing Arts Camp in Pennsylvania, Tomorrow’s Choreographers at Point Park University, The Pennsylvania Youth Theater in Bethlehem, PA, The DARE program, Indian Creek High School in Annapolis, Community College of Baltimore County, The Midshore Dance Academy in Easton, and Sudbrook Theater Arts Centre in Baltimore for the Baltimore Youth Ballet. Jessica has performed professionally at the Philadelphia Academy of Music, The Kimmel Center in Philadelphia, PA, numerous casinos in Atlantic City, The Pittsburgh Steelers Fashion Show, Dragonfly Dance Experiment in Annapolis, and has performed and trained professionally with Philadanco and Koresh Dance Company’s in Philadelphia. Jessica is trained in all styles of dance from her break dancing days with a traveling entertainment company, to Horton and Graham Modern Technique, to Luigi and Contemporary and Jazz Styles.

Jessica was awarded the recognition of Top Women to Watch in 2021 on the Eastern Shore, in addition to winning What’s Up Magazines, Best of the Best “Best Dance Studio” on the Eastern Shore in 2024.

Parallel & Paradigm Performance Company/Solo Team dancers have won several scholarships and recognitions since the formation of the company in 2018. Jessica and Ashley’s (JASH) Choreography has won several awards and scholarships and continue to do so every season. Jessica’s mission is to be able to provide artistry in and outside of the studio walls. To explore and gain the opportunities of what dance has to offer individually and as a team. Jessica continues to bring in well-known guest choreographers and teachers to create, inspire and challenge their dancers with their visions to create; but also to learn new experiences that will take help them create new endeavors within their dancing. Year after year connections and special bonds are made with these choreographers in the industry, that will help our dancers in their future. When Jessica is not instructing, dancing, or running the studio, she loves to be with her family; her husband of 19 years, her son and her daughter, who also LOVE to dance, and 2 dogs, travel, read, kayak, enjoy the outdoors and spend LIFE with family and friends.

Love what you do, with the people you love to do it with.

Ballroom Instructor

Born and raised in Jakarta, Indonesia, Leoni began her dance journey at a young age, immersed in a wide variety of cultural and classical dance traditions. During her formative years, she trained in multiple Indonesian and international cultural dance styles, cultivating a deep appreciation for movement, rhythm, and storytelling.

She received her classical ballet training at Namarina Dance Academy, studying under the Royal Academy of Dance (R.A.D.) method, and passed her examinations with honors. During her time at Namarina, she landed lead roles in major ballet productions such as Swan Lake and The Nutcracker, showcasing both technical excellence and stage artistry from an early age.

Her talent and versatility led to her selection by Guruh Soekarno Putra (GSP Production)—a prestigious Indonesian entertainment company known for its high-caliber productions combining music, dance, and cultural performance. Out of hundreds of applicants each year, only ten artists were chosen, and Leoni was proud to be among them. With GSP, she performed in large-scale theatrical shows, music videos, and national television programs, becoming a recognizable presence in Indonesia’s entertainment industry. Among her notable performances was the 1997 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games Opening Ceremony, a landmark event broadcast across the region, where she represented Indonesian culture on an international stage.

After moving to the United States for college, Leoni discovered ballroom dancing and was drawn to the artistry and discipline of International Latin dances. Under the guidance of the late Ron Bennett at Chevy Chase Ballroom, she trained and competed in major ballroom events, earning accolades at the Maryland Dancesport Championships, Eastern United States Dancesport Championships, American Star Ball Championships, Virginia State Dancesport Championships, and the prestigious Yuletide Ball, to name a few.

Her dance journey has also included exploring other partner styles such as Salsa, West Coast swing, and Argentine tango, adding depth and adaptability to her artistic expression.

Today, Leoni leads a full and balanced life as a professional tax accountant, a loving wife, and a proud mother of two young children. Throughout all stages of life, dance has remained her constant passion—a source of expression, resilience, and joy.

Proteges

Skyelynn

Peyton

Aubrey

Mary

Julia

Lexi

Waverly

Kiera

Maci

Teacher Trainers

Gavin

Kayla

Addison

Christina

2026-2027

TEACHER TRAINERS
& PROTEGES

We are excited to welcome eager, passionate, talented, inspiring, kind, and committed dancers age 9+ to join our S1D2 Protege family/program each season. We believe that leadership and team work is crucial in life, and our program is designed to help these young dancers develop these skills in a positive way through dance.

Auditions for next season Teacher Trainers and Proteges are held in the spring.

WHO WE ARE

Proteges

Teacher Trainers

TEACHER TRAINERS & PROTEGES

TEACHER TRAINERS
& PROTEGES