The Instructors | Rain Dance Studio

MS. LEA

OWNER/DIRECTOR

Ms. Lea has been dancing for almost 30 years, and teaching/choreographing for over 10. She grew up dancing at multiple studios, her home studio being Stars Studio of Dance in Willow Grove, PA. Her passion to open up a “pay what you can” dance studio came from a combination of the love of the expression of dance, paired with the work that she does on a daily basis. Ms. Lea is a therapist, currently working with children birth to three, in the early intervention program. She received her BA in Child and Adolescent Psychology from Temple University in 2010. Her specialties include, but are not limited to, attention/focus, behavior, pre language skills, and sensory needs. When Ms. Lea is not working or teaching she enjoys working out, being outdoors, spending time with her family, doing things for others, going to the beach, playing with her dogs, and dancing in the RAIN!

MS. ALYSSA

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR

Alyssa Kennedy began her dance training at Children’s Studio for the Performing Arts in Connecticut. There she studied ballet, tap, jazz, and hip hop. She later attended The Greater Hartford Academy of the Performing Arts, with a focus in ballet and modern dance, along with much study in dance theory. Alyssa holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Temple University. There she studied ballet, contemporary, modern, and Umfundalai African dance. Alyssa has performed professionally with several companies such as the Nickerson Rossi Dance Company, Brian Sanders’ JUNK, Expansions Contemporary Dance Ensemble, and a contemporary ballet company under Laura Katz. She has toured as a dancer with the I Am King Experience and has performed in shows/festivals such as the Queens Dance Festive, the Inhale Performance Series, the Philadelphia Fringe Festival, the Vermont Dance Festival, and the Flair Dance Festival. Alyssa has taught a variety of styles and ages throughout PA, CT, and NY. She is thrilled to continue being a part of the Rain Dance family as both an assistant director and instructor, continuing her love and passion for both dancing and teaching!

MS. JASMINE

Jasmine Newsome is a Dance Anthropologist, Choreographer and Instructor from North Carolina. She studied at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro where she was inspired by great choreographers and directors such as Dr. Jan Van Dyke, Elizabeth BJ Sullivan and Gerri Houlihan. While in North Carolina Jasmine instructed, mentored and tutored students from ages 18 months to adult. She also had the privilege of working extensively with group home teenagers on finding a motivation for life and an outlet through dance. Jasmine also trained and choreographed for several competition squads and professional dance teams before relocating to Philadelphia. In 2010, Jasmine moved to Philadelphia to continue pursuing her professional performance career. She danced for Infatuation Dance Company and after two years was promoted to Assistant Artistic Director. Under the management of Joox Entertainment, Jasmine has worked with several Grammy award winning producers and directors while training R&B, Pop and Rap artists on their live performances and tours. She also performed as a dancer and assistant rehearsal director for Roger Lee Dance Company from 2015-2019 . She has also taught dance classes at several dance schools and community programs including but not limited to the African American Museum of Philadelphia, Silly’s Day Care Center in Philadelphia and Freestyle Dance Academy in Warrington, PA. Jasmine may also be seen dancing and choreographing for artists such as DJ Diamond Kuts of Power 99, R&B/Pop artist BriaMarie, Dev Stephon and Sphynix Roze. Currently Jasmine is working as an instructor, the Creative Director of DanceFit Exertainment, as well as the Assistant Rehearsal Director for Roger Dance Company.

MS. KAYLA

Kayla Bailey began her dance training at the Philadelphia School of Dance Arts at age 5. There she studied ballet, jazz, modern, tap and hip hop. At the age of 14, she began her studies at the Philadelphia High School for the Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA) as a dance major. She then joined CAPA’s dance company becoming the company manager and a student teacher for the dance department. During her time at CAPA, Kayla performed in the Thanksgiving Day Parade and Cherry Blossom parade, was a member of the X-Perience Dance Company’s , X1, and choreographed for CAPA’s Spring Dance Show and Student Choreography Show. During her high school years, Kayla trained with the Philadelphia Ballet’s Choreographic Mentorship Program and was the Choreographic Fellow for the Philadelphia Ballet’s All City Dance Ensemble. Kayla is currently a dance major at Temple University’s Boyer College of Music and Dance. Since then, she has taught at numerous dance studios, choreographed for Boyer College Dance shows, and choreographed for the Philadelphia Juneteenth Parade. Kayla loves performing and teaching the art of dance. Her ultimate goal as a dance teacher is to instill confidence in all of her students while creating a positive and welcoming environment.

MR. JIM

Jim Bunting graduated from the University of the Arts in 1995, receiving his BFA in Dance. During this time, he became a founding member of Koresh Dance Company and went on to dance professionally for an 8 year tenure with the company. Jim then developed as a choreographer and teacher and has over 25 years of experience teaching and choreographing dance in the greater Philadelphia area. As a choreographer, Jim has had the pleasure of creating works for Koresh Dance Company, Pennsylvania Ballet’s Shut Up and Dance at the Forrest Theater, the Philadelphia Fringe Festival, The University of The Arts and Drexel University. In 1999, Jim received a Fellowship Grant from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts for original choreography. His 25 years of experience teaching contemporary has allowed him to serve as a mentor and educator for both children and adults. Jim currently choreographs on youths performing for the pre-professional dance companies in residence at Gwendolyn Bye Dance Center and Haverford Dance Center and in addendum has taught Master Classes for the dance departments at the University of the Arts, St. Bonaventure University in New York, the University of Colorado, The Roswell Dance Theater in Atlanta, The College of Charleston, Dance Davidson in Charlotte NC and Eastern University. Additionally, Jim has been on faculty as an adjunct professor of jazz dance at Drexel University since 2007 and currently Temple University. He started Jim Bunting Dance Company in 2014 with the 1st full length production of “The Shaman’s Dream” which premiered at the Mandell Theater in Philadelphia. The company has performed at the Capitale in NYC for the School of Visual Arts Annual Holiday Party, the Philadelphia Art Museum’s “Friday After 5 Series”, Kun Yang Lin’s “InHale Performance Series” , “The 2016 Henri David’s Halloween The Ball”, “The Koresh Artist Showcase”, “The Koresh Come Together Festival”, “The Philadelphia Fringe Festival”, “The Philly Raw Artists at the Trocadero”, The 2023 Joint Production of “Backwoods” and The 2024 Joint Production of “One Thousand And One Nights” with Melissa Rector.

MS. KATIE

Katelyn Suydam is a dancer, teacher, and choreographer who earned her BFA in Dance from Marymount Manhattan College in May 2025. She has trained extensively in modern, ballet, contemporary, pointe, african, acrobatics, floor work, jazz, tap, and improvisation with renowned artists including Nancy Lushington, Tiffany Rae-Fisher, and Roni Koresh. Katelyn has performed works by Melissa Rector, Nathan Trice, Zvi Gotheiner, Chelsea Ainsworth, Tiffany Rae-Fisher, and David Parsons at venues such as the Theresa Lang Theater, Suzanne Roberts Theater, New York Live Arts, and the Philly Youth Dance Festival. Her choreographic work has been presented in the Great Hall at Marymount, reflecting her passion for movement as a means of connection and storytelling. A former member of the Koresh Youth Ensemble, she also teaches and assists classes, inspiring creativity and strong technique in the next generation of dancers. Passionate and ambitious, Ms.Katie is driven to keep creating, performing, and inspiring those who share the love of dance!

MS. JOURDAN

Dancer, educator, producer, and director—these are just a few of the many roles that define Jourdan Howland-Townsend’s diverse career. With over 25 years of national and international experience in the dance industry. Her passion for dance was nurtured from a young age, and she honed her skills at esteemed institutions including the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, D.C., the Academy of the Dance (now Wilmington Ballet) and Christina Cultural Arts Center in Wilmington, DE. In her teenage years, Jourdan began her professional career, performing in prominent dance scenes across New York City, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C. During her senior year at Duke Ellington, she was awarded the opportunity to write a published article featured in Black Dance Magazine, showcasing her growing expertise. After graduating from Duke Ellington, Jourdan pursued further dance studies at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, graduating from Marymount Manhattan College in New York City. At the age of 17, she became a company dancer with Philadanco’s second company in Philadelphia, PA. Relocating to New York City at age 20, she began dancing with ASHA Dance Company and working in Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s Arts in Education Department. Jourdan’s career has afforded her international performance opportunities in Canada and Venice, Italy. She has appeared dancing on BET, ABC and CBS Networks and has adjudicated the Eagles Cheerleading auditions for the past 2 seasons. In recent years, Jourdan’s focus has expanded into academia and dance programming. She has served as an Instructor in the Arts departments at Syracuse University, Drexel University and the University of Pennsylvania. As a Program Manager with the Philadelphia Ballet, Jourdan supported the creation of the first All City Dance Ensemble in the School District of Philadelphia. Soaring at a strapping 5’9″, Jourdan takes pride in her height and honors the legacy of trailblazing dancers such as Courtney Henry, Teresa Reichlen, and the always influential Judith Jamison. As Martha Graham once said, “Great dancers are not great because of their technique, they are great because of their passion”—a sentiment that Jourdan embraces wholeheartedly in both her teaching and performance.

MS. WHEDAI

Anne Margaret O’Malley, a Philadelphia native, earned a BFA in Dance at the University of the Arts. She is a Performing and Teaching Artist, with a career spanning over 30 years and 2 continents. She was a Soloist with the Philadelphia Civic Ballet Company, resident Choreographer and featured dancer with the Camerata Opera Theatre, and Flamenco Olé. She also performed, toured Europe and Choreographed for the Pre-Pro Ballet Des Jeunes Company. She taught Dance and Arts Integration as an Adjunct Professor at Eastern and Temple University 2007- 2020. Anne’s work has been featured on local, national and international television programs and publications and her choreography has been commissioned and performed throughout Europe and the US. Presently she is Artistic Director of the Spanish Dance and Flamenco Company, Flamenco y Más which was featured in Wilmington Ballet’s Nutcracker Dec. 2022 and performed in the Philly Fringe Fest 2022 with DVOC. She performs regularly for educational programs at Olé Tapas Restaurant in Newark, Delaware and for festivals and schools throughout the Delaware Valley. She is looking forward to teaching Spanish and Flamenco Master Classes for The RAD Irish Ballet School in Dublin, Ireland, Jan. 2023. “I find great joy in providing opportunities for my company, dancers and their families to become active participants in all aspects of performing arts.” Anne is happy to be part of the Teaching Staff here at Rain Dance Studio and can’t wait to see her students shine on stage!