Expressions Staff
Veronica Langford
Owner and Program Director
As the Owner and Program Director of Expressions Dance & Arts, and the mother of two EDA students, Ms. Veronica is excited to provide high-quality and fun dance instruction! Ms. Veronica began teaching at the studio in 2014 and soon became involved in all areas of the dance program. She helped develop a new direction for the studio after becoming the owner in 2019. Ms. Veronica enjoys working with children of all ages and has been teaching professionally since 2003, not only as a dance instructor but also as a lead preschool instructor, substitute teacher for grades K-12, swim instructor, and camp director. She graduated from San Jose State University in 2010 with a Major in Liberal Studies Preparation for Teaching and a Minor in Dance. Ms. Veronica began her dance journey when she was six years old at Mission Dance & Performing Arts in Fremont, where she was a member of the dance team for 11 years. She has extensive training in a variety of dance styles including jazz, tap, ballet, lyrical, contemporary, hip-hop, and modern. Several of Ms. Veronica's former students have gone on to study dance in college and become accomplished dance teachers themselves. Ms Veronica’s education, training, and experience working with youth, as well as her passion for dance, creates a warm and encouraging environment at the studio, and she hopes Expressions will instill a love of dance to all students!
Katherine Paseman
Team and Recital Instructor
Ms. Katherine began her dance journey as a ballerina in the Ballet San Jose. She continued to dance at The Harker School in San Jose where she trained in jazz, ballet, lyrical, modern, and tap. She attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, MA where, in addition to graduating with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and Design, she became very involved in the hip-hop dance community in the greater Boston Area. She served as captain for MIT Ridonkulous (one of MIT’s competitive hip-hop dance teams), choreographed for MIT Mocha Moves (another of MIT’s competitive hip-hop dance teams), and MIT Dance Troupe (MIT’s community dance group), and then joined the Static Noyze Dance Company. While in Boston, Ms. Katherine competed in Elements, the largest hip-hop dance competition on the East Coast, performed at corporate events, and opened for Ginuwine and Ja-Rule. Most importantly, Ms. Katherine has found hip-hop dance is one of the best ways to unlearn perfectionism and celebrate the unique ways each person interprets music and movement. She joined EDA in 2022, enjoys sharing everything she loves about dance with her students on Tuesday nights and Sunday mornings, is the founder of the Expressions "Leaping Into Leadership" program for Teens on EDA's Performance Team, and has taken on many administrative behind-the-scenes tasks vital to Expressions!
Melysa Vander Mel
Team Instructor
Ms. Melysa has been dancing since she was 5 years old and was on the dance team with Ms. Veronica at Mission Dance & Performing Arts in Fremont. In high school, at Moreau Catholic in Hayward, she expanded from ballet, jazz, lyrical, and contemporary to modern, song/pom, with a sprinkling of hip-hop. She was a Varsity Songleader for 2 years and her team not only cheered and performed at games, but competed and placed on a national level. While studying at University of California, Davis, Ms. Melysa dove into the world of social dance and ballroom. She trained at OnTheEdge while living in Los Angeles. Ms. Melysa joined the Expressions dance family in 2021. At EDA she choreographs and works with Team students to develop strong jazz technique, is the founder of the beloved EDA Parent Dancer routine, is the lady behind EDA's social media, and takes on many other behind the scenes projects at the studio. She can't wait to dance with you on Monday nights!
Kelly Cazinha
Team and Recital Instructor
Ms. Kelly was born and raised in the Bay Area and, since her first dance class at the age of three, her love for dancing has grown with each new day. She trained mostly at San Ramon Valley Dance Academy under the tutelage of Megan Ivey-Rorhbacher, Byron Seddens, Gregg Jeffries, and Katie Malooly. Ms. Kelly has trained in various styles of dance such as tap, breakdancing, aerial dance, hip-hop, jazz, and ballet. A talented dance artist from a young age, she received both the William Fife Scholarship as well as the Founders Award. Ms. Kelly is privileged to have tapped with numerous industry professionals, including her tap inspiration, Jason Janas. She has performed with renowned dancers such as Les Twins, Kida the Great, and Academy of Villains at the Palace of Fine Arts. Her instruction and innovative choreography have received accolades at many dance competitions, including Outstanding Showmanship and Critic’s Choice at New York City Dance Alliance (NYCDA). Ms. Kelly is excited to be teaching Team and Recital tap, jazz and combo classes at EDA on Mondays!
Karis Garrison
Team and Recital Instructor
Ms. Karis has been dancing since she was 4 years old and has trained in ballet, contemporary, modern, lyrical, jazz, hip-hop and musical theater. She was a company dancer at Dance Fusion Northwest in Vancouver WA under the instruction of Sarah Furhman, Willow Swanson, Carla Kendall-Bray, Lillian Larson-Collins, Gerard Regot, and Randy Davis. Ms. Karis has danced in numerous performances as well as competed at numerous dance competitions and has placed 1st overall for her solos throughout high school. She is currently a member of the Saint Mary's College of California Dance Company. Ms. Karis will be graduating with a BA in Choreography and Performance in Spring of 2026. She is very passionate about dance and wants her students to feel inspired through growth. Ms. Karis wants her dancers to learn to love themselves and their bodies through the continuous practice of broad life skills and critical thinking skills in a positive, loving and safe environment. She joined the Expressions Dance Family in 2024 and can’t wait to dance with you on Wednesday nights!
Michelle Wolfe
Team Instructor
Ms. Michelle is a Bay Area native and dance has always been the primary art form which has shaped her life. She received much of her dance training at Duane Dance Academy in Hayward and earned a Bachelors of Art at San José State University in Dance in 2007. There she studied ballet, modern, jazz, tap, Bharatnatyam (classical Indian dance), Vintage Dance from 1700 through the 1900, and musical theater. While studying at SJSU, Ms. Michelle had the privilege of being taught by Gary Masters in ballet and modern. Masters was a company danseur under the leadership of José Limόn, the famous modern choreographer. She also trained in Choreography under Fred Mathews at SJSU. Mathews intense curriculum developed skills in contact improvisation, choreographic phrasing-beginning, middle & end as well as developing one’s personal voice in chorography. Ms. Michelle has 20+ years of dance teaching experience throughout the Central Valley and Bay Area. She has had the opportunity of choreographing and performing for the Children’s Dance Theater in Tracy for their Nutcracker 2007-2012, adjudicating at Valley Dance Theater in Livermore for various roles in the Nutcracker 2015-2018, leading Pas De Dux classes for ballet partnering, teaching Contemporary classes, teaching combo classes to all ages, and has taught every level of ballet from level 1 up to pointe. Highlights of her life would be celebrating 25 years of marriage to her husband Levi and her 2 dancing daughters, Priel (17 year old senior at Las Positas Middle College) and Natania (13 year old 8th grader at Christensen Middle School). Ms. Michelle taught at Expressions Dance & Arts from 2015-2020, this studio is especially near and dear to her heart, and she is very excited to be retutning for the 2024-2205 dance season to teach Team students on Tuesday afternoons!
Amy Marie LaFaille
Team and Recital Instructor
Ms. Amy trained in all dance styles at Contra Costa Ballet Centre from the time she was 3 years old until graduating from high school. Growing up, she was told she was never going to be a Ballerina because of her body size. Ms. Amy went on to continue studying Ballet, Jazz, Hip-Hop, Improv and Modern at Diablo Valley College and Cal State East Bay where she performed in, and choreographed for, musicals, dance productions, and faculty shows and where her body size wasn't an issue. While in college, Ms. Amy also worked at Encore Theatrical, a dance store in the bay area with multiple locations, pre-covid. She fit everyone from tiny ballerinas in their first pair of ballet slippers, to those trying on their first pair of pointe shoes, and beyond. During this time, Ms. Amy also remained busy training at Shawl-Anderson and dancing with numerous bay area dance companies including: Urban Jazz Dance Company, Bandelion, Dawn Holtan, Nina Haft & Co, and she created her own dance company, A.V.I.D. She received her BA in Theatrical Arts with a dance emphasis and second BA in Theatrical Arts with a technical design emphasis from Cal State East Bay. Since 2008, Ms. Amy has consistently been teaching Ballet, Pointe, Contemporary, Jazz, Hip-Hop and Heels classes to recreational and competitive students of all ages and levels at bay area dance studios and after-school dance programs. She values the opportunities she's had to train the next generation of dancers for over 15 years now, and believes everyone was made to dance. Ms. Amy uses her education, training, knowledge and decades of dance experience, and works tirelessly to ensure that students are engaged and enjoying whatever style of dance she is teaching. Her goal is to have everyone leave her classes smiling and with more confidence in dance or, as she likes to call it, confiDANCE.
Kimberlee Buote
Fitness Instructor
Ms. Kim’s passion for fitness ignited at a young age. She trained in ballet and tap and lettered in three sports in high school. She also played intramural sports in college. Ms. Kim enjoys weight training, group fitness classes and outdoor running, and she has completed a full marathon! Ms. Kim obtained her degree in Business from SDSU and holds a certification in Exercise Science and Fitness Instruction from UCSD and a Personal Training certification from the American Council on Exercise. She previously worked for the UCSD Recreation Dept teaching student wellness, strength training for women as well as personal training. After moving to the Bay Area, Ms. Kim’s daughter joined the Expressions Team in 2013, and Ms. Kim has been a member of the EDA dance family ever since. In 2019, Ms. Kim partnered with Ms. Sandy to develop an EDA women’s fitness program, which launched in early 2020. With courage, patience, an open mind and a great sense of humor, Ms. Kim continued to teach fitness classes on Zoom until EDA returned to in-person classes in 2021. Ms. Kim looks forward to sharing her passion and joy through exercise in a welcoming and positive environment where everyone has fun and feels accomplished. Her classes include a full-body workout, upbeat music, weekly themes, daily motivational quotes, and most importantly, a great sweat!
Pamela Aguilar
Recital and Recreational Instructor
Ms. Pam was born and raised in Pleasanton where she has trained in dance since the age of 2, including competing in dance growing up. In 2001, she went to Las Positas College where she studied ballet, tap, jazz, and lyrical as well as beginning to create her own choreography. During Ms. Pam's time there, she performed in many musicals, choir concerts, and dance productions. She found her passion for teaching children when she had the opportunity to choreograph a drama camp for kids and has loved it ever since. Ms. Pam has taught ballet, tap, jazz, and lyrical to children, teens, and adults at many dance studios in the bay area for over a decade! She has always loved how rewarding it is to see her students engaged in class and enjoying themselves while learning and growing under her instruction. For Ms. Pam, dancing has always been a passion and she looks forward to sharing her love of dance to her Expressions students on Wednesday afternoons and Friday evenings!
Emelyn Ogden
Recital and Recreational Instructor
Ms. Emee began dancing at the age of 6 and, over the years, has trained in ballet, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, tap, musical theater, and hip-hop. She joined the Expressions dance family in 2014 and was invited to join EDA’s Team in 2015. With the Expressions Performance Team, Ms. Emee has performed at Disneyland, on the Golden State Warriors' court, at Great America, the Alameda County fair and at many competitions in the Bay Area. She is currently a member of the EDA Performance Team. Ms. Emee became a teacher assistant in 2022 and then a lead instructor in 2023. She has trained with Ms. Veronica, Ms. Diana, and other Expressions instructors, teaching weekly classes. Ms. Emee is excited to be teaching Saturday Classes for the 2024-2025 dance season!
Riley Baird
Recital Instructor
Ms. Riley has been dancing since the age of 5 and has enjoyed it every step of the way! She is very passionate about dance and has been trained in ballet, jazz, contemporary, tap, musical theater and some hip-hop. Ms. Riley became a part of the EDA dance family in 2013 and, in 2018, she joined the Expressions dance team. With her teammates, she has performed in Disneyland's Dance the Magic parade, the Golden State Warriors basketball pre-game show, and many community shows. Ms. Riley trained as a teacher assistant under EDA staff Ms. Dae, Ms. Kelly and Ms. Emee in weekly classes and summer camps for over a year before becoming a lead instructor herself in 2024. Outside of school and dance, Ms. Riley has been in the girl scouts since kindergarten, her mother is the troop leader, and she has worked very hard in the troop for cookie sales and so much more. She has always loved to interact with other people and strike up a conversation. Ms. Riley is very excited to be the Friday afternoon lead instructor for the 2024-2025 season while continuing to learn new skills and techniques in her Team classes that she can then teach to her students!
Elisabeth Gersich
Recital Instructor
Ms. Elisabeth has been dancing since the age of 3, and joined Expressions Dance & Arts during the studio’s opening days. She is trained in ballet, jazz, hip-hop, lyrical, and contemporary, and was a member of EDA’s previous competition team and current Performance Team. During the summer of 2024, Ms. Elisabeth was one of EDA's inaugural "Leaping Into Leadership" interns and created the studio's first ever testimonial video, which can be found on the home page of our website. She continues to train with Expressions instructor Ms. Katherine on Sunday mornings, dances on her school’s Varsity sideline cheerleading team, is a hostess at a restaurant in downtown Pleasanton on the weekends, and still takes additional dance classes and workshops when she can. Ms. Elisabeth is honored to have the opportunity to spread her long lasting passion for dance to her students on Tuesday afternoons the 2024-2025 season!
Daelyn Cerruti
Visiting Instructor
Ms. Dae joined the EDA family in 2013 as a team dancer and worked alongside Ms. Veronica for several years as a TA and substitute before becoming a recital and performance team instructor in 2021! Ms. Dae started dancing at age 2 and is trained in ballet/pointe, lyrical, contemporary, modern, jazz, tap, hip-hop, hula/Polynesian, and color guard. She holds a BA in Education and a Minor in Dance from UC Riverside and has been involved in many artistic companies throughout the Bay Area including Alonzo King LINES Ballet SF, Tri Valley Repertory Theatre, IGNITE cohort of BIPOC emerging female/non-binary artists, and more! Ms. Dae currently lives in LA and is pursuing a career in the performing arts. Her most recent credits include Inspire Danz Co. “The Honors Project,” Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights, Let’s Make a Deal!, and PVPA’s In the Heights. She frequently visits her Bay Area home and has recently choreographed for Livermore High School and Sunnyvale Community Players in addition to her time teaching at EDA. Ms. Dae loves to share her creativity and passion for the arts by teaching students of all ages and advocating for accessible and equitable arts education. As a visiting instructor she hosts workshops, teaches private lessons, subs, choreographs for Team, helps at EDA events, and takes on many administrative behind-the-scenes tasks vital to Expressions!
Diana Schwarz
Visiting Instructor
Ms. Diana began dancing at age 3 and, over the years, she has trained in ballet, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, hip-hop, musical theater, and tap. She joined the Expressions dance family in 2013 and was invited to join EDA's Performance Team in 2015 which she was on until graduating from high school in 2024. With the Expressions Performance Team, Ms. Diana has performed at Disneyland, on the Golden State Warriors' court, at Great America, the Alameda County Fair, and many competitions in the Bay Area, both in group routines and as a soloist. Ms. Diana became a teacher assistant in 2019 and then a lead instructor in 2022. She has trained with Ms. Veronica, Ms. Daelyn, and other Expressions instructors, teaching weekly classes as well as summer dance camps. Ms. Diana is thrilled to be EDA's 2024 summer camp instructor and a visiting instructor for the 2024-2025 dance season as she attends college at California State University Long Beach!
Ashlee Buote
Guest Instructor
Ms. Ashlee began dancing when she was 8 years old and has trained in ballet, jazz, contemporary, modern, hip-hop, musical theater, and tap. She joined the Expressions Dance Family in 2013 and was a member of the EDA Dance Team throughout high school. Dancing on Team gave Ms. Ashlee a newfound confidence in her movement, and she enjoyed performing in multiple styles of dance including two solo pieces. Her passion for dance and choreography continued throughout her college career. Ms. Ashlee participated in ACDA (American College Dance Association) in 2019 performing a modern dance piece. She earned her BA degree in Communication Studies at Cal State University, Long Beach in 2022. Ms. Ashlee has experience teaching dance to all ages as well as experience working in child care and most recently was working as a substitute teacher for the Pleasanton Unified School District. She is thrilled to be on staff at her favorite dance studio as a visiting instructor to host workshops, teach private lessons, sub, choreograph for Team, and help at EDA events!
Christina DiFabio
Guest Instructor
Ms. Christina grew up dancing in Southern California where she trained in ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, hip-hop, lyrical, and contemporary. She has won numerous scholarships and was crowned Ms. Teen Rainbow at the Rainbow Dance Competition. At Chapman University, Ms. Christina obtained a BS in Health Science with an emphasis in Pre-Physical Therapy. Working as a Physical Therapy Aide for 5 years, she developed a passion for emphasizing technique and strengthening in dance to prevent common dance injuries. Ms. Christina has been a dance instructor and coach since 2013 and her choreography has been well received; frequently placing in the top 10 and being recognized with a number of Judge’s Awards over the years. She currently works as a pediatric rehabilitation nurse, teaches dance as often as possible, and continues her dance education online through CLI and Steezy Studios. Ms. Christina loves to encourage self expression through dance and foster a supportive and fun classroom experience for her students.
Marqui' Martinez
Guest Instructor
Ms. Marqui' grew up dancing in the Bay Area since the age of 3, including being on the same dance team as Ms. Veronica. Training hard on team led Ms. Marqui' to find a real love for teaching. She has taught classes, workshops and set choreography for many studios, colleges and universities in the Bay Area. She has trained and competed with various professional Bay Area dance companies and took first place with her team at competitions. Ms. Marqui' then moved her dance career to the East Coast where she taught at three different dance studios. She trained in New York City at The Broadway Dance Center where she trained from highly established choreographers in the industry. Ms. Marqui' is well known for her adult hip-hop heels class that she taught in San Francisco for 10 years. With her hip-hop heels team, Ms. Marqui' directed and choreographed for multiple events including Miss World Beauty Pageant at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco and two shows performing at The Hard Rock in Las Vegas. Her choreography covers movement from head to toe, incorporating grooves, body isolations and lots of personality. Ms. Marqui' inspires her students to achieve in every aspect of their life, utilizing the characteristics learned and the confidence they have as a dancer. She promotes creativity and freedom of movement to shape dancers into being versatile and independent.
Michelle Raab
Guest Instructor
Ms. Michelle started dancing at the age of 3. She grew up taking dance and gymnastics classes at San Ramon Valley Dance Academy where she trained in numerous styles including jazz, tap, ballet, contemporary, modern, hip hop, and pointe, and was part of their competitive dance teams for six years. Ms. Michelle's senior year of high school she was a part of the nationally ranked Varsity Song Team at Cal High, and she continued her passion for dance in college as a member of the Cal Poly SLO Dance Team. In 2020, she made the dance team for a newly formed indoor football team called the Oakland Panthers, but the season was cancelled due to the global pandemic. The team came back as the Bay Area Panthers in 2022 playing at the SAP Center in San Jose, and Ms. Michelle completed two seasons with the team and was named Veteran of the Year her second year. With the Panthers, she was able to train in many different styles including hip hop, jazz, pom, and cheer. Ms. Michelle is currently part of two tap groups. She dances at Dance 10 Performing Arts Center in Alameda and is a member of “The Tap Dancing Christmas Trees” under the direction of Pamm Drake. Ms. Michelle had the incredible opportunity to dance in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York with this group in November 2023. She is also part of a competitive group called “TAPistry” under the direction of Becky Peretti (Ms. Veronica's tap teacher growing up) at Bella Dance Academy in San Ramon. Ms. Michelle is extremely passionate about dance and feels very fortunate that it has always been such a big part of her life.
Bailey Yang
Guest Instructor
Ms. Bailey is a Pleasanton native and Team EDA alumni who has trained in ballet, tap, jazz, musical theater, contemporary, lyrical, and hip-hop since the age of three. She recently graduated from San Jose State University where she was the President of the SJSU Hip-Hop Club. She was also a member of the SJ-based competitive hip-hop team Commonality and is a visual designer/choreographer for Cupertino High School Marching Band's winter percussion program. She is also currently an instructor at On One Studios in San Jose. She hosts workshops at Expressions and is an outside choreographer for Team dancers. Ms. Bailey is very excited to come back to her hometown studio and share her passion for dance with the community!
Layla de Leon
Guest Instructor
Ms. Layla has been dancing since 2010 and has had training at various dance studios and companies throughout the Bay Area including Contra Costa Ballet, Castro Valley Performing Arts, and Tiffany’s Dance Academy. Her dance style training includes ballet, pointe, jazz, contemporary and lyrical. Ms. Layla is currently on the Varsity Cheer team and Honors Dance Program at Dublin High School. She joined Expressions as a Teacher Assistant in 2023 and is now a substitute instructor at the studio. Ms. Layla is so grateful for the opportunity to share her passion of dance with other aspiring students.