Where The Vision Begins
Monica Derrenbacher
Founder, Owner & Director
Monica Derrenbacher is the founder, owner, and director of Premier School of Dance, which she opened in 1991 with the help and support of her parents, Nina and Terry Smith. Monica’s passion for dance and musical theatre became a career at an early age—by age 15, she was already performing, choreographing, and teaching. Now, 45 years after she began teaching in 1981, she continues to share that same passion with generations of dancers.
Monica has an extensive background in dance, musical theatre, performance, and choreography throughout Wake County and across North Carolina. Musical theatre has been an especially important part of her career. Over the years, she has performed in more than 50 musical productions while also choreographing numerous musicals and productions for local high schools and community theatre programs throughout Raleigh, Cary, Apex, and the surrounding area. Her experience also includes work with Raleigh Little Theatre and productions and performances in Greenville while attending East Carolina University.
Before college, Monica spent seven years with the North Carolina Ballet Repertoire Company, where she trained and performed in classical ballet and pointe. She was also a member of the company’s performing group, expanding her performance experience to include tap and jazz.
Monica went on to attend East Carolina University as a Dance Major and Theatre Minor, further combining her love of dance, choreography, performance, and musical theatre. Her choreography credits include A Christmas Carol featuring Ira David Wood and the Special Olympics Opening Ceremony. From the dance studio to the musical theatre stage, choreography and storytelling through movement have remained an important part of Monica’s creative career.
For more than 35 years, Monica has built Premier into a thriving dance community where students of all ages can learn, grow, and develop a lifelong love of dance. Throughout her career, she has remained passionate about creating a positive and encouraging environment where dancers can develop strong technique, confidence, creativity, and lasting friendships. Under her leadership, Premier has also earned recognition within the community, including being named a Best of Western Wake winner for Best Kids’ Program.
One of Monica’s greatest joys has been watching her daughter, Taylor, grow up dancing at Premier and eventually join her in leading the studio as Co-Owner and Director. Together, the mother-daughter team continues the family-centered tradition that has been at the heart of Premier since its beginning—making the studio not simply a place to dance, but a second family for generations of dancers and parents.
For Monica, the greatest reward continues to be watching her students grow not only as performers, but as confident young people, and welcoming each new generation into the Premier family.
Taylor Derrenbacher Beresid
Co-Owner & Director
Taylor Derrenbacher Beresid grew up at Premier School of Dance, beginning her dance journey at just two years old. After spending her childhood training and performing at Premier, she went on to East Carolina University, where she earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Performance. Today, Taylor proudly serves as Co-Owner and Director alongside her mother, Monica, helping carry forward the studio and family legacy she has been a part of her entire life.
During her time at East Carolina University, Taylor trained under a diverse range of industry professionals, expanding her experience in both choreography and teaching. She furthered her training through the highly competitive Radio City Rockettes Summer Intensive, where she had the opportunity to learn from some of the industry’s most respected performers and educators.
As a teacher and choreographer, Taylor has received numerous awards and recognitions for her choreography, with her work earning acclaim throughout the competitive dance circuit. She continues to share her creativity and experience not only with Premier dancers, but also with studios, schools, and organizations throughout the community.
Taylor is passionate about developing strong, well-rounded dancers and places an emphasis on proper technique, cross-training, creativity, and personal growth. She believes the lessons learned through dance reach far beyond the studio—building confidence, character, resilience, discipline, and a strong work ethic that dancers can carry with them throughout their lives.
Having grown up within the Premier family herself, Taylor is committed to creating the same positive and encouraging environment for today’s dancers. She challenges her students to embrace new opportunities, take risks, work hard, and always give their best effort, while making sure every dancer leaves her classroom feeling supported, accomplished, and proud.
The Premier Ensemble
Whitney Threlkeld
Whitney Threlkeld
Whitney Threlkeld
Company and Tap
Whitney Lanier has called Premier School of Dance her dance family home since the age of 3, studying tap, ballet and jazz. She continued her dancing at East Carolina University where she received her BFA in Dance Education. Whitney became the 2009 recipient of the East Carolina University Outstanding Senior Award in the are
Company and Tap
Whitney Lanier has called Premier School of Dance her dance family home since the age of 3, studying tap, ballet and jazz. She continued her dancing at East Carolina University where she received her BFA in Dance Education. Whitney became the 2009 recipient of the East Carolina University Outstanding Senior Award in the area of Dance Education. She continues to share her love for dance as a teacher/ choreographer at Premier for almost 20 years, has guest taught at ECU and in public schools, and she is a member of Footnotes Tap Ensemble.
Alex Hutchens
Whitney Threlkeld
Whitney Threlkeld
Jazz and HipHop
Alex Hutchens began dancing when she was two years old in her hometown of New Bern, North Carolina. She studied ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary and pointe. She was a member of her high school’s dance team for four years and was elected as team captain her senior year. This is where she found her passion for both hip hop and
Jazz and HipHop
Alex Hutchens began dancing when she was two years old in her hometown of New Bern, North Carolina. She studied ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary and pointe. She was a member of her high school’s dance team for four years and was elected as team captain her senior year. This is where she found her passion for both hip hop and pom styles of dance. She is continuing her education at North Carolina State University and is a senior majoring in Fashion and Textile Management. She began teaching both recreational and competitive hip hop classes at Premier School of Dance in 2021, and is passionate about sharing her love for hip hop with her students.
Sayward Grindley
Whitney Threlkeld
Victoria Brosseau
Company, Ballet, Pre-Pointe, and Pointe
Sayward Grindley is a dance educator, choreographer, and master teacher with over a decade of experience in higher education and professional dance. She currently serves as an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Performing Arts at Elon University and is pursuing her doctorate in Kinesiology at UNC Greens
Company, Ballet, Pre-Pointe, and Pointe
Sayward Grindley is a dance educator, choreographer, and master teacher with over a decade of experience in higher education and professional dance. She currently serves as an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Performing Arts at Elon University and is pursuing her doctorate in Kinesiology at UNC Greensboro. Sayward holds an MFA in Choreography from Jacksonville University and a BFA in Dance Education from East Carolina University.
She has taught at Elon University, East Carolina University, Meredith College, and Appalachian State University. She has served as the K–12 Dance & Visual Arts Consultant for the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. A former professional dancer and ballet education director, she is also completing her comprehensive Pilates certification.
Sayward has been part of the Premier School of Dance family for eight years and believes every student should leave class feeling more confident and inspired than when they arrived.
Victoria Brosseau
Victoria Brosseau
Victoria Brosseau
Pre-K and K-2nd
Victoria's dance career started at Arts Together, Raleigh NC when she was 3 years old. 7 years at Clayton School of Dance, one year at Broadway Dance Project (now North Carolina Dance Institute-NCDI) and 4 years at Lane Dance Academy led her to ECU where she graduated with a BFA in Dance Education. After teaching briefly i
Pre-K and K-2nd
Victoria's dance career started at Arts Together, Raleigh NC when she was 3 years old. 7 years at Clayton School of Dance, one year at Broadway Dance Project (now North Carolina Dance Institute-NCDI) and 4 years at Lane Dance Academy led her to ECU where she graduated with a BFA in Dance Education. After teaching briefly in WCPS, Victoria put dance on the back burner, but tapped at NCDI recreationally for three years. Always a lover and advocate for the arts, Victoria was an integral member of danceSPARK for 5 years, bringing free dance performances and classes to the Raleigh community. In 2022, her girls started their dance journey at Premier School of Dance and she followed in 2023. You can find her teaching pre-K classes throughout the week or on Tuesdays with K-2 kiddos in tap, jazz and ballet.
Lenn Vosberg
Victoria Brosseau
Cheryl Howard
Pre-K and K-2nd
Lenn Losberg discovered the world of dance with the Queen City Junior Ballet in her hometown, Cebu City. What began as a childhood fascination with Swan Lake developed into a lifelong passion for dance in all its genres. In high school, Lenn first got a taste for jazz when one of her mentors introduced the Luigi technique.
Pre-K and K-2nd
Lenn Losberg discovered the world of dance with the Queen City Junior Ballet in her hometown, Cebu City. What began as a childhood fascination with Swan Lake developed into a lifelong passion for dance in all its genres. In high school, Lenn first got a taste for jazz when one of her mentors introduced the Luigi technique. With PowerDance Philippines, she also fell in love with the Tremaine jazz technique and eventually pivoted to hiphop and contemporary. She joined the Manila Metropolitan Dance Theater while in college, dancing in My Fair Lady and other broadway presentations, and participated in the Vancouver Pacific National Exhibition for the Ministry of Tourism, showcasing Filipino dance and fashion. She also performed in dinner-dance shows at the top of the Manila Hilton, and at the Lights and Sounds Theater Lounge Manila. In the US, Lenn studied under Lou Conte, Ronnie West & Briana Alston. On any given Saturday, you can find her bopping and dropping with her preKclass and doing side split stretches with the K-2 students. She credits Monica, Rick and Taylor for giving her a chance to impart her passion for dance. “It gives me the warm fuzzies,” she gushes, “when my students make it to their senior solos after having started in my preK class.”
Cheryl Howard
Victoria Brosseau
Cheryl Howard
Adult Tap
Cheryl Howard has studied dance since the age of five, dancing in Connecticut and NYC growing up. She studied Dance and Business at Marymount Manhattan College, receiving a BA in Dance. Cheryl has taught dance for over 20 years at various studios, and for the last 10 years teaching Adult Adv. tap at Premier. Cheryl has also taugh
Adult Tap
Cheryl Howard has studied dance since the age of five, dancing in Connecticut and NYC growing up. She studied Dance and Business at Marymount Manhattan College, receiving a BA in Dance. Cheryl has taught dance for over 20 years at various studios, and for the last 10 years teaching Adult Adv. tap at Premier. Cheryl has also taught barre and high intensity pilates fitness classes for over 10 years.
Tracey Strahl
Tracey Strahl
Tracey Strahl
Acro
Tracy brings more than 25 years of experience coaching gymnastics and acrobatics and is passionate about helping dancers build strength, flexibility, confidence, and proper technique. A former competitive gymnast and collegiate cheerleader, she also spent seven years as a middle school cheer coach. Tracy is excited to work with both o
Acro
Tracy brings more than 25 years of experience coaching gymnastics and acrobatics and is passionate about helping dancers build strength, flexibility, confidence, and proper technique. A former competitive gymnast and collegiate cheerleader, she also spent seven years as a middle school cheer coach. Tracy is excited to work with both our recreational and Company dancers, creating a fun, positive environment where every student can grow and succeed.
Emma Grace
Tracey Strahl
Tracey Strahl
Acro
Emma started dancing when she was just two years old and began competing at the age of six. Throughout her dance career, she has trained in a wide variety of styles, including jazz, ballet, musical theatre, lyrical, contemporary, acro, hip hop, tap, and clogging. She is currently in her third year on the NC State Dance Team, where she
Acro
Emma started dancing when she was just two years old and began competing at the age of six. Throughout her dance career, she has trained in a wide variety of styles, including jazz, ballet, musical theatre, lyrical, contemporary, acro, hip hop, tap, and clogging. She is currently in her third year on the NC State Dance Team, where she continues to grow as both a dancer and a performer. Emma loves sharing her passion for dance with her students and hopes to help them grow in their confidence, technique, and love of performing!
Studio Support Team
Elizabeth London
Jessica Alexander
Elizabeth London
Office/Competition Manager
Kara Froberg
Jessica Alexander
Elizabeth London
Office/Costume Manager
Jessica Alexander
Jessica Alexander
Jessica Alexander
Assistant Office/Costume Manager
Stacey P. Webb
Jessica Alexander
Jessica Alexander
Assistant Office//Competition Manager
The Heart Behind the Scenes
The Man Behind the Magic
Mr. Premier - RickDarrenbacher
If you’ve ever attended a competition, recital, parade, or special event at Premier School of Dance, you’ve already seen the impact of Mr. Rick—even if you didn’t realize it.
As Premier’s Prop Manager, Stage Manager, parade truck driver, set builder, handyman, and everyone’s favorite #1 Dance Dad, Mr. Rick is the behind-the-scenes force that helps bring our biggest ideas to life. From designing and transporting props to repairing costumes, fixing studio equipment, setting up backstage, and solving last-minute challenges, there isn’t much he can’t do.
Known for his calm attitude, incredible work ethic, and willingness to help anyone, Mr. Rick is always the first to lend a hand. Whether it’s carrying hundreds of costumes, loading trailers before sunrise, building custom props, or making sure every performance runs smoothly, he approaches every task with a smile and a servant’s heart.
By day, Rick works full-time at Bob Barker Company. But when he’s not at work, you’ll almost certainly find him at Premier helping wherever he’s needed. Around the studio, we have a saying: Mrs. Monica dreams it… and Mr. Rick makes it happen!
More than anything, Mr. Rick loves being part of the Premier family and supporting every dancer as they grow both on and off the stage. His dedication, kindness, and countless hours of volunteer work help make Premier the special place it is. We truly couldn’t do what we do without him, and we are incredibly grateful for everything he does for our dancers, families, and staff.