Meet Our Team

Celebrating her 11th season with Expressions in Rhythm Studio and a native of Queens, NY, Belinda began her dance training at the age of four at Gloria Jackson Dance Studio, where she studied African, Ballet, Jazz, and Tap. A graduate of North Carolina Central University, Belinda continued her love of dance by becoming a dance instructor at Adele's Creative Dance Centre in 1992. Belinda has performed at New York City’s Theatre in the Park and has appeared on Good Day New York & Spiritual Awakening. In 1993, Belinda expanded her African, Ballet, Jazz & Tap training to include Liturgical, and became the Dance Ministry Leader at Merrick Park Baptist Church in 1995. Belinda relocated to North Carolina in 2007 and lead the Dance Ministry Leader at Redeeming Love Missionary Baptist Church until 2022. She believes in a positive approach to help Expressers learn and she delivers with a vivacious personality!

Celebrating his 11th season with Expressions in Rhythm Studio and a native of Brooklyn, NY, Preston is a dedicated intellectual of Djembe as well as West African music.  Preston began his tutelage under Bradley Simmons, former Music Director of the African American Dance Ensemble, and current Musical Director at Duke University where he teaches West African Music and History. Preston enjoys teaching traditional Djembe rhythms. He has performed at numerous community events where his love for drumming and teaching is appreciated by everyone.
 

Technique and sound refinement are part of his curriculum, and he believes in an uplifting and unifying approach to help Expressers learn in his class.
 

Preston empowers his Expressers in cultural traditions!

Celebrating her 1st season with Expressions in Rhythm Studio, Andria was born in Charleston, SC and has been dancing for 18 years.

She has extensive experience dancing and choreographing for her high school dance team and honors choir as well as for a dance company within her alma mater where she served as artistic director for two seasons.

She is trained in eight styles of dance, specializing in tap and hip-hop. She is a graduate of the University of North Carolina Greensboro, where she gained her Bachelor’s degree in Biology. She plans to attend graduate school to further her studies in Marine Biology in the near future.

Andria is beyond excited to begin her journey with Expressions in Rhythm Studio and is looking forward to continuing to share her love and passion for dance and teaching with the next generation!

Celebrating her 1st season with Expressions in Rhythm Studio, Uma was born and raised in Rochester, NY and began training at the Draper Center for Dance in Rochester, NY.

In 2014, she accepted an invitation for full-time study at School of American Ballet. Summer programs at Miami City, Boston, Carolina, and Pacific Northwest Ballet followed. While at SAB, Ms. Deming trained with the Royal Danish Ballet as the recipient of the Danish American National Cultural Exchange Program.

Uma was named an apprentice with New York City Ballet in 2018 and promoted to the corps in 2019. She danced the 2023-24 season with The Cleveland Ballet and is currently a member of the Carolina Ballet.

Uma loves passing on her knowledge and love of dance through teaching. 

 Celebrating her 1st season with Expressions in Rhythm Studio, Shannon was raised in Clinton, NC and has been dancing since the age of 2. 

Studying Jazz, Ballet, Lyrical, Contemporary and Hip Hop she has numerous years of performance and choreographing experience. Shannon has been teaching dance for more than 10 years around North Carolina.  Her talents took her to Colorado for a year where she was the Competition Team Director. She is a graduate of the University of North Carolina Greensboro and teaches here in Wake County!  

Shannon is so excited to be a part of Expressions in Rhythm Studio, and is excited to oversee the Expressions in Rhythm Studio Dance Company! 

She is eager to share her love and passion for dance!

Celebrating her 11th season with Expressions in Rhythm Studio and a native of Queens, NY, Pat began her career in 1968 working for General Electric as a Typist, working her way up to an Executive Secretary.  After retiring from the corporate business sector in 1998, Pat opened Red Light Green Light Childcare Center where she prepared countless toddlers and preschoolers for social and academic success.  During this time, Pat also volunteered with the New York City Department of Education and served as the Children’s Choir supervisor at Merrick Park Baptist Church.
 

After moving to North Carolina in 2010, Pat had an opportunity to continue volunteering her time with the Wake County Public School System.  Pat is the eyes and ears of Expressions in Rhythm Studio!  The James B. Harewood Memorial Scholarship, in which a High School graduate who is pursuing a post-secondary degree and is a student at Expressions in Rhythm Studio will receive a monetary award towards their college education, is named for her late husband. Pat is a mother of four and a grandmother of five.  Pat is a former Dance Mom and now Dance Mimi…not grandma 😉 who loves every aspect of the performing arts world!  

Celebrating her 1st season with Expressions in Rhythm Studio, Laurin was born in north New Jersey raised in Tampa Bay, Florida.  Laurin started her dance journey, taking Ballet and Tap at the age of 2 and continuing for 5 years.  After that Laurin began piano lessons, becoming an avid player for the past 30 years. Laurin has 3 sons who are the absolute apples of her eye! She also has a Bachelor's degree in Psychology and using her degree to help the less fortunate.

Laurin is so excited to be with Expressions in Rhythm Studio and is looking forward to working closely with the EIR Studio Team! 

Celebrating his 4th season with Expressions in Rhythm Studio and a native of Queens, NY, Brendan began his music training at Garner Magnet Middle School, playing the violin in the orchestra. 

He is a graduated Expresser, specializing in Djembe drumming. Upon graduation from Garner High School. Brendan received the Directors Award for his excellence in orchestra. Brendan attended Community Music School in Raleigh, NC where he began playing classical piano. 

Currently a senior at North Carolina Central University, Brendan continued his love of music as an Elementary Education major and a Music Education minor, expanding his knowledge of brass, percussion and woodwind instruments, as well as choral and instrumental methods. 

As the person in charge of the health and safety standards of our studio, Expressers know Brendan as a kind-hearted and fun leader, who inspires excellence!

Celebrating her 11th season as an Expresser, and her 3rd season as an EIR Studio Ambassador, Brielle was born in Queens, NY. 

She began her dance training the age of four and is the Captain of the Expressions in Rhythm Studio Dance Company (EIRSDC), our award-winning competitive dance program.  

Brielle is also in the Advance Dance honors class at her local high school, specializing in Modern. In addition to the EIRSDC, she is part of Ballet II, Jazz III, Tap II, Acro II, Lyrical, Contemporary, and Hip Hop III.  

Brielle believes in making all Expressers feel valued and accepted.