Miss Karen Riehl (owner/director)
Miss Karen is a native of the Lehigh Valley (raised in Forks Twsp.), where she began her training at
Nardi’s Dance Studio and also studied with Alexi Ramov at the Lehigh Valley Ballet Guild. Miss Karen has trained at numerous summer programs, such as Eglevsky Ballet and North Carolina School of the Arts. She was accepted into the PA Governor’s School of Performing Arts where she studied with master teachers in all forms of dance. Miss Karen graduated with a BA in Dance from Point Park University. She performed for many years throughout the Lehigh Valley with DanceGing and various roles with Pennsylvania Youth Theater. She also received her elementary teaching certification from DeSales University. Miss Karen taught for the Wilson Area S.D. for over 10 years. Miss Karen has choreographed musicals for Wilson Area HS the past nine years. She has also worked with children in the community teaching Dance Enrichment programs at the “Y” Daycare. Miss Karen is the Assistant Director of the Moravian College Dance Company and teaching ballet classes. Miss Karen was a dance instructor for over 12 years before opening her own studio, in her basement, in 2012. She moved to the new larger location in January of 2014.

Miss Lexi Kutz
Lexus Kutz is a third-year assistant tumbling teacher. Her passion for tumbling was honed during her
eight year tenure cheering for the World Cup All Stars, where she learned the value of dedication and
teamwork. Last year, she was excited to have the chance to branch out and choreograph her first acro
lyrical dance for the winter recital. This year she choreographed an acro lyrical piece for the winter
recital, and lead her first recital acro lyrical class. Now, Miss Lexi is eager to impart her knowledge and
enthusiasm to the next generation of tumblers.

Miss Mallory Kutz
Miss Mallory is celebrating her twelfth year teaching tumbling at Miss Karen’s Dance Studio, and has
been part of the studio family since its very first season. She began dancing at just two years old, and
later became a student helper, for tumbling classes, while in high school, where she discovered her
passion for teaching. In addition to her work at the studio, Miss Mallory spent six years coaching local
youth cheerleading, and loves helping young athletes build confidence, strength, and teamwork
skills.Outside of the dance studio, Miss Mallory is heavily involved in the motorsports community as a
racecar driver, trophy girl, and advocate for women in racing. She drives the No. 42 Street Stock at
Evergreen Raceway and also competes in the East Coast TQ Midgets. She is the owner of SpeedArt
Creations, a business focused on custom motorsports artwork, apparel, and coloring books that spotlight racers from across the country. Miss Mallory is passionate about encouraging young girls to chase their dreams, both in sports and in life, and she loves bringing creativity, positivity, and confidence into everything she does.

Miss Courtney Outeiral
Miss Courtney has been dancing since she was 3 years old. She trained in Nazareth, at Expression of
Dance. While there, she studied all styles of dance, was a student teacher, and did competition. Then in
college, she was president of Acta Non Verba, which is a dance ensemble at Northampton Area
Community College. She also took classes and studied under Tabatha Robinson. Miss Courtney took a few master classes while attending NCC. She was also on the Kutztown dance team. Miss Courtney would like to thank her family for always supporting her. Dance has always been her passion, and she is happy to share it with all of her students. This is Miss Courtney's 13th year with MKDS. Miss Courtney is loving mom life with her twin boys, Grayson and Bentley, and her little girl, Kinsley.

 

Miss Britney Keim
Miss Britney started dancing at the age of 6, and has never stopped! She began her training at Nardi’s
Dance Studios with instructors who included Miss Karen Riehl. During summers in high school, Britney
volunteered her time at the Hilton Head Boys & Girls Club in Hilton Head, SC as Director of Dance
Program developing/organizing dance performances. Britney attended University of Delaware with B.S.
in Leadership & Minors in Business and Advertising. During college, she competed in UDA Nationals, and she was heavily involved in sorority dance competitions. She resides in Nazareth with her husband Sean, son Brooks (5) and daughter Ellie (3). Miss Britney is blessed to be a part of Miss Karen’s Dance Studio family who continue to educate and inspire her.

 

Miss Jessalynn GaNun
Miss Jess began her dance training at 6 years old, and dance was an instant love for her and she has
been dancing ever since. She began her training, in Massachusetts, at Boucher School of Dance. She
left Boucher's at age 11 and followed her ballet teacher, Lisa Trottier, to her own studio LMT Dance
Academy. At LMT Miss Jess studied ballet, pointe, lyrical, modern, tap, jazz and was also a competitive
dancer. She was student teacher for ages 3-12 in ballet, tap, jazz and lyrical. Miss Jess graduated from
LMT in 1999, and continued to study ballet and modern dance at Franklin Pierce University. This is Miss
Jess's 10th year being with MKDS and her 9th year of teaching. She is excited to once again be able to
share her love of dance with students new and old through hard work and laughter. There is no better
feeling for her than when she has pushed her students in class, and they leave, still smiling. Miss Jess
would like to thank her incredible husband Jason for his un-ending love and support as she chases her

dream and helps other kids fall in love with dance like she did! Miss Jess would like all her students to
remember that if they dance with their heart, their feet will ALWAYS follow!

 

Miss Christiana Anslemo
Miss Chrissy is excited for her first recital at MKDS! This year, she taught intermediate modern and
theatre. Miss Chrissy is an 11th & 12th grade English and Drama teacher at Phillipsburg High School. At
Phillipsburg, she has directed the spring musical for the past five years. She also serves as the Theatre
Company Advisor and Business Manager. Miss Chrissy graduated Summa Cum Laude from Moravian
University in 2021 where she earned her Bachelor's of Art in English, and Secondary Education, with a
minor in Dance. She is grateful to Miss Karen, the staff, and her students for welcoming her so warmly
into the MKDS Family this year!

 

Miss Amanda Koehler
Amanda Koehler is a 2023 alumni for Miss Karen's Dance Studio and this is her second year teaching at
the studio. She began dancing at the age of three, growing up under many different studios including
Jeannie Cardinal's School of Dance, Dance Design, Stage Door Studio, The Ballet Guild of the Lehigh
Valley, and finally ending her last five years at Miss Karen's Dance Studio. Through these years, she
danced a variety of styles such as ballet pointe, modern, lyrical, contemporary, tap, jazz and hip-hop.
Miss Amanda also had the privilege to attend the Dance Teachers' Club of Boston Dance Education
Training Course in the summers of 2024 and 2025, earning a full scholarship from E. Laura Hausman
where she received her teacher certification in dance. She currently is a rising senior at Moravian
University, double majoring in Psychology and Music, along with a dance minor and a sociology minor.
Miss Amanda is a member of the Moravian University Dance Company under Lisa Busfield and Karen
Riehl, which focuses on modern and ballet technique. She also still takes tap classes with Nicole
Hockenberry. Miss Amanda hopes to continue dancing throughout college and would like to continue
teaching dance as she gets older.

 

Miss Devon Sampson
Miss Devon is very excited to be back at Miss Karen's Dance Studio after stepping away from teaching
to pursue a career in vet med for the past six years. Devon had been teaching dance and choreography
for over 20 years all over the Lehigh Valley and New Jersey. She’s very excited to continue expanding
the adult dance programs offered at the studio so be sure to check out the summer schedule!!! She and her family own DC Dancewear of Easton, PA & she would like to thank them for all the love and support they give her every day- with a special shout out to her amazing wife for always lifting her up as well as believing in her even when she didn’t. Miss Devon would like to leave a message with the kids at the studio; Keep reaching for the stars and always let your light shine through!!

 

Miss Samira Morgan
Samira is a graduate of Easton Area High School, and an alumni of Miss Karen's. Over the years, Samira
took lyrical, ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, and tumbling. This is her first year assisting teaching. Along with
that, she helps with her mother and family friend's newly owned business, Nicolosi's Pizzeria, while also
preparing for EMT courses with St Luke's Medical Technicians Apprentice Program.

 

Mr. Austin GaNun
Mr. Austin is a graduate of Easton High School, class of 2025. He is also an alumni of MKDS, graduating
last year. While at MKDS, Austin studied hip-hop, tumbling, and tap. Mr. Austin is excited to be on the
other side of the classroom this year teaching tumbling. He would like to thank Miss Karen for giving
him the opportunity to still be involved at MKDS.

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