Shine Bright Dance Studio, locally owned and operated, is a collaborative venture between Rachil Baird and Haley Ervin. Having grown up as neighbors in the very location of our studio, Rachil and Haley embarked on their dance journey together from a young age, all the way through their school years. Their shared lifelong dream of owning a dance studio has now become a reality.
At Shine Bright, our mission is to create an inclusive and welcoming environment where everyone can come to dance with a sense of belonging. We offer a diverse range of dance styles suitable for students of all age groups, ranging from introductory classes to performance opportunities and competitive levels. Join us at Shine Bright Dance Studio and explore the full spectrum of dance experiences we have to offer.
Rachil Baird, creator of Shine Bright Dance studio and co-owner, started dancing at the age of three at Jenyce's School of Dance. Only a few years later did she realize dance was a passion she would stick with for the rest of her life. She studied ballet, tap, jazz, acrobatics, lyrical, contemporary, and pointe from Jenyce's for 12 years. She then moved onto Center Stage Dance Studio in Akron, Ohio. After high school she attended University at Buffalo New York for dance and transferred then to a more tap based college University of Akron. From there she got her Bachelor of the Arts Degree in Dance with a Business Cognate. Her senior year of college was the start of Shine Bright Dance Studio!
She has performed professionally with Tappy Holidays in New York City as well with Versatile Dance Company based out of Akron, Ohio. When she was younger she also performed with Tap Kids in New York as well! She has won numerous competitive dance awards through Dance Masters of America, Dance Masters of Ohio, Kars, Encore, and more. She was ranked third in America for her tap solo at Dance Masters of America in Las Vegas. Along with this, Rachil has received a full scholarship to Tap Into the Network and another full scholarship with Tap the Map. Along with many dance scholarships within each regional competition.
While in college she performed with Streb from New York, New York and was declared captain of the entire dance department involved with Streb. She performed at Daum Theater in many pieces she auditioned for along with being able to exhibit her own choreographed piece her senior year of college.
Rachil started teaching at the age of eleven and has loved it ever since. She has taught and had experience through Jenyce's along with Premiere Dance Academy, Denise's Dance Academy, Tamala Taylor's.
Rachil has owned Shine Bright Dance Studio since 2014 and in this time has won numerous studio of excellence awards, produced many title winners, along with multiple winning dance routines. She has also won many choreography awards as well! She strives to teach each one of her students how to work hard and strive for excellence.
Rachil loves to spend time with her husband, Dillon, and daughter, Bella in her free time. They love to go hiking, play board games, and spend time with family and friends.
Haley Ervin, co-owner of Shine Bright Dance Studio, was raised right here in the heart of Holmes county and wouldn’t have it any other way. She graduated in the class of 2015 and married her high school sweetheart in 2019 and is enjoying the life they’ve created together.
Haley started dancing at age 3 at Jenyce’s school of dance. She took tap, jazz, acro, lyrical/contemporary, hip hop, and ballet competing all through school. She started teaching when she was in 6th grade (12yrs old). Haley was a varsity cheerleader at West Holmes High School her last 2 years in school, competing at state and U.S finals. This is when her love for tumbling grew the most. She continued teaching all levels of tumbling classes while going to beauty school in Ashland right after high school. She has been a cosmetologist for 6 years now and currently works at Lux salon located in Millersburg.
Miss Catrina has been with SBDS for the last three years. Catrina is a dance and tumbling instructor and choreographer. She came to us with 11 years of dance instruction experience. Catrina herself started dancing at 3 years old and she absolutely fell in love with it. Her favorite styles of dance are hip-hop, jazz and tumbling. Catrina is very high energy and does amazing matching the excitement of her students. Catrina is married to Nick Crider and they have three children, Courtney, Chloe, and Nicholas. Her daughters also attend SBDS and are on the competition team.
Catrina attended Kent State University and received her BA in Early Childhood Education, she also has a Masters in Curriculum and Instruction, and is CPR trained.
Catrina states her favorite thing about Shine Bright is “the environment and all the positivity to say, I am truly blessed to be part of the Shine Bright family“.
Catrina currently works full time as a 1st grade teacher at Millersburg Elementary. She says that she loves children and loves dancing, so becoming a dance teacher just makes sense. Her motto she chooses to live by is “dance like nobody's watching, and live each day like it is your life“.
Jen is known here at SBDS as our Chaos Coordinator / Office Manager. Jen is here to help you with any questions you may have about SBDS and the Shine Bright Competition Team.
Jen has some dance experience as a young child, but truly fell in love with dance once her daughters Kassi & Mia joined a studio 15 years ago. Jen has been an ultimate dance mom ever since. She was continuously involved in recitals, competitions, travel, shows, fairs, parades, and just about anything you can think of in the dance world. Now she enjoys the excitement of helping to plan all these events for you!
Jen officially joined our staff 5 years ago. Jen and her husband Mike are the parents of 2 daughters and have 3 awesome grandchildren.
Jen has 15 years previous experience and training in Early Child Development and Parent Education during her years working for the local health department. Jen Currently works full time at Tractor Supply in Millersburg.
One of Jen’s favorite things about dance is not just the dancers, it’s watching a parent as they get to experience their child onstage. She says “parents glow at recitals and competitions, you can see the joy and pride in their eyes".
Jen’s advice to the team is “Always go full out, simply stepping through a dance is nothing, you must feel it, everytime”.
My name is Ally Yoder. I am 18 years old and I spent 12 years of my life dancing. I am a student at Central Ohio Technical College studying radiology. I have 3 jobs, I work at Pomerene Hospital, East of Chicago, and Shine Bright Dance Studio. I came back to teach at Shine Bright because I want to help the kids be the best they can and make their time at Shine Bright to be a fun and great experience for them. I love hanging out with my dance friends and Shine Bright has always and will always be my second home.
Stephanie is a Lake Buckhorn resident who shares her home with her husband, son, daughter, and a lively assortment of pets. Stephanie's dance journey began in her youth, enjoying dance lessons with her sisters and later becoming a cheerleader at St. Vincent-St. Mary's High School in Akron, Ohio. Now, as a virtual school administrator and assistant handling secretarial duties at Shine Bright Dance Studio, Stephanie brings her lifelong passion for dance and education to our studio. Her deep connection to the studio extends to her daughter, Sadie, who has been dancing at Shine Bright since she was three.
Stephanie's unique perspective as both a dance parent and a part of our administrative team fosters a warm and welcoming atmosphere where students thrive and families feel like valued members of our dance community.
Chelsea started dancing at age 3, and all through high school! She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Dance Business from Anderson University in 2014, where she studied dance pedagogy, stage management, dance anatomy, dance history, and had the opportunity to work with guest artists and perform in and choreograph for several campus performances. During the college years, she also completed an administration internship with Ad Deum Dance Company in Houston. Ever since graduating, she’s been teaching dance and also worked as a dance studio office manager from 2014-2021, both at studios in Houston TX and here in Ohio.
Chelsea has been trained in and taught many years of ballet, tap, jazz, and modern. She loves teaching a variety of styles and ages.Her favorite part of being involved in this art form is using it as a creative outlet, and a healthy form of expression, and getting to teach students to do that as well.
Chelsea is excited to be joining the Shine Bright team starting this season (fall of 2023) after getting to know the students in spring of 2023 while subbing for Rachil and Haley- the SBDS students made an impression with how hard they worked and accepted a challenge!
Lindsey was the first to make me do a back handspring, Rachil was the best dance partner a person could ask for and Jenyce was the best educator around. I'm glad the legacy lives on with shine bright!
Our mission is to provide dancers of all ages with instruction, opportunities, and support to become proficient performers while building self-esteem, creativity, and cooperation as a team in a fun, safe and healthy environment.
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