CRDA boasts a roster of highly skilled, creative, fun, and insightful instructors. Each has a diverse and unique background, making them a great asset to the company and its mission.
Chon Reneé (or Mrs. C, as the kids call her) is a choreographer, professional dancer, and creative director. She started a dance company, Simply Classic Dance while living in Dallas, TX in 2009, and upon moving back to her hometown of Vallejo, she relaunched the company in 2012, and changed the name to Chon Reneé Dance Academy in 2016.
She has been deeply involved in performing arts for over 30 years. In addition to owning a dance studio, she conducts dance programs at private and public schools in the area and leads dance fitness programs at various senior living facilities in the SF Bay Area. Chon Reneé’s career highlights include having facilitated various workshops and dance trainings around the country; founded a high school dance team; served as captain for Langston University’s Golden Feline Danceline for two consecutive years; performed at “Honda’s Battle of Bands” at the Georgia Superdome two consecutive years; performed at the halftime NBA New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornet’s basketball game; choreographed for an NBA Oklahoma City Thunder basketball game halftime performance; was a cast member of the Cirque Dreams “Splashtastic” cirque-style performance show. Chon has also competed in the International Model & Talent Association, where she won awards in the dance and talent categories.
Upon opening her own dance studio and event center in Vallejo, she has curated many events geared towards the enrichment of kids, women, and families lives, such as THE GLOW UP WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT BRUNCH, GIRL’S ETIQUETTE TEA PARTY, TIES & TUTUS: DADDY & DAUGHTER DANCE, VISION BOARD PARTY, and a plethora of holiday parties.
Among all of her attributes and experiences, Chon Reneé is most proud of her work focusing on developing and training children in dance & performing arts. She is also very proud to be a Vallejo business owner, and the first black woman to own a children’s dance studio of its kind in Vallejo!
Ainsley Walker developed a passion for dance at a young age, starting her dance journey in American Canyon, where she is from and where her love for movement first began. She has received training from various institutions in the field, including The Ailey School (New York, NY), Barnard College (New York, NY), East Bay Center for the Performing Arts (Richmond, CA), Oakland School for the Arts (Oakland, CA), AileyCamp (Berkeley, CA), Marin Academy (San Rafael, CA), and Katie’s Dance Studio & Co (El Cerrito, CA). With a diverse background in ballet, West African dance, hip-hop, modern, improvisation, and ballroom, Ainsley is dedicated to sharing her love for dance with children in her community, fostering creativity, expression, and joy through movement.
Caity Karabensh started her dance journey in Carmel, California, under the instruction of Carol Richmond and Tia Brown Rosenblum. After moving to the Bay Area for college, she has had the pleasure of dancing under Dana Lawton, laura elaine ellis, Nina Haft, and Eric Kupers. She is a current company member of Dandelion Dancetheater in Oakland.
It’s no surprise to those who know her well that Caity has decided to share her passion for dance with others. With a variety of dance styles under her belt, from ballet to social salsa dancing, she is excited to jump into the studio and work with the next generation of creators and movers. Her background in kinesiology has given her a passion for good technique and injury-prevention, as she hopes to foster good practices and keep her students dancing for decades to come.