Behind every great class is a team of passionate educators who are committed to helping every dancer thrive. At CRDA, our instructors bring a unique blend of professional experience, creativity, and encouragement to the classroom, creating a positive environment where students feel challenged, supported, and inspired. Together, we share the mission of building confident performers and even more confident young people.
Meet Chon Reneé (“Mrs. C”)
Known to her students as Mrs. C, Chon Reneé is a choreographer, professional dancer, creative director, and passionate educator with more than 30 years of experience in the performing arts. She founded Simply Classic Dance in Dallas, Texas in 2009. After returning to her hometown of Vallejo, California, she relaunched the company in 2012, which later became Chon Reneé Dance Academy in 2016.
Today, Mrs. C leads a thriving dance academy while also bringing dance education to private schools, public schools, and community organizations throughout The SF Bay Area. She also shares the joy of movement by leading dance fitness programs for older adults at senior living communities across Northern California.
Her career has included teaching workshops nationwide, founding a high school dance team, serving as a two-time captain of Langston University’s Golden Feline Danceline, performing at the Honda Battle of the Bands in the Georgia Dome, dancing during an NBA New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets halftime show, choreographing for an Oklahoma City Thunder halftime performance, appearing as a cast member in the Cirque Dreams production Splashtastic, and earning multiple awards in dance and talent at the International Model & Talent Association (IMTA).
Beyond the studio, Chon Reneé is dedicated to creating experiences that strengthen families and build community. She has produced a variety of signature events, including The Glow Up Women’s Empowerment Brunch, Girls’ Etiquette Tea Party, Ties & Tutus: Daddy & Daughter Dance, vision board experiences, holiday celebrations, and other family-centered events designed to inspire confidence, connection, and personal growth.
While she is grateful for every opportunity her career has provided, her greatest passion is helping children discover their confidence through dance. As a proud Vallejo business owner, Chon Reneé is honored to be the first Black woman to own a children’s dance studio of its kind in Vallejo, a milestone that reflects her commitment to expanding access to high quality performing arts education for future generations.
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.