Professional Company
Jacquelyn Cheffer
Senior Company Member/ Company Captain
Jacquelyn began dancing at the age of three at a local dance studio in Seminole county. She received her training there in jazz, contemporary, ballet, hip hop, and lyrical. Jacquelyn was a member of the Lyman Diamonds dance and color guard team at Lyman High School were she competed at FFCC Championships and WGI World Championships. She also was the captain of the Diamonds her senior year. Upon graduation, Jacquelyn began her studies at Seminole State College currently pursuing her AA. Jacquelyn joined Emotions as a company member in October of 2019 and is very excited for continued growth with the company.
Delaney Shelton
Senior Company Member
Delaney has been dancing for over 15 years with training primarily in classical ballet under Valeria Sinyavskya, as well as modern, jazz and contemporary dance. Delaney was a student for 15 years and member of the Kingsport Ballet company for eight of those years. Delaney has performed in various full-length ballet performances such as, The Nutcracker, The Sleeping Beauty, Don Quixote, and Swan Lake. During this time, Delaney has had the unique opportunity to perform with professional guest artists from all over the world. Delaney attended Kingsport Ballet's summer intensive program yearly, where she studied with many guest instructors, such as Lyvan Verdecia, Andre Valladon, Israel Rodriguez, Odoardo Bordoni, Vadim Burciu, Nina Danilova, Irina Ushakova, Vladimir Anglov, Leonid Flegmatov, Oleksander Vykrest, Brantley Shapiro, and Radenko Pavlovich. Delaney also attended Radford University’s summer intensive under the instruction of Inessa Plekhanova.
Leah Fry
Guest Artist
Originally from Springfield, Illinois, Leah Fry graduated with her BFA in Dance with an emphasis in Contemporary from Lindenwood University. She has performed for Big Muddy’s Dance Festival 2018, 2021; STL: Seen 2021; American College Dance Association 2022 in Milwaukee, been both a performer and dance captain in Six Flags Fright Fest’s Dead Man’s Party 2021,2022,2023; a company member of Consuming Kinetics Dance Company 2021,2022 St. Louis; Space Station Residency 2023 St. Louis; MGM Convention Center in Las Vegas with OnTheFlyProductions, and with Kansas Citys’ Enchant 2023. Additionally, Leah has previously choreographed works for Lindenwood University. Her 2019 piece, Cabinet Thoughts,was selected to represent Lindenwood University at the American College Dance Association. She presented two works while with Consuming Kinetics Dance Company. She is also an avid creator of Dance for Film projects. She has created two works; Into the Divine and Faroe and more in collaboration with Lindenwood Cinema Arts students and film makers in the St. Louis area. Faroe was selected for American Dance Festival’s Movies By Movers, an International Screen dance festival. She is inspired by dance therapy and education having taught in competitive studios across the country and provided dance therapy classes to those in assisted living and nursing homes.
Salih Mitchell
Company Dancer
Having two older brothers Salih was always involved in sports. Around the age of 9 years, a family friend suggested that Salih tryout for a dance production. “The Chocolate Nutcracker”, performed at the Bob Carr Theatre was her first dance production. Surprising not only her parents but the show directors with her natural talent and being a quick learner, she was casted in 5 pieces all with no former training. Salih soon realized this was her gift and sought out to make it her profession.
In middle school and up until high school, Salih was a part of a dance company called ‘MoMentum Live’ where the focus was ballet and contemporary concert style dance. Salih attended Dr. Phillips High School and auditioned for their dance magnet program that she was a part of for four years. She continued her studies in Gainesville, Florida as a dance major studying with the Dance Theatre of Santa Fe College and the University of Florida’s School of Theatre & Dance. Growing up in a concert based studio, after college she explored the commercial side of dance working for multiple theme parks, featured in various commercials, and music videos.
Salih is extremely excited to now continue her training with Emotions Dance and get back to the artistry that made her fall in love with performing in the beginning!
Robert Drennen
Company Dancer
Robert Drennen started dancing at the age of 23. He dedicated his life to creative movement because, for a period of time, it was the only thing in his life that made him feel worthy. Emotions Dance Company was actually the very first dance company to ever hire him and he is thrilled that just about 13 years later, he gets to rejoin and grow with this company again.
Since beginning dance, Robert Drennen has danced with several local production companies and theme parks. He has studied and competed in other areas of creative movement such as aerial silks, lyra hoop, pole dancing, and stilt performing. He also took an interest for 2 years in Ballroom Dance studying, teaching, and competing basics in waltz, viennese waltz, foxtrot, rumba, cha cha, paso doble, swing, jive, salsa, and mambo.
Currently, Robert works full time at Walt Disney World working 5 days a week as a stilt performer and dancer at The Festival of the Lion King.
Rianna Pagliaro
Senior Company Dancer
Rianna Pagliaro began her dance career at the age of 8 at Reach for the Stars dance Studio in Mt. Pocono, PA. She has been dancing for the past 15 years primarily training in ballet, pointe, contemporary, tap, jazz, and modern. Rianna graduated from The Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts in Bethlehem, PA as a dance major. Post-graduation, Rianna attended Montclair State University studying for a BFA in dance, but eventually left to attend Joffrey Ballet School as a Ballet Trainee. She has trained under various artists such as Earl Mosley and Bill T. Jones as well as performed major roles in “The Nutcracker” such as Sugar Plum and Snow Queen with Monroe Ballet Theatre. Rianna is new to Florida and cannot wait to share the stage again!
Emmaleigh Coman
Guest Artist
Emmaleigh Coman has been dancing for 12 years starting at the age of 7. She is trained in contemporary, modern, musical theater, jazz, hip hop, ballet, and pointe. Emmaleigh was trained at Dance Arts Centre in Indian Harbour Beach Florida and also taught dance for 3 years while she was there. She has gotten the pleasure to perform in wonderful places like the King Center and the Dr Phillips Center. One of her favorite things however has been getting to use her talents to help others in ways such as performing at homeless shelters, nursing homes, and banquets that raise money to help her community.
Sam Houston
Guest Artist
Samantha is a seasoned dancer with over 15 years of competitive experience.
Transitioning from student to mentor, Samantha found fulfillment in teaching all forms of dance to a wide variety of ages, and practicing her choreography skills. She has shared her love as a dance teacher, guiding aspiring dancers to reach their full potential. Driven by a restless pursuit of excellence, Samantha embarked on a bold adventure across the country to join a professional dance company (Ingredients Dance Company). As a member of this group she has had the opportunity to travel the nation, preforming with Dance Revolution in shows and worships alike, as well as being a member of the renowned Dance Revolution Productions.
Behind the curtains, Samantha has made her mark in the entertainment industry, dancing in music videos and serving as a backup dancer for singers and songwriters.