The Next Step Dance Studio Staff

Lori Buffalow Lori Buffalow Owner and director, of the Next Step Dance Studio. She has been teaching and dancing professionally for the past 22 years. While a member of the American Dance Company and the United Spirit Association, she performed in concerts featuring Huey Lewis & The News, The Beach Boys, and Gloria Estefan. She was a member of the San Francisco 49ers Gold Rush. Lori earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from St. Mary's College and has been a popular dance instructor for children and teens in the Danville area for many years. Since taking over The Next Step, her performing dance teams have won top awards while earning several dance scholarships. The teams have performed at Disneyland, on Cruise lines and performed on a European Tour plus numerous local events. Several of the Next Step's students have advanced to college dance teams, pro sports teams, and have made careers in dance production. The goal of The Next Step is to provide a positive, nurturing experience for students, in varying styles of dance on all levels & for all ages. A talented and professional staff has been assembled in order to achieve that goal.

Alyce Finwall Alyce Finwall is originally from St. Paul, Minnesota. Alyce began her career in movement studying dance at an early age. She has studied under scholarship at the Merce Cunningham School, in NYC, at the Maryland Youth Ballet and with the Culberg Ballet in Stockholm, Sweden. She has performed with many influential choreographers and companies in Minneapolis, Washington DC and NYC, most notably as a principal dancer and guest choreographer with the avant garde ballet company Ballet of the Dolls. Alyce’s choreography has been performed throughout the U.S. and in Europe, and has received numerous grants and awards. Alyce has also worked extensively for film, music videos and fashion as both a dancer and choreographer. She is currently a 2010 MFA candidate in dance at Mills College. The Next Step welcomes Alyce and is excited to have her on staff!

Kelly Garcia Kelly Garcia is the manager of our studio and director of our K-Team, Petite Pre-team, Preteam & Teen Explosion, competitive dance teams representing The Next Step, which have won several awards and dance scholarships. Kelly has performed for more than 22 years, 16 of them as a very popular and experienced instructor. Portrayed on the cover of the aerobic dance book "Keep Moving," illustrations of Kelly can be seen throughout, depicting proper forms and techniques.

Wendy Haddock Wendy Haddock has been dancing for 23 years. She has studied jazz, tap, ballet, modern and hip-hop extensively in Southern Californian studios and schools. Wendy attended Cal State Long Beach as a dance and art double major and danced with various companies such as John Stronk’s Dancers, Diamontey Dance Company and Unity Dance Ensemble. She has performed and toured with these companies as well as being in Rgs D’s Video and choreographing/dancing for Don Carlos.

Nicole Haworth Nicole has been dancing at The Next Step Dance Studio for many years. She is a Senior at San Ramon Valley High School where she is also a member of the Dance Team. Nicole is a bright and talented dancer and spends most of her time in the dance studio where she is a member of four Next Step Competitive Performance Teams. Nicole has performed at Disneyland, with the Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, on a European Tour and for many local community events. Nicole has been teaching at The Next Step for the past three years and is well liked by her students. We look forward to continuing to have Nicole on staff at TNS.

Rachel Jackson Rachel Jackson is the director of our Sr. Hip Hop and Dance Rage, competitive dance teams for high school students. She has choreographed and performed in the Bay Area and internationally for the past 19 years. She is the former director of the San Francisco 49ers Goldrush Cheerleaders, has worked with Boyz II Men, Baby Face and Tony Bennett, plus appeared in commercials for Dr. Scholl’s and Pepsi.

Corissa Johnson Corissa Johnson Corissa graduated with honors in the Spring of 2008 from California State University, East Bay Hayward, where she obtained a degree in Theatre Arts-Dance, as well as an English minor. Corissa has danced, performed, and choreographed for 9 years and has extensive training in Hip Hop, Modern, Jazz, and Salsa. She has traveled to New York and participated in the Headliners Competition and also to Germany, for the IDO International Hip Hop Competition. She is currently working in Oakland for Premiere Arts, running the OFASS Dance Program and has recently worked with the youth, at McClymonds High School, as Program Manager for "You Must Believe Inc.", promoting self esteem and the arts through Theatre, Dance and the spoken word.

Jen Kajioka Jennifer is a Monte Vista High School graduate and has participated in Monte Vista Cheerleading as well as the Dance Team for her four years attending. She started taking ballet and tap when she was 5 yrs. old and later on, stopped for sports, but dancing has always been her passion. While teaching her second year at The Next Step, she is now attending Las Positas College where she is minoring in Art - Dance and has continued dancing for the Las Positas Dance Team.

Lauren Moshy Lauren has been dancing since she was four years old. She started dancing with The Next Step at the age of 7. She first made dance team in 2001 on the award winning Junior Tap Team. Since then she has competed on many of The Next Step's dance teams and branched out into jazz and ballet and hip hop. Lauren is also in the highest dance level at her high school. This will be her third year teaching at The Next Step and she looks forward to another year of dancing with The Next Step before heading off to college.

Rolleen Myers Rolleen Myers comes to The Next Step as an accomplished dancer and entertainer with 27 years of experience. She is the Tap Director of the award winning JR, Senior, Elite and T.A.P. Tap Teams. She was line captain/co-captain for the Oakland Raiderettes, Miss Alameda County USA 1991, an interviewer and reporter for the "Medal Minute" TV show and the producer/host of Rock’ n Rolleen’s "Hard Rock Work Out" TV show.

Jillian Rovner Jillian has performed in Ballet, Jazz, Hip Hop and Lyrical numbers both competively and on tour. She has been a member of The Next Step Performance Teams and has performed at Disneyland, California Adventure, the Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines and on a European Tour! Jillian is starting her Senior year at San Ramon Valley High School where she is also part of their Dance Team. Jillian has obtained high honors both in her High School and in the dance world, winning many scholarships. Jillian enjoys working with children and has been a popular teacher this past year when subbing dance classes and teaching Summer Dance Camp. She specializes in Next Step Birthday parties and looks forward to working with future TNS dancers !

Susan Williams Susan Williams is one of the Bay Areas most popular ballet instructors and a noted choreographer. Some of her choreography productions include Alice in Wonderland (Rossini, Respighi), Midsummer Night’s Dream (Mozart, Mendelssohn) and Patchwork Girl of Oz (Tchaikovsky). Susan choreographed two operas each year for the San Francisco Children’s Opera and has also worked with the Oakland Opera Theatre. She is a proud member of both the Royal Academy of Dance and the Bay Area Dance Coalition. Susan has received a Bachelor of Arts in the Art Department at U.C. Berkeley and also an Advanced Syllabus, Intermediate: Full RAD membership, Elementary Certificate from the Royal Academy of Dance, London.