Our Team
Jess Bayuk
Strategic Director and Co-founder
Jess grew up in Frederick, Maryland, and currently resides in the Baltimore Metropolitan area. With over 20 years of experience, Jess has trained and taught in the styles of jazz, hip-hop, ballet, tap, contemporary, musical theatre, and pom. She attended the University of Miami in Miami, FL, and was a 4-year member and Captain of the Sunsations Dance Team. Most recently, Jess completed her third season in the NFL with the Washington Commanders as a Command Force Dancer. Jess is a sought-out instructor and choreographer in the DMV area, choreographing for national dance companies, studios, and college and high school teams. Outside of her dance career, Jess holds a Master’s degree in Counseling and works as a School Counselor in the DMV area. Jess is so excited to build an inclusive, positive, and versatile dance community in the Baltimore/Central Maryland area!
Emily Whitacre
Creative Director and Co-founder
Emily began dancing at the age of 4 in Columbus, Ohio. She attended the University of Dayton where she studied Graphic Design and Fine Art. While in college, she was head of the UD Dance Team and also taught an advanced lyrical class to college students. Before Emily’s senior year, she danced for New Vision Dance Co. in Columbus and continued with the company for three years after graduating. In 2016 she had the opportunity to join Seven Dance Company and was part of a project that was aired on PBS and shown at the Columbus science museum, COSI. Emily moved from Ohio to Virginia in 2020 to join Gallagher & Associates as an environmental graphic designer. She continued training and teaching at local studios in the DMV and auditioned for her first professional team. Emily danced for the Washington Commanders’ co-ed entertainment team, the Command Force, for two seasons were she trained with world-renown choreographers. She was honored with the “Full-Force” award her second year, which was also the final Game Ball of the season. Emily is ecstatic for this next adventure with MDDP.