Meet Our Instructors
Get to know our talented and caring instructors!
Ms. Melissa
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Ms. Margaret
Ms. Jess
Ms. Olivia
Ms. RuthE
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Ms. Jill
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Ms. Jessica
Ms. Rhonda
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Ms. Anna
Ms. Molly
Ms. Melody
Ms. Caroline
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Ms. Lily
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Ms. Danielle
Ms. Aleksa
Ms. Melissa
Owner and Artistic Director
Dance Instructor
Melissa Cashin has been part of the Time To Leap Dance Center family since the studio opened in 2013 and has over 17 years of teaching and choreography experience. As Curriculum Director, she has helped shape the studio's training programs while teaching dancers of all ages and levels. Melissa is passionate about creating a positive, encouraging environment where dancers build confidence, strong technique, and a lifelong love of dance.
A graduate of West Chester University with a bachelor's degree in Spanish and a minor in Dance, Melissa also served for eight years on the West Chester University Alumni Dance Chapter Board, including as President. She is an award-winning choreographer whose work has been recognized for both technical excellence and creative storytelling.
When she's not at the studio, Melissa loves spending time with her husband and two young sons, who keep life just as energetic as the dance floor. She is grateful to have spent more than a decade growing alongside the Time To Leap community and looks forward to continuing to inspire the next generation of dancers.
Ms. Jess
Dance Instructor
Jessica has been dancing for over 35 years and has worked semi-professionally with several dance companies, including Melange, Earthquake, and Catalyst. She has performed and choreographed for many years with the WCU Alumni Dance Chapter, where she has also served as President and Treasurer.
In 2023, she was honored to receive the Jeff Choice Award for her choreography. Jessica is a certified Dance and Acrobatic Arts instructor and is currently a member of Labyrinth Dance Company.
“My family and I have chosen and love TTL for so many reasons, but mainly because love and acceptance are at the core of its values. We have all felt like part of the family from day one.”
Jessica currently resides in West Chester with her husband and their two young daughters, whose love and support make it possible for her to continue pursuing her passions.
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Ms. Margaret
Dance Instructor
Margaret has been teaching ballet and pointe classes in the area for over 10 years, and she is thrilled to be starting her fourth year at Time to Leap. Margaret loves the community at Time to Leap including the students, families and incredible teachers she gets to work alongside. She loves that there is a place for anyone to dance at Time to Leap.
In addition to Margaret’s classroom experience, she attended the Ballet Teacher’s Workshop at Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet. Margaret graduated from Pennsylvania State University with a BS in Computational Mathematics and a minor in Dance and was a member of Orchesis Dance Company. Margaret has performed professionally with ContempraDance Theater Company, Labyrinth Dance Company, and Andrea Mychaels Dance Project.
Margaret is the choreographer for Unionville High School’s Spring Musical and will be choreographing Seussical Jr with Street Lamp in Kennett Square this fall.
Outside of dance, Margaret enjoys cooking, reading, taking walks, and spending time with her husband and two kids.
Ms. Olivia
Dance Instructor
Olivia received her B.A in Theatre and Dance from West Chester University of Pennsylvania in 2013. She found a passion for choreography during her time in the University Theatre and University Dance Company. After graduating, Olivia was a character and parade performer at Sesame Place for their holiday seasons. She has been a company member of the Andrea Mychaels Dance Project and Vanessa Long Dance Company performing throughout the greater Philadelphia and NJ areas.
Currently, she is a company member of Labyrinth Dance Company for the past several years. In addition to performing, she is a freelance choreographer; having been the musical choreographer at Abington Senior High School for ten years as well as productions at The Player's Club of Swarthmore. She has taught throughout Delaware and Chester Counties for over fifteen years – incorporating yoga, improvisation, and theatrics into her classroom.
Outside of the studio, Olivia loves working out, live music concerts, spending time at the beach, the local farm’s market, and watching all Philly sports. She resides in Downingtown with her husband, two young children and dog. After taking a break from studio life, Olivia is thrilled to be joining the TTL staff! She couldn’t think of a better place to reignite that spark and pass along her love of dance to the next generation.
Ms. RuthE
Dance Instructor
RuthE Freeberg is a well established dance educator who has cultivated a career introducing children to dance for over 30 years. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Dance and Child Development with a concentration in Education from Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri.
Beginning her career directly after graduating, she dedicated her skills to the children in her community, first teaching at West Chester Performing Arts Center for 5 years until it became the Rock School West where she continued to teach for 25 years. She has also taught with the School of Philadelphia Ballet for a season and is going into her 6th year of teaching for Time to Leap Dance Center.
Through her many years of experience and her background in child development, as well as raising five children of her own, she is well versed in what nurtures students' minds, well being, and creativity. Working with children her whole life, her greatest passion has been instilling the joy of dance to the youngest dancers and watching them grow both developmentally and artistically. She is excited to be starting this next chapter with the Time To Leap dance family.
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Ms. Jill
Dance Instructor
Jill has been dancing since she was five years old, and dance has always been a passion throughout her life. That passion naturally grew into a love of teaching. She began as an assistant teacher in high school before going on to teach her own classes while attending West Chester University. There, she earned her Master of Science in Kinesiology, along with minors in Dance Education and Nutrition. During her time at WCU, she participated in both the fall and spring dance productions. She continued teaching throughout her education while earning her master’s degree in Occupational Therapy from the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia.
After the early birth of her son, Jill took a bit of a hiatus from dance. It wasn't until she found Time To Leap that Miss Rhonda gave her the opportunity to share her love of dance and teaching once again. Her daughter began dancing at TTL around the same time, and their family has been part of the Time To Leap family since 2019. They truly could not have found a better second home. Jill appreciates that Time To Leap is dedicated to providing a high standard of dance education while also making the experience fun, positive, and supportive. These are exactly the values she wanted for her daughter’s dance experience, and she is grateful to now be part of that environment herself.
Jill is also a member of the West Chester University Dance Alumni Chapter and enjoys performing in the Winter Festival each January. She has loved the opportunity to challenge herself through rehearsals, choreography, and performing on stage. She has also served on the Alumni Chapter board as Treasurer.
Her family is a huge part of Jill’s life and her love of dance. Her husband, Brian, is her biggest supporter—not only in life, but in dance as well. Jill credits him with helping make all of this possible. Brian has even embraced the dance world himself by participating in the Dudes Dance every year in the recital. He is always recruiting new guys to join and enjoys making Miss Melissa and Miss Jess laugh during rehearsals!
Together, Jill and Brian have two children, Mason and Addison. Mason keeps the family busy with his involvement in his high school marching band and indoor percussion programs. A talented drummer, he has his parents proudly cheering him on, and Jill and Brian are very involved in supporting the band. Addison shares her mother’s passion for dance and keeps the family busy with her own dancing, as well as her involvement in Girl Scouts.
When they aren't at the studio or supporting their children, the family enjoys swimming, spending time at the beach, and visiting amusement parks. They are self-proclaimed roller coaster people! When she has some quiet time for herself, Jill enjoys reading and cooking. She is incredibly grateful to be part of the Time To Leap family and to have the opportunity to share the love of dance and teaching that has been such an important part of her life with the next generation of dancers.
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Ms. Jessica
Dance Instructor
Jessica has been dancing and singing since she was a young girl. She received the majority of her dance training at Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera, where she also began performing professionally. She went on to earn her BFA in Musical Theatre with an emphasis in Dance from The Boston Conservatory at Berklee.
She has taught dance throughout her life, working with students ranging in age from 3 to adult in jazz, tap, ballet, and musical theatre. Her goal is to instill in every student a genuine love and appreciation for dance while building a strong foundation of proper technique and training.
Jessica toured nationally with the Broadway musical Oklahoma! and served as dance captain for the sci-fi musical comedy Willd Wongo: The Planet Wongo, which was featured in the New York International Fringe Festival.
Some of her favorite productions include Chicago, directed and choreographed by Jeff Shade, and A Chorus Line, where she had the opportunity to perform her dream role of Cassie.
Outside of performing, Jessica loves playing guitar, singing at church and spending time with her husband, David, and their two children, Arya and Trystan.
Ms. Aleksa
Dance Instructor
Aleksa has a bachelor's in Dance Pedagogy from Anderson University in Indiana. She has experience teaching in about every style of dance, from ballet and pointe work, to contemporary, lyrical, jazz, tap, and even hip hop.
Aleksa has been dancing since she was five, and is currently a Company Artist with Glorify Dance
Theatre. Aleksa is an ABT® Certified Teacher, who has successfully completed the ABT® Teacher Training Intensive in Pre-Primary through Level 3 of the ABT® National Training Curriculum.
Aleksa is passionate about TTL's priorities of age appropriate dance training, their emphasis on kindness, and their dedication to hard work.
Outside the studio, Aleksa likes to crochet, write, and tend to her many houseplants.
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Ms. Anna
Dance Instructor
Anna Beiswenger is a dance educator and choreographer with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Education from Temple University. Her training includes modern, contemporary, jazz, ballet, pointe, acro, improvisation, and yoga
As a dance educator, Anna is dedicated to fostering both technical growth and artistic expression. She strives to create a supportive, inclusive, and engaging classroom environment where students feel empowered to explore their creativity, build confidence, and tell their unique stories through movement.
Her choreography is grounded in the belief that every body has a story to tell. Anna approaches movement as a language, encouraging dancers to move with authenticity, intention, and emotional honesty. Drawing from human connection, mindfulness, and her background in yoga, she creates work that blends technical precision with vulnerability and expression, inviting dancers and audiences alike to experience movement as storytelling.
Ms. Molly
Dance Instructor
Alongside her 30 years of experience studying, performing, teaching, and choreographing dance, Molly brings a deep passion for the performing arts into the studio.
In addition to her time spent at her hometown studio, Molly studied dance at Capital Area School for the Arts under Rosemary Battista. She then went on to attend West Chester University where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies and a minor in dance. During her time at WCU, she was a member of the University Dance Company, which provided her with extraordinary opportunities to travel, take class, and perform internationally in London, England and at the Olga Sawicka International Dance Festival in Lądek-Zdrój, Poland, as well as the American College Dance Association (ACDA) festival.
Molly’s choreography has been showcased in the 6abc Thanksgiving Day Parade, regional community parades, Disney Springs, and numerous theatrical productions, including Beauty and the Beast, 42nd Street, Footloose, Mamma Mia!, and Anything Goes, among others.
As a dance educator, Molly’s mission is to create a space where students have fun in a structured environment, gain confidence in their performance, and foster a lifelong love for the art of dance alongside a deep appreciation for all art forms.
Molly and her husband, David, reside in West Chester with their two children and dog. She enjoys spending time at the beach, a cozy movie night and trying new coffee and ice cream shops!
Ms. Melody
Dance Instructor
Melody Mendoza holds her BA in Dance, with a concentration in Pedagogy, from Palm Beach Atlantic University. She has worked as a dance instructor and choreographer since 2008 using encouragement to promote a strong work ethic amongst her students while simultaneously using creativity to spur enjoyment of the learning process. She’s been part of the TTL family since 2014. She loves the tight-knit teacher community and the energy the students bring to the studio every day.
Melody has been dancing ballet for over 30 years and has trained under numerous instructors, most prominently Edmund Novak (Ballet Russe De Monte Carlo), and Eileen Houghton-Hebron (American Ballet Theater). She received most of her musical theatre, lyrical jazz, and contemporary ballet training at STEPS on Broadway from Billy Griffin, Al Blackstone, Richard Pierlon, and Juan Rodriguez. During college she interned with Theater Arts Centre in NYC where she assisted Broadway performers including Robbie Robie, Shannon Lewis, and Tony Gonzales, teach choreography to the high school theater intensive students. Her time in college also provided the opportunity to perform in a collaboration with artist Nick Cave and the Norton Museum of Art’s exhibit of Soundsuits.
As a choreographer she has worked for SALT Performing Arts, West Chester Studio for the Performing Arts, and Delaware County Christian School, and as a performer she has been seen on the stage in 25+ theatre productions as a dancer in musicals. Melody is an Advisory Council Member for Dance Awareness: No Child Exploited which serves to raise awareness in the community for the protection of children in dance. She is certified in Progressing Ballet Technique and maintains a Pre-Primary - Level 5 certification of American Ballet Theatre’s National Training Curriculum. She recently started her jazz dance certifications and earned the Basic Level from the Nan Giordano Certification Program. In 2018, Melody founded Glorify Performing Arts, serving as its Artistic & Executive Director and Resident Choreographer.
She has developed over 20 original, faith-based productions that explore the beauty of the Christian faith through the art form of ballet. Outside of dance, Melody enjoys reading - particularly on the beach - and spending time with her husband and their extended families.
Ms. Caroline
Dance Instructor
Caroline Wark is currently a junior at West Chester University, majoring in Elementary Education with minors in Math Education and Dance. At West Chester she is apart of the University Dance Company.
Caroline started dancing at 4 and has been dancing at Time To Leap since opened in 2013 until she graduated high school in 2024. This will be her 5th season on staff at Time To Leap. She enjoys teaching all ages and all styles but especially loves teaching the younger dancers at Time To Leap.
Outside of Time to Leap, Caroline loves spending with her friends, she stays busy by taking classes at school and dancing at the dance company at West Chester.
Caroline loves TTL for its family like setting. It’s feels like home. She made so many memories here, and loves being apart of the next generation of dancers journey. This is where her love of dance grew and she loves seeing all the dancers shine in their own way!
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Ms. Lily
Dance Instructor
Miss Lily has her B.A. from Muhlenberg College in Dance Education and Performance. After having student teaching opportunities in college, she decided to come back to her “alma mater” so to speak, Time To Leap, to continue her teaching practices. Along with her B.A., Miss Lily has certifications in Mat Pilates, Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT), and is a [solidcore] strength training coach.
Miss Lily started dancing at the age of 8 (taught by Miss Melissa!), and started dancing at Time To Leap when it opened in 2013. She graduated high school in 2019 and went on to pursue her dance studies at Muhlenberg College. She is passionate about musical theatre performance, and has enjoyed her consistent opportunities to choreograph local musicals at places like Uptown Knaur Performing Arts Center, Peirce Middle School, and Springfield High School. She performs in musicals herself from time to time, most recently performing in “A Chorus Line” - every dancers’ dream!
Miss Lily’s teaching philosophy tends to gravitate towards the idea of challenging children in the classroom with teamwork, use of choreographic voice, and the art of “noticing”. She believes that children are capable of difficult things, and can problem solve with their peers or independently to find where their passion lies in the dance world. Miss Lily values humor in the classroom and finds a strong bond with her classes.
Time To Leap Dance Center gave Miss Lily a foundation of what dance can represent. For her, it represents community, hard work, discipline, fun, and growth. Time To Leap is a special community and Miss Lily has felt honored to see most of TTL’s chapters and how it has changed. She adores the dancers and feels as though teaching is a two-way-street; she is consistently learning lessons from students of all ages.
Outside of Time To Leap, Miss Lily is passionate about fitness and finding strength and control in her own dancing body. She loves to spend time with friends, her partner Francesco, and her family. Go TTL!
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Ms. Danielle
Dance Instructor
Danielle began her teaching journey at her home studio, Allegro Dance, where she taught hip hop, tap, ballet, and tumbling.
Currently pursuing a degree in Geoscience with a minor in Dance at West Chester University, she is also a member of the University Dance Company, where she has had the opportunity to perform and choreograph. She chose to join Time To Leap because of the overwhelmingly positive things she had heard about the studio, its staff, and its community.
Beyond the studio and university dance programs, Danielle is also a member of the Incomparable Golden Rams Marching Band color guard at West Chester University. She is excited to continue growing as both a dancer and teacher while sharing their passion for dance with the Time To Leap community!
Ms. Rhonda
Founder - Scholarship Namesake
Rhonda Price has taught dancing for over 40 years and founded Time To Leap. A graduate of the prestigious Interlochen Arts Academy, Ms. Rhonda has performed and taught in the United States and Internationally at many dance and music festivals, including the American Dance Festival, Dance the Divide in Helena Montana, Colorado Dance Festival, Hunter College in New York City, among others.
As a professional tap dancer, with Anita Feldman Tap, Rhonda has performed in many NY venues including Lincoln Center Out of Doors, and Central Park Summer Stage. She was also appeared with Anita Feldman at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C. Rhonda shares her passion for dance wherever she goes.
Rhonda has a B.A. in kinesiology, and is a member of National Dance Educators Organization.
Married to Cliff Keljikian, Rhonda has 2 daughters, Hayden and Madelyn.