Meet Our CDC Staff

Cheryl Williams is the Owner/Director of Cheryl's Dance Centre'. Cheryl began dancing at the age of 4 with Jeannie Lipe in Reidsville, NC. At the age of 13, she became an assistant teacher and continued to do so throughout her high school years. She furthered her education by attending UNC-Greensboro, where she received her BFA Dance Degree. She took over Jeannie’s School of Dance in 1982, soon after renaming the studio in 1987 to Cheryl’s Dance Centre’. She puts her heart, soul and patience into her dance career. Cheryl has performed in her BFA UNCG Senior Performance, Carowinds, High School Class Reunions, Greensboro Ballet Nutcracker, North Carolina School of the Arts Summer Intensive Performance, Rockingham County Junior Miss Program, festivals, parades and many recitals. 

Ashley is Co-Owner/Assistant Director of Cheryl's Dance Centre'. Ashley began dancing at the age of 2 with her mother, Cheryl Williams. Ashley graduated from UNC-Greensboro, where she received her BA Dance Degree. She competed many years and has won many 1st place overall awards.   She participated in the North Carolina School of Arts Summer Intensive program. She has attended many conventions such as Showstopper , Tremaine Dance Convention and Hollywood Dance Jamz.  She has a certification for the Julie Kay Stallcup Program. Ashley has performed in the Macy's Day Parade, The Orange Bowl Halftime Show, Harlem Globetrotters Halftime Show, UNCG Senior Performance and many more.  She also graduated from Rockingham County High School where she excelled in cheerleading. She was co-captain and captain of the cheerleading squad.She teaches at the studio full-time.

Miss Beth’s dance journey started right here at CDC when she was just 7 years old. From being a competitive dancer through her adult years to performing in the Cherry Blossom Parade in Washington, D.C. and even the Harlem Globetrotters’ pregame show, she’s experienced some incredible moments in her dance career. Her heart beats strongest for hip hop (with contemporary coming in close second!) Over the years she’s earned countless awards and recognitions as both a dancer and a teacher. She has even traveled to teach at conventions and has taken her passion for performing into coaching youth recreational cheerleading. Outside the studio, Miss Beth is a wife to her husband TJ and a proud mama to two beautiful daughters, Lily and Harper. After taking a couple years away, she is thrilled to be back at CDC doing what she loves most—teaching, inspiring, and sharing her joy with the next generation of dancers.

Hayley is an Instructor at Cheryl's Dance Centre and this year marks her 6th season teaching! She will be leading tumble and bringing her skills into other exciting genres this year! Hayley’s dance journey began at just 4 years old, and she competed with the CDC Dance Team from 2002–2010. During that time, she received many overall awards + special recognitions for her performances. But Hayley’s talents don’t stop at dance, She was also a Level 4 gymnast, winning the All-Around North Carolina State Championship. Alongside gymnastics, she cheered from ages 11–19, competing with Carolina Elite Cheer, and later went on to cheer at Mars Hill University after earning cheer scholarships. Beyond performing, Hayley has shared her knowledge through teaching + choreographing at cheer summer camps for middle schools, high schools, colleges, and tumbling classes. 

Olivia is in her 2nd year of teaching at Cheryl’s Dance Centre, but her journey with CDC began long before. She first stepped into the world of dance at just 3 years old, and by the age of 6, she officially joined the CDC family—growing, performing, and competing with the studio until she turned 20. For 10 incredible years on the competition team, Olivia shined on stage, earning countless overalls, 1st place awards, and special recognitions. Her love for performing has taken her to community parades, local festivals, the Harlem Globetrotters Halftime Show, and even a dance clinic with the Charlotte Hornets Honeybees. In 2022, she was honored to be accepted into the prestigious Joffrey Ballet Summer Program after a successful audition. 

Olivia has been a part of the CDC family not only as a dancer but also as a beloved assistant teacher throughout her high school years. Now, as an instructor, she continues to share her passion with the next generation of dancers. Her favorite style is Contemporary, where she feels most free to express her artistry and heart.

When she’s not at the studio, Olivia is continuing her education at RCC, working toward her dream of becoming a Radiologic Technologist.

Makayla brings over 20 years of dance experience across multiple genres, including 7 years as a competitive dancer. She earned her Dance Education degree from Winthrop University (SC), where she trained extensively in Horton & Graham modern techniques and RAD ballet . While at Winthrop, she also attended and competed at several American Collegiate Dance Association (ACDA) conferences. Her background doesn’t stop at dance—Makayla also performed competitively in cheerleading and color guard! During her own competitive dance career, she earned countless 1st place awards and placed in the Top 3 at international competitions .

For the past 5 years, Makayla has been teaching both recreational and competitive dancers of all ages. While she has experience teaching every style, her favorites are ballet and jazz. She is excited for our dancers to learn from her passion, expertise, and creativity!

Kani is originally from Flint, Michigan with over 20 years of training in ballet, tap, jazz, modern, and hip hop. Kani brings both technical excellence and vibrant artistry to the stage and the classroom. A proud graduate of North Carolina A&T State University, Kani blends technical excellence with dynamic artistry in every performance.

Her professional experience includes performances for high-profile audiences and events such as former Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm, the Michigan Black Caucus, Ford Motor Company, General Motors, the Tapology Dance Festival, and the NAACP ACT-SO Competition.

Kani has been a member of several elite dance organizations, including Golden Delight Dance Team, Cool Mist Dance Team, Tisha Jaye Dance Company, and the Carolina Cobras Venom Dance Team. Known for her powerful stage presence and dedication to the craft, Kani continues to share her passion through performance, mentorship, and community involvement, she is no stranger to excellence.

Miss Lauri has been the heart of Cheryl’s Dance Centre for several years as our amazing secretary. With her warm personality and friendly smile, she makes everyone—dancers, parents, and staff—feel welcome the moment they walk in the door.

She handles so much behind the scenes, from phone calls and payments to paperwork and making sure our students get safely to and from their cars. Always ready to lend a helping hand, Miss Lauri is the go-to person for any questions or concerns around the studio. Her dedication to CDC runs deep—her daughter, Miss Olivia, is also part of our teaching staff! We are so grateful for all Miss Lauri does to keep our studio running smoothly every single day.

Hannah is the Social Media & Outreach Coordinator at Cheryl’s Dance Centre (CDC)! She has been running social media for over 5 years and joined the CDC family at the beginning of this year. She handles all things posts, reels, and keeping our amazing dancers, moms, & teachers in the spotlight. Outside of the studio, She owns The Drippy Bar, where she gets to celebrate love at weddings. — but her true passion is serving our Veteran community. 

Being part of CDC has been such a joy — She loves these girls, their passion, the moms who give it their all, and the incredible teachers who pour into them every day.