Our Artistic Staff
Misty Yencer, Director has 20 years of dance instruction experience and has been directing for DDC since 2011. She is an Achievement Liaison at Welch Elementary School in the Caesar Rodney School District and has been an educator for 14 years. She holds an undergraduate degree in Early Childhood/Elementary Education and graduate degrees in reading instruction and school administration. Misty is certified as a Reading Specialist K-12 and School Leader/Principal in the State of Delaware.
Most of her formal ballet training was under the direction of Tatiana Akinfieva-Smith. She has also trained with Daniel Kaiser, Victoria Voshell, and Diane Drulis in the disciplines of ballet, tap, jazz, and musical theater. As a student Misty attended and competed with Dance Masters of America, Company Dance, and New York City Dance Alliance. Mrs. Yencer has attended instructor/teacher training with choreographers and judges from “So You Think You Can Dance”, Company Dance, and NYCDA. She has also choreographed award winning competition pieces. Misty is a 2013 BroadwayWorld award winner for choreography.
Mrs. Yencer was named “Teacher of the Year” for W. R. Brown Elementary 06-07, and Welch Elementary School 10-11 & 11-12, all of the CRSD. Misty resides in Magnolia with her husband Steve, and her two daughters, Tori and Madi.​​​
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Aimee Voshell String , Assistant Director began her dance training at the age of seven under the direction of the illustrious Tatiana Akinfieva-Smith. She is trained in classical ballet, tap, lyrical jazz and hip hop and has been a soloist with the Delaware Ballet, Salisbury Ballet Company, Diamond Dance Company and Center Stage. At the age of 17 Aimee was one of Delaware’s youngest women to capture the Miss Delaware title, went on to represent Delaware in the 1997 Miss America Pageant and was awarded an Outstanding Delawarean award for her commitment to Arts Education. While earning her Bachelor’s in Communication from the University of Delaware Aimee was a member and Captain of the Nationally Ranked University of Delaware Dance Team and danced on ESPN and ESPN2. Post college, Aimee went on to earn her Juris Doctorate from the University Of Baltimore School Of Law with concentrations in Family Law and Public/Government Service. She currently works as a Senior Criminal Justice Planner for the Domestic Violence Coordinating Council where she is a tireless advocate for DV Survivors and Victim’s rights. While in Law school Aimee Coached the C. Milton Wright High School Dance team and led them to a First Place National Title. Aimee is the official choreographer and assistant producer/director for the Miss Delaware Scholarship pageant and enjoys doing occasional choreography for the Possum Point Players Community Theatre. In 2013 String was a nominee for a Broadway Delaware Best Choreography Award in the both the professional and non-professional categories. She has taught at numerous dance schools throughout Delaware and Maryland is thrilled to be on the staff of TADA where she can continue to further the legacy of Tatiana. Aimee is married to her high school sweetheart Dan and together they have three beautiful children; Brynn, Colton and Cambri.
jessie rodriguez, Assistant Director began dancing at the age of three in Milford, DE. She continued to dance through the age of 21 and had the privilege of training with Ms. Tatiana Akinfieva-Smith for many of those years. She trained in many styles of dance including ballet, pointe, lyrical, jazz, hip hop and tap. During her time as a dancer she participated in numerous competitions, workshops and shows with DDC including The Nutcracker, Coppelia, Pas De Quatre, and Delaware Dance Festival. Jessie’s dance education continued at Salisbury University where she was a member of their dance company. She has always had a love of dance and for working with children. This is Jessie’s first year officially helping with the company and her third year teaching at TADA. She is also a teacher at Love Creek Elementary School and a mom to an adorable little boy.
