Staff

Stephanie Miller
Owner, Exec. Director, Master Instructor
Hip Hop, Jazz, Lyrical, Tap

Hi! I'm Stephanie Miller. I'm the owner of Empire Dance Company.

This studio is my first baby and my second home. My students say they feel like they found their second home too when they come here. We are family with the same passion in life: dance.

I have danced recreationally. I have danced competitively. I have danced professionally. I have a wall of trophies and a mountain of experience -- from music videos, award winning choreography, live performances, competitions that we won, competitions that we lost, conventions with famous choreographers, on stage performances, street performances, dance on these steps and make it look easy performances.

Anyone can collect trophies. Not everyone wants to help other people collect trophies. Not everyone wants to invest their talent in shining a light on others. I do.

I believe dance is about showing other people who you are. The parts of you that are so far inside of yourself we can’t even speak about sometimes. At times you feel exposed, naked -- like 1,000 people are staring. You are baring your heart and soul to the world. Or so it seems.

I want to give you the confidence to show everyone who you are with dance. I will give you the tools, the skills, the strength, the experience to get there. With practice, hard work, perseverance, and the knowledge and guidance from EDC staff, you can and will be amazing.

I know what it feels like every step of the way - from the day you put on your shoes and you hear that beat for the first time to the day where it’s all on the line and your team is relying on you to bring it. I know the excitement, the fear, the pressure and what it can bring out in you. I can lead you through it.

Dance can lead you down so many paths. You might stop dancing after high school or be on the road to professional dancing. No matter where you want to end up, people come to this studio because they share the love of dance. It doesn’t matter that the goals are different. The soundtrack can be the same.

Come to my class to: fall in love with dance and music, learn proper technique, train as an artist and an athlete, to work hard, be challenged, make friends, and have so much fun!

2024 Instructors

Sam Heckman

Co-Director, Competition and Recreational Instructor
Hip Hop, Jazz, Lyrical, Tap

Sam is trained in Lyrical, Jazz, Tap, and Hip Hop. She has choreographed for AVCS Dance Club and been teaching at EDC since 2018! She has trained with top choreographers in the industry such as James Marino, Nicole Russo Henderson, Shane Bruce, Neil Schwartz, Lindsay Richardson, Flynn Aldrich, BJ Paulin, Bo Park, Dana Wilson, Natalie Gilmore, and Charlie Bartley and more! She has been our lead director for our amazing dance opportunities we have had such as our EDC in NYC trip and our Dancing in Disney trip! Sam is an amazingly creative and patient instructor but the best way to get to get to know her is to watch her dance!