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OUR STORY
Karen Sachs Academy of Dance was established in 1982 by Karen Sachs herself. Karen retired in 2021 and sold the business to Katie Reynard and Jessica DeCarlo, two former students who started dancing with Karen at the age of 3 and 6.
Katie and Jessica strive to continue Karen Sachs' legacy by sharing their love of dance with the community. Whether the goal is expanding technique, having fun, or just looking for a new way to exercise, you can find it within the Academy.
At Karen Sachs Academy of Dance, we believe dance offers more than an activity. Not only does dance strengthen one's technique, but even more, can develop one's character. Through discipline, dedication, and passion, our teachers and Academy will offer a safe place to explore movement creatively while encouraging self-confidence.
Our goal through the studio is to support everyone that chooses our dance home while also giving back to our community. Let us know your dance journey goals, and we will navigate and support your journey with you.
OUR TEAM
KATIE REYNARD
Katie started dancing at Karen Sachs Academy of Dance at the age of 3 and started student teaching and working in Dance Rags at the age of 16. Growing up at the studio with Ms. Karen as an idol, Katie is beyond grateful to now be a co-owner of the Academy with Jessica DeCarlo. Katie works full time at the studio and teaches classes throughout the week to dancers age 3 to adult. She believes the studio can be a home to everyone, regardless of age and experience level, and offers a safe place to gain confidence and inspiration while exploring movement.
JESSICA DECARLO
Jessica started dancing at Karen Sachs Academy of Dance when she was 6 years old and grew up dancing on the competition team. Jessica started teaching at the studio part time while attending Mount St. Mary's college. In college she earned her elementary and special education bachelor degree while also dancing on their dance team where she was a captain for two years. Jessica is not only co-owner of the Academy but is also celebrating her 5th year teaching and has recently switched to work for Carroll County Public Schools. Jessica is a special education teacher working in a specialized program for students with Autism at Winfield Elementary School.
HEATHER KLOOR MOSHER
Heather has been teaching at Karen Sachs Academy for over 30 years and recently celebrated her 40th year of teaching. She is a native of New York, where she opened the “Kloor School of Dance” in 1972. Heather extensively studied dance in NYC and was taught by some of the most renowned dance teachers. She choreographed and performed in numerous plays and dinner theaters. Heather also performed in a professional Dance Company and appeared with Tony Bennett, Jerry Vale and Frankie Avalon. She was mentioned in the Dance Teacher Magazine for taking her students to the “Rockette Experience”, Radio City, New York. For the second time, her bio appears in the “Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers”. Heather has also toured the U.S. with various companies as a competition judge. Miss Heather is extremely proud of her students, earning her numerous Awards for Excellence, Best Entertainment, & Outstanding Choreography.
Irina Borodin
Irina was born in the former Soviet Union and began her training in the classical Vaganova ballet technique at a professional ballet school in Ukraine at the age of 10. After graduating at 18, she joined the Dnepropetrovsk Ballet Company, based at the state opera house, with whom she toured throughout the USSR for several years. Her schooling and experience is the equivalency of a bachelor’s degree in fine arts with a concentration in dance. In 1992, Irina moved to the U.S. and taught at Karen Sachs Academy of Dance for 2 years, before moving to Wellington, the capital of New Zealand. There she opened up her own, very successful ballet school. She has been back in the US now for over 15 years. She teaches our Junior Ballet, Senior Ballet, and Pointe Companies. She also teaches Ballet to students age 7 and up as well as Tap and Ballet combination classes to students age 3 to 6. Miss Irina feels delighted watching her students improve year after year.
TAYLOR OLSEN
Taylor is a native of Long Island, New York, and began dancing at the age of 2. In High School, she was a four year member of her Varsity dance team, and led her team to a national championship as captain during her senior year. Additionally, she was named an NDA All American Dancer. After, she attended Towson University, and was a member of the 17 time NDA National Championship team. Along with teaching classes at Karen Sachs, Taylor is a special education teacher at Catonsville Middle School.
Jaydee Moultrie
Jaydee is a dancer and choreographer from the DMV. He is a former NBA Dancer for the Washington Wizards and has performed as a member of multiple local dance groups. He has choreographed HipHop, Jazz, Modern, and ballet for collegiate dance companies, dance teams, and pre-professional dance companies. His style is energetic, full out, and FUN!
Sophia Trakhtman
Sophia began her ballet training at age 10, spending several years as the student of the internationally recognized ballet mistress Valeriia Ivlieva at Baltimore Ballet and Tami Gee’s Dance Schools. She has also studied and taken master classes at the Russian Grand Ballet, the Peabody Conservatory, the Mariinsky Ballet, and CityDance. In Saint Petersburg Sophia studied with prima ballerina Irina Perren and Marat Shemiunov. During these years she performed as soloist in many ballets, including The Nutcracker, Carnival of the Animals, Swan Lake, Gershwin Rhapsody, and Paquita. She has participated in many competitions, among them the Youth American Grand Prix, the World Class Talent Experience, Legacy, and the Atlantic Ballroom Sport Challenge, winning a number of awards. In 2019, Sophia was accepted into Towson University’s Dance program, studying under Linda-Denise Fisher-Harrell, Tracie Burton-Hooper, and Vincent Thomas. She joined Dance Baltimore Collective where she performed at Center Stage in Baltimore. Sophia has taught at Baltimore Ballet and Candace Sheppard Dance Academy, and she has given master classes at C Unit Dance Studio. She is currently a class assistant under Amber Daniels with Beer and Ballet classes. While specializing in ballet, Sophia also has experience in Latin ballroom dance, jazz, contemporary, and lyrical. Sophia is very excited to share and pass on to students the knowledge and experience she has gained throughout the years.
Gabby Grimaldi
Gabby is in her fourth season as an NFL Cheerleader for the Baltimore Ravens. She was named Rookie of the Year in 2021, became Captain in 2024, and is a two-time Pro Bowl nominee. She has also choreographed one sideline routine and four NFL end zone routines. Gabby is an alumna of the Towson University Dance Team and a former instructor for the National Dance Alliance (NDA), where she traveled nationwide to coach, judge, perform, and lead dancers in technical and motivational training. She currently teaches various dance styles to children and adults at AVA Dance Company, The Maryland Dance Project, and throughout the DMV. She is so excited to be a part of the KSAD family!
Elizabeth Wirts
TBA
ALI KRAUS
Ali began dancing at the age of four at her mom's dance studio in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. She is a graduate of Towson University where she was a member of the national winning dance team. Ali is trained in lyrical, contemporary, jazz, ballet, tap, jazz, musical theater, poms, and acro.
She was once chosen to represent America at the International Dance Meeting in Tropea, Italy with dancers from all over the world. She worked as a power pack team leader for Starpower and was a member of the Starpower competition staff for five seasons. Ali is a former Miss Starpower, Miss NexStar, Miss Teen NexStar, and Miss Dance.
Ali began teaching and choreographing at Karen Sachs Academy of Dance in 2012. She also coaches a special needs cheerleading team at the Maryland Twisters cheer gym. Most recently, Ali was a Ravens Cheerleader from 2014-2019 and is the current assistant coach of the Baltimore Ravens Cheerleading Team.
ABBY FRISCH
Abby’s love of dance began when she stepped into Miss Irina’s combo class when she was 3 years old. She has competed with Sachs Pac since age 5, earning many awards and titles. Abby is a very versatile dancer, studying the styles of ballet, pointe, jazz, contemporary, modern, tap, hip hop and musical theater. Abby is currently a dance prime student at George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology in Towson. As a member of the Jam Youth Project (2016-2017), she performed in the tap video “Farther Up the Road.” In addition to dancing locally, Abby is a member of the Boston-based American Tap Company and American Dance Company. She has represented the USA at the World Tap Championships in Germany three times, winning a Silver medal in 2015 and a Gold medal in 2019. In 2019, Abby also represented the USA at the World Ballet and Jazz Championships and the World Contemporary and Modern Championships in Poland, winning a Gold medal in jazz. Abby most recently worked with local artist Gregson Lunz as the featured dancer/actor in the music video “The Element,” released in 2020. Abby's passion is dance, and she hopes to perform professionally and ultimately open a dance studio of her own.
SANDY HAINES
Sandy started working for Karen Sachs about 30 years ago as Dance Rags' Store Manager when her son danced at the Academy. Over the years her role with the studio grew into a friendship that runs deep with Karen, our teachers, and customers. Sandy is always ready to help whether it's to get a special merchandise order placed, to size dancers for proper fitting dance wear, to answer calls and questions about our programs and Academy, and so much more. We are beyond grateful Sandy is still a part of the studio and Dance Rags and we thank her for always keeping us organized and lending a helping hand.
KAREN SACHS
Karen founded Karen Sachs Academy of Dance in 1982. She began teaching in 1980 and over the years, developed a philosophy of teaching dance. She believed that through dance, a child can learn rhythm, grace, balance, and most importantly, self-confidence, while creatively exploring movement. Karen recently retired after sharing her love of dance for 39 wonderful years, to many generations of the Reisterstown Community! Thank you Ms. Karen for sharing your passion, talent, and vision with so many generations and for sharing your love of dance with us all!
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