Location
450 Lindbergh Ave
Livermore, CA 94551
Miss Samantha Gaskin
Founder & Instructor
Originally from Houston, Texas, Samantha Gaskin has a joy and passion for all forms of dance. This love for dance has blossomed through her study, choreography, and performance of dance for more than 26 years. She has studied ballet, tap, jazz, and hip-hop styles of dance all over the Bay Area. Samantha has been dancing since the age of 5 years old and hasn’t stopped since. During high school Samantha studied dance on a recreational level and had the opportunity to perform as a member of the WillowRidge dance team in Missouri City, Texas.
While in college Samantha was a member of the cheerleading team and performed in shows collaborating jazz, hip-hop and contemporary for local R&B and hip-hop artist. Samantha performed for many years on the competition team at Dance 10 Performing Arts Studio in Alameda, California under the direction of Pam Drake.
In 1999, Samantha made the prestigious Oakland Raiderette Cheerleading team where she performed for 3 seasons under the direction of Karen Kovac. In, her second season as a Raiderette Samantha was selected to perform on a special cabaret variety show team for the Raiderettes where she performed at special corporate and charity events. In her final season cheering for the Oakland Raiders, Samantha was selected to represent the team in Bosnia and Kosovo to entertain for the troops overseas.
From 2008-2010 Samantha served as head coach for the San Ramon Valley High School Freshmen cheerleading team. As coach she led her team to first place in several local competitions.
Samantha has 10 years of experience teaching dance and cheerleading to young children at different bay area elementary schools, high schools, recreation centers and dance studios giving her a wide spectrum of experience. Samantha’s passion for dance and her love of children is evident in her teaching style. She both inspires and nurtures all of her students. Samantha’s goal is to provide a fun, exciting, and inspiring atmosphere for her students. She aspires to share her love for dance and allow all of her students to acquire the same love.
Maya Denise has been dancing since the age of two, and has technical training in ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, pom, contemporary, and ballet folklorico. She was a part of the Golden State Warriors Jr Jam Squad, received a scholarship to the American Dance Training Camp 2016, and was also the recipient of NUVO’s Teen Hip Hop StandOut Scholarship to attend the DancerPalooza intensive. During her two years of dancing with the Jr jam Squad, Maya Denise, performed with Aloe Blacc and Montell Jordan. She also participated in the 2015 NBA Championship Parade Celebration and received a championship ring. Her Tap solo placed 1st place overall in the age category at Spotlight Dance competition and Placed 2nd at Bravo Dance competition in small group Hip Hop division Maya Denise Played Claire in Sunshine Dance & Cheer studios rendition of The Nutcracker. Maya Denise had the honor of being a part of the California High Schools Varsity song team, and performs at all of the varsity football, and basketball games. Maya Denise helped to lead the team to National champions 3 years in a row. Maya Denise served as girl scout for 13 years and served as Miss Contra Costa County's Outstanding Teen (O.T.) 2017, Miss Central California O.T. 2018, Miss Los Angeles O.T. 2019, California Teen International Junior Miss 2020, Miss Arizona Collegiate 2021 and Miss Arizona Teen USA 2022. Maya Denise is Senior at the University of Arizona where she remotely assists the studio with fun and creative choreography for Sunshine Dance & Cheer Studio.