Welcome
to Dehner Elite Arts!
Dehner Elite Arts is known throughout the area for our elite, all-inclusive performing arts programs that nurture confident, well-rounded artists. Proudly named America’s Best Debut Dance Studio 2025 and recognized as a National Honor Society for Dance Education member, DEA is committed to excellence in training, creativity, and community. As a Step Up for Students Direct Pay Provider, we make high-quality arts education more accessible than ever. You can’t go wrong at DEA!
About Us
Founded in the heart of Deltona, FL, Dehner Elite Arts is proud to be Central Florida’s only all-encompassing performing arts school, offering premier training in dance, acting, singing, drumming, musical theater, art, and aerial arts. Our mission is to empower young performers through discipline, creativity, and confidence—both on and off the stage.
Named America’s Best Debut Dance School at Access Broadway 2025 and recognized as an official National Honor Society for Dance Arts member studio, DEA provides a nurturing yet ambitious environment where students of all levels can grow and shine. Whether your child is taking their first steps into the arts or preparing for the professional stage, we’re here to help them thrive. Join us and experience the DEA difference!
Teachers
Annaliese Dehner
Owner/ Director
Keiera McKinney
Sean Cote
Annaliese Dehner is a dedicated educator, passionate performer, and the visionary behind Dehner Elite Arts. A proud UCF graduate, she earned her degree in Elementary Education with a minor in Dance, graduating with honors in 2019. She holds multiple professional credentials, including being a State of Florida Endorsed Educator, a Certified Acro Instructor, and a proud member of the National Honor Society for Dance Arts.
Annaliese’s expertise spans both academic and artistic disciplines. She is a published writer and researcher in Leonard Bernstein’s Elementary Arts Integration Studies, a certified Google Educator, and a trained specialist in both the IB PYP curriculum and Artful Learning Method.
With over 12 years of experience in performance and choreography, Annaliese has created award-winning work for dance programs across Florida. Her performance journey includes a dynamic residency with the Nock Family Circus, and her teaching career has flourished through roles such as directing the dance program at Midway Elementary School for the Arts and leading 5th-grade classrooms with heart and innovation.
At DEA, her mission is clear: to build a vibrant, inclusive community where every student has the space and support to grow, create, and thrive. Her commitment to accessibility and excellence ensures that artists of all kinds feel seen, supported, and inspired.
Outside the studio, you’ll find Annaliese paddleboarding, playing ukulele, adventuring with her family, or cuddling her beloved cat Cleo. She’s excited to continue sharing her love for the arts with the Central Florida community—one meaningful connection at a time.
Keiera “Kiki” McKinney is a dynamic choreographer and dancer with a rich history of electrifying performances. A recent graduate of the University of North Carolina School of the Arts with a concentration in dance, Kiki has headlined at World of Dance and continues to captivate audiences with her innovative movement and unmatched energy.
She specializes in a wide range of styles from classical ballet to street dance and brings both versatility and creativity to every routine. Her choreography and teaching are known for engaging dancers of all ages and inspiring them to grow in both skill and passion. Kiki is thrilled to share her love and knowledge of dance as part of the Dehner Elite Arts family.
Miya Joyce
Miya Joyce is proud to be a part of the Dehner Elite Arts team as both the studio’s Social Media Manager and a teaching apprentice. She has been dancing since she was a little girl and brings a lifelong love of movement, creativity, and performance into everything she does. Under Miss Annaliese’s direction, Miya is currently studying teaching methodology and learning the foundations of becoming a strong, effective dance educator.
Miya has a deep passion for performing and loves being on stage, as well as creating content that highlights the heart of the DEA community. She is highly motivated, intelligent, and a dedicated student who is always eager to learn and grow. Outside of the studio, Miya enjoys spending time with her friends and staying creatively inspired. She is excited to continue developing as both an artist and teacher, and feels grateful to be growing within the DEA family.
Sean has been playing drums since he was 5 years old. He was a drummer in the Deltona High School marching band, and has played in many original and cover bands throughout central Florida over the last 35+ years.
Sean is extremely passionate about all genres of music, and hopes to inspire your kids to love the drums (almost) as much as he does.
Sean’s daughter has been performing with DEA since the studio opened, and he is excited to be a part of DEA team now too!
Kameryn Slone
Kameryn is proud to be a part of the Dehner Elite Arts teaching staff. She has been training at DEA since the very beginning of the studio and has truly grown up within the DEA community under Miss Annaliese’s instruction for the past eight years. Beginning dance at just two years old and entering the competitive dance world at age seven, Kameryn has developed a strong foundation in dance and performing, technique, discipline, and artistry. Throughout her time at DEA, she has performed in numerous lead roles and has proudly participated in every competition season.
As a teacher, Kameryn is passionate about sharing her knowledge, dedication, and love for dance and performing arts with her students. She brings patience, encouragement, and a nurturing energy into the classroom, and loves helping dancers build confidence, creativity, and strong technical skills. Kameryn is currently working towards pursuing a college degree in special effects, which fuels her creativity and interest in storytelling, production, and visual artistry. She is excited to continue growing as both an artist and educator and feels honored to help inspire and guide the next generation of DEA dancers.
Thom Lake
Thom, a distinguished graduate of The North Carolina School of the Arts and trained with The Joinery Ballet, has captivated audiences around the world with his extraordinary talent. With a decade of professional ballet experience, he has graced stages across the U.S., Mexico, Puerto Rico, Canada, and Asia, bringing elegance and emotion to each performance. Renowned for his role as the featured adagio performer in the iconic “Jubilee” and “Follies Bergere” in Las Vegas, Thom has also made notable appearances in TV and film, including “Rent,” “Mystery Men,” “The Affair of the Necklace,” “The Drew Carey Show,” and “The Closer.”
As a former teacher of Miss Annaliese, Thom is overjoyed to continue the tradition of ballet at DEA, where he brings his wealth of experience and passion to inspire the next generation of dancers.
Nikki Ortiz Tatarka
Nikki Ortiz-Tatarka is thrilled to be a part of the DEA Teaching Staff. She is currently a middle school theatre teacher and director in the Seminole County Public Schools. Prior to teaching at the middle school level, Nikki taught theatre for kindergarten through 5th grade students after spending the previous 13 years as an Early Childhood and Elementary grade level teacher. She is an Arts Integration specialist and advocate, presenting on the importance of integrating the arts into academic learning to school districts and to educators from all over the country through her work with Get Your Teach On. Nikki is also a life-long performer, having begun as a dancer at the age of two. Through amazing arts educators, she found a love for singing and acting as well, which she continued to do through college. Nikki knows how impactful the arts can be on a child's life. She is thrilled to share her love of the arts with the artistic engineers of DEA!
Kayla Tucker
Ms. Kayla began performing at just 12 years old in Miami and has spent over 28 years captivating audiences worldwide. A Cirque alum and former high-wire thrill artist with the Nock Family Circus, she’s known for her dynamic aerial skills and character work.
As the founder of Aerialfusion, Kayla produced imaginative, gravity-defying shows that blended storytelling and spectacle. Though no longer living on her sailboat, she still enjoys time on the water—especially paddleboarding.
Now thrilled to work alongside former student Annaliese Dehner at Dehner Elite Arts, Kayla brings her passion and experience to inspire the next generation of performers.
Savannah Haughton
Savannah Haughton began dancing at the age of two under the direction of her parents, both studio owners and artistic directors. Her early training led to numerous regional and national competition titles, including National Champion for Star Systems in vocal performance. A versatile performer, she has been a featured soloist for Central Florida Arts and has appeared in productions through Stetson University’s drama department.
Savannah was a member of the Stetson Top Hats Dance Team, performing at nationally televised events and appearing on ESPN. She has worked with Harwood-Watson Dance Studios under Eliza Harwood, founder of the Orlando Ballet, and at Preps Dance Academy, where she choreographed for full-length productions including Anastasia and Dumbo. She continues to teach and choreograph for studios across Florida and Alaska, bringing her passion for storytelling through dance, acting, and song to every stage she steps on.
A proud Stetson University alumna and Double Hatter, Savannah holds a BS in Health Sciences and will graduate in December 2025 with an MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. She is excited to dip back into the world of performing arts and share her passion with the next generation of performers.
Rachel Baxter
Ms. Rachel is originally from Ohio and relocated to Central Florida 10 years ago. She has been passionate about art of all forms from a very young age. She went to Columbus College of Art & Design and got her bachelor's degree in Advertising and Graphic Design. She has been teaching art in Middle and now Elementary school in Volusia County for 4.5 years. She has been teaching summer art camps for the past 4 summers as well. Ms. Rachel loves all art styles but has a true passion for Watercolor art, graphic design, murals and crafting.
Outside the studio Ms. Rachel loves spending time with her husband and furry child. She likes to spend her time traveling, going to the beach, and exploring. She is an avid reader but loves to bing a good TV series too. Enjoys crafting and crocheting; especially with her mother-in law. Spending time with family & friends is very important to her. She will always take you up on a shopping trip, trying a new restaurant, grabbing a coffee or seeing a movie.
She is very excited to bring her creative passion and love for all forms of Art & Crafting to Dehner Elite Arts!
Allie Moyer
Allie Moyer was born and raised in DeLand, Florida. She danced competitively for six years, spending most of that time training under the direction of Annaliese Dehner.
A proud graduate of DeLand High School, Allie earned High Summa Cum Laude honors, along with both Merit and Scholar designations. She also holds five Adobe certifications.
Allie is currently pursuing her Bachelor’s degree through Boise State University and couldn’t be more excited and honored to share her passion and talents with the students of DEA!
