At Renner Dance, movement is more than technique—it’s a legacy. Our founder, Summer Renner Disher, grew up immersed in a family where athleticism and performance were a way of life.
Her father, Bill Renner, was a punter in the NFL with the Green Bay Packers and later became a respected high school football coach, known for his discipline and strategic mindset. Her brother, Bryn Renner, followed suit as a standout quarterback at the University of North Carolina, setting records for passing accuracy and touchdowns before playing in the NFL and transitioning into coaching.
Summer carved her own path in the world of movement. After performing as a Radio City Rockette and coaching the UNC Dance Team, she founded Renner Dance in Chapel Hill, NC. Her vision was to create a studio that blends the athletic discipline of sports with the expressive artistry of dance.
At Renner Dance, we believe in nurturing versatile dancers who are as resilient as they are graceful. Our training emphasizes strong technique, adaptability, and a positive mindset—values deeply rooted in Summer’s family legacy.
We welcome families who seek a dance education that fosters growth, confidence, and a lifelong love for movement. Join us, and become part of a story that celebrates dedication, artistry, and the joy of dance.
Summer Renner Disher is a distinguished dancer, instructor, and coach with a lifelong passion for dance. She performed for six seasons as a Radio City Rockette in the renowned Radio City Christmas Spectacular, showcasing her precision and artistry on one of the world’s most iconic stages.
Summer’s dance journey began at the age of three in northern Virginia, where she quickly excelled, earning numerous regional and national titles at conventions and competitions. She trained under the legendary Miss Mary Day at The Washington Ballet, becoming a member of the Young Dancers and apprenticing with the professional company. She also has been certified to teach ballet with the ABT Teacher Training program.
A proud graduate of Florida State University, Summer earned her BFA in Dance while also serving as captain of the FSU Golden Girls Dance Team. Under her leadership, the team achieved a 2nd place national ranking at UDA Nationals her senior year.
In 2015, Summer founded Renner Dance Company in Chapel Hill, where she has trained and mentored dancers who have gone on to win national titles and scholarships and attend prestigious dance programs and colleges across the country such as Pace University, University of Arizona and Florida State University. She also serves as Head Coach of the UNC Carolina Girls Dance Team, leading them to a 5th place finish in the Gameday Division at UDA College Nationals.
Beyond her professional achievements, Summer is a dedicated wife and mother to daughter KJ and son Dusty. In her free time, she enjoys watching sports and supporting her family’s activities. She is passionate about influencing the next generation of great dancers!
At Renner Dance Company, dance is our medium, but our mission goes far beyond the steps.
We are committed to helping young people grow into strong, resilient, disciplined, and compassionate individuals. Dance is simply the tool we use to shape character.
Through the rigor of dance training, our students learn to embrace failure, build patience, and grow confidence in the face of challenge. They learn how to collaborate and coexist with peers, how to lead and how to follow, how to push through discomfort, and how to take pride in showing up every day, even when it’s hard. We don’t just teach technique; we shape character. Our goal is to help every dancer leave the studio not only more skilled, but also more mature, grounded, and ready to thrive in life beyond the stage.
At Renner Dance, we cultivate a culture of excellence, versatility, and respect both on and off the stage.
Our training philosophy is rooted in high standards and individualized growth. We teach to the level of our most advanced dancers, creating an environment where ambitious students are constantly challenged and those still developing are inspired to rise. This dynamic fuels rapid progress, technical mastery, and a shared sense of purpose in every class.
Versatility is a cornerstone of our curriculum. We train dancers across a wide range of styles and techniques, preparing them to be adaptable, confident performers in any setting.
Competitions are an important part of our dancers’ development. They offer opportunities to apply their training, perform under pressure, and grow as both artists and teammates. Our company dancers participate in a core set of competitions that support their technical and artistic journey. We also encourage and celebrate those who choose to explore additional competitive opportunities across the country, as long as they carry our values with them. At Renner Dance, success is not measured by trophies. It is measured by how dancers grow, how they lead, and how they show up for themselves and others.
Renner Dance has earned a reputation for excellence in dance education, with alumni accepted into top-tier pre-professional programs, college dance departments, and professional companies. Our students have received national recognition for their technique, artistry, and versatility. These achievements reflect the strength of our faculty, the rigor of our training, and our commitment to individualized growth. Year after year, families return to Renner Dance because they see the results: confident, technically strong dancers who stand out on every stage.
Our dancers consistently shine in regional and national competitions across all styles and age groups. From solos to large group routines, our students are known for their technique, stage presence, and versatility.
We train our dancers not just for the next competition, but for the next chapter. Our alumni continue their dance journeys with confidence, clarity, and strong technical foundations.
Our experienced faculty includes professional dancers, certified instructors,
and choreographers who are passionate about helping students grow—on and off the stage.
Ally Organo, originally from Apex, NC, began dancing at just two years old. She spent five years competing with the Academy for the Performing Arts’ Elite program, where she trained extensively in ballet, jazz, contemporary, hip-hop, tap, acrobatics, and more. In addition to her studio training, Ally was a leading member of Apex High School’s Dance Company, performing in numerous concerts and taking part in various choreography opportunities throughout the school year. After graduating, she earned a coveted spot on the Carolina Girls Dance Team at UNC-Chapel Hill, where she performs at home football and men’s basketball games and competes at the UDA Collegiate National Championship. Ally is deeply passionate about dance and is dedicated to sharing that passion with all her students.
Brooke Rogers is a dance teacher, choreographer, and adjudicator from Morehead City, NC. Brooke has danced professionally with SIDEWAYS Contemporary Dance Company in Atlanta and has a BFA in Dance from The University of Georgia. She is a former UGA Red Hotz dance team member and represented UGA at NDA Nationals. She specializes in precision jazz and has trained with The Radio City Rockettes at their summer intensive in New York City. She’s interned with Joffrey Ballet School for their Athens, Dallas and Colorado locations. When she’s not dancing, Brooke is teaching group fitness classes or cuddling with her dog Sadie!
Chaveli Peña is a passionate and dedicated dance artist and instructor with a strong foundation in classical ballet, contemporary, and modern dance techniques. She received her formal training at prestigious institutions including the International Ballet Academy, the Magda Auñon School of Classical Ballet, and most recently, the School of Carolina Ballet, where she spent two years in their pre-professional division before being promoted to an apprentice with the professional company.
Throughout her training, Chaveli has performed an extensive range of classical and contemporary repertoire, including lead roles in Giselle, The Nutcracker, Don Quixote, and La Fille Mal Gardée, as well as works by renowned choreographer Zalman Raffael during her time with Carolina Ballet.
Chaveli’s performance experience is complemented by a deep love for teaching. She has coached competition solos and variations since 2021 and served as the primary ballet teacher at Dance Ascension in Garner, NC from 2023–2024, where she also taught jazz, lyrical, and contemporary. In the summer of 2024, she returned to Carolina Ballet to assist with their summer intensive program.
Known for her technical precision, musicality, and ability to nurture creativity in young dancers, Chaveli brings both artistry and encouragement into the studio. She is excited to continue inspiring the next generation of dancers through disciplined training and a heartfelt love for the art of movement.
Gabrielle Giavanna Cataldo joined Renner Dance Company in August 2025 as the Studio Operations Manager, supports our founder with creative planning and programming, and is a valued member of the faculty, bringing a dynamic blend of administrative experience and artistic talent to the team.
Gabrielle is a passionate dancer, artist, and arts administrator. Born and raised in Jamison, Pennsylvania, she has strong personal and professional roots in North Carolina. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Performance & Choreography and a Bachelor of Arts in Arts Administration from Elon University in North Carolina. During her time at Elon, Gabrielle performed in numerous mainstage productions and had the opportunity to work with renowned choreographers such as Jiwon Ha, Hyoin Jun, Maurice Watson, Ashley Lindsey, and Alexandra Joye Warren. She also performed in the 2022 Richmond Dance Festival for choreographer Casey Avaunt.
Internationally, Gabrielle studied at the Florence Dance Center in Italy under the instruction of Marga Nativo, Benedetta Ghiglia, and Angelo Egarese. While abroad, she performed at Teatro La Compagnia in Florence.
In addition to her performance career, Gabrielle has gained valuable experience in arts administration. She completed an internship with Parsons Dance Company in the summer of 2023, focusing on education development and company management. She also interned with the Elon Dance Program, assisting artistic directors Jasmine Powell and Jen Guy Metcalf on fall productions.
Gabrielle is known for her energy, warmth, and expressive movement quality. Outside the studio, she enjoys skiing, spending time in the mountains, exercising, and being with family and friends.
Karen Perez is a graduate of the University of Maryland, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Dance and Choreography. During her time at Maryland, she was a member of the UMD Cheerleading Squad and performed at events such as the Gator Bowl and the Women’s Final Four.
Karen began her dance training at the young age of five and never looked back. Throughout her dance career, she has performed in numerous productions, including works at Western Connecticut State University, Dean College, and the University of Maryland. She has been teaching dance and acro for over 20 years and has previously directed several dance programs, working with both competitive and recreational students. Her choreography for solos and group routines has received numerous awards.
In addition to dance, Karen has coached all-star cheer and dance teams as well as high school dance programs. Acro is her specialty, and she has developed curricula for multiple studios in the area. Beyond her extensive dance experience, Karen has also taught preschool and has a deep passion for working with children.
Karen lives in Clayton, NC, with her husband and three children.
Mady has been teaching dance across the country for over 10 years and has been with Renner Dance since the very beginning. She loves teaching a variety of styles but especially enjoys lyrical, jazz, and tap.
Her students have earned numerous honors, including choreography and entertainment awards, and have been named National Champions at various competitions and conventions. One of her proudest moments was receiving a Critics’ Choice Award for a tap routine at NYCDA.
For the past eight seasons, Mady has also been deeply involved in the competition and convention circuit—teaching, judging, and connecting with dancers from around the world. This season, she is stepping into a directorial role at the studio, leading the Excel, Extreme, and Edge companies.
She is excited to bring her knowledge and experience into the studio and help take all Renner dancers to the next level—whether it’s their first year dancing or their eleventh.
A graduate of Point Park University with a B.A. in Dance Performance, Ms. Rachel plays an integral role at the Ballet Academy through her work in teaching, choreography, and administrative coordination. She collaborates closely with Ms. Rossana to guide student development and prepare dancers for performance.
Trained at Balletto di Roma and certified at the Accademia Nazionale di Danza in Rome, Ms. Rossana has taught and choreographed internationally for over 30 years. Her students have gone on to top-tier companies and schools such as the New York City Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Royal Ballet London, Finnish National Ballet, and more. She brings a legacy of elite training and mentorship to every student she teaches.
Now accepting applications for dance instructors and teaching assistants.
At Renner Dance, we are always looking for experienced, passionate instructors who are committed to teaching with excellence, professionalism, and care. Whether your background is in ballet, jazz, contemporary, hip hop, or early childhood movement education, we want to hear from you.
