Our Story
About Meraki
Born from a love of dance and a belief that every person deserves the chance to move, express, and grow.
Our Mission
Dance with Your
Whole Soul
The word meraki is a Greek word that means to do something with soul, creativity, and love — to put a piece of yourself into what you're doing. This philosophy sits at the heart of everything we do.
We believe dance is more than technique. It's a language. A way of connecting to yourself and others. Our studio is a place where students learn discipline and artistry, but also joy, confidence, and community.
From a toddler's first creative movement class to an adult's debut recital, every milestone is celebrated here.
What We Stand For
Our Core Values
Artistry
We cultivate genuine artistic expression — helping each dancer find their unique voice through movement.
Excellence
High standards, thoughtful instruction, and a commitment to continuous growth for every student.
Belonging
An inclusive, nurturing environment where every dancer — of every background and ability — belongs.
Leadership
Meet the Founders
Rani Carlson
Owner, Instructor & Choreographer
Rani is truly a woman of many talents. Not only is she one of our owners, but she is also the creative force behind so much of what makes Meraki special. As our off-site choreographer and instructor, and the magic-maker behind our music edits, her ability to understand music and bring it to life with pitch-perfect editing is nothing short of incredible. Even though you may not see her in the studio every week, as she lives in the beautiful mountains of Tennessee, her presence is felt everywhere. Her choreography, her edits, and her heart are woven into the fabric of our studio. Just say her name in the hallways, and you'll see how quickly we light up talking about her. Rani is truly sunshine in human form, and she brings warmth and joy wherever she goes. With over 16 years of dance experience and 10 years of teaching, Rani's love for this art runs deep. She began her journey at Got 2 Dance School of Dance, where she built a strong foundation in ballet, jazz, tap, and lyrical, and grew through years of competitive performance. Lyrical dance holds a special place in her heart as it is her passion and her outlet, allowing her to create choreography that tells stories not just to be seen, but to be felt. She pours this same passion into her dancers, always striving to create a supportive and inspiring environment where they can grow both technically and artistically. When she isn't working her magic with music and choreography, you'll often find her searching for treasures at a thrift store or yard sale, scrolling Pinterest for her newest craft obsession, or enjoying life at home with her sweet fur baby, Whiskey. We are endlessly grateful to have Rani as such an essential part of our Meraki family. Her artistry, her heart, and her sunshine spirit make our studio a brighter place every single day.
Marissa Fox
Owner, Instructor & Choreographer
Marissa is the coordinator of our Meraki family and one of our amazing co-owners. If you've ever met her, you already know that her dogs will 100000% come up in conversation (and she'll have plenty of pictures to prove it!). Marissa has been dancing since the age of three and hasn't stopped moving since. With 25 years of dance experience, 10 years of teaching, and a strong competitive dance background, she brings the perfect blend of structure and fun to every class. Marissa trained at Pointe and Click, Riverwind, and Got 2 Dance School of Dance and became well-versed in ballet, jazz, tap, and lyrical — but jazz and tap remain her favorites. In her classes, Marissa's goal is to help every dancer discover their own confidence, feel encouraged to push past challenges, and embrace teamwork both inside and outside the studio. She believes dance is about so much more than steps — it's about building character, creating connections, and celebrating growth together. Outside the studio, Marissa is married to Austin, the BEST dance husband a girl could ask for! At home, they share life with their three rescue pups — Pailin, Willie, and Cash — and one porch-adopted kitty named Smokey. When she's not teaching, you can find her baking something sweet, curled up with a good book, sewing cute dog bandanas, or shopping for a new plant to add to her collection.
Tonie Goldsmith
Owner, Instructor & Choreographer
With over 42 years of dance experience, Mrs. Tonie Goldsmith has dedicated her life to sharing the art of storytelling through movement. To her, dance is a conversation — a way to tell a story where the body becomes the voice and movement becomes the melody. From 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, you'll find Mrs. Tonie at Elizabeth City Middle School serving her community as Deputy Goldsmith, where she patrols, protects, and supports approximately 600 energetic middle school students. But when 5:00 p.m. arrives, she trades in her duty belt and bulletproof vest for ballet and tap shoes, transforming into the joyful, creative force behind Meraki Academy of Dance. Her lifelong passion for the performing arts inspired her to co-found Meraki Academy of Dance, a place where dancers of all ages can explore the beauty of Ballet, Lyrical, Modern, Contemporary, Jazz, Tap, Theater Arts, and Musical Theatre. Mrs. Tonie believes that anything worth doing should be done with intent and passion so deep it comes from the soul. Her goal in co-founding Meraki was to make dance accessible to every child who feels the calling to move — regardless of background or experience. Beyond the studio, Mrs. Tonie's passions run deep. She finds peace in nature, most at home walking through the woods among the trees, and proudly embraces her inner space nerd with Jupiter as her favorite planet. And if you ask her about extraterrestrial life, she'll smile and say she has proof: "Meraki dancers are out of this world!"
The Team
Our Instructors
Brittany Judge
Instructor & Choreographer
Brittany is the kind of dance teacher who lights up the room with her positivity and infectious smile. With 18 years of dance experience and 5 years of teaching under her belt, she's not just passionate about dance, she's passionate about people. Always ready with a kind word and a helping hand, Brittany is the friend you want by your side both on and off the dance floor. She started her journey at Got 2 Dance School of Dance and fell in love with ballet, jazz, tap, lyrical, hip hop, and musical theater, basically, she's a total dance multi-tasker! Jazz is her favorite because she gets to bring the energy and sparkle to class, but when it's time to feel all the feels, lyrical dance is where she shines. Brittany's love for the arts goes beyond dance as she studied theater at the College of the Albemarle and even rocked the stage in COA's Oklahoma! She was also part of the UNCW Dance Company, where she polished her performance skills and deepened her love for the stage. When she's not teaching or dancing up a storm, you'll find her nose deep in a fantasy book, belting out Taylor Swift tunes, or making memories with her friends and family. Basically, Brittany's the sweetest, most fun dance teacher you'll ever meet, and she can't wait to dance with you!
Alora Roberts
Instructor & Choreographer
Alora is a dynamic and passionate dance instructor with 19 years of experience in the dance world and over 3 years of teaching under her belt. She specializes in ballet, jazz, contemporary, and musical theatre, and brings a rich creative background to the classroom including choreography for musicals and hands-on experience in directing. Alora's teaching style is rooted in musicality, adaptability, and a deep belief in the untapped potential of every dancer. In her classes, students are encouraged to push their limits and discover strength they didn't know they had. She fosters a learning environment that balances healthy self-discipline with growing self-confidence, always making room for vulnerability, individuality, and of course, plenty of laughter. Alora's goal is for every student to leave her class feeling empowered, motivated, and more connected to themselves as both artists and individuals. Outside the studio, Alora enjoys cooking, creating art, and spending time with her beloved sphynx cat, Mouse! Alora is extremely passionate about the arts, with ballet holding a special place in her heart. She has made it her mission to learn everything she can about dance, and her professionalism shines through in all she does. She can't wait to get back into the studio with all of our amazing dancers and share her love of dance with each of them! We are so lucky to have her on our Meraki team!
Katie Barefoot
Instructor & Choreographer
With over 40 years of dance experience and 20 years of teaching, Mrs. Katie is truly a ray of sunshine in the studio. She is wonderful to be around and is always greeting her dancers with a smile and lighting up the room with her bright and happy energy. Her passion and precision make every class both inspiring and full of joy! Katie began her training at the Libby Allen School of Dance, where her lifelong love for movement first bloomed. Trained in ballet, jazz, and tap, she treasures the discipline of ballet and the storytelling of jazz, but tap has her heart! Her love for rhythm and intricate footwork shines through in her teaching, encouraging dancers to find joy in every beat. Outside the studio, Mrs. Katie's light shines just as bright. She loves spending time with her husband, Tony, their sweet daughter Liara, and their pups. If she's not dancing, you'll probably find her in the kitchen cooking up something delicious! Mrs. Katie can't wait to share her love of dance and her bright spirit with her Meraki dancers this season!
Kalin Blancaver
Instructor & Choreographer
Kalin is a passionate and creative dancer who's enthusiastic about sharing her experience through teaching. She primarily trained in ballet growing up, which gave her a grounding in technique and discipline. But later, she explored various styles in college where she fell in love with modern and contemporary dance, where passion and creativity were the main drive. This gave her a love for improv and personality, which she can now combine with her previous technical training. She recently moved across the country from rural Idaho with her husband and 5 cats (who she's equally obsessed with!) And she now works full time at the Sentara hospital as a Patient Care Technician, is a full time student pursuing her Bachelor's degree in Biomedical Science, and still finds the time to pursue her passions! She also loves to workout at the gym with her husband, who is also a proficient dancer, though he specializes in hip hop and freestyling. Despite their different backgrounds in dance, the two love to choreograph together dances that highlight and combine both of their styles in unique ways. They even performed a choreographed piece at their wedding reception as a way to share their love and passion with all their friends and family in their special day! Off the dance floor, Kalin enjoys many other creative activities such as drawing, painting, sewing handmade quilts, acting, singing, and modeling! She also LOVES to read and write, and is currently fulfilling her dream of completing a novel she hopes to one day get published. Kalin also has a deep appreciation for her ability to eat daily home cooked Filipino dishes from her husband, attend family gatherings with her HUGE extended family (including 100+ cousins just from her mom's side!), and spend time with her niece and two nephews. Kalin is excited to contribute her passion and experience with every dancer's own journey throughout their time at the studio!