Meet Our Instructors
Kara Gilliam
Founder & Artistic Director
Kara Gilliam is the Founder of the Gilliam Dance Project in Smyrna, Delaware. Kara has been involved in dance since the age of 4. She started in tap and ballet as a young child, continuing her education through college, and started teaching after graduating from Virginia Tech with a degree in Chemical Engineering. For almost 2 decades, Kara has shared her love of dance with students in Smyrna. Her competitive dance teams have won multiple National Championships, as well as Entertainment and Choreography awards. Kara continues to build on her knowledge of dance as a member of the Pennsylvania Association of Dance Teachers and Dance Masters of America. She’s beyond excited about the opportunity to continue to educate and share her passion.
“It’s impossible,” said pride. “It’s risky,” said experience. “It’s pointless,” said reason. “Give it a try,” whispered the HEART.
Gabbie Glean
Lead Teacher & Competition Choreographer
Gilliam Dance Project's resident ballerina, Miss Gabbie, has been dancing since the age of 3. From a young age, ballet became one of her favorite pastimes, and she grew to excel in it! Her passion for ballet still shines today, and she loves to share it with her students. Even though ballet will always be her favorite dance style, she also has trained extensively in lyrical, tap, and jazz. She has years of group and solo competition experience and was even the captain of the Unionville High School cheer team her senior year! After graduating from the University of Delaware with a bachelor's degree in political science and public policy, she returned "home" to Miss Kara and the Gilliam Dance Project. She loves to teach the "babies," help our older students develop a strong ballet foundation, and choreograph pieces for our competition team. There isn't much Miss Gabbie won't do for "her kids," and we are so honored to have her on staff here at GDP!
Mia Gilliam
Lead Teacher & Competition Choreographer
Tumbling, tap, lyrical, or hip hop, Miss Mia can do it all! Following in her mother and sister's footsteps, Mia has also been dancing since she was a baby. Friendly, outgoing, and always willing to step in and help, Mia is someone you want on your team! A former Smyrna High School Varsity Cheerleader and key member of the GDP Company, Mia is now a student at the University of Delaware. No matter what Mia is doing, she does it with heart and a huge smile. She's an incredible tumbler and many of our "babies" want to be just like Miss Mia when they grow up!
Sayanni Shaw
Lead Teacher
If you want a master class on leaps and stage expression, watch Miss Sayanni perform! Whether she's effortlessly flying through the air or telling a story with her face, she is a joy to watch. She is also an accomplished competitor, having won many solo and group awards during her time with the GDP Company. She is always having fun and making jokes, which makes her the perfect person to teach our younger dancers. We are thrilled to have her as a member of the GDP teaching staff and can't wait to see what she achieves during the rest of her competition years!
Lauren McLaughlin
Lead Teacher
Lauren is one of Miss Kara's original students. As a key member of GDP's very first Senior Company, her small group tap routine won a number of regional and national awards. Lauren has been dancing since the age of 4 and puts her entire heart into everything she does. When she isn't dancing, she loves to go to the beach and grow her photography skills. In addition to teaching kids to love tap, Lauren is also an elementary school teacher in the Colonial School District and a graduate student at Wilmington University. Her kind demeanor and educational background makes her the perfect person to teach our littles!
Todun Ajayi
Lead Teacher & Competition Choreographer
Miss Todun has been dancing at the Gilliam Dance Project since we opened our doors. Her award-winning choreography, incredible attitude, strong work ethic, and undeniable talent make her a valuable member of our teaching staff. Currently a student at the University of Delaware, Todun is as passionate about her education as she is about dance. In fact, she made history as one of the first six students from Early College High School at DSU to earn both her high school diploma and her Associate's degree at the same time! No matter where her bright future takes her, she plans to continue her dance education by teaching classes, continuing to train, or perhaps even opening her own studio one day.
Bryanna Baker
Lead Teacher
Skilled in every style of dance, Miss Bre has some of the best stage presence you'll ever see! If she isn't soaring through the sky or flipping upside down, she's the first in line to try a new trick or technique. Currently a senior at Early College High School at DSU in Dover, she plans to further both her education and her dance career in college, where her ultimate goal is to become a pediatrician. Miss Bre is a strong team member, a great mentor to all of our littles, and an incredible addition to our teaching staff!
Maddie Miller
Lead Teacher
Miss Maddie has been an important part of the GDP competition team since our first full season. Her beautiful lines and strong ballet background give her the perfect foundation to shine in every style of dance. When she isn't dancing at GDP, you can find her cheering on the Smyrna High School Varsity Cheer team. She eventually plans to go to college to become a nurse, but always sees herself staying connected to dance and teaching for a very long time. She is friendly, smart, and a wonderful addition to our teaching team!
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Laila Gilliam
Competition Team Manager & Choreographer
Laila has been dancing since she could walk. She hit the competitive stage starting at the age of 8, winning numerous team, trio, duo, and solo awards in lyrical, jazz, hip hop, tap, and contemporary dance. Her crowning achievement was being named Miss Premier Believe at the National Believe Talent Competition in Ocean City, Maryland in 2022. Even though Miss Laila is currently living in Virginia, where she works as a nurse and is enrolled in Old Dominion University's Nurse Practitioner program, Gilliam Dance Project will always be her home. Laila’s love of dance was formed at a young age and she’s eager to “pay it forward” opening others' eyes to the joy of dancing.
Sydni Shaw
Instructional Assistant
There is only one Sydni Shaw! Before Syd became a key member of our competition team, you could find her dancing in the aisles as her sister, Sayanni, competed. Now, she is a powerhouse on the stage in her own right and regularly wins awards for her stage presence and big heart. She loves assisting with the younger classes and sharing her love of dance and performing. Our tiniest dancers love Miss Sydni and it's easy to see why!
Courtney Russell
Instructional Assistant
Courtney has been dancing since age 2, becoming a member of the Gilliam Dance Project Dance Company at the age of 6. Whether it's ballet, jazz, tap, hip hop, or anything in between, if there's an opportunity to take a dance class, Court is signing up! When she isn't at dance, she's working on her tumbling skills. She is beyond excited to be following in her beloved Miss Laila's footsteps by becoming an instructional assistant this season!