Carlye Flieder was born and raised in Philadelphia, and began dancing at the age of two. Once she danced her first duo at the age of six, she knew dance would be an integral part of her life forever! While studying dance at American University, Carlye realized there were more facets to the art form than she could have imagined. After graduating with a major in Broadcast Journalism and Dance, Carlye moved to Los Angeles to strengthen her craft before opening C-Unit in 2006. Carlye continues to attend classes, seminars, and workshops in Los Angeles and New York every year in order to stay up to date with teaching techniques, movement, and choreography. She is most proud of all of the dancers that have grown up with the C-Unit family, and seeing them develop up into outstanding young adults that have gone on to pursue a wide range of careers including dancing professionally!

Caitlin started dancing under the direction of Carlye Flieder since she was 8 years old. For 10 years, she studied ballet, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, and hip hop with Carlye, and was one of the earliest members of the C-Unit Company. From an early age, Caitlin began assistant teaching with Carlye, and taught her own class when she was 17. In 2009, Caitlin attended Occidental College in Los Angeles, where she continued her dance training. In 2014, Caitlin returned to C-Unit to begin teaching at C-Unit. She is happy to be home with her C-Unit family!

Valeria is an experienced ballet dancer, teacher and choreographer, with accolades including winning first place in the 2005 Grand Pas Competition from Donetsk, the gold medal and a special award in 2006 Galician Terpsichore International Ballet Competition, and the silver medal and a special award in 2007 Crystal Shoe Kharkov International Ballet Competition. She has diplomas from Kharkov Ballet Theatre, a B.F.A. from the Kiev University of Performing Arts, and a Masters from the National University of Ukraine, all with honors. Valeria’s name is included in the Honorable Book of Fame in Kharkov. She has taught master classes in the United States, Europe, and Africa, and was a Ballet Instructor /Choreographer, Director/Assistant Director of productions with Mystic Ballet Company and Academy of Mystic, Connecticut. Previously Valeria was a principal ballerina and the Deputy Artistic Director of Baltimore Ballet. She was also previously a principal dancer with Russian Grand Ballet, Kiev University of Performing Arts, Kiev Municipal Academic Opera and Ballet, Cairo Opera Ballet Company, Étoiles Russes de la Danse in Switzerland, Kiev Youth Ballet, and Regalul Baletului Rus in Romania. Valeria is also an award winning choreographer who has worked closely with Tony Award winner George Faison, who served as Michael Jackson’s choreographer. Valeria was most recently a ballet instructor and choreographer at The Kirov Academy of Washington DC. During her career at The Kirov Academy she trained many students who won individual awards at YAGP, as well as received the Outstanding Teacher Award.

Lindsay Grymes is a Freelance Choreographer, Dancer, and Pilates Instructor based in the Washington D.C. and NYC area. She graduated from Marymount Manhattan College in 2020 with a B.F.A. in Choreography and continued to gain her Comprehensive Pilates certification in 2022. Lindsay’s body of work is dedicated to her curiosity and enthusiasm regarding human potential. She believes that every person offers nuance to the world, spiritually and physically, and aims to bring that to light through her choreography.

Olga studied Ballroom and Latin since the age of 6 & danced professionally until 2017. She became a successful ballroom dancer in Belarus and achieved a world-class status representing Belarus on International competitions all over the world. She moved to America in 2009 to pursue her dance career.

Annika is a fully certified Acrobatic Arts Instructor. She continues her passion for Acro and Tumbling at American University where she also studies International Relations. Annika began gymnastics at age 3,and started coaching in her home studio Carolina Dance and Gymnastics at age 14. She is looking forward to working with dancers to help enhance their training.

Sophia began her ballet training at age 10, spending several years as the student of the internationally-recognized ballet mistress Valeriia Ivlieva at Baltimore Ballet and Tami Gee’s Dance Schools. She has also studied and taken master classes at the Russian Grand Ballet, the Peabody Conservatory, the Mariinsky Ballet, and CityDance. In Saint Petersburg Sophia studied with prima ballerina Irina Perren and Marat Shemiunov. During these years she performed as soloist in many ballets, including The Nutcracker, Carnival of the Animals, Swan Lake, Gershwin Rhapsody, and Paquita. She has participated in many competitions, among them the Youth American Grand Prix, the World Class Talent Experience, Legacy, and the Atlantic Ballroom Sport Challenge, winning a number of awards.

Mr. Djouloukhazde had an international career as a principal dancer with the highest awards and performances in over 20 countries in Europe, Asia, America and Africa. He partnered with prima-ballerinas of various leading ballet companies, including Nina Ananiashvili, Nadezhda Pavlova, Ludmila Semenyaka. Mr.Djouloukhadze has been teaching ballet for 40 years and holds Masters Degree in Ballet Teaching and Choreography from the Russian Academy of Theatre Arts (GITIS). He has been developing his students into the winners of major international ballet competitions, including the Varna International Ballet Competition and the USA International Ballet Competition in Jackson. His students have gone on to become principals, soloists and members of some of the world’s most prominent companies, including the Royal Ballet, American Ballet Theatre , Mariinsky Ballet, Washington Ballet. To name a few, Michele Wiles, Rasta Thomas, Brooklyn Mack, Matthew Golding, Melissa Hough, Jonathan Jordan, Danny Tidwell, Chauncey Parsons.

Paetyn, originally from upstate New York, currently residing in the DC area is a graduate from the University of Maryland, College Park. She received her BA in dance and associates in business. Her training includes hip-hop, modern, tap, jazz, ballet, lyrical, and musical theater. She has worked and performed with many artists in the DMV including Ama Law, the University of Maryland’s dance department, Laura Edwards, Becky Hill and many more. She is currently a member of Laura Edwards Dance Company in Ellicott City, MD.

Kelsey Smith is an Ashburn, Virginia native. She has been dancing since the age of 3 years old. Kelsey grew up in the competitive dance world training in ballet, jazz, lyrical, contemporary and various other styles. At age 13, she started to train in more commercial dance styles like hip hop and jazz funk. She is currently a member of Laura Edwards Dance Company which has given her the opportunity to train under numerous industry professionals. Over the past few years she has taught hip hop to all ages and levels across. Choreographing and teaching has become a huge passion and she is so excited to help each student in her classes reach their individual goals as well and be able to reach her personal teaching goals as well!

Marco Beheluli is a professional dancer, teacher, and choreographer who specializes in Hip-Hop, Afro Dance, and Street Styles. Born and raised in Northern Italy, Marco moved to Rome at 23 years old. He then went on to become one of the most sought after hip-hop dancers and teachers in Italy, working at the most prestigious studios in the country. Marco has taught in many countries around the world and has worked with various choreographers including Andye J, Amari Marshall, Kenzo Alvares, and Kassidy Bright.

Cartier Williams is a multifaceted artist known as a hoofer, choreographer, filmmaker, and actor. He began tap dancing at age four under his grandmother’s guidance and quickly rose to fame, winning the Apollo Kids competition and performing at prestigious venues like the Kennedy Center. Cartier has shared the stage with tap legends Peg Leg Bates, The Nicholas Brothers, and Gregory Hines. He co-starred in the Tony Award-winning show “Bring In Da Noise, Bring In “Da Funk” alongside Savio Glover. In 2014, he founded The Cartier Williams Dance Theatre, showcasing his work at notable locations. Cartier has also studied directing at The New York Film Academy and has appeared in films such as Spike Lee’s “Bamboozled.” We are thrilled and honored to welcome Cartier to C-Unit Studio starting in September, 2025.!

We are always looking for qualified instructors/substitutes in hip-hop, jazz, ballet, contemporary, acro, and ballroom as well as office assistants – please email info@cunitstudio.local if interested.