Pittsburgh native Raina Guyer started her dance training at Judy's School of Dance Arts, in Carnegie, PA. She majored in dance with an emphasis in performance and teaching form the nationally accredited dance department of Slippery Rock University. While in college she was a member and choreographer of the Slippery Rock University Dance Theatre, SRU Express Dance Team, & performed in the university's production of "Jesus Christ Superstar". Raina was selected to perform at the American College Dance Festival in a piece entitled "Aberrant Crossing" choreographed by Ursula Payne.
After college Raina returned to Pittsburgh and became a professional dancer with and director of the NAFL dance team, The Pittsburgh Colts. She was also an instructor and choreographer at Judy's School of Dance Arts, Peter's Township School District and Canon-McMillian School District. Raina was also a member and certified instructor with the Eastern Dance Association.
In 2005 Raina moved to Altoona and became an instructor at Blair Dance Academy, where she was a choreographer for it's competitive dance team, Blair Dance Company. Her choreography for the BDC has been recognized both regionally and nationally. Some awards include National Champ, National Entertainment award, Regional Champ, Best of Show, Choreography Awards, Performance Awards, and numerous others. From 2010-2015, Raina was also the head coach and choreographer of the nationally ranked hip hop team, Hip Hop Overdrive (H2O). While under her coaching, H2o won such titles as National Champion, Extreme Grand Champion, NVSR Dance Grand Champ and MLC Dance Grand Champ. Raina has also had the privilege of receiving the Excellence in Coaching and Extreme Innovative Choreography awards. She has also been an instructor with the Allegheny Ballet Company and a judge for Talent Olympics.
Raina has studied many genres of dance with instructors known worldwide. She has trained in acro, African, ballet, Bharata Natyam, classical hula, clogging, contemporary, Flamenco, hip hop, improvisation, jazz/VOP jazz, lyrical, modern, musical theater, social dance, swing and tap. Some of her instructors include: Ursula Payne, Jennifer Keller, Thom Cobb , Nora Ambrosio, Nola Nolans, and Jaya Mani. She has also had the opportunity to take classes from some of the industry’s biggest names: Wade Robson, Kenny Wormald, Stephen "Twitch" Boss, Alex Wong, Allison Holker, Nick Lazzarini, Denise Wall, Kathryn McCormick, Katee Shean, Joshua Allen and Kent Boyd. In 2012, Raina attended the Dance Teacher's Summit in New York city. Her instructors included Mia Michaels, Mandy Moore, Gregg Russell, Mike Minery, Al Blackstone, Bob Rizzo and Ray Leeper to name a few.
