Studio Founder & Artistic Director
Studio Founder & Artistic Director
As the founder and Artistic Director of Encore Performers, Raynor van der Merwe has spent 30 years cultivating Northern Virginia's home for authentic Musical Theatre dance. Certified through the world-renowned Imperial Society of Teachers of Dance (ISTD), Raynor combines international pedagogical rigor with a deeply personal commitment to every student who steps onto her studio floor. Her vision is simple: to build high-caliber performers and confident, resilient humans in an environment rooted in discipline, artistry, and kindness.
Anchored by elite international training and three decades of studio leadership, Raynor's career is built on high technical standards delivered through kindness.
Elite Technical Pedagogy
Raynor's technical foundation was forged under the prestigious Imperial Society of Teachers of Dance (ISTD), one of the world's most rigorous dance examination and teacher-training boards. This training grounded her in precision, proper alignment, and a structured syllabus that honors the heritage of theatrical dance. Rather than relying on trend-chasing, Raynor brought a world-class standard of education directly to Northern Virginia, ensuring every student learns to dance correctly, safely, and beautifully.
Before the Studio, There Was the Stage
Born and raised in Johannesburg, South Africa, Raynor began performing professionally at age 15, making her television debut in Alice in Wonderland and, that same year, appearing in her first professional stage production, The Wonderful World of Make Believe. Her career went on to span both television and stage, with performances in numerous professional productions throughout South Africa.
Some of her favorite credits include Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and Brigadoon. These years as a professional performer shaped Raynor's lifelong love of musical theatre and her belief that strong technique and great performance go hand in hand.
Escaping the Competition Circuit for Authentic Artistry
Seeing the commercial dance world shift toward trophy-chasing, point systems, and technical showmanship, Raynor walked away from the traditional competition environment to found Encore Performers. She envisioned a studio dedicated entirely to genuine stagecraft, musicality, and ensemble storytelling, a professional home where dancers could fall in love with the art form. Her goal was not to collect plastic trophies, but to build lifelong passion, authentic confidence, and true performance excellence.
Grit, Parking Lot Loyalty, and Community Devotion
Just weeks after opening, the ballroom studio Encore was subletting space from suddenly closed its doors, leaving Raynor without a home for her dancers. Instead of giving up, 45 loyal studio families gathered in a parking lot, refusing to let the studio close and pledging their complete support. Together, they moved into a raw, half-warehouse with no air conditioning, no mirrors, and no bathrooms, building mock wood dance floors by hand. That pivotal moment proved that Encore was never defined by brick and mortar, it was built on unbreakable human trust, community devotion, and shared conviction.
Broadway Connections and 30 Years of Student Success
Over three decades, Raynor's unwavering philosophy has transformed that warehouse start-up into a premiere training ground. She built a direct pipeline to New York's elite artistic community, bringing legendary choreographers and casting directors to Chantilly for masterclasses while leading her Encore Theatrical Arts Project (ETAP) company on tours across seven countries. Today, her proudest achievement is the legacy of her students, alumni performing on Broadway, dancing with the Radio City Rockettes, starring in Disney productions, and thriving as confident leaders across every profession.
You are not here to outshine the studio across town. You are here to elevate the stage you are on and lift everyone around you. That is what we train for.
The moment your child walks in, they will feel it, this is a place to belong, grow, and become who they are meant to be.
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