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She also trained and assisted under renowned companies and choreographers, including Mishay Petronelli, Joshua Pelatzky, Takehiro Ueyama, Nailah Randall-Bellinger, Sheryl Murakami and Nadege Hottier. Eventually, Kara shifted her focus from performing to teaching, and today, she travels the East Coast choreographing, instructing, judging, and mentoring young, aspiring dancers. For Kara, the world of the arts is a privilege to be part of, and she feels deeply honored to contribute to its beauty and growth.

She also trained and assisted under renowned companies and choreographers, including Mishay Petronelli, Joshua Pelatzky, Takehiro Ueyama, Nailah Randall-Bellinger, Sheryl Murakami and Nadege Hottier. Eventually, Kara shifted her focus from performing to teaching, and today, she travels the East Coast choreographing, instructing, judging, and mentoring young, aspiring dancers.

Lauren Barrett is originally from NJ, she later moved to NYC to begin her professional career. Credits include The View, CBS Morning Show, ESPN, ESPN2, Macy’s, Guess, Benetton, Make A Wish and American Express. She is a former member of Tracie Stanfield’s, Synthesis Dance Project and Calen Kurka’s, :pushing progress. Her performance credits include the Capezio ACE Awards, B.B.

Kings NYC, Carnival Choreographer’s Ball, DUMBO Arts Festival, SoNo CT Arts festival, the Elan Awards, Bridge for Dance, Peridance, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and Connecticut’s Dancing With the Stars. Lauren has been teaching, choreographing, and adjudicating for 20 years and her students have gone on to be signed with Bloc Agency, Clear Talent Group, Top 10 on SYTYCD, Radio City Rockettes as well as featured in television, film and commercials.

She continues to teach and choreograph along the East Coast, while maintaining her role as Competition Director at a competitive studio in Norwalk CT. Lauren is passionate about creating and cultivating safe and inclusive dance spaces, allowing each student to explore their own movement quality and individual expression.

Katie is a professional dancer who has earned a Bachelors in Fine Arts in Commercial Dance, at the Boston Conservatory. She loves performing, telling a story, and being a part of this great community. She has been in shows related to Cirque De Soleil as well as Singers’ Showcases representing artists like The Weeknd, Coldplay, and more. Katie has also dabbled in choreographing for various projects.

She loves teaching and sharing her passion with others to inspire and be inspired. She strives to live life on a stage underneath the bright lights fulfilling her dreams, while also being able to give her knowledge back to the dance world that means everything to her. She truly believes life would be meaningless without dance.

Katelyn was born and raised in New York and started dancing recreationally at the age of three and competitively from the age of seven on regional, national and international stages. Katelyn has trained in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Lyrical, Contemporary, Hip Hop, and Musical Theatre. Katelyn was also a part of the Tap City Youth Ensemble, and the American Tap Company.

Through these groups, she had the opportunity to compete at the World Tap Dance Championships in Riesa, Germany earning two gold medals, and to perform in showcases around the world including London England, Barcelona Spain, New York City and at the Presidential Inauguration in Washington, D.C. Katelyn then went on to study Dance at SUNY Brockport where she strengthened her skills in Ballet, and dove into the worlds of Modern and African dance.

Her studies focused on technique, anatomy, and choreography. She took part in student run shows, as well as professor-run residency programs. In her time there, Katelyn choreographed multiple pieces in all styles, and participated in the SUNY Brockport Dance team, doing half time performances at football games. Although Katelyn has spent ample time performing, her heart lies in educating. At a young age Katelyn would assist in classes, and teach children one to one.

This fueled her love for working with children and passing her knowledge onto the next generation of dancers. She is now based in Massachusetts, and teaches in the New England area receiving choreography awards in multiple styles, age and skill levels. She also adjudicates dance on a regional and national level. There is nothing more that she loves than to leave a positive impact on the future of the dance industry, and hopes to spend her career doing so.

Ashley Baxley is a Connecticut native and by day, a middle school science teacher. She has vast experience coaching, teaching & choreographing for junior high, high school, college, studio and all-star dancers with a strong focus in Pom and Hip Hop. She has been choreographing and judging with Varsity Spirit's National Dance Alliance from 2017 to now.

With NDA, she is a 9-year member and has been named Top Rookie Instructor, Top Veteran Instructor, Top Rookie Head Instructor and the Devoted Service Award because of her investment in summer camps. She also has experience with professional cheerleading and dance team organizations such as the NLL New England Black Wolves and was a four year member of the WNBA's Connecticut Sun Solar Power Dance Team.

Ashley previously was the head coach of her alma mater, the University of Connecticut Dance Team for five years. Her choreography has won Innovative Choreography at the NDA National Championship and a collegiate national title at NDA College Nationals, both in the Team Performance category. Ashley continues to choreograph and consult for dancers, instructors, and studio owners in the New England area.

Keegan is a teacher, choreographer, and dance competition judge based in Norwalk, Connecticut. She is certified through Acrobatic Arts, and PBT (Progressing Ballet Technique). With her eight years of experience leading Contemporary, Ballet, lyrical, and modern based classes, she strives to pass along a deep love and admiration for dance to the younger generations she teaches.

Each student deserves the joy of discovering their own self expression, creativity, and connection with both themselves and their peers in an environment geared towards their personal and professional growth and improvement. Keegan is honored and humbled to be able to connect with students of all walks of life, and have a hand in shaping their dance journey.

Nicole Shorey is a professional dancer with a strong foundation in jazz, contemporary, lyrical, jazz funk, and hip hop. Based in Los Angeles, Nicole has performed at the professional level in music videos and live stage productions, working as a backup dancer for major artists and appearing in projects across the entertainment industry. They currently perform for the WNBA, bringing powerful stage presence and technical excellence to high-energy live events.

With years of industry experience, Nicole has developed a deep understanding of performance, choreography, and the dedication required to succeed in the professional dance world. Now, they are passionate about sharing that knowledge and giving back to the next generation. Nicole is committed to inspiring and training young dancers, helping them build confidence, develop strong technique, and pursue their own dreams through the art of dance.

Ms Angela loves being a role model and promoting self love and mind/body positivity to all dancers. She continues to add to her own training with classes and certifications, which include her certification in Levels 1, 2, and 3 of the Progressing Ballet Techniques Method. As well as her most recent certification in Competition Judge mental awareness training. When she’s not in the studio Angela works as a healthcare worker, spends time with her two children who are also dancers, as well as their dog Goliath.

Ms Angela loves being a role model and promoting self love and mind/body positivity to all dancers. She continues to add to her own training with classes and certifications, which include her certification in Levels 1, 2, and 3 of the Progressing Ballet Techniques Method. As well as her most recent certification in Competition Judge mental awareness training.

Jillian is the Chief Operating Officer and a founding member of Parkville Sounds, a multi-faceted performing arts studio space in Hartford, CT, where she has worked on projects for Amazon Prime, American Ninja Warrior, The Allman Brothers Band, SiriusXM, The Hartford Symphony, Ashley Jayy and many more. She founded the Hartford Dance Collective in 2017, and in 2024 she joined the Board of Directors of David Dorfman Dance. She is honored to work with the inspiring artists of Hartford & beyond every day.

Jillian is the Chief Operating Officer and a founding member of Parkville Sounds, a multi-faceted performing arts studio space in Hartford, CT, where she has worked on projects for Amazon Prime, American Ninja Warrior, The Allman Brothers Band, SiriusXM, The Hartford Symphony, Ashley Jayy and many more. She founded the Hartford Dance Collective in 2017, and in 2024 she joined the Board of Directors of David Dorfman Dance.

She was the assistant choreographer for the New Jersey Lotto “Cash Pop” commercial and co-choreographed for the Off-Broadway hit “La Cancion.” Maria is passionate about dance education and loves helping dancers build their confidence and find their voice as an artist. As a leader for the program Creating Opportunities, she had the opportunity to mentor many aspiring dancers in NYC. Maria has taught dance to students of all ages for the past 24 years. She is on guest faculty at Broadway Dance Center in NYC, and in 2021 became a member of the staff at Acrobatic Arts as a course conductor and adjudicator.

She was the assistant choreographer for the New Jersey Lotto “Cash Pop” commercial and co-choreographed for the Off-Broadway hit “La Cancion.” Maria is passionate about dance education and loves helping dancers build their confidence and find their voice as an artist. As a leader for the program Creating Opportunities, she had the opportunity to mentor many aspiring dancers in NYC. Maria has taught dance to students of all ages for the past 24 years.

Born and raised in Connecticut, Gabby Dominguez has always been a lover of movement. After graduating from Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts High School, Gabby went on to attend AMDA College + Conservatory of the Arts in Los Angeles for two years. She later moved on to train at professional studios around LA and worked as a company member for three seasons with Geometry Contemporary Dance Company.

Gabby also spent her time in LA working with Chehon Wespi-Tschopp as the Mentorship Program Coordinator for IAF Studios, assisting on several dance film and photo projects while mentoring younger dancers. Her music video credits include Donovan Woods, Duomo Musik, and Red Jesus. She has also had the pleasure of taking part in several live performances and dance films around LA including Capezio ACE Awards, Choreographer’s Carnival, Club Jete, and more.

Since moving back to the East Coast, Gabby has presented and performed work at the Hartford Dance Festival, Garet & Co's Ephemera, New Britain Museum of American Art, and more. She is currently a resident artist with the Hartford Dance Collective and continues to produce work for film and stage while sharing her passion of finding authenticity in movement with students.

Jordan Pelletier has dedicated 22 years of her life to dance and is currently a director, teacher, and choreographer based in Massachusetts. She graduated from Dean College with a Bachelor’s degree in Musical Theater, with a strong focus on dance performance and pedagogy. During her time at Dean, she trained with industry dance professionals and continued to develop her artistry and teaching foundation.

Jordan also gained valuable professional experience working in New York City with Scantic River Productions, where she assisted in producing two stage shows. With an extensive background in musical theater, she brings a unique blend of performance quality, storytelling, and technical training to her work.

Committed to lifelong learning, Jordan has traveled to New York City, Nashville, and Las Vegas to continue her dance education and expand her knowledge for both herself and her students. Jordan is passionate about inspiring the next generation of dancers through education and artistry.

Maddie Murphy is a NYC based performer, teacher and choreographer originally from Dallas, Texas. She graduated from Booker T Washington High School of Performing and Visual Arts, and was named a YoungArts finalist. In 2021 Maddie achieved her BFA in Commercial Dance from Pace University training in multiple styles of dance, and is an alumni of the 2019 Jacob’s Pillow tap program.

Some of her credits include: The Nutcracker Suite, Untitled Waveforms, Praise: The Inevitable Fruit of Gratitude with Dorrance Dance, understudy for What is This Thing Called Love directed by Derick K. Grant, Lucid Dream and Ser Humano choreographed by Max Pollak, and Dance Lab New York. Maddie is also on faculty at the tap dance festival, RIFF Dallas, and the tap summer workshop, Woodshed Experience.

Jaiden began her dance training as we all do at the age of 1 running around her mom’s dance classes while she taught. She began dancing herself soon after, and hasn’t looked back since. Jaiden began independently teaching classes at the age of 14 and won her first of many choreography awards at the age of 17. After graduating high school, she was accepted into an apprentice program in LA dancing under and learning from the incredible Shannon Mather of Mather Dance Company.

Now back on the East Coast, Jaiden has spent some of her time under the direction of the incredible Sarah-Katarina ‘Skooj' for various showcases, including "Connect", hosted by Thr3e Live Dance Complex. With 22 years in the industry, Jaiden is dedicated to guiding students not only into becoming better dancers but also in evolving into the best version of themselves. When not judging Jaiden continues to teach at various studios across Massachusetts and Rhode Island and Connecticut.

Now back on the East Coast, Jaiden has spent some of her time under the direction of the incredible Sarah-Katarina ‘Skooj' for various showcases, including "Connect", hosted by Thr3e Live Dance Complex. With 22 years in the industry, Jaiden is dedicated to guiding students not only into becoming better dancers but also in evolving into the best version of themselves.

Kelsie is a professional dancer from Boston, MA. Having trained and studied in numerous forms of dance since an early age, she graduated from Dean College Joanne Palladio School of Dance with her BFA in Dance and B.S. in Business. Though not limited to, she is known for her hip hop and jazz choreography and performances. Kelsie has worked with many artists such as Flo Rida, New Kids On The Block, and Demi Lovato.

Kelsie is also a Competition Adjudicator, judging for multiple competitions all over the US and in Europe for over 10 years. She also knows the role as a studio owner, and is invested in her students’ growth and development as pre professional dancers. She has been teaching numerous styles of dance including Hip Hop, Jazz, Jazz Funk, Heels, Contemporary, Lyrical, Tap, Musical Theater, Technique, Leaps Jumps and Turns, Stretch and Strengthening for over 10 years.

As well, Kelsie is a Certified Degreed Member of Dance Masters of America and Dance Masters of New England Chapter 5. Kelsie has been interviewed and published in Dance Spirit Magazine in regards to her experience as a studio owner, teacher, and judge in the competitive dance world.

As well she holds multiple competition accolades for her choreography including IDA Peoples choice awards, IDA Best in Category, choreography Awards, Title, Most Entertaining, National dance team invitations, first place overalls, top tens, UDA top three placements, and more. Kelsie has a love and passion for teaching, and strives in advancing dancers not only physically but also with the history, knowledge, and love of dance.