Laura was born and bred right here at Broadway Dance Theatre, starting her journey in our very first Tumble Tots class and going on to study every single discipline of dance we offer! Her absolute passion for performance led her to train all over the map, polishing her skills at the Hollywood Summer Tour Intensive, the Rockette Summer Intensive, Broadway Dance Center, Peridance, Steps, and Starpower’s Power Pak. She also jumped into several musical theater productions over the years, which made her an incredibly versatile dancer. On the competition circuit, Laura was a absolute force, taking home countless overall awards, major titles, and scholarships. She even caught the eye of the industry early on, winning Dance Spirit Magazine’s prestigious "Future Star" award and being featured in the magazine.

Laura took her training to the highest level by earning her BFA from the prestigious Commercial Dance Program at Pace University's Dyson School of the Arts. While there, she had the incredible opportunity to work directly with industry legends like Mandy Moore, Scott Jovovich, Jess Hendricks, Jason Samuel Smith, Dee Caspary, and Chloe Arnold. Seeking to push her boundaries even further, she attended The Bridge Project, a life-changing intensive founded by Stacey Tookey. Training five days a week, Laura learned what it truly means to understand the "full dancer"—a transformative experience that brought a wealth of deep, holistic lessons straight back to the classrooms at BDT.

As a choreographer, Laura’s work is nothing short of an artistic masterpiece. Back in 2017, she made her New York City choreographic debut when her beautiful piece, "This Gift," was chosen to be presented at the prestigious Young Choreographers Festival at Symphony Space in Manhattan. Since then, her heartfelt and brilliant pieces have consistently dominated the national stage, earning top scores, spots on the SDA National Power Rankings, and Choreographer of the Year awards. Most recently, her stunning choreography for "A Walk Of Life" was honored with a prestigious Industry Dance Award (IDA) Nomination. Her work isn't just a dance routine—it is a full emotional and artistic experience from the moment the music starts.

Laura has worked as an assistant for Stacey Tookey on the high-profile NUVO Dance Convention tour, and currently is on the administrative staff at The Bridge. On top of all that, she continues to study, audition, and book professional gigs in NYC, including a recent performance in a filming of the hit period drama, The Gilded Age. Laura is a massive part of the growth, development, and heart of our studio, and she is always so excited to share her cutting-edge industry knowledge and pure passion with our students. There is truly nobody quite like her, and the BDT family is incredibly grateful to have her as a forever part of our team!

Keithan is a staple here at BDT! He was born into the studio, training and studying every single style of dance he could get into. Keithan grew up competing right here at BDT in our Legacy, Elite Legacy, Fusion, Tap, Hip-Hop, and Acro companies. Over the years, his hard work paid off big time, earning him a massive collection of scholarships, titles, and top awards from conventions and competitions all over the country. He performed in Cabaret For A Cause with the cast of Dance Moms, at Symphony Space in NYC for the Young Choreographer’s Festival, and hit the legendary stages of Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall.

While he is a brilliant performer, Keithan really found his love through BDT’s Student Choreography Program. Those classes helped him completely lock in his signature style, smooth out his creative process, and get tons of hands-on experience working with dancers of all ages. He has spent years learning from amazing choreographers nationwide, which shaped him into the artist he is today—someone who always puts heavy musicality, storytelling, and intense energy right at the center of his work.

Keithan’s creative mind has already gotten some massive national attention. He was named the Grand Prize Winner at the prestigious Palm Desert Choreography Festival in California, where his dancers performed his piece "My Way." That accomplishment made him one of the youngest choreographers ever to take home that honor! Over the last seven years, his work has consistently dominated the competitive circuit, bringing home National titles, studio battles, Victory Cups, high scores, and many Choreographer of the Year nominations. Keithan loves the BDT family and can't wait to keep creating more magic with our dancers this season!

Kelcie grew up right here at Broadway Dance Theatre, spending 16 incredible years training and competing as a core member of our Legacy, Hip Hop, Acro, and Tap companies. That massive foundation layout in dance naturally sparked a huge love for musical theatre, leading her to the stage in regional and college productions alike. You might have spotted her lighting up the stage at Edison’s Plays-in-the-Park in crowd favorites like Oklahoma!, West Side Story, and Mamma Mia!, or performing in Wonderful Town at Dean College, where she graduated in 2022. Throughout her school years, she also jumped into fun roles in Shrek, Seussical, The Addams Family, and Peter Pan.

But Kelcie doesn't just love the spotlight—she is just as amazing behind the scenes. She took on the role of Stage Manager for tons of productions at Dean College, keeping everything running smoothly backstage. In fact, her hard work and leadership earned her serious bragging rights with official recognition at the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival in Washington, D.C., both in 2020 and 2022!

After graduating from Dean and completing the famous Disney College Program, Kelcie packed up for Florida to keep making magic. She is currently working in the Entertainment Departments at both Walt Disney World and Universal Studios. As if that didn't keep her busy enough, she is also a student at the University of Central Florida (UCF), working toward a second degree in Childhood Education.

Kelcie loves bringing her theme park experience, backstage know-how, and passion for working with kids straight back to her roots, and inspire the next generation of dancers to shine both on and off the stage!

Linda began her dance training at the age of 3 at the Marcia Hyland Dance Center in southern New Jersey where she studied ballet, jazz and theatre dance under the direction of Marcia Hyland, Linda Smith-Polvere and Debra Sparks.  As a member of the Marcia Hyland Dance Company and throughout her years at Rutgers University, Linda performed professionally at numerous dinner theaters in New Jersey, New York and Philadelphia, Harrah's Casino, the Miss New Jersey Pageant and the State Theater of New Jersey.  Her love of musical theater led her to perform with a number of community theaters including in such shows as "A Chorus Line", "Gypsy", "World Goes Round" and "Nunsense".  After being sidelined by an injury, she switched her focus to teaching and choreography, joining the faculty of BDT in 1997.  She has choreographed musicals for the Millburn, Bound Brook and Chatham school districts as well as Plays-in-the-Park and Tokyo International Players.  Linda is a certified barre instructor and infuses her classes with an emphasis on strength, alignment and proper technique.  A BDT staple, she has been a teacher here since the beginning and choreographer for BDT's Legacy Company for over 15 years. Linda is most excited to be re-living her passion for dance through her daughter's experience as a BDT student and Legacy Company member.

Shana is an accomplished dancer, award-winning choreographer, and dedicated educator who has spent her career fostering a deep love for the performing arts in the next generation of dancers. Her journey began at the University at Buffalo, where she underwent rigorous technical training in a diverse range of styles, including ballet, modern, jazz, and contemporary. Her dedication to both her artistry and academics culminated in a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Dance Performance, from which she graduated Cum Laude.

Upon completing her degree, Shana chose to channel her technical expertise and artistic vision into the field of choreography. She quickly made an impact as a faculty staff member for the prestigious New Jersey Governor’s School for the Arts. In this role, she had the privilege of mentoring and setting original work on some of the region's most talented, young aspiring dancers. Her choreography was so well-received that it was selected to be showcased at the highly competitive National High School Dance Festival, establishing her early on as a rising choreographic talent.

Shana has since become a sought-after instructor and choreographer throughout the tri-state area. Her innovative work has earned her widespread recognition on the competitive circuit, where she has won numerous awards for both high score achievements and outstanding choreography.

At the core of Shana's artistic philosophy is the belief that staying current, continuous education, and personal growth are the ultimate keys to long-term success in the dance industry. It is through this rich tapestry of performing, teaching, and creating that she has evolved her deep love for choreography. Shana looks forward to continuing to push creative boundaries, sharing her extensive knowledge, and inspiring dancers through her art for many years to come.

Kathleen Laituri is a highly accomplished, versatile performer and passionate educator with a career spanning some of the most prestigious stages and screens in the dance industry. A proud graduate of Pace University, she earned her BFA in Commercial Dance, a rigorous program that laid the foundation for her multifaceted career as a technical and commercial dancer.

Kathleen is a six-year veteran with the Radio City Rockettes, performing in the iconic Christmas Spectacular and mastering the world-renowned precision dance style. Her exceptional performance quality has seamlessly transitioned from live stage productions to on-screen roles. Her notable television and film credits include appearing in the critically acclaimed Amazon Prime series The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and starring in the Hallmark Channel’s festive holiday movie, A Spectacular Christmas. Continuously pushing her artistic boundaries, she is also a current company member of treadFast, a dynamic, contemporary-based dance company directed by Steven Blandino.

In addition to her performance career, Kathleen is deeply committed to mentoring the next generation of dancers. She travels extensively to studios across the country, sharing her industry knowledge and high-caliber training. She currently serves on the faculty for the Deviate Dance convention, where she travels nationally to teach masterclasses and set original choreography. Her instructional expertise spans a wide range of styles, including contemporary, jazz, theater dance, and precision technique.

Kathleen brings her wealth of professional experience, infectious energy, and dedication to artistic excellence to every classroom she enters. She is absolutely thrilled to be working with the talented students at BDT this year and cannot wait to inspire and elevate their training!

Sharon began dancing in NYC at the American Ballet Theatre School and continued her training at the School of American Ballet. As an advanced SAB student she became a dancer and a lecturer for the New York City Ballet Education Department. She also trained with other renowned teachers, including David Howard and Robert Denvers, and on scholarship at the Joffrey Ballet School summer program. She performed leading roles in the School of American Ballet Workshops.

Professionally, Sharon was a company member of the New York City Ballet dancing in works choreographed by George Balanchine, Jerome Robbins, and many others. She has danced at Lincoln Center, Jacob’s Pillow, Woodstock Dance Festival, and toured with the NYCB. She was a guest artist with other ballet companies, performing principal roles in the Nutcracker.

Sharon has been passionatley teaching ballet in NY and NJ for over 3 decades (BDT since 2006!). She was a Professor in the Dance Departments of Montclair State University and Marymount Manhattan College, has taught at Hofstra University, and for the American College Dance Association. In past summers she has taught at French Woods Festival for the Performing Arts and Earl Mosley’s Institute of the Arts/Diversity of Dance. She is a certified teacher of the American Ballet Theatre National Training Curriculum, Pre-primary through Level 5, and has attended the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet Teacher’s Training Program.

Michael Cusumano grew up in Long Island New York. He began dancing at the age of 6. At the age of 14 he won the bronze medal at the International Ballet Competition in Varna, Bulgaria, the youngest male dancer to medal in the competition’s history till then. That same year he went on to win the special Jury Prize at the Prix de Paris 1994. Michael then joined American Ballet Theater at age 15, the youngest male dancer in the company’s history. With ABT Michael danced in all the full length classics as well as works by Twyla Tharp, John Neumeier, Agnes DeMille, and Lar Lubovich to name a few.

After ABT Michael danced as a principal with Alabama Ballet, then as a soloist with the Boston Ballet. He went on to perform in the original cast of “All Shook Up” on Broadway and then to star as “the jury” in the smash hit “Chicago” the musical on Broadway. Michael won the title of Mr.Broadway 2011. He also appeared in the original production of "An American in Paris" on Broadway. Other credits include “The Most Happy Fella” at New York State Theater, “On the Town” at Encores, “Live with Regis and Kelly”, “The Today’s Show”, “ABT Now for PBS”, “Le Corsaire for PBS”, feature film “Center Stage”, "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert", “SNL.” Michael’s alter ego Madame Olga was featured on an episode of “Joan and Melissa Joan knows Best” dancing the Black Swan coda for WE TV. Madame Olga is currently a highly sought out teacher nationally and internationally. Most recently Michael is the subject of the award winning short documentary “When I’m Her” for PBS which has been the #1 short doc since it’s release.

He is currently on faculty at Pace University where he has taught for eight years, and also teaches at world renowned institutions including Broadway Dance Center, Peridance, and Ballet Arts at City Center. 

Multi Emmy-nominated choreographer Stacey Tookey is a multifaceted Canadian director, choreographer and dancer who has worked in both concert and commercial platforms throughout her career. She has worked with legendary musical artists such as Celine Dion, Bette Midler, Christina Perri, Justin Timberlake, Michael Bublé, Ingrid Michealson and Paula Abdul.

Stacey has performed as a member of Mia Michaels' contemporary dance company R.A.W., Parsons Dance Project, Ballet British Columbia, Peter Chu's ChuThis, Houston Grand Opera and Celine Dion's record-breaking show A New Day at Caesars Palace. Stacey worked as resident choreographer and guest judge on CTV's hit So You Think You Can Dance- Canada and has choreographed for the U.S. version of the show for the past 10 seasons, where her passionate pieces have earned her three consecutive Emmy nominations. Stacey's Dance Company Still Motion celebrated its world premiere of Moments Defined in 2012, and since then has performed for sold out audiences in L.A., NYC, Long Beach, Perry Mansfield, Jacobs Pillow, and DansEncore in Trois- Rivières. Most recently, Stacey has been working on the creative team of a new musical Pump Up The Volume and a feature film I'm not Gay.

Aside from choreographing, directing, and performing, Stacey has always loved to share her passion for dance. She has taught worldwide in Italy, Russia, India, Mexico, Costa Rica, England, Australia and Bermuda, as well as extensively across North America. This passion for inspiring others has led her to found The Protégé Movement, a mentorship program that strives to offer a safe space for the serious dancer to dig deep within, discover the power of the body, and explore and uncover who you are as an artist with the guidance of industry top professionals. The Protégé Movement features, weekend live events, virtual events, a week long retreat Camp Protégé as well as the BRIDGE program for dancers who are bridging the gap between pre professional and professional career. Offering multifaceted classes in dance as well as health and wellness, The Protégé Movement's mission is to foster dancers as a whole, Healthy bodies, informed and creative minds and authentic hearts.

Michaela McGowan, a native of Virginia, is an exceptionally accomplished professional dancer, choreographer, and elite educator based in New York City. Her profound artistic journey began with intensive early training at the highly regarded Loudoun School of Ballet, where she built a powerful technical foundation. Recognizing her potential, she relocated to Manhattan to attend New York University’s prestigious Tisch School of the Arts, ultimately graduating with a BFA with honors. This rigorous conservatory environment sharpened her artistic voice and launched her into a thriving bi-coastal commercial and contemporary dance career.

Throughout her performing career, Michaela has collaborated with some of the most influential names in the entertainment and dance industries. On stage and television, she has worked closely with Emmy Award-winning choreographer Mia Michaels for Mia Michaels LIVE, and performed under the direction of Lisa Shriver for massive national events, including the legendary rock band PHISH at Madison Square Garden and the world-famous Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Her versatility spans from the high-energy commercial world to elite concert dance, having performed at Jacob’s Pillow with Katarzyna Skarpetowska and Periapsis Music and Dance, as well as working with Broadway choreographer Josh Bergasse (Jazz at Lincoln Center), Greg Graham, and Aszure Barton. She has also collaborated on major creative projects with Larry Keigwin for the musical If/Then, and contributed her talents to highly acclaimed commercial choreographers such as Rachel M. Hettinger (metaphors&similesDANCE), Emily Greenwell (ACE Awards), Josh Assor, Jaclyn Walsh, Calen J. Kurka, and Mike Esperanza for film.

In addition to her extensive live stage and theatrical credits, Michaela’s on-camera presence has made her a favorite for commercial brands. She can be found featured as the leading talent in the national online commercial campaign for Organic Doctor Beauty.

Passionate about the next generation of artists, Michaela brings a wealth of real-world industry knowledge, stylistic versatility, and high-caliber technical expertise into the studio. She currently serves on the faculty at several of New York City's most prestigious dance studios, where she mentors emerging dancers, sets innovative choreography, and continues to be a prominent, inspiring force in the dance community.

Gina Marcinkowski is a dance educator, choreographer, and movement researcher specializing in commercial dance and jazz pedagogy. She holds a degree in Commercial Dance from Pace University, where she was awarded the prestigious Amelia A. Gould Grant. This grant supported her specialized research and study of jazz dance pedagogy under the direction of Lauren Gaul. Professionally trained in the Cecchetti Ballet Method, Gina’s teaching philosophy is rooted in a deep understanding of child development and a commitment to personalized, student-centered instruction.

Throughout her career, Gina has held key leadership and instructional roles across various notable institutions. She served as the Head of Ballet at The Studio Dance Perfection in Hicksville, NY, where she directed written, oral, and physical quarterly evaluations and managed company dancer placements. As an educator, she has managed large-scale classes, customized anatomical and kinesthetic training for rapid technical growth, and helped orchestrate performances. Gina’s classroom focus centers on fostering physical body awareness and empowering dancers of all ages to unlock their highest technical and artistic potential.

Aaron Parkhurst has over two decades of Tap dance experience, he received his early dance training in his hometown of Albany, NY, and has worked professionally for the past 15 years in NYC, which he now calls his home. Aaron currently tours teaching for Revel Dance Convention, has toured with Break The Floors 24 Seven Dance Convention, Shuffles NYC, Dance Masters of America and Sheer Talent Competition and Convention. Currently you can catch him teaching at  Broadway Dance Center in New York City, he also teaches weekly classes throughout NYC, and travels the country to choreograph and instruct master-classes.

Aaron enjoys teaching and passing on his love for dance to younger generations, his passion for dance education has lead him to the title of Area Director for the Inspirare Dance Workshop, a personalized dance intensive that encourages personal and professional growth for dancers of all levels and ages! Aaron has also enjoyed a career in concert dance, working as a soloist and collaborator. Solo performances include “The Best of Duke Ellington’s Sacred Concerts” conducted by Roland Carter. He has traveled through Europe Dancing with The Tap Factor, danced on season 1 of NBC’s  hit show World of Dance. He was a company member and soloist for AM Dance Project, in New York City under artistic director Anthony Morigerato, and performed at the NY City Center in the 125th anniversary show for Capezio. Aaron was also a performer, in TAP: The Show!, choreographed by Mike Minery, as well as the associate choreographer and dance captain for the National Tour. Aaron has danced, choreographed, and entertained for corporations such as FedEx, Hershey Entertainment, and Gaylord Opry Entertainment among others. Favorite theatre credits: 42nd Street, White Christmas, Thoroughly Modern Millie, and My One and Only.

Christian Triano is a choreographer based out of New York. He has been choreographing for years and already has received many awards and positive feedback on his choreography. In his early years, Christian attended and trained at LaGuardia “Fame” High school under many world renowned teachers who helped shape his passion as a performer, and foster his choreographic talent. Straight from graduation he joined a dance company called Nitrogen based out in Long Island, and trained with them intensely. As a choreographer and teacher, Christian incorporates his knowledge of many different dance styles in order to reach the students. He travels across the country to teach and choreograph and we are thrilled to have him here at BDT inspiring our dancers.

Ashlynn DeGeorge is a New York City–based performer, choreographer, and educator. A company member with the Sean Curran Company and Tethered Residents, she also teaches at numerous studios across the country, assists for Adrenaline and Revive Dance Conventions, and creates and performs in work for both stage and film.

Originally from North Carolina, she earned her BFA in Dance from NYU Tisch School of the Arts, performing works by Trisha Brown and Sidra Bell, and furthered her training at intensives including The Juilliard School, B12, SpringboardX, and more. She has performed with chuthis., Unbound Dance Company, and the Sean Curran Company on stages including Skirball Theater, Radio City Music Hall, Perry-Mansfield, and the New Victory Theater.

Her choreography has been presented at Steps on Broadway’s Choreography Lab, FORZA Dance’s Bloom Festival, and more. In 2025, her dance film Terrene—co-created and performed with Spencer Dennis—premiered. 

She has served as rehearsal director and choreographic assistant to Sean Curran, restaging his Metal Garden on Les Ballets Trockadero, and has assisted Curran and Ben Freeman in setting repertory on NYU Tisch BFA classes. She was recently assistant choreographer for the Off-Broadway play House of McQueen.

Ashlynn is so excited to be joining the BDT family!

Diana has studied ballet extensively in New York and New Jersey, and appeared with the New Jersey Dance Theater Guild as the Mad Hatter in “Alice in Wonderland”, a soloist in “The Nutcracker”, and in the ensemble of “Les Sylfides/String Quartet”. She has performed in “42nd Street”, “Sweet Charity”, “West Side Story”, “Gypsy”(Electra), “Joseph...”, “Guys and Dolls”, “Tommy”, “Grease” (Patty), “A Funny Thing...Forum” (Tintinabula), and “Cabaret”. She has also appeared in industrials for Nat West and on Club MTV, filmed at New York’s Palladium. Diana was recently certified in “Progressive Ballet Technique” and will be teaching this to BDT students beginning this year.

Kelly Welsh is a proud alumni member of Broadway Dance Theatre. As a young dancer, Kelly trained in all styles such as ballet, jazz, contemporary, theatre dance, tap, hip hop, heels and modern. Kelly was a dedicated member of the BDT Company and attended numerous competitions and conventions with her beloved team and teachers. Kelly never veered from her passion for dance, and after graduating High School, she followed her dreams all the way to California. Kelly recently graduated from Hussian College In Studio, Los Angeles with her BFA in Commercial Dance. She is excited to now be signed with Go 2 Talent Agency and is ready to continue pursuing her dreams.

Kelly recently made her professional debut in artist Noah Guy's music video, “2 Dogs 1 Leash”, dancing a solo ballerina role. She appeared as a dancer in the movie, “The Musical: Welcome to the Night of Your Life”, with the international band, Now United. Most recently, she choreographed her first professional music video, “Swoop”, by artist Max Drazen. Kelly is so thrilled to continue to share her passion and creativity with the students of Broadway Dance Theatre, her home in NJ forever!

Madison Lynch is a professional dancer, award winning choreographer, actor, designer, philanthropist and a graduate of CalArts. Although her work is primarily based in New York, she is a bi-coastal artist, and continues to book commercial jobs with Movement Talent Agency in Los Angeles, California. Madison has most recently worked for commercial clients such as Calvin Klein, NIO Electric Vehicles, and Airheads Candy. She has also worked as a stunt double with her acrobatic training and as a model for photographers across the country. Her dance resume includes work by Wayne MacGregor, Merce Cunningham, Peter Chu, Nina Flagg, Spenser Theberge and is currently training with Stacey Tookey.

She has won several national titles and has even been spotted on So You Think You Can Dance. In her free time, she’s working to develop a fashion brand of her own, and a short-term goal to showcase her line in New York Fashion week. She is also a philanthropist, working towards de-stigmatizing mental health and suicide prevention in association with AFSP, and Bend Not Break Foundation. Madison launched national campaigns titled #dancersforsuicidepreventioin and #artistsforsuicideprevention which can be found on various social media platforms. She strives to break the barrier between non-artist and artist, by making dance and performance translatable to all.

Originally from North Carolina, Molly Quinn Hefner began dancing at the age of four, and has trained extensively in ballet, tap, jazz, modern, and precision. Molly completed high school at the UNC School of the Arts, under the direction of Susan Jaffe, with a concentration in Contemporary Dance. Upon graduation, Molly moved to New York City to attend Marymount Manhattan College, where she is entering her senior year as a double major in Dance and Media & Arts Management.

While in New York, Molly has appeared in a music video, walked in New York Fashion Week (September 2022 & February 2023), shot a campaign with GNC x G Fuel, and danced in Marymount Manhattan's Main Stage performances. She is currently represented by YOU Management. This spring, Molly made her musical theater debut in the interACT Theatre production of The Wedding Singer (Debbie Fonda, featured dancer, ensemble), and most recently performed in the ensemble in the Plays in the Park production of Rock of Ages in Edison, New Jersey. Molly is super excited for the opportunity to work with the talented dancers at Broadway Dance Theater!

Alex Ware was born and raised in the Chicago Area where she received her interdisciplinary dance training from a competitive dance studio. In May of 2022, she went on to graduate Summa Cum Laude from NYU with a BFA in dance as well as minors in the Business of Entertainment, Media and Technology, and Social and Cultural Analysis.

Most recently she has had the honor of performing works by Thayne Jasperson for the BCEFA organization at the Hard Rock Cafe in Times Square, performing as a company member at the inaugural Regenerative Beings show in Dallas, TX, as well as performing a new work by Chelsea Thedinga at the Steps on Broadway Industry Showcase. She has received supplemental training from the artists of RUBBERBANDance Group, Peter Chu, Gibney Dance Company Artists, Ronald K. Brown’s Evidence, A Dance Company, David Dorfman Dance, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and others. In addition to ending her second season with CoreDance Contemporary and continuing her performance/freelance career, she also has a strong passion for teaching and choreographing and wishes to continue those facets of dance throughout her career. Alex is also certified in Group Fitness Education as well as Pilates Mat and aims to incorporate the best elements of the fitness world into her dance classes to create longevity and strength in her dancers.

A native of New Jersey, Heather began her dance training at an early age. At age nine she began training at the American Ballet Center of the Joffery Ballet, New York City. While studying in New York, she continued studying in New Jersey with the Monmouth Ballet on a full merit scholarship. She then performed for five years with the Princeton Ballet Company II, studying at the school on scholarship. Ms. Wilson received her modern dance training at Mason Gross School of the Arts, Rutgers University and gained musical theatre experience performing in numerous musicals with Plays-in-the-Park, Edison NJ, among them, Oklahoma!, Pippin, Annie Get Your Gun, Sweet Charity, and A Chorus Line. Heather has choreographed and taught dance throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania for 30 years.

In 1995, Heather founded the River Ballet Academy and Company, and in 2000 founded Bach Ballet, where she created several original ballets, Wolves, in collaboration with Ulzii Davaadorj, Twelve Dancing Princesses, Babes in Toyland, and The Enchanted Cap. Heather’s inspiring and personal training methods have created vibrant dancers who have been accepted into prestigious dance schools and companies, including Boston Ballet, School of American Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Joffery Ballet School, Kirov Washington, North Carolina School of the Arts, and Nutmeg Conservatory. Ms Wilson is mother of four children, and the proprietor of Ballerina Biker Photography. She is Certified in Progressing Ballet Technique, and is currently authoring a book on effectively utilizing visualization in dance instruction.

Rebecca is a proud alumna of BDT. During her formative years of dance training, she studied at Point Park College’s International Summer Dance program. After her time studying with Miss Lorinda, Rebecca went on to study theater management and dance at Ithaca College. A fateful meeting with Tony nominated choreographer, Pat Birch, led to Rebecca’s tenure at the Merce Cunningham Dance Company (MCDC).

During her time at MCDC, she held roles including Assistant to the General Manager and Artistic Director and Company Manager. Rebecca was fortunate to tour many of Merce’s seminal works as part of MCDC’s 50th Anniversary season as well as the restaging of the groundbreaking “Ocean” at Lincoln Center and The Roundhouse. She also helped to premiere and tour new works of Cunningham’s, including “Split Sides” which was scored by Radiohead and Sigur Rós.

In 2019, Rebecca was asked by the Merce Cunningham Trust to produce the Bessie Award winning production of “Night of 100 Solos” at BAM, a site-specific Event that incorporated 100 solos from Cunningham’s repertoire in honor of what would have been the choreographer’s 100th birthday. The Event featured performances by dancers from such companies as Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, A.I.M by Kyle Abraham, Martha Graham Dance Company, New York City Ballet, Limón Dance Company, Charlotte Ballet, Pam Tanowitz Dance, Trisha Brown Dance Company, among many others.

Rebecca is the Co-Founder of Mothers Fore Equalitee, a foundation whose mission is to bring awareness and support to the young LGBTQ+ members in her community and surrounding communities.

Sydni Desmond is currently a second year student at Stacey Tookey's The Bridge Movement. She has been dancing since the age of three, and danced competitively since the age of five. She has received numerous accolades and awards throughout her competitive years while having the opportunity to work with countless teachers and choreographers. While in studio, Sydni trained in many styles such as contemporary, repertoire, ballet, hip hop, jazz, tap, ballroom and musical theatre. She most recently was a student at Artistic Dance Project in Utah. She has participated in the New Century Dance Project, Wintermix, and Camp Protégé summer intensives. She has also choreographed a number of works.

Lauren is a New York and New Jersey based dancer, singer, and actor. Lauren has been studying dance and performing for 16 years. A recent graduate of Fordham University, she has been able to study at the London Dramatic Academy, the Rockette Summer Intensive, Broadway Dance Center, New Jersey Ballet, and is a proud alumni of Broadway Dance Theatre. Lauren participates in workshops and master classes curated by Precision Dance Collective, Elevate Ballet, Precision Tap, Pop Up Precision, Exactitude, and StageSmith led by Katie Walker Henein, Sarah Hoge, Tara Memi, Traci Reszetylo, and Lauren Renck Manning. Lauren also studies privately with her mentor Katie Walker Henein. She has also studied voice under Linda Smargiassi, Tom Smargiassi, and Elaine LaChica.

Performance credits include The Tempest, West Side Story, South Pacific, Bye, Bye, Birdie, Crazy for You, Guys and Dolls, and Legally Blonde, the musical. Additionally, Lauren has performed at Carnegie Hall, Madison Square Garden, Hampton Court Palace, and NYU Skirball. She also can be seen in episodes of MTV's Singled Out. Most recently, she was the Assistant Coach for the Seton Hall University dance team where the team performed at Madison Square Garden, Prudential Center, and on Fox Sports to promote the Big East Tournament and March Madness. Lauren is currently auditioning for professional shows in New York and is excited to bring her passion for the arts and knowledge to Broadway Dance Theatre! There's no place like home, Broadway Dance Theatre.

 Lleyton grew up dancing at BDT from the time she was just two years old and is thrilled to be back at the studio that feels like home.

During her dance years, Lleyton performed in many BDT Nutcrackers, as well as Benefit Shows for Lungevity, The Susan Komen Foundation, Juvenile Diabetes, and The Lupus Foundation. She was a dancer in BDT’s competitive companies, earning regional awards and scholarships, as well as national champion titles. Lleyton competed in all of BDT’s most advanced tap dances throughout the years, and even in college, she continued to perform as a tap dancer.

Lleyton recently completed her undergraduate degree in Journalism at the University of Maryland, but her passion for working with children has always been at the center of everything she does. With years of experience babysitting and mentoring young dancers, she can’t wait to teach the next generation of BDT dancers. Now on her gap years before medical school, she’s excited to share her love for tap! 

 Nicole is originally from Miami, Florida, and began her dance training at the age of two and developed a lifelong appreciation for the artistry and discipline of ballet. She received extensive training at the Miami City Ballet School, where she studied classical ballet, including pointe work, with an emphasis on the Balanchine style. Throughout her training, Nicole performed with Miami City Ballet in George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker, appearing in various roles.

In parallel, Nicole continued and expanded her classical ballet education under the direction of Vladimir Issaev at the Vladimir Issaev School of Classical Ballet, where she studied Vaganova-based techniques and performed as Marzipan in The Nutcracker and as one of the Four Swans in the Dance of the Cygnets from Swan Lake.

Nicole also attended a summer intensive at Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet under the direction of Marcia Dale Weary and pursued a minor in Dance at Pennsylvania State University. Through her dance education, she developed versatility across multiple styles, including modern, character, and partnering, while competing nationally in jazz, lyrical, contemporary, and kick line. She is excited to return to the studio and share her passion for ballet while helping students develop strong technique, musicality, and confidence.

 Marissa Lazovick is a dynamic dancer, choreographer, and educator who continues to expand her artistic voice both on stage and behind the scenes. She recently completed her freshman year at the Boston Conservatory at Berklee, where she is pursuing a BFA in Dance.

Marissa trained at Broadway Dance Theatre under the direction of Lorinda Haver, where she developed her technical foundation and performance skills. She has earned numerous national titles and first-place overalls at competitions across the country. She has also performed with Fox Family Entertainment’s Dance Squad, Off-Broadway at Playwrights Horizons Theater, and at the Palm Desert Choreography Festival. Her training has taken her across the globe—studying in England, France, and Israel—and she is a proud graduate of the Preprofessional Dancer Institute in Santa Fe, NM, Ridge High School, and the Honors Dance Program at Somerset County Vocational and Technical High School.

Her choreography and direction credits include the original music video Chokehold by Jordan Millet, and a multicultural production for the global company TJX. She recently choreographed Legally Blonde & High School Musical for Adams Theatre Company. Her choreography has reached national platforms—she presented and performed at the National Dance Education Organization (NDEO) Conference in Seattle, WA, where she shared her personal journey with Tourette syndrome, using movement as a tool for education and empowerment. She holds a Seal of Biliteracy in American Sign Language (ASL) and loves incorporating ASL into her choreography, blending language and dance in fresh, meaningful ways.In addition to performing and creating, Marissa is passionate about accessibility in the arts. She has spent several years volunteering to introduce ASL and Deaf culture to elementary and middle school students, and continues to advocate for inclusive artistic spaces.

She currently serves as the Dance Director and Choreographer for the Summer Arts Camp run by Prestige Productions in Pennsylvania. Marissa is also proud to return to Broadway Dance Theatre—this time as an educator and choreographer—where her journey as a dancer began. She is excited to continue sharing her passion for movement, storytelling, and creative expression with the next generation of performers.

Kevin has quite an interesting background. A graduate of Ivy League school University of Pennsylvania, Kevin could not stay away from the arts. He has performed in stage shows, concerts, and even movies. (You can see him in the 1988 classic, Heathers…..sleeping on the couch in one scene) Kevin works hard with Michelle to keep the BDT books in order, and offer comedy to all all those he comes in contact with.

Michelle Feliciano has been a fixture at Broadway Dance Theatre in one capacity or another since the first of her three daughters started classes with us in 1998. Helping in the office, cheering on all the dancers at countless competitions even after all of her own children had graduated, and now watching her first grandchild follow the footsteps of her mom onto the BDT dance floors, Michelle has been here through it all, helping keep the records straight and the dancers heading in the correct direction.

Adriana walked into the doors of BDT when she was six, and has continued to do so for over 20 years! A nanny by day, Adriana joins us on weekends and BDT performances to help in whatever we need — especially during the Nutcracker season, which entails more details and work than anything. Adri is always ready to do whatever it takes to make the magic happen!