Upstate Dance and Arts Center

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Upstate Dance & Arts Center

J Ryan Carroll

Charity Creech

Leslie Feliciano

Vivake Khamsingsavath

Joyce King

Anthony LoCascio

Jamie Maggio

Sean Patrick Mahoney

Derek Mitchell

Tanya Morris

Erin Saddlemire

Stacy Schneider

Susan Schneider

Tracie Stanfield

Phil Turay

Mariko Yamada

J Ryan Carroll

blackline J Ryan Carroll began his formal training at the Alabama Dance Theater under the artistic direction of Kitty Seale and Haynes Owens. He received further study at Booker T. Washington Magnet High School in dance with Cathy Hess-Wright, Gary Moore, and Meredith Huddleston, and in musical theater with Angela Dickson and Randy Foster. He went on for further study at Wright State University where he continued his dance and musical theater training with Jon Rodriguez and Suzanne Walker on scholarship. J Ryan received invitation to study with Laura Alonso in Havana, Cuba. J Ryan left WSU after his freshman year to apprentice with Laura Alonsos Cuballet. In Cuba he had the privilege of performing principal and soloist roles in Cuballet at Gran Teatro de la Habana. When he returned to the states, J Ryan was offered a contract from Wes Chapman at the Alabama Ballet. J Ryan went on to bounce back and forth between the dance world and the musical theater world. He danced soloist and principal roles with the American Repertory Ballet under the direction of Graham Lustig. J Ryan was Principal Soloist with Ballet Concierto de Puerto Rico in San Juan under the direction of Carlos Cabrerra. He has been a guest artist with Northwest Florida Ballet, Alabama Dance Theater, Western Ballet of Puerto Rico, and New England Dance Theater. Some of J Ryan's favorite roles include Tybalt in Romeo and Juliet, Franz in Coppelia, Cerventes in Don Quixote, Hilarion in Giselle, Cavalier in Nutcracker, Moor in Fokine's Petruschka, Prince Companion in Cinderella, Twyla Tharp's Baker's Dozen, Poet in Jose Pares' Poeme, Alberto Mendez's Pasion, Dracula in Dracula, Siegfried in Swan Lake. J Ryan worked with Ann Reinking as a featured dancer in the National Tour of Fosse and also in the International Tour of Fosse starring Ben Vereen and Ruthie Henshal. J Ryan was part of the Scott and Zelda workshop written by Frank Wildhorn and choreographed by Ann Reinking at the Broadway Theater Project. He was part of the Dodger Stages workshop of Doctor Dolittle, choreographed by Rob Ashford and directed by Glenn Casale. He performed in the 2005 Fall Season at the Tony Award Winning Utah Shakespearean Festival in Pippin, directed and choreographed by Marc Robin, and Alls Well That Ends Well, directed by J.R. Sullivan. J Ryan Carroll is currently the Dance Captain and Swing for the International Tour of the WIZARD OF OZ. During the tour, J Ryan had the privilege of performing at Madison Square Garden and at the National Arts Center in Ottawa for Prime Minister Stephen Harper. J Ryan has ballet mastered for Tracie Stanfields Synthesis Dance Project in New York City. He was a company teacher for both the National and International tours of Fosse. J Ryan has taught Kinesthetic Approach to Ballet and the Fosse technique throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, South Africa, and Mexico. He has been on faculty at summer programs for Western Ballet Theater of Puerto Rico, Alabama Dance Theater, Northwest Florida Ballet, Southeastern Alabama Dance Theater, Mobile Ballet, and the International Dance Festival in New York City. In 2007, J Ryan was invited to adjudicate for the South African Dance Championships in Durban, South Africa. He has adjudicated and taught for Dance Educators of America and Dance Masters of America.

Visiting Artist

Charity Creech

Charity has been working with children & youth for the past 20 years.She founded and directed a children's Christian TV show on cable access called, "Down on Noah's Ark" and "Sunday School Rock" from 1996-1999. During this time she worked extensively with children & youth in helping them develop their gifts in acting, singing, & dance and use them directly for ministry. In 1999 she founded the Lighthouse Academy of Performing Arts, a Christian dance studio. Later which became Lighthouse Productions in 2006. During her eleven years at Lighthouse she taught students in Acrobatics, Contortion, Tap, Lyrical, Musical Theater, Voice, and other forms of dance. Many of her students hold acrobatic & dance titles and have won many special awards and high scores. She is a member of Calvary's Love Assembly of God where she has been very involved in children & youth ministry. She is currently an assistant teacher in One Way (1st-5th grade children's church), is a leader for CLUB Truth (K-5th) and has also been a leader for Remnant (6th-12th) She is the Student Coordinator for Timothy Team (discipleship program for 3rd-6th graders), Timmy Team (K-2nd), and S.L.A.M (Training 6th-8th graders to be student leaders in ministry). She was blessed to help choreograph 1,000 children in the 2007 Kidzfest with Franklin Graham Ministries and has also directed and choreographed for productions at Calvary's Love.She holds an associates degree from BCC in theater & early childhood education and is currently employed at Handicap Children's Association as an aide. She also has founded the Zion School of Performing Arts Ministry.

Studio Instructor

Leslie Feliciano

Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Leslie Feliciano has been active as a choreographer for over ten years. Known for his dynamic personality and infectious approach to dance, Leslie, in addition to teaching at Broadway Dance Center, also teaches regularly at Crunch gyms in New York City, as well as at many international locales. He has led workshops and conventions in such varied countries as Australia, Japan, Peru, Slovenia, Sweden, and Dubai. In addition to his extensive travels, Leslie has worked with platinum recording artists Paulina Rubio and Miguel Bose and most notably, staged Alejandro Sanz's Alma Al Arie world tour. In Spain, Leslie wrote, produced, and directed Hip-Hop Time, a television program for children that taught the fundamentals of Hip-Hop. His work has been showcased in numerous European television commercials and in such popular awards shows as the Amigo Awards, the Latin American equivalent of the Grammys. Most recently, he danced in a major Bollywood movie, Drona starring Miss World 2000, Priyanka Chopram. Drona will be released next summer. Leslie has also served as a dance instructor on Operacion Triunfo, a reality TV show broadcast in Spain where aspiring singers compete to win a recording contract. Leslie's choreographic style seamlessly blends the influence of his Latin roots, street trends, and any kind of music that inspires movement. At once tough and lyrical, defiant and jubilant, his dances capture the multifaceted characteristics of Hip-Hop. Drawing movements from all types of dance - modern, jazz, lyrical - Leslie's choreography is an organic hybrid of various traditions distilled into his own inimitable style. Leslie's teaching is informed by his Dewbee Jammin' philosophy, which he describes as the "force that kicks in when you have no energy." Known for his unflagging intensity in class, he espouses the idea that the spiritual transcends the physical: "When the body shuts down, your Dewbee kicks in and you handle your business." Most importantly however, he believes that having fun in class is paramount: "It doesn't work if you don't smile!"
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Visiting Artist

Vivake Khamsingsavath

Vivake Khamsingsavath, 24, is a dancer and choreographer. He began dance at 21 at Binghamton University, where he choreographed hip hop for many organizations such as International Flag Dance, Black Dance Repertoire, Phillippine American League, Taiwanese American Student Association and Hong Kong Student Exchange. Vivake has been the artistic director of the Chinese American Student Union's hip hop dance team at BU from 2009-2011. He co-founded Quasi Dance Crew in 2009 while at BU, with the mission to further hip hop on campus and represent hip hop in the community.Since graduating, Vivake guest choreographs for BU's Children's Dance Theatre, coaches Fuschia, an all female dance crew and continues to teach workshops to several dance, greek life and cultural interest organizations. He also guest judges dance competitions and host shows that he once performed. Vivake has taught hip hop at Kathy Hansen School of Dance, Dance Shoppe, Dancer's Alley and Binghamton University Summer Dance Institute. Vivake performed in the lyrical ballet, Pygmalion, the main stage show at Binghamton University in 2010. He has guest choreographed for Kermidas Dance Company, Dance Stories and GLEEPAC at the Endicott Performing Arts Center. Vivake is a performer in international touring company Galumpha. He is a guest performer and choreographer of contemporary company Mixtape Dance in New York City.

Studio Instructor

Joyce King

Over the years, King's versatile experience and style has awarded her opportunities to perform, teach and choreograph throughout the U.S., Costa Rica, Belgium, and France. In NYC, King continues to enjoy teaching on Faculty at Steps on Broadway, Dance Wave, and Broadway Dance Centers Guest Jazz Faculty. In late 2008, King established JKing Dance Company (JKDC) based in Brooklyn, NY. Fresh, creative, passionate, and constantly evolving, JKDC, captivates its audience with a unique blend of contemporary movement that theatrically displays portraits of relationships in action. Kings choreography has been explained by audience members as passionate, thought provoking, emotionally moving and physically athletic. JKDC has performed at DUMBO DANCE FESTIVAL, Tribeca Performance Center, Steps Beyond Dance Concert, and PMT Dance Showcase Series. Coming in the 2010, JKDC will perform as part of WHITE WAVES COOL NY DANCE FESTIVAL, Arts Youniversity, Fertile Ground/Green Space with further developments coming. Check under News/Audition at www.JoyceKingDance.com King's early training at the NH School of Ballet under the founder and Director Suzanne Taylor Michaud, provided her with a strong technical base that led to joining Impulse Dance Company of Boston. Directed by Adrienne Hawkins, IDC provided Joyce the remarkable experience to work and perform the choreography of Adrienne and talents Fred Benjamin, Lynn Simonson, Richard Levi, Danny Sloan, and Miguel Lopez . King's other notable performing credits include, A Chorus Line, Cats, Fame: The Musical, NFL, Ellessee, Michael Jackson Industrials, Special Events/ Benefits for Broadway Cares. Her extensive training awarded King scholarships to Jacobs Pillow, American Dance Festival, acceptance to the Oxford School of Drama - Shakespeare Intensive in London, studies for Film/TV with Sally Johnson, as well as under renown Acting teacher Charles Kakatsakis in NYC. Joyce is greatly influenced by all, including her training with esteemed teachers Michael Owens, Michele Assaf, Hartford and Boston Ballet, which is apparent in her own teaching / choreographic style and works. Her training under Jim Wharton of Wharton Performance for Active Isolated Stretching(AIS) awarded Joyce Certification of which has been incorporated within her warm-up. Further desires to share her knowledge and training to new audiences, King created the Workshop Jolt Dance Convention/The Workshop. www.JoltDanceConvention.com JDC successful debut in NYC on 2009. A Workshop developed for dancers to explore their overall performance through learning to establish a character throughout the choreography, expand their technical ability /style, within a creative environment that inspires to embrace ones own uniqueness and vibrancy in performance. Many of Kings students have gone on to perform in a variety of venues including Cats, King & I, West Side Story, Industrials with Jonas Brothers, Hannah Montana, and Emily Osment. Visit www.JoyceKingDance.com and www.JoltDanceConvention.com Joyce is happily married to Ray and the proud mom of her son Aidan.

Visiting Artist

Anthony LoCascio

The best of both worlds, this Native New Yorker now resides in San Jose, CA. Anthony LoCascio has performed, taught and toured internationally for over 14 years as a Tap Dancer. A large part of Anthony LoCascio's career has been spent as The Enforcer and 2IC with the international hit show Tap Dogs. Most recently performing in Holland, Anthony has been seen performing and teaching as far as Monte Carlo and the French Riviera, to dancing in the famed MTV Studios NYC window setting, home to TRL for 10 years. Teaching and exposing, old and new students, to Tap Dance is by far Anthony's biggest passion. However, by personal request of Tap Dog's Choreographer Dein Perry, Anthony took a break from all classes to go on one more tour with the show from September 2009 until the end of November 2009. "It is so comfortable and feels very natural when I teach. So much so, I never really prepare for a class because it locks me into one idea or set of material. I have taught 3.5 year old to adult, at every level of Tap, and even teach teachers how to improve their own teaching methods. Because of this, during my class warm-up, I assess the students I see in the room and let the class develop by what techniques would benefit these dancers the most. Often Dancers need brush up on basic foundation skills and attention to detail. This is reflected in my choreography and class material." - Anthony LoCascio
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Visiting Artist

Jamie Maggio

Jamie Maggio is a hip hop dancer from Long Island, NY. She began her dance training at a young age, but found her passion in hip hop while in high school. She trained at the Oceanside Conservatory on Long Island where she was involved in an advanced hip hop program, of which she was a soloist. She was also the head choreographer, captain, and a tumbler for her high school's competitive cheerleading squad. She graduated from South Side High School in Rockville Center with an International Baccalaureate Diploma with Honors. Jamie has now graduated from Binghamton University with a Bachelors Degree and choreographed for the university's dance team throughout her undergraduate years.

Guest Instructor

Sean Patrick Mahoney

SEAN PATRICK MAHONEY was born and raised in Bensalem, Pennsylvania. At age 12 he began training with Fred Knecht and attended Princeton Ballet School on scholarship. He became an apprentice at American Repertory Ballet (ARB) and then became a featured dancer with the company. After graduating high school in 1993, he was chosen as one of the first members of Taylor 2. Mr. Mahoney later danced for David Parsons, Alex Tressor and Geoffrey Doig-Marx and was in Radio City's Christmas Spectacular. He returned to ARB under the direction of Graham Lustig and married his dance partner, Peggy Petteway. Mr. Mahoney rejoined Taylor 2 in Summer 2002. His debut with the Paul Taylor Dance Company was in January 2004.

Visiting Artist

Derek Mitchell

Derek Mitchell currently teaches Street Jazz and Contemporary Lyrical Jazz in NYC at Broadway Dance Center, Steps on Broadway and Crunch Fitness. He is currently choreographing for the NY Knicks City Dancers 2009/2010 season halftime shows and for Sea to Sun recording artist Sylvia Tosun (National Tour including the House of Blues in Atlantic City with Freedom Williams and choreographed music video for 5 Reasons). He created, directed and choreographed the Off-Broadway dance drama Thin Line at Dance Theatre Workshop, starred in the Off-Broadway productions of The Karaoke Show (which he also choreographed), The Donkey Show (Dance Captain and Associate Choreographer) both under the direction of Tony nominated Director of Hair- Diane Paulus. He also choreographed Automatic Superstar-a rock opera, performed with Lindsay Lohan on "Saturday Night Live," choreographed for the Steps Ensemble, BDC Teen ensemble, The BDC 25th Anniversary Gala and choreographed and performed in a Pepsi industrial. Derek recently formed Morph Dance Company, an eclectic, innovative and versatile dance company. Derek has collaborated with Elle Magazines creative director Joe Zee in styling Justin Timberlake and his dancers for Nickelodeon, Cameron Diaz, Hilary Swank, Britney Spears, JC Chasez, Kelis, Mary J. Blige and dancers for Gap and most notably Madonna and Missy Elliots dancers in their infamous 2004 Gap commercial. Derek has taught master classes all over the world including Japan, Italy, South Africa, Isreal, Doinican Republic, Turks and Caicos, Canada and Austria. He has taught for various dance conventions including The Pulse, Dance Olympus, Dance Masters of America, Thunderstruck, TamJams, Headliners, Summerclick, and Pick The Stars. His classes and choreography have been featured on CBS, VH1, NY1 News, W Magazine, CNN, Good Day NY, The Today Show, TV Guide, Elle, Time Out, U.S. News and World Report, Women's Wear Daily and Crunch magazine. In 2008, Derek released his first Street Jazz instructional DVD and was Dance Teacher's Instructional Teacher of the Month. He has been profiled in numerous articles in Dance Spirit, Dance and Dancer magazines.
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Visiting Artist

Tanya Morris

Tanya Morris received her Masters of Business Administration (MBA) from Syracuse University with a concentration in Marketing Management. She has danced and choreographed for numerous programs throughout New York State, including Standing Room Only, Virtuous Expressions Dance Company, and Childrens Dance Theater. While enrolled at Binghamton University for her undergraduate years, Tanya not only participated as a dancer on the Dance Team, but was also the Public Relations Chair. Through this position she created promotional collateral on behalf of the team to increase awareness of the organization and their upcoming performances. She has performed at the New York State Fair and throughout the northeast. This past year, Tanya has also been featured in Fitness Magazine.
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Competition Coordinator

Erin Saddlemire

Erin Saddlemire grew up dancing in the Binghamton area. She is a graduate of Hartford School of Music in Hartford, Connecticut with a double major in dance performance and dance pedagogy. Before moving back to the area, she performed at many venues throughout the northeast. In 2004, she had choreography featured in Madrid, Spain. For the last five years, Erin has been a performing member of Willow Dance, formerly Rod Serling Dance Co. She is also a choreographer and performer with Dance Stories, a new dance theatre troupe. Currently, Erin is a dance instructor at The Dance Shoppe in Vestal, NY, Dancer's Alley in Horseheads, NY, and Rafael Grigorian's School of Ballet in Elmira, NY. Many of Erin's students have received scholarships and titles in the competition world. She has had many students go on to pursue a career in dance. This year, she received a choreography award at Talent Explosion in Harrisburg, PA. Erin is truly inspired by today's youth, especially after the birth of her baby girl and future dancer, Sasana.

Studio Instructor

Stacy Schneider

Stacy Schneider holds an Associates Degree in Business Administration, as well as an Associates in Applied Science in Accounting. While studying at Broome Community College, Stacy was the president of Alpha Beta Gamma (International Business Honor Society) and Phi Theta Kappa (International Honor Society). Through these programs, she enjoyed the opportunity of international travel. She has traveled to Las Vegas, San Francisco, and Cozumel, Mexico for International Leadership Conferences and Melbourne, Australia for an International Scholar Laureate Program. She is currently enrolled in Binghamton University's prestigious School of Management program for Business Management. Locally, she has worked as a bookkeeper, and now in title contracts, while continuing her 4.0 average. Stacy also enjoys volunteering her time and expertise to several community programs. She has volunteered as a Site Coordinator, Tax Preparer, and Liaison to the IRS for the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program. Stacy also volunteers every week at the Vestal Volunteer Emergency Squad as an Emergency Medical Technician and a Driver.

Financial Consultant

Susan Schneider

Susan Schneider has been dancing for over 20 years and choreographing professionally for 12 years. She began her dance education in Binghamton at age 4 and has studied under several notable directors including Brian Burke (Le Reve, Tap Dogs), Danita Salamida (Fame), and Nola Rocco (internationally renowned dancer, choreographer, and movement coach). She has also studied in New York City with instructors at Broadway Dance Center and Ailey Extension, as well as worked with the Paul Taylor Dance Company as a liaison to the Binghamton community. Susan has been commissioned for her work across the nation, including assignments with SUNY Potsdam, Dance Dimensions (Austen, TX), and locally with Binghamton University, Children's Dance Theatre, Spiedie Fest, Willow Dance, Standing Room Only, Dance Stories, and the Kermidas Dance Company. Most recently, Susan was honored to work with the Endicott Performing Arts Center as the choreographer for Aida. Currently, Susan works as a Family Life Specialist at the Children's Home of Wyoming Conference, is the founder and choreographic director of Upstate Dance & Arts Center (Endwell, NY), and is a member of The National Association of Professional Women.
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Founder & Choreographic Director

Tracie Stanfield

Tracie Stanfield's (New York) work ranges from commercial work for Sony Pictures and NY Fashion Week to theatrical productions for Verismo Opera Company and Vital Theatre Company, to full-length ballet concerts for the New York Performers Project. Recent commissions include Dancers Responding to AIDS On With The Dance, Mesa State College, The University of Michigan, The International Dance Festival NYC, The NYC Choreographers Ball/Carnival, The Elan Awards, Save The Music Relief Benefit, Club Avalon, National Dance Week Concert at Baryshnikov 37 Arts and Capezios Night at The Oscars. Her work as a commissioned guest artist, teacher, collaborator and consultant insures her position as an authority on the cutting edge of dance and education. Her company, Synthesis Dance Project has appeared at NUDance Now Festival, Los Angeles Dance Invitational, Towson University, Visions and Voices, SoNo Arts Festival, CT Meets NY Dance Festival, Hollywood Performing Arts Center (FL) and as featured guests of The Kennedy Dancers. Tracie is the recipient of the 2005 Spirit of Elan Choreography Award for her work with Synthesis Dance Project NYC and the 2005 Far Space Performing Residency in New York. Currently on the faculty of Broadway Dance Center in New York City, Tracie Stanfield continues to teach master classes and workshops throughout the country for organizations such as Marymount Manhattan College, University of South Carolina, The Rock School, Southeast Regional Ballet Association, University of Michigan, Mesa State College, Broadway Dance Centers The Pulse, Summer DanceFest and Susan Chambers Dance Company, among others. Ms. Stanfields commitment to her vision of dance as a unified art form, reflecting ones personal connection between emotion and movement, is as strong as her commitment to dance education.

Visiting Artist

Phil Turay

Phil Turay is a professional dancer from Brooklyn, NY. He has been taking dance classes and performing since the tender age of three. Phil's specialties are Hip Hop, Jazz, and Tap but he also has experience in many other dance styles, including Latin, African, and Indian. While earning his degree at Binghamton University, Phil was the President and Head Choreographer of the International Flag Dancers (IFD). He was also an honorary member of, and special guest choreographer for, the Binghamton University Dance Team. Professionally, Phil has been involved in many impressive performances, some of which were for notable Hip Hop artists such as Chris Brown, Ludacris, and 112. He has had several appearances on NBC, MTV, and BET, as well as various competitions, club bookings, and showcases all over New York State. He now lives and works in LA, California.
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Guest Instructor

Mariko Yamada

Mariko Yamada is a choreographer/dance artist from Japan. She is currently attending the State University of New York at Brockport for a Masters of Fine Arts in Dance, where she enjoys studying with Bill Evans, Mariah Maloney, Maura Keefe and other widely acclaimed dance professionals. As a choreographer, Mariko enjoys working in collaboration with musicians. Her most recent work, commissioned by composer Mark Olivieri, was presented at the Vision of Sound concert in Rochester and Syracuse. Mariko has also performed in various pieces as a dancer. She will be taking classes from Jacobs Pillow this summer and looks forward to the opportunity. Her presence and improvisational skill have been especially well received throughout New York State.
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Guest Instructor

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