Alexis DeSabatine grew up as a competitive dancer in Pittsburgh, Pa and trained in the Cecchetti Ballet Method. She has been teaching all styles of dance for over 16 years and has owned her studio for the last 12 years.
Alexis graduated From Point Park University with a Bachelor of Arts in Dance and is an active member of Dance Educators of America.
Over the past several years, Alexis has won numerous awards for her choreography and entertainment awards. Her dancers have won multiple Regional and National awards.
“Although I have many achievements, my proudest accomplishment is watching the growth and development of my students year after year”, she says. “Through hard work and dedication my students learn a level of commitment and drive that will prepare them to achieve their goals throughout their life.”
Alix grew up in Pickering, Ontario, where she trained as a competitive dancer for 15 years. Alix trained in Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Pointe, Hip Hop, Acro, Contemporary, Open and Lyrical, and completed her B.A.T.D Associate Membership in Ballet/Pointe and Stage. Alix is going into her 10th year of teaching, and looks forward to continuing her passion and love for movement with her dancers. She is a member of the Professional Adjudicator Alliance (PAA), and is excited, honoured and thrilled to be adjudicating throughout the US for the 2023-2024 season.
As an experienced dancer, teacher, performer and choreographer, Alix now has over 23 years combined experience in the industry. As a previous competitive tap dancer, Alix completed her examinations and finished within the top ten tappers in Canada, through the B.A.T.D. syllabus. From there, Alix received a scholarship to attend the International University Global Theatre Experience (I.U.G.T.E) Conference in Carrara, Italy; she was the youngest participant and only Canadian to take part in the artists’ conference. Alix was able to network with various international Artists and creators, while learning and experiencing differences and innovations in the European arts industry. This experience helped Alix gain confidence, to fully dedicate her time to becoming a well-rounded choreographer in all styles. Recently, Alix choreographed and danced in LOCKLYN’s music video “90’s Love”, an upcoming artist from Toronto. Alix has always aspired to help her dancers find their own passion and journey through the arts. She encourages dancers to continue developing their technique, performance, flexibility, personality, and love for their art.
Alyssa Barnecut is a passionate and versatile dance educator, choreographer, and performer with a rich background in the performing arts. Beginning her teaching career at the age of 14, Alyssa quickly established herself as a dedicated instructor and mentor. At just 21, she took a bold step and opened her own dance studio, where her students competed in local, regional, and national competitions, earning multiple event wins.
With a diverse portfolio of choreography, Alyssa has created dynamic routines for high school musical productions and competitive marching bands. Her extensive performance experience includes roles in prestigious productions, such as The Nutcracker, further honing her craft both on and off the stage.
Alyssa holds dual degrees in Business and Graphic Design, combining her artistic abilities with a strong foundation in management and design. Today, she is a cherished faculty member at a non-profit dance studio in Central Ohio, where she continues to inspire and nurture the next generation of dancers.
Amanda Souto is a coach, choreographer, and dance instructor. She began her dance journey at just two years old and is trained in various styles of dance – including ballet, contemporary, tap, hip-hop, modern, jazz, and lyrical. As a young dancer, she was part of the esteemed St. Brendan High School Sabrettes dance team and danced for a competitive company. She has been trained by and worked alongside some of the industry’s most prestigious choreographers. As a choreographer, she has choreographed multiple first place national winning pieces, solos, title wins and, most notably, was awarded the Choreographer of the Year Award in 2022. Additionally, she was awarded Coach of the Year in 2023. Amanda is currently a third-year law student at the University of Miami School of Law graduating in May 2024 with a Juris Doctorate degree. She plans on intersecting her love and passion for dance in her law career working in the Entertainment Law industry, while continuing to choreograph and teach dance.
Amber started dancing at the age of 2 and quickly became passionate about Tap Dancing right away! Though she’s trained in all styles she truly enjoys making music with her feet! As a young competitive dancer she won many overall awards and scholarships. Some of her accomplishments as a professional dancer include assisting Hayley Mac Cooper, and Aaron Burr with Showstoppers Dance Convention, opening for The Rockettes traveling show in Raleigh, North Carolina, Singing and dancing in a show for Coca Cola, as well as being a backup singer and dancer for local artists in the DFW area. Amber is driven to share her love of Tap and all styles of dance with as many aspiring dancers as possible! This season marks Amber’s first year teaching Tap & Hip Hop at DDC!
Ashlyn has been trained in all genres of dance and theater but her true love is Tap. She has performed in and choreographed for music videos, concerts, and benefits. Her Tap Company, Rhythm and Sole Tap Ensemble, has numerous performances each season and has performed at Walt Disney World, The Big Apple Tap Festival at Alvin Ailey Theater, Tap City in NYC, Opening for Friends of Music concerts at Ruth Eckerd Hall and has opened for Chris Daughtry and Counting Crows Band. Ashlyn is also the Festival Director of Tampa Bay Tap Festival which this year featured tap dance extraordinaires Derick Grant and Aaron Tolson. Besides her love and expertise in the genre of Tap, Ashlyn has also trained in Classical Ballet with Next Generation Ballet and several other intensives and programs including the Rockettes Summer Intensive in New York City. She also was a theater apprentice at the Patel Conservatory Triple Threat program. Ashlyn has been teaching tap, ballet, jazz and musical theater classes at the Patel Conservatory for several years.
A Los Angeles native, As a youth Cameron was fascinated with the dance moves of Michael Jackson, Usher, and Omarion and wanted to move just like they did. In his early adulthood he was inspired by the likes of Dave Scott and Stephen Twitch Boss to take his love for dance to a professional level. Today, Cameron has taught at multiple conventions and intensives.
He is currently a traveling teacher and award winning choreographer, as well as an actor, writer and photographer.
Casey Tallarico is a dedicated Dance Studio Owner, Educator, Choreographer, and Adjudicator based on Long Island, NY. With over 25 years of extensive training, including a competitive dance background, Casey has developed a deep passion for the art of movement.
Casey has spent the past decade mentoring dancers of all ages. She specializes in tap, serving as the lead tap instructor and choreographer for her studio, while also teaching and choreographing in ballet, jazz, lyrical, musical theater, hip-hop, contemporary and open.
Casey is an experienced adjudicator for regional and national competitions, offering insightful critiques that highlight both technical execution and artistic expression. Her well-rounded expertise in multiple genres allows her to assess performances with a balanced and constructive approach, helping dancers grow while celebrating their strengths.
Renowned for her innovative choreography, Casey pushes creative boundaries to craft compelling and dynamic performances. Her work has earned numerous choreography awards, and she has led her competition team to multiple regional, national, and world titles.
Holding a Minor in Dance from Hofstra University, Casey has trained under esteemed professionals and continues to inspire dancers with her passion, creativity, and commitment to excellence.
Daniel grew up in New York where he spent nearly all of his time in the studio training and studying various styles of dance. After high school, Daniel attended the American and Dramatic Academy which let him transition to becoming a member of Broadway Dance Center’s intense training program, Professional Semester. At BDC, he was trained by many of the industry’s top leading and finest choreographers. Daniel is now the artistic director of Dance Xpress, a Staten Island dance studio and Dance Xpress New Jersey. In addition to the dance studio, he has choreographed for many dance teams across the country. He has choreographed for dance programs such as Utah Valley University, Temple University, and Central Michigan University. Daniel also judges for many competitions on both a regional and national level . He is also proud to have choreographed the opening number at nationals for four different competitions. Through all of his experiences, Daniel has the biggest passion for competitive dance. His competition teams are proud recipients of countless high score, choreography and judges awards. Students of his have won numerous titles and championship awards at national dance competitions. His choreography has won 7 Victory Cups and 3 World Championship Cups. His routines stand out for their unique concepts and overall story telling. Daniel likes to use his creative energy to challenge his dancers with positive, uplifting movement. His classes combine technical elements with artistry and passion and provide a comfortable atmosphere where the dancers can be themselves and explore their movement.
Originally from Detroit Michigan, Emma began dancing at the young age of 3, where she quickly began developing her lifelong passion for performing arts. At age 6, she entered the competition world, where she traveled the country competing and training with world renowned artists. Emma then attended Interlochen arts academy for high school as a modern major, where she realized her love for teaching and choreography.
Upon graduation, she headed west and began her teaching career in Palo Alto, CA. She directed 2 major dance companies in Northern California, coached high school dance teams, and choreographed for studios all over the country. She continues to expand her knowledge with certifications from acrobatic arts, PBT, and AZ dance med.
Her students have won numerous national titles and continue to thrive in the dance world. She now lives in Los Angeles where she trains dancers working in the industry and directs a competition team. In her spare time, Emma teaches barre fitness classes, runs a dance wear company, and competes in pageants. She was Miss Michigan United States 2022 and even featured on a reality dating show on FOX! She is excited to share her passion for dance with all of her students, and always brings a smile!
Jordan is originally from New Philadelphia, Ohio where she grew up dancing and went on to pursue dance as a full time career. Jordan attended college at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in NYC where she studied all styles of dance as well as acting and musical theater. Jordan danced professionally for Royal Caribbean Productions and Norwegian Creative Studios where she traveled and performed all over the world in original productions as a dancer and dance captain. She also performed in “Extravaganza!” at Bally’s Casino in Las Vegas as a dancer/aerialist; “Christmas on Ice” in Niagara Falls; “Anthems of Rock” in Myrtle Beach; and “Cabaret Le Cirque” at the OLG Theater in Niagara Falls. She’s worked for Shade Productions in their original shows around the country as a dance captain, and most recently toured the country in “Cirque Musical Holiday Wonderland” as a dancer and assistant choreographer. When she is not on the stage, she loves to keep busy by teaching dance and working as a Personal Trainer. Jordan loves to share her passion for dance with young artists and is thrilled to be judging again for DreamMaker!
Grace Orfao is a 23-year-old student at the University of Southern New Hampshire, where she majors in business. She has been dancing since the age of four and has danced competitively for eight years. Grace trains in all forms of dance, but especially enjoys ballet, jazz, contemporary, lyrical and acro. She has won numerous awards, including regional titles and choreography. She recently competed in the Miss New Hampshire Volunteer 2022 pageant and won the title of Miss New Hampshire Volunteer! Grace has performed at venues ranging from Faneuil Hall to local auditoriums across New England and has held many lead roles such as Clara and the Sugar Plum Fairy.
Born in New York but raised in South Florida. Isabella‘s love for dance and movement started at four years old. As a competitive dancer for fourteen years, she attended numerous conventions, workshops and competitions. After attending Alexander Dreyfoos School of the Arts she went on to study at Florida State University. Upon graduation Isabella decided to follow her heart and get fully certified in Pilates through Classical Pilates Education. She currently lives in South Florida with her husband and is a Pilates instructor specializing in training dancers as well as a dance teacher/choreographer. She is passionate about making sure dancers are strong, versatile and have a solid foundation. She currently owns a pilates studio that works to cross train dancers and helps to provide them with injury prevention. Isabella choreographs for various studios and primarily teaches jazz and contemporary. She has been teaching dancers of all ages for seven years and seen her choreography win numerous awards. She loves that she has been able to incorporate her passion for dance into different avenues!
Jordan is originally from New Philadelphia, Ohio and has danced her whole life. She has
worked to pursue dance as a full time career. Jordan attended college at the American Musical
and Dramatic Academy in NYC where she studied all styles of dance as well as acting and
musical theater. Jordan then went on to dance for Royal Caribbean Productions and Norwegian
Creative Studios where she has traveled and performed all over the world in original
productions as a dancer and dance captain. She also performed in “Extravaganza!” at Bally’s
Casino in Las Vegas as a dancer/aerialist; “Christmas on Ice” in Niagara Falls; “Anthems of
Rock” in Myrtle Beach; and “Cabaret Le Cirque” at the OLG Theater in Niagara Falls. Most
recently, she has been working for Shade Productions in their original shows around the country
as a dance captain. When she is not on the stage, she loves to keep busy by teaching dance and
working as a Personal Trainer. Jordan loves to share her passion for dance with young artists
and is thrilled to be judging for DreamMaker!
Kara T ownsend, born and raised in Houston, TX, started her dance journey at the age
of two. She trained and competed with Masters Upper Level Dance Company for 11
years and graduated as a Dance Major from Houston’s High School for the Performing
and Visual Arts in 2017. As a Saint Mary’s College of California Gael Academic and
Performing Arts Scholar, Kara was a member of Saint Mary’s Dance Company for four
years and graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology
and Dance: Choreography and Performance double major in May 2021. She had the
honor of performing at the American College Dance Association West Regional
Conference for three years. While pursuing her undergraduate degree, Kara was also a
member of the multi-generational modern dance company, Dana Lawton Dances in
Oakland, California, during the 2019-2021 season. In 2022, she became the Assistant
Company Director of Masters Upper Level Dance Studio, where she continues to teach
and choreograph. Her choreography has received multiple regional and national titles
throughout the United States. Kara’s passion for storytelling and emotional expression
through the art of dance is shown through her work, and she continues to share her
passion for dance with many young artists.
Ms. Kelly McGuire grew up dancing and competing in the Orlando area since the age of 2. Throughout her competitive career, Kelly received many first overalls and scholarships from accredited competitions and conventions which allowed her to travel to Los Angeles and New York City to study all styles of dance. After graduating, Kelly went on to audition for ‘So You Think You Can Dance’, making it straight through to Vegas. Kelly was accepted and completed an internship in the summer of 2008 at the prestigious Broadway Dance Center in NYC. She has worked professionally since 2010 on numerous local events with production companies and was a Dance Captain at Universal Studios for 4 years, as well as a Show Trainer for shows at Busch Gardens in Tampa. Kelly also traveled with the Star Dance Alliance where she gained an abundance of knowledge regarding the competitive dance circuits. Kelly has been teaching since the age of 16 and has traveled all across the state to teach master classes and set competition pieces at many studios. She continues to receive Choreography and Artistic Excellence awards for her work. Kelly is very excited to be a leader and role model for dancers of all ages and looks forward to refining the technique of dancers while creating true artists and of course…having fun!
Matthew Mancuso is originally from East Haven Connecticut. He began his training at the age of 8 at Gloria Jean’s Studio of Dance under the direction of Stacy Eastman. Matthew was awarded America’s Male Dancer of the Year in 2021 where he was the first male to win all four national titles at American Dance Awards. He then moved to New York City and just recently graduated from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts where he earned a BFA in Dance and a Minor in Entertainment Business. While at school, Matthew got to learn and perform repertoire from Sidra Bell and Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company. He also was chosen to study abroad in Prague, Czech Republic at The National Theatre. After graduation Matthew became a new member of “Gaspard and Dancers” which is a contemporary based dance company. He most recently traveled with them to Romania to perform at the National Romanian Opera House of lasi. Matthew has also performed at the Carnival Choreographer’s Ball, New York City Fashion Week, Battery Park Dance Festival, and for Broadway Cares Red Bucket Follies at the New Amsterdam Theatre. He loves teaching and choreographing, as well as passing his love for dance onto the next generation.
Olivia grew up training under Maryen Lorraine Miller and Abby Lee Miller from the TV show Dance Moms. She quickly began competing and traveling the country with the national award winning Abby Lee Dance Company, eventually becoming a faculty member and choreographer. While she loves all styles of dance, her passion for Musical Theatre, Jazz and Tap grew after obtaining her Bachelor of Arts in Musical Theatre at James Madison University.
She performed at the Disney World Theatre in Orlando’s theme park, was a featured dancer in the 2013 Jazz Dance World Congress (placing in the top five) and was hand picked by Broadway’s own Ben Vereen to be the featured dancer in his Broadway Theatre Project production, Journey to the Footlights. She has worked at many regional theaters on the East coast. Liv’s choreography of the musical Parade at the Forbes Center for Performing Arts was recognized by the Kennedy Center in Washington DC at their 2018 KCACTF Awards. Liv has spent three years as the founding Artistic Director of a NYC dance studio. She became Director of the Year at TRDC in 2022. Currently, Liv works as a dance educator at Mariann’s School of Dance in Paramus, NJ as well as travels as a competition adjudicator and convention educator.
Liv grew up training under Maryen Lorraine Miller and Abby Lee Miller from the TV show Dance Moms. She quickly began competing and traveling the country with the Abby Lee Dance Company, eventually becoming a faculty member and choreographer. While she loves all styles of dance, her passion for Musical Theatre and Tap grew after obtaining her Bachelor of Arts in Musical Theatre at James Madison University.
She performed at the Disney World Theatre in Orlando’s theme park, was a featured dancer in the 2013 Jazz Dance World Congress (placing in the top five) and was hand picked by Broadway’s own Ben Vereen to be a featured dancer in his Broadway Theatre Project production, Journey to the Footlights. She has worked at many regional theaters on the East coast. Some of her favorite credits include playing Molly McGuire in the new musical Divided, directed and choreographed by Broadway Dance Center’s Jim Cooney and Leslie/ dance captain of American Idiot, directed and choreographed by Broadway star, Nancy Anderson. Liv’s choreography of the musical Parade at the Forbes Center for Performing Arts was recognized by the Kennedy Center in Washington DC in their 2018 KCACTF Awards. Liv spent the pandemic years as the founding Artistic Director of a NYC dance studio growing the studio from eleven dancers to over 200
Suzy Fischbach is the Artistic Director at Essex Dance Academy. She has been choreographing and teaching contemporary and jazz for 7 years, and is managing the creative vision of the company. Suzy has performed in many events including, The Ace Awards, Sybarite, and Peridance Faculty Show. She has had pieces selected to perform in many events including, AIM Invitational, Dancin’ Downtown at the Joyce Theater, and many more. Working with competition dancers is what Suzy loves to do, but above all, making them into artists and creators is her main goal.
Torianna is a choreographer and dance educator from Columbus, Ohio. With a diverse background in dance and competitive performance, she has honed her skills through years of dedicated training. Having choreographed three successful musicals – “Pippin,” “Cats,” and “Suessical” – Torianna’s creative talent and artistic vision have been showcased on stage. Currently serving as a competitive dance coach and choreographer at Dance E.L.I.T.E Performance Academy, she has crafted award-winning routines that have garnered top honors and recognition in various competitions. Beyond her work at the studio, Torianna also shares her expertise by teaching guest classes and creating choreography for studios and companies both in and out of Ohio. Her commitment to fostering a supportive and inspiring learning environment is evident in her dedication to her students’ growth and development. Torianna’s background as a professional choreographer and dance educator has equipped her with a unique perspective that informs her judging criteria. Drawing on her years of training and experience, she evaluates performances with a discerning eye, recognizing technical precision, artistic expression, and overall performance quality.
Torianna is a talented choreographer and dance educator from Columbus, Ohio. With a diverse background in dance and competitive performance, she has honed her skills through years of dedicated training. Having choreographed three successful musicals – “Pippin,” “Cats,” and “Suessical” – Torianna’s creative talent and artistic vision have been showcased on stage. Currently serving as a competitive dance coach and choreographer at Powell dance academy, she has crafted award-winning routines that have garnered top honors and recognition in various competitions. Beyond her work at the studio, Torianna also shares her expertise by teaching guest classes and creating choreography for studios and companies both in and out of Ohio. Her commitment to fostering a supportive and inspiring learning environment is evident in her dedication to her students’ growth and development. Torianna’s background as a professional choreographer and dance educator has equipped her with a unique perspective that informs her judging criteria. Drawing on her years of training and experience, she evaluates performances with a discerning eye, recognizing technical precision, artistic expression, and overall performance quality.
Victoria began her teaching career in 2002. Her teaching experience includes recreational and competitive dance in the studio setting, as well as a period as an adjunct instructor in the higher education setting. She is a perpetual student, and enjoys taking class at Gibney Dance, Peridance, Steps, and Broadway Dance Center. As an employee of the former Dance New Amsterdam for four years, Miss Vicky had the pleasure of studying Simonson Technique, modern dance, and ballet. She received her BA in Integrative Arts with a concentration in dance from the Pennsylvania State University in 2008. As a choreographer, Miss Vicky was the Artistic Director of Victoria Scanga / scangadance from 2009-2012. Her choreography was performed at festivals throughout New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania including 60×60 Dance at both the World Financial Center Winter Garden (2009) and DanceFest at Tompkins Square Park in New York City (2010), at the Fertile Ground Performance Series at Green Space in Queens, NY (2010), the Koresh Artist Showcase in Philadelphia, PA (2010), the Sunday Brunch Series at The Rover in New York City (2010), the Silk City Arts Festival in Paterson, NJ (2010), Penn State University (2011), WAXworks at Triskelion Arts in Brooklyn, NY, and the Mish Mash Performance Series at Sukha Arts Center in Harrington Park, NJ (2012). In the competition dance world, Miss Victoria is a national and multi-time regional award winning choreographer and has choreographed numerous regional and national top ten solos, duos, and group dances. Her teen modern group, Survivor, was the highest scoring intermediate 15-19 group for Star Dance Alliance’s Power Rankings for the 2019 season in NJ and PA. Miss Vicky holds an MBA from Rutgers Business School and also works as the Associate Director of Marketing for NX3 Corporation.