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Faculty
Miss Kailey
Owner/Artistic Director
Instructor/Choreographer
Kailey Blair began dancing at the age of 5 and continued pursuing her passion for dance for 15 years after. She studied each genre of dance at the Marya Kennett Ballet Theatre which included ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, hip hop & modern. Kailey entered into the Dance Company at a young age and it was then she knew she dreamed to be a dance studio owner. She has attended the American Academy of Ballet, as well as studied under master teachers at NYC’s Broadway Dance Center. She has danced with Brian Loftus, Olga Dvorovenko, Nailah Bellinger, Jean Wenzel, Kelly Peters of Brickhouse NYC, Chio, Bev Brown & Bill Hastings to name a few. Being well versed in all genres she continued her studies at Dean College School of Dance where she majored in Dance and Sports Management. She became Captain of the Dean College Hip Hop Dance Team by her sophomore year. After years of teaching and choreography opportunities she then followed her dreams and opened her own studio Northeast Dance Movement in Florida, NY in 2012 where she directed 21 productions and 3 competition team levels. Entering into her 14th year of owning and directing a studio, Kailey is honored and privileged to be able to do what she loves and share her love and passion for dance with her students!
Miss Danielle
Owner/Artistic Director
Instructor/Choreographer
Danielle Adamo began dancing at the age of 5 as a student of Joanne Thompson Ray and Claude Vallet. Danielle was a member of the Joanne's Dance Studio senior company and student taught since the age of 12. She graduated from Hofstra University where she studied Business Marketing and Dance. She has also studied at numerous dance and theatre schools in the NYC area including: American Theatre Dance Workshop, Broadway Dance Center, Steps on Broadway, Camp Broadway, and more. At ADTW, she studied under former Alberta Ballet Director, Ali Pourfarrokh. She continues to expand her repertoire by attending master classes and workshops with industry leading teachers and choreographers. Danielle is certified in the Progressing Ballet Technique in levels Junior, Senior, and Advanced. In 2020, Danielle completed the Harkness Center for Dance Injuries' Dancer Wellness and Injury Prevention program through NYU Langone Health. Danielle is the former artistic director of New Generation Dance in Blooming Grove, NY where she directed yearly spring and winter productions.
Miss Vallet
Ballet Mistress/Choreographer
Miss Vallet has been teaching ballet to young students for over 50 years. Ms. Vallet was born in France. She studied with The Paris Opera Ballet and joined their traveling ballet company at the age of 18. After moving to the states, she started working with Marya Kennett in Goshen, NY. She started teaching for Joanne Thompson Ray in 1998 and then for Miss Danielle. Miss Vallet is a highly respected ballet teacher and pushes her students to be their very best. She instills discipline while being encouraging and supportive. Miss Vallet plays a vital role in the production and choreography of the Nutcracker and other classical ballet pieces. She has also coached and arraigned classical variations for the Youth American Grand Prix ballet competition.
Miss Kaycee
Instructor/Choreographer
Kaycee Wright started studying dance at the age of three in Orange County, New York and has continued to do so for the past 20 years. A natural performer and competitor, Kaycee has performed and competed in many events throughout the years. Some including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Pearl Harbor Hawaii, Disney World and many more! Kaycee has also obtained IMDb credit from web series Spirit Hunters-The Series and Level5Cheer.. After high school, she continued sharing her love of dance with students down south and has choreographed the Mrs. North Carolina International Pageant, and Sister Act The Musical for early college students. She has graduated from Craven Community College with an Associates in Arts, and is a Certified Personal Trainer and Corrective Exercise Specialist through National Academy of Sports Medicine. Kaycee is also an Active Training Coach for Range Movement. Most recently, Kaycee has completed her Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education with emphasis in Sports Management from Eastern New Mexico University.
Miss Chrissy
Instructor/Choreographer
Chrissy Maher is an acro instructor who started her dance and gymnastics training at Marya Kennett Dance Centre and Kennett's School of Gymnastics at the age of 3. At Kennett's, Chrissy was trained in ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, modern, and hip-hop as well as a competitive gymnast. While at Le Moyne College (Syracuse, NY), Chrissy continued her love for dance through the Le Moyne Student Dance Company and Le Moyne Dance Team. By the end of her four years, Chrissy became President and choreographer for the company and Head Choreographer of the team. Her favorite styles to perform are modern and hip-hop, and loved choreographing intricate modern pieces with acro elements. She loves watching her students grow in every class, and hopes each student leaves confident in themselves and their new skills!
Miss Morgan
Instructor/Choreographer
Morgan Cruz began her ballet training at the age of 5 primarily under the instruction of NYC ballet dancer Elizabeth Geyer. She has studied ballet at American Ballet Theatre, American Academy of Ballet, Broadway Dance Center, Steps on Broadway, Peridance and Ballet Academy East. Morgan also was accepted into the Joffrey Ballet Trainee program for 2 years during her studies. Some notable teachers she has had the privilege of taking classes with are Nancy Raffa, Finis Jhung, Eleanor D'Antuono, Gelsey Kirkland, Francesca Corkle and David Howard. Morgan has performed variations from La Esmeralda, Don Quixote and Le Corsaire. Morgan is looking forward to sharing her passion and extensive ballet technique training with her students at TDC!
Miss Isabelle
Instructor/Choreographer
Isabelle began dancing at age 3, training in ballet, tap and jazz at Marya Kennett Ballet Theatre. In high school, she went on to train at Northeast Dance Movement under direction of Thrive owner Kailey Blair before graduating. She performed in multiple local theatre productions at the Sugar Loaf Performing Arts Center under direction of Tony nominated director Joyce Presutti. She got her Bachelors in English with a Theater minor from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and went on to graduate with her Masters in Creative Writing from Fairfield University. She has choreographed a local production of Urinetown, led a competitive dance team as captain and choreographer representing Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. for Shimmy Like a Nupe for three years, and has placed in the Top 15 finalists of Broadway World’s Next on Stage: Dance Edition in 2020. She has trained under Alexander Chung and Galen Hooks, and has studied at Brickhouse NYC, Broadway Dance Center, Millennium Dance Complex, and more in styles of jazz funk, street jazz, hip hop, and musical theater. Isabelle is excited to be a member of the Thrive team and looking forward to sharing her knowledge and skills!
Miss Lisa
Instructor/Choreographer
Lisa Annicaro began her dance education at the age of 5. She studied hip hop, acro, ballet, and tap while also participating in competitive gymnastics and cheerleading for many years. She continued onto collegiate level competitions. Post college, Lisa began instructing hip hop and Zumba at Fly Dance Fitness and LA Fitness while she resided in Sarasota, Florida. Lisa moved back to the area continuing her studies at Steps on Broadway and Broadway Dance Center. Lisa is super excited to bring her dance style and expertise to the Thrive dancers!
Miss Alyssa
Instructor/Choreographer
Alyssa has been dancing since the age of 3. She began her career in Allentown, Pa., where she was trained in ballet, pointe, jazz, tap, modern, lyrical, hip hop and musical theater. She has attended both regional and national competitions. She was a member of her high school dance team performing at all major school events, and became captain her senior year. She was awarded the Arts Ovation Award in high school for her excellence in dance and was able to train at the college level in ballet and jazz. When in college at SUNY Cortland, she was a member of Cortland Danceworks, the hip hop dance team performing during halftime of sporting events, as well as attending UDA regional competitions. She held the position of Captain/Vice President her junior and senior year. She also continued her ballet training with the Theater Department at SUNY Cortland. After graduating, she has continued to dance and teach while attending graduate school. She has obtained a M.S. in General Psychology and is currently working towards a M.S. in Occupational Therapy from Mercy College
Miss Breanna
Instructor/Choreographer
Breanna Kozlowski of Goshen, NY is a married, mother of two beautiful children danced from age 3 - age 19.
She was on her High School dance team, as well as a competitive dancer with the Sharon Mitchell Dance Studio.
In that time, we performed on a Cruise Ship Line and was a half-time show performer during a Knicks/Celtics game.
Her favorite genres of dance are hip-hop + tap! Miss Breanna can't wait to work with all of the Thrive dancers!
Miss Susan
Instructor/Choreographer
Susan Mengani started dancing at age 4 in ballet and tap at Marya Kennett Dance Centre. As she continued training at New Generation Dance and at Thrive Dance Company, she trained in more styles including contemporary, modern, musical theatre, heels, and jazz. While taking classes at Thrive, she danced competitively and was a part of performances including The Nutcracker, The Lion King, and Aladdin. She has continued her training by taking classes under multiple instructors at Broadway Dance Center, attending the Broadway Arts Collective Theatre Intensive, and shadowing different teachers in NY and CT. She recently returned from her internship with the Walt Disney Company and is currently attending Orange County Community College. Susan is so excited to be part of the team this season!
Miss Michaela
Instructor/Choreographer
Michaela Rose Pagana began dancing at the age of 5 at Joanne’s Dance Studio and continued her dance studies through New Generation Dance and Thrive Dance Company in ballet, tap, jazz, theatre, pointe, contemporary, lyrical, and hip-hop. Throughout her studio training, she shadowed teachers and encouraged younger students in their own classes for several years as a volunteer teacher’s assistant. In addition she danced competitively and performed in multiple productions at Sugar Loaf Performing Arts Center. During her freshman year of college she danced for the Liberty University Dance Team and plans to continue her education at Orange County Community College to study psychology.
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