Meet The Team

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 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.  

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!

Christina Maher-Mythen is a dedicated instructor with a lifelong passion for dance and gymnastics. She began her training at the age of three at Marya Kennett Dance Centre and Kennett’s School of Gymnastics, where she learned ballet, tap, jazz, llyrical, modern, and hip-hop, alongside competitive gymnastics.

Throughout her formative years, Christina developed a strong technical foundation and a deep appreciation for artistry and athleticism, which now influence her distinctive teaching style. While earning her degree at Le Moyne College in Syracuse, NY, she continued to expand her dance experience as a member of both the Le Moyne Student Dance Company and the Le Moyne Dance Team. Her leadership and creativity led her to serve as President and Choreographer for the Dance Company and Head Choreographer for the Dance Team.

Christina’s choreography often blends modern movement with acro elements, highlighting strength, control, and musicality. Her true joy lies in watching her students grow, both as dancers and as individuals.

With over 45 years of teaching experience, Master Ballet Instructor Ms. Joanne Thompson Ray brings extraordinary expertise, artistry, and passion to every class she leads. Certified in the American Ballet Theatre National Training Curriculum, Miss Joanne is known for her thoughtful approach to technique and her dedication to nurturing confident, well-rounded dancers.

Before shifting her focus to education, Miss Joanne enjoyed a rich performing career with acclaimed companies including the Ram Island Dance Company, Ballet Interim Company, Luinis Afro Haitian Dance Company, and Di Renzo Ballet. She trained with world-renowned artists such as Henry Le Tang, Frank Hatchett, David Howard, Trudi Gasparinetti, Phil Black, Ronn Forella, Betsy Haug, Robert Christopher, and Maurice Hines, and studied at respected institutions including the Morelli Ballet School, Alvin Ailey Dance Center, and Staten Island Community College.

A proud member of The Actor’s Equity Association, Miss Joanne also performed in numerous Off-Broadway, children’s theater, and summer productions, including the national tour of Dancin’ with Bob Fosse.

Throughout her career, she has taught at distinguished studios across Brooklyn, Queens, and Long Island, sharing her knowledge at Leona Antel’s School of Dance, Bonnie’s School of Dance, Body Music Dance School, Dance World, David Sanders Dance Dynamics, and The Marya Kennet Dance Center. In 1993, she fulfilled her dream of creating a training home for dancers when she founded Joanne’s Dance Studio.

Today, she continues to inspire young artists with her deep love of dance, her technical excellence, and her belief in the transformative power of the performing arts.

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! 

ulia Cerra began dancing at the age of 3 years old. She trained at American Youth Ballet and attended multiple summer intensives including The Joffrey Ballet School in NYC, Kaatsbaan Ballet Theatre, and The School Of Ballet Arizona. She also trained at various dance schools in NY including Steps on Broadway and Broadway Dance Center. Julia graduated from Butler University in 2021 with a BFA in Dance Performance. She performed in multiple featured roles and had 3 performances each year. After graduating, Julia danced for American Contemporary Ballet in Los Angeles to begin her  professional career. After her time there, she began dancing professionally for New York Dance Project in NYC. Julia started teaching at the age of 13 years old and continues to, to this day, with the same enthusiasm and energy she’s had since, teaching all styles/ages and sharing her passion for dance with others!

Angelina began dancing at the age of three, specializing in ballet, tap, & jazz. Her passion for teaching developed at a young age as she went from assisting her instructors to leading her own classes. She has had the opportunity to compete at regional & national levels. These experiences have provided her with valuable insights into the dedication and skill required to excel at high levels. She is excited to use this knowledge to inspire her students to achieve their full potential. Angelina holds a Bachelor's degree from the University of Rhode Island, where she was a dedicated member of the University's Dance Team. During her time there, she participated in halftime performances and represented the team at Universal Dance Association (UDA) National Championships. Angelina is excited to return to the dance world and looks forward to sharing her love of dance with the Thrive family.

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!

Taylor Moshinski began dancing at the age of three and has trained extensively in ballet, lyrical, jazz, tap, acro and hip hop. Growing up and training in the Hudson Valley, Taylor performed in a variety of local events and later was a part of Thrive Dance Company from its opening, training under directors Danielle Adamo and Kailey Blair. Growing up as a competitive dancer, Taylor gained valuable experience performing at both regional and national levels. Currently pursuing a degree in Elementary Education with a concentration in English at SUNY New Paltz, Taylor is the Co-Captain of the New Paltz Dance Team. In this leadership role, Taylor runs practices, choreographs routines, performs at basketball halftimes and also competes at the collegiate level. She is also an active member of the New Paltz Dance Association. Teaching dance has always been a long-term goal, and Taylor is excited to inspire and guide the next generation of dancers—sharing her true love for the art of dance! 

Olivia Masiello has been a part of the Thrive Dance Company family since its inauguration and has been a dancer since the age of 3. Olivia has trained in all dance genres developing both her technique and her passion for performing. After years of dedication as a student, Olivia is now proud to return as an instructor and choreographer sharing her knowledge and love for dance with the next generation. She hopes to inspire her students the way her own teachers inspired her, encouraging them to work hard, express themselves, and find joy in every step.

Brianna Vazquez grew up immersed in dance in the Hudson Valley, studying a wide range of styles while also cultivating a love for the performing arts through drama. She later went on to study marketing in college and continued her creative journey by taking ballet and acting classes at Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute. Brianna is passionate about sharing her love of the arts with her students, helping them build confidence, grow as dancers, and most importantly have fun along the way!