Laura Kendrick (Director)

Ballet, Tap & Lyrical

Laura has been teaching throughout Connecticut for the past twenty years. She received her training from such legendary teachers as Joan Kunsch of the Nutmeg Ballet Conservatory, Frank Hatchett and Charles Kelley. Laura has won numerous Choreography and Technical Merit awards. Her dance Company has performed at the White House, local benefit concerts such as the “Park Project” and PBS Television. Laura currently has students on scholarship at American Ballet Theater, School of American Ballet and the Royal Ballet Academy in England. You can also find many of her students on and off Broadway, on cruise ships and in the famed “Radio City Christmas Spectacular”. Outside of her dance training, Laura holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Southern Connecticut State University.

Dina Castelluccio (Assistant Director)

Dina Castelluccio began her training in Connecticut at the Stratford Center for the Performing arts. She went on to train at CT Dance Conservatory, Broadway Dance Center, Steps on Broadway and Dance New Amsterdam, where she trained with top NYC teachers. Dina is co-founder and artistic director of a contemporary company, Clarity in Motion, which has presented Falling Awake and Glass Houses. Her work as also been seen on stage at the Shakespeare Festival, as well as the Joyce Theater in NYC. She directed musical theater show Broadway Babes and has performed in Broadway in the Park. She was a member of Millennium Dance Company for a year and a half, under the direction of Devin Pulls at Perri Studios, NYC. Dina has judged at numerous cities for the dance competition, National Dance showcase as well as taught master classes at their national convention.

After living in New York City for 6 years as a professional dancer, she is now pursuing her career in Los Angeles. She teaches throughout the Los Angeles County area and continues to teach and choreograph throughout Connecticut, New York and New Jersey. Dina has won numerous choreography awards and her work as been asked to perform at The Battle of the Stars, Star Power National Talent Competition. Dina’s performing credits include, Fefe Dobson’s music video Boy Friend, “The View” for Hilary Duff and Nelly Furtatdo, as well as The International Dance Gala in NYC.

Karen Nerkowski (Assistant Director)

Ballet, Modern & Children’s Division

Karen Nerkowski began her dance training in Connecticut and earned her BFA in Dance Performance and Elementary Education at Roger Williams University in Bristol, RI. She has been teaching and producing award-winning choreography in the Tri-state area for 12 years. In addition to her teaching, Karen is co-director of the professional company CIM dance, which is based out of NYC/L.A.

Karen’s choreography has been presented at The Joyce Theater/Dancin’ Dowtown at the Joyce (NYC), Shakespeare Arts Festival (CT), Uptown Performance Series (NYC) and several showcases/evening length performances around NYC and CT including: Stratford Theatre (CT) and Bridge For Dance (NYC).

Karen’s philosophy stems from her love of dance and the belief that all students have the ability to become dancers given the right tools and instruction. Karen motivates her students with the promise that with hard work, repetition, an open mind and a sense of humor anything is possible!

Eric Campros

Jazz & Lyrical

Eric is a California native who moved to New York City to pursue his love of dance at 19. He has appeared on numerous television series and specials including the MTV Movie Awards, the MTV Video Music Awards, the Grammy’s, the BET Awards, and the Blockbuster Awards. Eric has danced with several artists including Aaliyah, The Backstreet Boys, Lil’ Kim, Mikaela, and Usher. While on tour Eric danced on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno as well as David Letterman and Ricki Lake. He appeared in the smash hit musical Grease on Broadway and has done regional productions of Gypsy, A Chorus Line, Guys and Dolls, and The Unsinkable Molly Brown. Eric appeared in the hit Bollywood musical Jaaneman, and can be seen in the feature film Taking Chances. Eric has danced in several commercials and industrials for companies including Propel Water, Stouffers, Toyota, Nissan, Aventis Pharmaceuticals, Old Navy, Target, Nike, and most recently, Wrangler Jeans. As choreographer Eric toured Germany with the bands B3 and M*Pire, and has worked with recording artists Real Soul and Kelly McCarthy. He currently choreographs shows and industrials for Carnival Entertainment, and teaches for several conventions throughout the US and Canada. Eric regularly subs at Broadway Dance Center in NYC, and is a proud member of SAG, AFTRA, and AEA.

Meghan Daly

Ballet, Lyrical & Jazz

Meghan Daly has taught both ballet and Horton for the Bridgeport MACH/Ailey. She has choreographed for community theater productions of Meet Me in St. Louis, Guys and Dolls, Grease, and The Wiz. Meghan also teaches dance for the Lighthouse After School Program at Multicultural Magnet in Bridgeport. Meghan is a recent graduate of Fairfield University with a major in International Studies and minor in Russian and Eastern European studies. She was president of Fairfield University Dance Ensemble in which she also taught ballet, jazz, modern and lyrical. She was also a member of the Fairfield University Dance Team.

Deanna Ford

Ballet/Pointe

Deanna Ford’s training began in Tacoma, Washington with Jo Emery. She continued her dance studies on scholarship in NYC with School of American Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, Harkness Ballet and David Howard. Deanna started her professional career at age 19 as a soloist with Hartford Ballet Company. She also performed with New Jersey Ballet and was a ballet dancer for Radio City Music Hall productions. She has performed as an adagio dancer in Japan, Europe and throughout the United States. Her Musical Theatre credits include Kismet, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Animal Crackers and Sugar Babies. In NYC she was a cabaret dancer at the Rainbow Room in Peter Jackson’s Legs and Tony Stevens Skintight. Deanna performed as a Radio City Rockette on National Tour in Las Vegas and in the Christmas Spectacular Radio City Music Hall in NYC.

Ms. Ford currently teaches dance throughout the New York area as well as Master Classes nationally. Deanna believes that a strong technical background, versatility and a good sense of humor are the ingredients to becoming a successful dancer.

Lauren Barrett

Jazz

Lauren began her training at Robin Horneff’s PAC. She’s performed with Ben Vereen at Make a Wish Foundation Benefits as well as with Wyclef Jean and the Temptations at the Princess Grace Foundation’s Benefit for the Prince of Monaco. She’s performed on the CBS Morning Show, ESPN, Spike TV and “The View” and in an International American Express Commercial. She has worked and performed with choreographers such as Jared Grimes, Gil Stroming, Mike Minery, Larissa Shelvedina, Peff Modelsky, Allen Howard, Dan Karaty, Mia Michaels, Dee Caspary, Tokyo, Tyce Diorio, Jaymz Teluvia, and Travis Wall. For two years she was a part of Synthesis Dance Project, Dir. Tracie Stanfield. Then she joined the dance company :pushing progress, Directed by Calen Kurka. Her choreography has been showcased at “Falling Awake” and “Glass Houses” as well as The “Hot Series” at Bridge for Dance. She taught at New Dance Group NYC where they also showcased her work in The Teacher’s Showcase for her choreography. She is thrilled to be a part of CDC!!

Sandy Canfield

Gymnastics & Creative

Rachel McGill

Ballet, Lyrical & Jazz

Rachel McGill has been studying dance in Connecticut since the age of 3. Her training includes jazz, tap, ballet, hip-hop, contemporary and modern. She attended Hofstra University in Long Island where she graduated in 2008 with a Bachelor of Arts in Dance. While at Hofstra, Rachel trained with numerous renowned dancers and choreographers including Lance Westergard, Amy Marshall, Larry Keigwin and Karla Wolfangle. Rachel has performed in various shows in Long Island and New York City. Her choreography has been showcased at Hofstra University. She currently teaches at multiple dance studios.

Kelly Kaleta

Tap

Kelly Kaleta started her dance training in Western MA at the age of 6, studying ballet, tap, jazz and hip hop before graduating from high school. While attending Boston University, she began teaching in the Boston area and throughout Massachusetts. She now teaches up and down the east coast and Canada, doing master classes and conventions, workshops and performances. She is a faculty member and choreographer for Gil Stroming’s Break the Floor, has done choreography for the Legacy Dancers and many competition groups, and her students have received numerous awards. In 2006, she was a cast member of Imagine Tap!, choreographed and directed by Derick Grant, and most recently can be seen in Guy and Madeline on a Park Bench, a film written and directed by Damien Chazelle.

Kaitlyn Croteau

Creative Dance

Kaitlyn is a CDC alumni. She recently received her BA in Dance from Point Park University with a jazz concentration. She also has an AA degree in dance from Dean College.

Dolores Sanchez

Tap & Hip Hop

Dolores affectionately known as “Dolo”, is a strong and vibrant addition to the dance world. She made her way to NYC to train as a professional tap dancer under the mentorship of Derick K. Grant (Creator of Imagine Tap/Noise Funk) Lynn Schwab(Rumbatap) Michelle Dorrance(Stomp/Imagine Tap), Chloe Arnold(Performer/ Director/Choreographer/ Imagine Tap) Jason Samuels Smith (Emmy Award Winning Choreographer) and Ayodele Casel (NYOTs/Savion Glover) just to name a few. She has performed as a member of TAHDAH, under the direction of Jared Grimes, and Sub/hitters, an artists’ movement of street performance. Dolores has performed in venues such as New York’s prestigious City Center, The Public, The Duke, Lambs Theater, Symphony Space and Thalia Theater. Recently, she presented a collaborative production titled “Setting a Groove”/ a fusion of Tap y Flamenco. Dolores, an innovative teacher and choreographer, has also trained extensively in Tap, Hip-Hop, Modern Dance (Horton, Contact Improvisation), Contemporary Jazz, Street Jazz, Capoeira, Ballet, African and Jazz. This is just the beginning…

Richard Mardsen

Ballet

Richard made his onstage debut at the early age of six. He acquired his early training under the tutelage of his parents at the Brae Crest School of Classical Ballet in Lincoln, RI. At the age of 12, he was awarded a scholarship to the prestigious School of American Ballet in New York. He attained a year-round full scholarship when he was fifteen years of age. Three years later, Richard joined the New York City Ballet. Richard danced the Repertory of George Balanchine, Jerome Robbins and Peter Martins, and was met with a unanimous wave of adulation from the critics. In 1988, he made his debut as the Cavalier in Balanchine’s “Nutcracker”. He was also featured in Martin’s “Les Petits Riens”, “Les Gentilhommes”, “Black and White”, and as Blue Bird in “The Sleeping Beauty”. Additionally, Richard performed extensively in the repertory of Jerome Robbins, including “Fanfare”, “Glass Pieces”, “The Four Seasons”, “West Side Story Suite”, “Goldberg Variations”, “Ives Songs”, “I’m Old Fashioned”, “The Concert”, and Brandenburg”. Furthermore, his incredible talents as a performer led Richard to appear as a Premier Dancer and Guest Artist with several ballet companies throughout the world. In essence, Richard has made his ambition to supply the world with a universal understanding of the masculine figure in ballet. He looks forward to continuing performing and sharing his talents as a respected Instructor and Ballet Master.

Kaylin Carlucci

Ballet, Tap, Jazz & Lyrical

Kaylin Carlucci began her dance training in Connecticut studying ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary and modern. As a CDC student, Kaylin was a recipient of many awards including scholarships to Joffrey Ballet and The Ailey School.

Currently, Kaylin is pursing her B.F.A. in dance performance from SUNY Purchase. She has had the opportunity to train with and perform works by many well-known dancers and choreographers in the NYC area including: Bradley Shelver, Lindsey Dietz-Marchant, Jill Johnson, Kevin Wynn, Doug Varone, Alexandra Wells, Sidra Bell, Andrea Miller, Megan Williams, and others.

In addition, Kaylin has been teaching dance for the past five years in both New York and Connecticut. She has also worked with the Stratford Board of Education, researching “The effect of a dance education becoming part of Stratford’s physical education curriculum, K-12.” After graduating in December 2011, she plans on moving to New York City to start her professional career.

Kathy VanDereet

Jazz

Kathy VanDereedt is originally from Annapolis, MD. In 2004 she relocated to NYC to further her classical and contemporary training, with a focus on the study of human anatomy and how it translates to movement as the basis for her training. She has studied with some of New York’s top instructors and choreographers, and was a recipient of the IAP Scholarship at Broadway Dance Center. An original member of :pushing progress a company, Kathy appeared in their New York Debut BARE and danced three full seasons for the company, under the direction of Calen Kurka. Kathy has also had the privilege of assisting and performing under Chris Hale for the past four years, being seen most recently in Hoot!, and has also performed the works of Bryn Cohn, Maya Escueta, and Anna Vollmar. In 2010 Kathy traveled throughout the west coast with Shiroun Dance Company on their Nourish Through Movement Tour, as a featured dancer and company ballet director. As a teacher Kathy has taught at various workshops, studios and schools across the country, including Broadway Dance Center, and is currently on faculty with :pushing progress a workshop. Her choreography has garnered numerous honors and awards at showcases and competitions at the regional and national levels. She is a firm believer in training based on strength, understanding, and knowledge of the body and is passionate about bringing young dancers into this awareness.