Welcome to our new Faculty & Staff!
We are very excited to welcome twelve new dance professionals to our faculty & staff team!
Billy Arco
Associate Teacher
Billy started dancing at Dance Connection in 2007. His love of dance started before he even stepped foot into the studio, as his cousins influenced him to become a dancer. Even though his favorite genre of dance is Hip-Hop, he studies all genres of dance including Ballet, Jazz, Tap, and Contemporary. He has been part of the Competition Performance Team for 6 years and performed in 10 different Recital Company opening numbers. While he loved performing with the Team in Disney and aboard a Royal Caribbean cruise ship, nothing can beat the feeling of performing for the Suffolk County Make-A-Wish Foundation, which he has done for many years with Dance Connection. Dance Connection has become a major part of his life over the past few years giving me a safe space to be himself and an extended family.
Sharon Bryant
Office Staff
Sharon has been a part of the Dance Connection family since 1996. Her daughter, Ava, is a DC dancer, office staff member, and teacher. Sharon enjoys attending the annual Dance Connection recitals and special events, and she’s looking forward to becoming a member of the staff this year.
Emily Civitella
Dance Teacher
Emily was a student at Dance Connection for sixteen years and was a part of the Teacher Training Program for eight years. She continues to study Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Pointe, Jumps and Turns, Technique, Contemporary, Lyrical, Hip-Hop and Modern. Emily was a part of the Competition Team for eleven years and was one of their soloists for eight years. She has won many regional and national titles. She has danced in Canada, Hershey PA, Cape Cod MA, Los Angeles CA, at Walt Disney World, on Carnival and Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, for Make-A-Wish, and for the Dizzy Feet Foundation. She is currently a sophomore at the University of the Arts and is a part of the Klassic Contemporary Ballet Company based out of Philadelphia.
Stacey Chiesa
Dance Teacher
Biography coming soon.
Sarah Davidman
Assistant Teacher
Sarah has been dancing for 15 years and student teaching for 8 Years. She has danced competitively for 5 years and been in the Recital Company for 9 years. Her dance training includes Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Contemporary and Hip Hop. When not at dance, she likes to shop and hang out with her friends. She loves sharing her knowledge and love of dance with her students.
Jenny Diaz
Office Staff
Jenny Diaz is a mother of three girls and has been part of Dance Connection for the past eight years. All of her daughters have danced at the studio and her youngest, Jeanna, is a member of the Performance Company and a Student Teacher. Jenny is currently the President of the Board of Directors for the Dance Connection Competition Team Fundraising Committee and is bilingual (fluent in Spanish). She is happy to be part of the DC family in more ways than one.
Cassie DiGeloromo
Dance Teacher
Cassie has been dancing for 15 years. She began her studies of Hip Hop, Jazz and Lyrical at her local dance studio and continued in college when she joined the school’s dance club. Cassie graduated from St. Joseph’s College in 2019 with a Bachelor’s Degree and Certifications in Childhood Education. She has ample experience teaching children ranging from Preschool to Grade 6. She absolutely adores working with children and sharing her love of learning with them. A goal of mine hers is to merge her love of dance and classroom instruction in the dance studio environment.
Julie Groh
Dance Teacher
Julie joins Dance Connection this year with a long history in dance. She grew up a dancer competing both Regionally and Nationally and went on to college to pursue her passion in dance. Julie attended University of the Arts in Philadelphia where she found a love for ballet. She then transferred and later graduated with her Bachelor in Fine Arts (BFA) in Dance Studies from LIU CW Post. During and post college, Julie performed all throughout Philadelphia theatres and even at Lincoln Center in NYC. It was during college Julie felt she learned so much that she began teaching. She taught all ages from toddler through high school in all styles. Julie took a quick break from teaching as she started a family and is now a mother of three children, one girl and two boys. Julie is excited to get back to her true passion of teaching dance.
Melissa Kinnear
Assistant Teacher
Melissa has been a student at Dance Connection for 14 years. She has also been in the Teaching Training Program for 4 years. She loves to play tennis and teach it too! She wants to help young children to grow as dancers and to teach them how amazing dance is and the places it can take them. Over the years she has studied Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Contemporary, Lyrical and Dance Enrichment. She has also been in the Recital Company and on the Competition Team for many years.
Nick Sartori
Dance Teacher
Nick Sartori was born in Long Island, NY, and raised in a small town called Seaford. He began his dance training as a competition dancer during his middle and high school years. After graduating high school Nick got a job teaching at a local dance studio while attending Molloy College as an education major. During his time at Molloy College Nick realized teaching history was not his passion, so after 3 years of schooling Nick decided to leave college to pursue a life as a professional dancer. Nick resumed his training at Broadway Dance Center and Steps on Broadway, and during this time he assisted Tom Richardson at some master classes over the summer of 2019. Nick booked his first professional job two months after leaving college with Visions Contemporary Ballet, directed by Ranardo-Domeico Grays and performed in their fall 2019 season. After performing with Visions Contemporary Ballet, Nick was accepted into a second company, Alessandra Corona Performing Works, under the direction of Alessandra Corona.
Lilly Scholl
Dance Teacher
Lilly Scholl has been a student at Dance Connection for 7 years. She has also been on the Teacher Training Program for 6 years. Lilly has danced at other studios and found she loves it here. She continues to study ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, lyrical and contemporary. Lilly also loves to sing and act outside of dance. She has previously been a part of the competition team. She loves to preform and show her love of dance to all her students.
Dejia Solomon
Assistant Teacher
Dejia has been dancing at Dance Connection for fourteen years and has been teaching for seven. Dejia continues to study ballet, jazz, pointe, and tap. She loves sharing her love for dance with younger students. When not at dance she enjoys cheering, participating in her schools marching band, and hanging out with friends.
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