UN.CONVENTION

DEC 21-22, 2022
AUG 21-24, 2023

UN.CONVENTION

REGISTER

A MASTER CLASS WORKSHOP FOR AGES 6 AND UP LEAD BY
WORLD RENOWNED TEACHERS AND JLDC FACULTY

UN.CONVENTION®

SUMMER: AUG 21-24, 2023 | 9:00AM - 4:00PM

Un.Convention® Boston is a unique dance workshop that delivers the best aspects of a dance convention in a private studio setting. During this four-day intensive, dancers will take classes in hip hop, tap, contemporary, jazz, ballet, improv, musical theater, and more working with world renowned teachers, choreographers and JLDC faculty. Un.Convention® Boston is an unparalleled, unbelievable, and unconventional experience that features small classes, individualized instruction, intimate performances and many opportunities to work one-on-one with leading dancers in the field. Open to dancers of ALL levels ages 6 and up.

TUITION: $750

  • Includes 4 full days of classes
  • Final Showcase Performance in our Studio 4 Dance Theater
  • “After-Class” Get-Together with JLDC friends and guest teachers


ANNOUNCING
UN.CONVENTION WINTER: DEC 21-22, 2022
 

Enjoy our popular summer master class workshop in Winter! Join us for two afternoons of classes with renowned teachers and choreographers featuring small classes, individualized instruction and many opportunities to work one-on-one with leading dancers in the field. Open to dancers of ALL levels ages 5 and up.

K – 3rd | 4:00PM – 6:30PM | $250
4th – 6th | 4:00PM – 8:00PM | $400
7th – 12th | 5:00PM – 9:30PM | $450

UN.CONVENTION® BOSTON DELIVERS
THE BEST ASPECTS OF A DANCE CONVENTION
IN AN INTIMATE STUDIO SETTING
Teddy Forance - Un.Convention® Boston - JL Dance Center Newton, MA

Teddy Forance

Chantel Aguirre - Un.Convention® Boston - JL Dance Center Newton, MA

Chantel Aguirre

Jeff Lapes - Un.Convention® Boston - JL Dance Center Newton, MA

Jeff Lapes

Kaylee Millis

Billy Grifin

Sandi Duncan

Al Cattafi - Un.Convention® Boston - JL Dance Center Newton, MA

Al Cattafi

Angelica Stiskin

Channing Cooke - Un.Convention® Boston - JL Dance Center Newton, MA

Channing Cooke

Rory Freeman

Michael Keefe - Un.Convention® Boston - JL Dance Center Newton, MA

Michael Keefe

Megan Goldstein

Noel Bajandas

Robin Compbell
Vladimyr Derisier

Vladimyr Derisier

Kaelyn Gray - Un.Convention® Boston - JL Dance Center Newton, MA

Kaelyn Gray

Brea Perdue

Alexandria Walker - Un.Convention® Boston - JL Dance Center Newton, MA

Alexandria Walker

Chloe Grace Roberts - Un.Convention® Boston - JL Dance Center Newton, MA

Chloe Grace Roberts

Ryan Casey - Un.Convention® Boston - JL Dance Center Newton, MA

Ryan Casey

Keegan Barnes

JLDC Amy Yakima
Amy Yakima
Jeffrey Bird
JLDC Julia Dickey
Julia Dickey

Avery Gay
*2017 Apprentice*

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Avery Gay
*2017 Apprentice*

EVERY UN.CONVENTION
FEATURES AN EXCEPTIONAL
COLLECTIVE OF INSTRUCTORS

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Joanne Langione DANCE CENTER

38 Border St, West Newton, MA 02465
info@jldancecenter.com
617-969-8724

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Teddy Forance - Un.Convention® Boston - JL Dance Center Newton, MA

Teddy Forance

Teddy Forance grew up dancing at his families studio the Hackworth School of Performing Arts in Easthampton, MA. Since becoming a professional dancer he has performed with Madonna, Janet Jackson, PINK, Usher, Lady Gaga, Florence and The Machine, Carrie Underwood, Kelly Clarkson, Kylie Minogue and Cirque Du Soleil. Teddy has performed on the Oscars, Emmy’s, AMA’s, Billboard Awards, Britt Awards, Dancing With The Stars, ELLEN, and Good Morning America. He recently choreographed a commercial for the Red Sparrow movie & a Apple commercial! Teddy Forance is a Co-Founder of CLI Studios and he continues to find new ways to inspire the next generation of dancers!

Chantel Aguirre - Un.Convention® Boston - JL Dance Center Newton, MA

Chantel Aguirre

Chantal hails from Danvers, Massachusetts where her love for dance began. Chantal received her BFA in Dance Performance from the University of Hartford’s Hartt School of Performing Arts under the direction of Stephen Pier. During her four years she performed classical and new works by Sean Curran, Stephen Pier, Katie Stevinson-Nollet, Jose Limon, Alla Nikitina, and Shannon Gillen. She also had the opportunity to perform in the American College Dance Festival and work alongside her peers to choreograph compositions of her own. After graduating Cum Laude from the Hartt School she had the honor of joining Boston’s Urbanity Dance company under the direction of Betsi Graves. She currently is a Choreography Fellow for the company and teaches weekly company class. Her first post-grad work entitled “Opaque” was presented at the first inaugural Boston Contemporary Dance Festival, representing Urbanity Dance. She since then has debuted mutliple works at the Boston Contemporary Dance Festival held at the Paramount Theater, Boston GreenFest, Dance for Life, Outside the Box festivals, and numerous Urbanity seasonal shows including the annual Spring Revue, NeXt and The Sun Queen. She has also danced in Underground and in the professional company for Urbanity Dance and has received other noteworthy performance opportunities including the honor of performing in Jaclyn Walsh’s “Trajectory” in NYC for the competitive Capezio A.C.E Awards.

Jeff Lapes - Un.Convention® Boston - JL Dance Center Newton, MA

Jeff Lapes

Jeff Lapes has been involved in the dance industry since the age of 8 when he began training in all styles of dance.  Hip-hop became his true passion after training with and mentoring Dan Karaty of SYTYCD fame.  He started working as a dancer in his teens and toured with artists such as Nelly Furtado, Timbaland, Ne-Yo, and Lil Mama. He has been seen on MTV, CBS, Broadway promos, and several music videos. Jeff also toured with America’s Best Dance Crew as a member of the crew “Iconic”. He then moved into teaching and choreographing, contributing to the choreography for the Broadway show “In the Heights” and by age 19 was a full-time faculty member/hip-hop teacher for a national dance convention where he worked with artists such as Taylor Dane, Deborah Cox, and Patti LaBelle.  Most recently, Jeff worked with his mentor Dan Karaty in Amsterdam choreographing for the artist Labyrinth for the hit show “The Ultimate Dance Battle”. While Jeff was there, he also choreographed for a musical “Lover of Loser”, which was based off a Dutch book of the same name. He now brings his love and passion for dance full circle, in creating and being the director of Rock the House, a new dance convention and competition.

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Kaylee Millis

Kaylee “Impavido” Millis hails from Kingston, MA. She began dancing at the young age of eight years old at Pembroke School of Performing Arts, a small town studio in Pembroke, MA. She has trained in styles such as ballet, jazz, tap, contemporary and hip hop. She is currently a Pulse On Tour protege and a Monsters of Hip Hop Nominee. Impavido has been a member of Concept Artists and Pictures In Concrete (PIC), while dancing in the Boston dance scene. She is currently traveling with JUMP Convention Tour as a VIP. Impavido has previously trained at The Gold School Dance Art Company for classical dance training, and since that time has been choreographing and teaching. Lastly, she currently works at Artistic Dance Studio in Fall River Mass, and is a brand ambassador for CLI studios.

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Billy Grifin

Billy Griffin is a New York City based artist who received his BFA from New York University/Tisch School Of The Arts. Billy’s performing credits include the Broadway/1st National Tour productions of Mary Poppins, Young Frankenstein, and White Christmas, as well as Jeff Amsden’s A Few Good Men Dancin’, The Electric Company on PBS, and the video game ‘Dance on Broadway’ for Nintendo Wii.As a director/choreographer Billy has created work for Waldameer Park, The Miss America Organization, The National YoungArts Foundation, Fleet Week at South Street Seaport, The Neighborhood Playhouse and NYU. Associate/assistant credits include working with Andy Blankenbuehler on Only Gold, Joshua Bergasse on episodes of NBC’s SMASH, Marlo Hunter on My Life Is A Musical at Bay Street Theater/Duke on 42nd, and Al Blackstone on Broadway Backwards, BC Beat, the new musical Crazy In Love, and most recently Freddie Falls In Love at the Pershing Square Signature Center, and the Fire Island Dance Festival. Billy also travels the country setting choreography for many dance studios and serves as an adjudicator and master class teacher for various conventions and competitions.

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Sandi Duncan

Sandi Duncan has been a dance educator in New England for over 20 years. She owned & directed Dance Productions in Woburn, MA for 9 years, before becoming a senior faculty member at Melissa Hoffman Dance Center in Hudson, NH. Sandi has taught, choreographed & adjudicated for numerous dance organizations throughout the U.S. & Canada. Her passion is connecting with the students she works with on a deep, emotional level, challenging them to achieve personal success through goal setting, commitment, positive self-talk, and visualization. Her business is called “Sharing the DANCE of LIFE.”

Al Cattafi - Un.Convention® Boston - JL Dance Center Newton, MA

Al Cattafi

Al Cattafi  began his training at the world renowned Joffrey Ballet School in NYC, as well as continuing his studies at Kelly Allen’s For Dancer’s Only. Upon high school graduation, Albert won the prestigious title of Mr. Dance of America and shortly after that he was honored to receive a full scholarship into the dance program at Montclair State University, which he attended for only 48 hours when he departed to begin his professional career. Albert can be found in several episodes of “Saturday Night Live”, has appeared as a guest artist on SYTYCD, and was featured in an international Coke Zero Commercial. He has performed on the Video Music Awards for Florence and the Machine and on the American Music Awards with Kelly Clarkson. Known for his technical prowess and artistry, Albert was an original member of both internationally recognized dance companies “Shaping Sound” under the direction of Travis Wall, and “Bad Boys of Dance” under the direction of ballet star Rasta Thomas. Currently Albert Blaise Cattafi is the Resident Choreographer for the Phoenix Ballet and is a proud faculty member of Los Angeles based dance convention, “L.A. Dance Magic”.

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Angelica Stiskin

Angelica Stiskin is internationally recognized for her versatility as a choreographer, director, performer, and dance educator. She proudly earned her BFA in Dance at Marymount Manhattan College under the direction of Katie Langan, performing works by Robert Battle, Shen Wei and Lar Lubovitch to name a few. Angelica is honored to have assisted the Emmy Award winning Mia Michaels across the U.S.A. and Canada. She has performed with Justin Bieber and The Disney Channel’s Shake It Up girls for the nationally televised Disney’s Christmas Day Parade. Angelica began assisting professional teachers and choreographers at the age of 14, performing as a guest artist in ASH Contemporary Dance Company per request of choreographer Billy Larson, and American Dance Artists, Adrienne Canterna’s former company, with performance artists such as Rasta Thomas and Travis Wall. Other privileges include working for Benoit-Swan Pouffer (Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet Gala), Marlena Wolfe (Peridance Contemporary  Dance Company/ Rehearsal Director), Tyler Gilstrap (Ballroom Marfa/UnFair Art Exhibition/TunaNut Productions), Eisenhower Dance Ensemble (Rite of Spring/Detroit Opera House). Angelica directed and choreographed a piece for NY Fashion Week in collaboration with Louis Vuitton and Parsons School of Design. She travels with VIP Dance as a National Director, and also positioned as Brand Design Director/ Choreographer for luxury comforts brand, Move Society. Miss Stiskin is part of the adjunct faculty at Marymount Manhattan College and has been recently promoted to Artistic Director of the Jazz and Contemporary Trainee Program of the Joffrey Ballet School in New York City after being one of the first faculty members of the program almost 10 years ago. Angelica is honored to take on this new role in guiding the future generations of dance while continuing to design high-level concepts for fashion, editorial, and entertainment.

Channing Cooke - Un.Convention® Boston - JL Dance Center Newton, MA

Channing Cooke

Channing Cooke grew up in Havervill, MA where she trained under Karla Pattavina. She debuted on So You Think You Can Dance as a top twenty contestant and then went on to perform alongside Neil Patrick Harris at the 42nd Annual Academy Awards. Some of her other TV credits include American Idol, where she performed with Rihanna, The X Factor with Jeese J, So You Think You Can Dance with Jennifer Lopez, the American Music Awards, All The Right Moves, Shake It Up, Austin & Ally, Two and A Half Men and Movement One documentary. She currently teaches throughout North America and is dancing with Shaping Sound Company.

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Rory Freeman

Rory Freeman BFA in Modern Dance SUNY Purchase (NY). He has performed in pieces by Bill T. Jones, Paul Taylor, Bella Lewitsky, and Luca Veggetti and performed globally as a member of MOMIX. He worked with Commonality, Escape Artists, Royal Flux, and with Earth, Wind, & Fire, Taylor Swift, Paula Abdul and Jack Wagner. He worked on portions of “The 2014 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremonies”. He is faculty and judge for national conventions and competitions and teaches at studios across the U.S. Rory is also the Co-Founder of Move: The Initiative, a weekend dance intensive in his home state of Rhode Island. Rory joined Shaping Sound in 2013 and toured with them last year, and performed at the International Festival Danse Encore, Dizzy Feet Gala and Dancer Palooza.

Michael Keefe - Un.Convention® Boston - JL Dance Center Newton, MA

Michael Keefe

Michael Keefe trained from an early age  in Massachusetts where he was a featured dancer with The Massachusetts Youth Ballet.  A diverse, competition dancer, Mike won numerous individual titles including “Mr. Headliner”. He went on to expand his training at NYU’s Tisch School for the Performing Arts. In addition to performing Mike has gained acclaim as a choreographer, has held multiple teaching positions across the country and was a judge for Hall of Fame Dance Competitions. His professional credits include dancing with recording artist JoJo, performing at the New York City Fringe Festival and being a featured soloist in Rhythmic Circus’ Feet Don’t Fail Me Now. He was a featured tap dancer at the 2005 Presidential Inauguration Celebration & the off Broadway show, Mike Minery & Friends. He is a member of Bad Boys of Dance and a featured performer in Rock the Ballet.

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Megan Goldstein

Megan Goldstein is from Irvine, California and is a professional dancer based in Los Angeles and New York! Megan received her training under the direction of Dmitri and Jennifer Kulev at Dmitri Kulev Classical Ballet Academy and Westside Dance Project under the direction of Jessie Riley. She has worked with many choreographers such as Teddy Forance, Stacey Tookey, Travis Wall, Andrew Winghart, Jason Parsons, Will Loftis, Jermaine Spivey, Spencer Theberge, and Bret Easterling just to name a few. She is the 2017 Teen Best Dancer for The Dance Awards where she was able to travel and assist top choreographers. She is also a grand prize winner in non-classical dance for Music Center’s Spotlight Awards where she performed at the Walt Disney Concert Hall Stage in Los Angeles. She has experience with live film projects, television shows, and music videos. She is currently going to school online for photography at the Academy of Art University where she will graduate with her Associates degree in photography. Megan brings her ballet and contemporary training together in her work and she loves to perform and collaborate with other artists.

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Noel Bajandas

Born and raised in Union City, New Jersey, Noel Bajandas immersed himself in the underground dance scene in New York City where he was exposed to the rich cultures of street, club and social dancing. He has graced the stage and/or screen with Madonna, Cirque Du Soleil, Adam Lambert, Toni Braxton, Miley Cyrus, Gloria Estefan & Skrillex, to name a few. He has also appeared numerous times on Dancing With The Stars, The MTV Video Music Awards, The American Music Awards, and Americas Got Talent. Noel has a smooth charming quality to his movement and legendary choreographers Mia Michaels, Jamal Sims, Toni Basil and Walter Painter have all enlisted him to work alongside them on past projects. He’s also contributed his creative energy on shows including Dancing With The Stars, The TV Land Awards, and SYTYCD. One of his proudest achievements as a choreographer has been choreographing all 3 seasons of  Hulu’s #1 drama “East Los High” alongside his close friend, Reina Hidalgo. Today, as he continues on his his journey, Noel’s passion for dance has taken him around the world teaching and connecting with a new breed of young artists to become the best they can be; encouraging them to “Dance from the heart, and create your world, one vision at a time”.

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Robin Compbell

Robin Campbell is a proud JLDC alum and is thrilled to be back at the studio to share what she has learned since she left! Robin is a New York City based performer, educator, director and choreographer. Broadway credits include Big Fish, Hugh Jackman Back on Broadway, City Center Encores! productions of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Girl Crazy, and Stairway to Paradise;  My Fair Lady with the NY Philharmonic and Sir Paul McCartney’s Ecce Cor Meum at Carnegie Hall. After singing and dancing alongside Hugh Jackman on Broadway, Robin performed with Mr. Jackman in Istanbul, Las Vegas, and throughout Australia on the arena tour Hugh Jackman Broadway to Oz. Robin has been seen on TV and film in Blue Bloods, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Ugly Betty, Onion Sports Dome, The Consultants and Below the Beltway. Robin appears on the original Broadway cast recordings of Big Fish, Irving Berlin’s White Christmas and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. She also sang on the Grammy Award winning album On the Transmigration of Souls with the New York Philharmonic, and is the lead vocalist on three Billboard chart topping meditation albums. Robin has taught theatre and dance in New York at Kidz Theater, Broadway Kids Auditions, Convent of the Sacred Heart, Molloy College and Broadway Arts Collective.  She holds a B.A. in Music and Dance from Barnard College at Columbia University (phi beta kappa, magna cum laude), and is currently pursuing a Masters Degree in Educational Theatre at NYU Steinhardt. Most recently, Robin appeared in a Super Bowl commercial dancing alongside The Late Show host Stephen Colbert, a horse, and an alligator. Robin is currently preparing for her next project as choreographer for A Chorus Line at Kidz Theater in New York City.

Vladimyr Derisier

Vladimyr Derisier

Born and raised in Dorchester, Vladimyr Derisier has always had a passion for music and dance. Most of his formal dance training has been in the International and American styles of Ballroom. Starting back while he attended UMass Amherst, joined their competitive Ballroom team and hasn’t looked back since!

He’s performed nationally with the RLJ Showdance & Formation team, the Boston based hip-hop company Unyted Stylz, as well as competing in the American Rhythm division as an amateur and later, professionally. Vladimyr is an Ohio Star Ball Amateur American Rhythm Runner Up, Manhattan Amateur Classic Rhythm Champion, USA Dance National Amateur Rhythm Champion and the Yankee Classic Professional Rising Star Finalist. He been featured on TLC’s “Bling It On” and the music video “Luxe Lyfe” by Teddi Ci.

Vlad currently choreographs musical productions for the Beaver Country Day School (Chestnut Hill), the Brookwood School (Manchester by the Sea), instructs students of all ages at Firebeat Ballroom Studios (Winchester).

Kaelyn Gray - Un.Convention® Boston - JL Dance Center Newton, MA

Kaelyn Gray

Kaelyn Gray is a full-time tap choreographer and master instructor whose teaching and enthusiasm has taken her all over the country. She has been mentored by Chris Erk, an original member of Tap Dogs, as well as Gregg Russell who has been instrumental in her current training. She was an original member of Chris Erk’s tap company Tap Factor and has performed alongside Jumanne Taylor and Anthony Russo, to name a few. In 2012, Kaelyn started her own tap company, ProtoTap, along with fellow tapper/hoofer Parker Hall of NYC. With this company they hope to reach their long-time goal of providing tap education to the under-privileged through community outreach. In the Summer of 2013, Kaelyn was offered to be a part of the faculty at the “LA Tap Experience”, a week-long intensive featuring artists such as Maud Arnold, Sarah Reich, Rod Howell, Angie Carter, and Ryan Lohoff. The week ended with a performance at LA Theatre Downtown featuring Tap Sounds Underground, founded by Gregg Russell. She was also an assistant at the Annual Dance Teachers Summit held in NYC in the Summer of 2011. In July 2014, Kaelyn launched Tap Dance Tutorials, a website dedicated to educating and inspiring teachers and dancers all over the world. Her online video tutorials quickly became a huge success, and she looks forward to what’s to come in the future. You can learn more about Kaelyn and her tutorials at www.tapdancetutorials.com. With this endeavor she hopes to #bringtaptothepeople. Kaelyn teaches full-time at Expressions Dance Theatre in the styles of Tap, Hip Hop, Jazz, Jazz Funk, and Lyrical/Contemporary. Her choreography has been recognized regionally and nationally, and her students have gone on to work in film and television, on cruise ships, in college dance programs, and in professional companies.

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Brea Perdue

Brea has trained with and assisted some of the top teachers and choreographers in the country including Mia Michaels, Stacey Tookey, John Crutchman, Dee Caspary and Doug Caldwell at his Broadway Dance Center intensives. Touring with regional ballet companies, and performing with choreographer, Dan Karaty (N‘Sync, So You Think You Can Dance), Brea is well versed in all forms of dance. She has established a name for herself as a highly skilled dancer and choreographer, taking her own performances as well as her students to the next level.  Brea can be seen in Disney hits such as Teen Beach Movie, High School Musical, and Shake it Up. She has danced in numerous commercials and industrials, appeared in the off-Broadway show, “Break The Floor” and was also a semi-finalist on Season 2 of FOX’s hit television show, “So You Think You Can Dance.”  In addition, Brea has performed in numerous parades and shows at Walt Disney World. Recently, Brea has joined Revel Dance Conventions faculty. Her unique choreography keeps Brea in high demand throughout the country where she teaches workshops and at dance intensives as well as choreographing for dance companies throughout the U.S.

Alexandria Walker - Un.Convention® Boston - JL Dance Center Newton, MA

Alexandria Walker

Alexandria Walker is the head dance coach for the New England Patriots Cheerleaders.  She has a background in classical dance genres with a strong focus in dance teams. Alex learned her foundation of dance from Paulette Harwood with an emphasis in ballet. From there she danced on Needham High School Varsity Dance Team, Umass Amherst Dance Team, the Patriots Cheerleaders, and the Dallas Cowboys. While dancing professionally she was a captain, performed and taught internationally, danced at a Super Bowl, and was awarded the title of Pro Bowl Cheerleader. She coached and choreographed for Needham Dance Team for almost a decade and was the head coach of Northeastern University Dance Team.

Chloe Grace Roberts - Un.Convention® Boston - JL Dance Center Newton, MA

Chloe Grace Roberts

Chloe Grace Roberts was born and raised in Houston, Texas. Chloe is trained in ballet, contemporary, jazz, modern, musical theatre, hip-hop, ballroom, and improvisation. She has worked with esteemed choreographers including Eddy Ocampo, Sabrina Phillip, Jodinik Jo of the Centre du Danse Marais in Paris, Sharon Wong of Alvin Ailey, and Tucker Knox of So You Think You Can Dance. She spent two years as a company member and choreographer for Boston’s Urbanity Dance Company. Recent productions include Chicago (Liz and Dance Captain), Grease (Cha-Cha and Dance Captain), How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying (Choreographer), and High Society (Mavis and principal dancer). Chloe’s competitive choreography has received top ten placement and choreography awards at Radix, REVEL, Starpower, KAR, and Showstoppers dance competitions.  She is a company member of Nebula Dance Company and Selah Dance Company,  located in Los Angeles and Santa Barbara, CA. She is also the jazz and contemporary director at Santa Barbara Dance Arts.  @chloerobertsdance, #chloerobertschoreo

Ryan Casey - Un.Convention® Boston - JL Dance Center Newton, MA

Ryan Casey

Ryan is a performer, educator, choreographer, and dance writer formerly named one of Dance Magazine’s “25 to Watch.” In addition to his solo work, he has danced for Michelle Dorrance, Aaron Tolson, Billy Siegenfeld, Lorraine Chapman, and Adrienne Hawkins. As an educator, he has worked for colleges, festivals, studios, and arts programs throughout the country and with Summer Performing Arts with Juilliard in Switzerland. He has presented choreography throughout the Northeast with his company, Off Beat, including the Inside/Out series at Jacob’s Pillow. A frequent contributor to Dance Magazine, Ryan was also formerly on faculty at Boston University and is an alumnus of The School at Jacob’s Pillow and the National YoungArts Foundation. He holds a B.A. from NYU’s Gallatin School and an M.Ed. from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

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Keegan Barnes

 Keegan Barnes is a Hip Hop and Contemporary choreographer originally from South Africa. He has trained in Hip Hop for 15 years and Contemporary for 5 years. Keegan has worked with many local and international artist such as The Rudimentals UK, Kaien Cruz, Youngstacpt, Nicci Bruce, Jimmy Nevis. Keegan was also a lead dancer in the latest international movie called ‘Bring It On Worldwide.” Keegan has also competed in numerous world dance championships and placed first for solos, duos and groups.

Keegan has trained at many dance studios in Los Angeles such as Millennium Dance Complex LA ( which he was there on a scholarship that he won through the World Champs of Performing Arts LA), Kreative Minds LA, Movement Lifestyle, TMILLY and Immaspace. He is also apart of a few companies such as Kreative Minds Company, Immabeast Company and Immabreathe Company. Keegan is a teacher for Immaspace and also trains the Immabeast Company.

Keegan loves to teach and create and has one motto when teaching – “always bring good vibes”C

JLDC Amy Yakima

Amy Yakima

Amy Yakima was season 10’s female winner and All-Star from the hit reality TV show “So You Think You Can Dance”. Amy has toured with the Shaping Sound Dance Company and Lindsey Stirling’s International Music Box Tour. She was a principal dancer in Season 2 of Emmy nominated Amazon Prime TV series, Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and John Oliver’s Late Night Tonight. She has performed alongside artists such as Carrie Underwood, Matthew Morrison, Ingrid Michaelson, Julianne Hough, Derek Hough, and Lindsey Stirling. She made her Broadway debut as Peter Pan in Finding Neverland and was on the 2nd National Tour of Wicked as the Witch’s Mother. She will be performing again in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular this upcoming season as an Ensemble Member.
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Jeffrey Bird Jr.

Jeffrey Bird, Jr. is a Boston based tap dancer, teacher, and choreographer. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Theatre and History from Butler University and a Masters Degree in US History from IUPUI. Jeffrey began dancing at 8 years old and trained with Gregg Russell, Ryan Lohoff, Mark Goodman, Cory Finn, and Julie Sizemore. Since graduating from high school, Jeffrey has had the opportunity to train closely with Jenefer Miller, Suzy Guarino-Hall, and Cindy Hsu, and has benefited from classes with Sarah Reich, Ryan Johnson, Barbara Duffy, Ray Heselink, and many others. Jeffrey joined the Circle City Tap Company in 2015 and now serves as the Artistic Director and Pre-Professional Company Director. He has performed in various shows with the company and has directed several of the company’s shows, including the highly praised “Dear Diary” in 2019. Jeffrey is also a member of Tap24.7 out of Phoenix, Arizona and has toured the country performing as a main character in both “TAPspeak” and “Murder at the TAP’ocho.” Faculty credits include: Circle City Tap Festival, Tapapalooza Phoenix, Tapapalooza Seattle, and Tapapalooza Detroit! Jeffrey believes that a full and rich tap education must include more than just technique, but also music theory and tap history. Much of his training and passion for these two aspects of tap he credits to his mentor Jenefer Miller.

JLDC Julia Dickey

Julia Dickey

Julia Dickey is an alumni of the Melissa Hoffman Dance Center in Hudson New Hampshire. She danced competitively starting at 8 years old up until she graduated in 2021. In addition to her training with Melissa Hoffman, Julia also continued her dance education with a pre-professional training program directed by Laurie Kanyok in New York City, Kanyok Arts Initiative. Today Julia is continuing her training at Pace University’s Commercial Dance program under direction of Rhonda Miller in New York City.
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Avery Gay *2017 Apprentice*

Avery Gay’s chameleon like abilities have earned her comp-world celebrity. In a testament to her versatility, she won the 2015 Hope Award—a prize reserved for the best classical and contemporary dancer in the pre-competitive age bracket—at the Youth America Grand Prix Las Vegas semifinals. Considering her strong work ethic and love of performing, it’s no surprise the 12-year-old didn’t stop there: She also scooped up the bronze medal in her age bracket at the 2015 YAGP NYC finals, was named The Dance Awards 2015 Mini Division Best Dancer in Las Vegas and is a member of the 2016 Beat Squad at DancerPalooza in L.A.Avery logs 30 to 35 hours per week at Master Ballet Academy in Scottsdale, AZ, honing her classical technique. To accommodate her intense schedule, she attends public school in the morning before hitting the studio. 

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Shawn Mahoney

Shawn Mahoney began his ballet, tap, and jazz training at the Joanne Langione Dance Center and his early performing career with Jose Mateo’s Ballet Theatre in Boston, MA. As an apprentice, Shawn danced for American Ballet Theatre before joining Boston Ballet. At Boston Ballet, Shawn performed in Petipa, Balanchine, Kylian, Forsythe, Bejart and others. Shawn performed as a chosen member of “Tharp!”, a national and international touring company directed by Twyla Tharp. Ms. Tharp invited Shawn to be part of the creative and choreographic process for her Broadway hit “Movin’ Out” and performed in Tharp’s “Red, White, and Blues”. Shawn performed with the Suzanne Farrell/Balanchine Project, Sean Curran Company, Washington Ballet, and Bale Estado de Goias. As an educator, Shawn has taught internationally for Festa de Danca in Sao Paulo and Bermuda Civic Ballet. Currently, Shawn is on faculty at Emerson College, instructing dance classes to actors and musical theatre students and is a teacher and lecturer at Days in the Arts. Shawn founded Mahoney Agency, representing dancers for national engagements for the Nutcracker Ballet. Shawn is a sought out mentor for emerging artists and choreographers in ballet and contemporary dance.