Leah Maille, owner of Stage Left Dance (Middletown, CT) & The Dancer's Image Dance Academy (Cromwell, CT), has been a part of Stage Left Dance studio as both a student & teacher since it's opening 14 years ago. She is trained in ballet, hip-hop, contemporary, modern, and jazz dance from teachers in New York at Broadway Dance Center,  in Boston at the Dance Complex, and Connecticut at a variety of different dance schools. She spent many years training as a member of the Central Connecticut State University's PepSquad, as well as with the contemporary company, DanCentral. Upon graduation, Leah continued her dance training & teaching at a variety of different studios throughout Connecticut & is excited to take over Stage Left Dance Studio!

Danielle has been tap dancing for 18 years (with a short hiatus between ages 8 and 9). She started dancing at Miss Beth's School of Dance and came to Stage Left Dance and Fitness Center when she was eight years old.  She rekindled her love of tap at SLD, where she worked with Lorrie Tine and Kate Cavenagh D'Onofrio. She will be graduating from the University of Connecticut May 2016, and there she tapped competitively for four years with the UConn Tap Team, continued to work with Kate Cavenagh D'Onofrio and started working with Ryan P. Casey. Through the UConn Tap Team she has taken classes at Broadway Dance Center to broaden her tap knowledge, as well as attending the Beantown Tapfest and the Big Apple Tap Festival. She is ecstatic to come back to her favorite dance studio and teach these wonderful kids!

Hi! I'm Danielle,  I danced at SLD years ago with Miss Leah, as my ballet teacher and Miss Lorrie & Miss Cindee as my Hip-Hop & theater teachers. I am an active member of the Beauty Campaign's Beauty Ambassadors as a mentor and program facilitator for the Beauty Academy programs. I'm currently a full time sophomore at CCSU where' I'm working towards earning my elementary education degree. I hope to  fulfilling my goal and passion of being a teacher some day. I love working with people and am excited to be at SLD!  

Miss Lorrie (on left in photo) has over 35 years experience in dance. She started dancing at age 7 at Judyth Parks Dance Academy in Wallingford, CT. She studied there until she entered high school. After finishing college at Uconn, she moved to San Diego, CA where she continued her interest in dance. She danced for Culture Shock hip hop troupe, the Nike Dance Performance Team, and Beat Street Dance Company. In 1993 she became an ACE certified fitness instructor and has been teaching a variety of fitness classes ever since.

When she moved back to CT in 1998 she taught dance and fitness classes at a variety of studios and gyms. In 2002 she became the co-owner and director of Stage Left Dance Studio in Middletown, CT. After 13 years the studio was sold to Leah Maille (a studio alumni), who is carrying on the studio's philosophy of dance. Miss Lorrie continues to teach dance there, where she is constantly rewarded by watching the students grow and learn under the direction of Miss Leah. Out of all the forms of dance, tap is definitely Miss Lorrie's all time favorite!

Emory Campbell, born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, began her dance training at age 13 at LaGuardia High School. Later that year she began training at The Taylor School’s intensives and youth program. She is currently a senior at The Hartt School at University of Hartford where she studies Ballet, Modern and Contemporary dance forms. Emory has also choreographed and performed as part of Zoo City, a small theater company in New York. At Stage Left, Emory will be choreographing a piece for our Elite Company Members.

Michelle Press is from Richmond, Virginia and is currently studying at the University of Hartford where she is involved in both the Dance and Physical Therapy programs. Michelle began dancing at age 12 at the West End Academy of Dance and became extremely involved with the studio throughout her time there as a student. She has danced for RVA Dance Collective, a professional modern dance company in the Richmond area and has taught ballet, pointe, modern, contemporary, jazz, and choreography at West End Academy of Dance. Michelle is excited to join Stage Left Dance as a ballet teacher and can’t wait to meet everyone!

Miss Kimmy started her dance career as a competitive irish step dancer for 10 years. She attended to the Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts training in both classical and modern style dances. and later attended Central Connecticut Stage University where she was an active member in the Modern/Contemporary company, DanCentral. Miss Kimmy also trained under Julie Lang and James Marino and is super excited to be teaching at Stage Left Dance..

Miss Melinda has been involved in dance for most of her life. She has studied modern, jazz, ballet, pointe and tap. Melinda has been tapping with the adult tap group at Stage Left since 2004 and has joined the adult hip hop group in 

2016. Melinda began teaching at Stage Left in 2005. She adores teaching our youngest dancers; they have a natural love of music and movement which inspires her on a daily basis.  Melinda is also the head teacher of the four year old class at Northwest Children's Center in Cromwell.  She is looking forward to another rewarding and exciting year at Stage Left!

For 7 years, she has taught various styles of dance to students whose ages range from 5 to 18 years old. She found her love for dance at the age of 10 when she began dancing at Stage Left Dance; there she has trained in ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop and lyrical. Brittni continued her dance training through college with CCSU’s hip hop dance team. Now residing in East Haven, CT, she is currently a member of Double Up Dance Company’s “Team Leggoo” based out of Fairfield, CT. Through Double Up Dance Company she has had the privilege of learning from world renowned choreographers such as Kyle Hanagami (California), Will “Willdabeast” Adams (California), Yanis Marshall (France), and more. One of Brittni’s most memorable dance experiences is when Team Leggoo performed for Nick Cannon’s Red Nose Day Charity Dance-a-thon on NBC in May 2015. Performing and teaching are what make her feel the most alive and free, and for Brittni, dance is home

Brandon is a dedicated dancer from New Britain, CT and  has been teaching the art of Hip Hop and Breakdancing for seven years. He has worked with students from all over the state in multiple studios and schools. Brandon has choreographed  Breakdancing Shakespeare at the Hartford Stage and Choreographers Showcase at the Greater Hartford Arts Academy. Currently he dances for The Ultimate Michael Jackson Experience with Joby Rogers & United Rhythms. He graduated from  Central Connecticut State University with a BA in Journalism and is a videographer. He believes everyone should practice an art form that moves them and drives them to be contributing members to society and a better version of themselves.

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www.brandonthebboy.com

Kate is deeply devoted to passing along the rich history of Tap as well as preserving repertory and traditions. She focuses on rhythm, musicality, phrasing, and improvisation in class, and approaches tap as music.  Kate attended Emerson College in Boston and holds a B.A. in Theater Education with a Dance Concentration. She has studied extensively in Boston and New York City, at the American Tap Dance Foundation (NYC), and with Barbara Duffy (NYC) as her main mentor for the past several years.

Tyler is a professional dancer born in Hartford, Connecticut and has been tap dancing for over twenty years. He attended the Greater Hartford Academy of the arts and it was there that he found his love for the arts. With the help of Claire O'Donell, Tyler trained with legendary tap dancers such as Jimmy Slide, Harold Crommer, Gregory Hines, Jason Samuells Smith and many others. Tyler also lived and performed in Brazil with Rachel Covaconti. He was invited to be a part of Tap in Rio and Festival De Rua, a touring street performance group in Brazil. He has recently performed with Hillary Marie as a featured artist in her original show Soul Walk and performed in Riverdance all around America! Tyler will be teaching along side Miss Kate this year and  is happy to be back on the East coast and cannot wait to share his talents with Stage Left!