Guest Instructors/Choreographers
Marianne Dalton - Guest Ballet Instructor
Marianne comes to us with over 20 years teaching experience in the Rochester, Syracuse, and Buffalo areas. During her professional career, Marianne was a dancer with Empire State Ballet, Boston Repertory Ballet, and Boston Ballet II. Currently an adjunct lecturer at U of R, Nazareth College, and SUNY at Brockport, she is a former faculty member of the Draper Center for Dance Education as well as a guest teacher at many studios located throughout New York State.
AJ Deneka - Guest Jazz Instructor
AJ has been dancing, modeling, and choreographing all over the globe since the tender age of 10. His extensive training expands to both the east and west coasts, at such studios as The Edge Performing Arts Center, Broadway Dance Center, Gus Giordano, and has assisted and trained with the likes of Joe Tremaine, Liz Imperio, Doug Caldwell and Bt. Andrij has worked with such artists as Kylie Minogue, Marc Anthony, Stevie Wonder, Gregory Hines, and Selena Gomez. Some of his credits include the MTV Movie Awards, The TV Land Awards, Wella, Nike, International Dance Festival, The Winter Olympics, American Choreography Awards, Jazz Dance World Congress, Coca Cola, Mercedes Benz Fashion Week, LA Fashion Apparel Magazine, and has toured the U.S., Europe, Asia, and Mexico with "Instincts Live Media Dance Company”. Currently he is a guest teacher at F.I.T. in Manhattan, and at studios/colleges all over the US and Canada. Andrij recently graduated from "The Fashion Institute of Technology" in Manhattan and plans on someday working as a stylist. “Embrace what makes you unique, even if it makes others uncomfortable.”
Lindsey Miller - Guest Contemporary/Hip-Hop Choreographer/Instructor
Lindsey is a choreographer, dance instructor and fitness professional based in Upstate New York. She has over 20 years of experience in the dance and fitness industries working alongside top choreographers and fitness professionals in Los Angeles and New York. As a dancer she has appeared in television, film, live shows, music videos and fitness videos. Lindsey is the owner of Lindsey Miller Fitness (@lindseymillerfitness), providing small group and one-on-one personal training, dance, fitness and yoga throughout the Los Angeles area and in New York. She is a trainer for Dailyburn.com, a Master Trainer for Barre Above and Director of Master Trainer Education for PlyoJam Cardio Dance Fitness and creator of The Remedy for optimized dance and sport performance. She has presented at IDEA World Fitness and has taught in the Junior Program at Millennium Dance Complex in Los Angeles. As a personal trainer, yoga instructor and motivator, she is committed to providing fun, innovative and scientifically effective programming that promotes a healthy body as well as a healthy mind.
Melanie Kaisen - Guest Instructor
Melanie has been dancing for over 10 years and is a rising senior in the University at Buffalo’s BFA dance program. In addition to her collegiate path, Melanie has trained with various companies and programs including Gus Giordano Dance School in Chicago, Steps on Broadway and Broadway Dance Center’s Pre-Professional Summer Study programs in New York City, the Commercial Dance Intensive in Atlanta, and the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, among others. Melanie has worked with artists such as Nick Hagelin and Francesca Maria in music videos, as well as took part in productions of Starring Buffalo’s Little Shop of Horrors and A Christmas Carol. Melanie is so excited to share her love and passion for dance with Studio East Dance Company!
Ellie Sanna - Guest Contemporary Choreographer
Ellie Sanna has lived and worked in the New York City Dance Industry for the past 7 years. She has taught and choreographed for studios throughout Connecticut, New Jersey, New York State, and North Carolina, alongside substitute teaching at Peridance Capezio Center in NYC. Ellie has worked for Hall of Fame Dance Challenge for 7 Seasons and taught master classes in Las Vegas at their Nationals. Additionally, she’s most recently worked as a Producer for Sonya Tayeh and Emma Portner with New York City Center’s, Fall for Dance programming, collaborating with music artist Moses Sumney. Ellie has also worked as a casting director and manager for dance artists in Los Angeles, London, and Germany, on fashion shows with Burberry, Valentino, and music artists such as Dua Lipa, Miguel, and Sabrina Carpenter to name a few. Ellie’s passion has always been to support the Dance Arts in any and every capacity and has utilized her education and training to work from a Performer to a Stage Manager, Agent, Production Manager, and Company Manager alongside her continuous work and passion for teaching and choreography.
Gianna- Guest Choreographer
Gianna currently trains in the Rochester area, at Studio 19 Dance Company. She trains in all styles. Her favorites being Hip-Hop and Contemporary. She is an award winning soloist having competed for over 10 years both on the regional and national level. Gianna has been awarded the opportunity to work as a faculty assistant for multiple conventions including, Revel Dance Convention and Embody Dance Conference. She teaches technique classes, and does solo choreography for dancers around Rochester. Upon graduating High School, Gianna plans to attend CLI Conservatory's ten-month training Pre-Professional Program as she plans to pursue a career in the commercial dance industry.
Miss Miranda Martin O'Hara- Guest Choreographer
Miss Miranda Martin O'Hara is a Rochester native. She is the co-owner and director of "Studio 19 Dance Company" and the director of "The Company"; an all Hip Hop dance crew at the
advanced level for ages 13-20. Her students perform and compete at both the regional and national level. Her Hip Hop crews perform regularly within the community at events and half time
shows including: The Harlem Globetrotters, Rochester sports teams: The Knighthawks, Amerks, Lancers and most recently for the Spencerport Historical Society. She has been honored
numerous times for her choreography and entertaining routines, and her students praised for technical execution and have recieved a multitude of scholarships. Miss Miranda is trained extensively in all styles of dance, but is passionate and renowned for Hip Hop in and around the Rochester area. She is highly sought after for master classes and choreography regularly. Professionally Miss Miranda was a member of Kista Tucker Dance Inc from 2007-2012, studied swing dance and vintage jazz for three summers from 2009-2011 under Thom Cobb, and was a member of Catalyst Dance Works from 2014-2019, under the direction of Amber Blye Brescia.
Miranda has performed at Fringe Fest, several dance festivals locally and nationally, at various workshops including Bill Evans annual Somatic conference, and was often a featured performer
in Tucker's evening length works; Notably: "Trio" "The David Lynch Project" and "Genevieve of the Woods". She has also served as a competition judge at the regional level and a guest artist
for Nazareth College and SUNY Brockport, Premier Dance Center and The Draper Center for Dance Education.