Aspire Staff • Aspire Dance CNY

Meet our Faculty & Teaching Staff

Here at Aspire Dance, we offer a thriving Recreational Program as well as a Company Program and an additional Competition Performance Team Program. Each program is carefully designed so that a dancer at any age and ability can develop and grow their dance technique in a positive, fun, friendly, atmosphere through careful instruction and rewarding performance opportunities. With our excellent, trained staff we aim to inspire children and enrich their lives through dance every day.

Sarah Lavallee

CO-OWNER • CO-ARTISTIC DIRECTOR • COMPETITION DIRECTOR

Miss Sarah grew up dancing at Empire Center of Dance located in Utica, NY where she was a competition dancer and trained with the very talented Miss Cristina Toper-Burns who fostered her love for dance. Sarah graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Dance from Slippery Rock University where she choreographed for Slippery Rock University Dance Theatre, worked with renowned choreographers and collaborated with prestigious faculty members in their repertory works. Sarah has attended, performed and trained at dance festivals across the country and performed with numerous modern dance companies in NY and LA. At the studio,
Sarah teaches modern, jazz, ballet, tumbling, and contemporary to all ages. She developed the children’s and modern programs for the studio and is the artistic director for our competition team. She has won numerous choreography and artistry awards for her pieces at competitions and choreographs a new modern work with her company dancers every year which is performed at our annual Spring Recital. Her favorite style of dance is modern and her favorite part about teaching is watching her dancers grow each year and bring artistry into the studio that continues to inspire each dancer. Outside of the studio she enjoys spending time with her family and hiking!

Kathryn Bird

CO-OWNER • CO-ARTISTIC DIRECTOR • BALLET MISTRESS

Miss Kathryn grew up dancing under Maine State Ballet Artistic Director Linda Miele where she was a founding company member and soloist for many years. She performed in several original works as well as a number of Balanchine Classics over the years. Kathryn went on to study Dance at Connecticut College where she worked with renowned choreographers who inspired her to explore movement and performance in new ways. It was there that she developed a love for modern dance. She eventually moved to Washington State where she danced with the modern company Blacken Tan for 5 years before moving to Las Vegas where she met her husband Shane.
Kathryn teaches both Company and Recreational Ballet Technique Classes. She choreographs Lyrical, Contemporary and Tap for the Performance/Competition Team, and is the Artistic Director of our annual production of the Nutcracker. It is no surprise that Miss Kathryn’s favorite style of dance to teach is Ballet, though she loves the way you can express yourself fully in Contemporary and Modern Dance.

One of her greatest joys as Co-Owner has been bringing the Nutcracker to the Aspire Dance Family. She grew up dancing in the production year after year and being able to bring this production to the OnCenter stage has been a dream come true for her…mostly because she feels she is passing on to her students the very experiences that fostered her great love of ballet and performing. Her favorite thing by far about the production is watching the growth every dancer goes through the process. She is grateful beyond words for her partner Sarah’s support and hard work that make such a large-scale production possible.

Miss Kathryn and her endlessly supportive husband Shane are the proud parents of 3 adult children who are all successfully pursuing their own passions. When she isn’t at the studio, you’ll find her helping her real estate clients and probably cooking…she really loves to cook 🙂

Amanda Castrello

INSTRUCTOR

(Competition, Company & Recreational Programs)

Amanda is from Syracuse, NY and danced at The Dance Studio CNY under former owner Linda Bell for 16 years. As a member of the TDS Company and Competition team for 10 years, Amanda earned multiple awards and was also named Power of Dance National Champions. Amanda spent time dancing for Loyola University Dance Team in college (Coach’s Award and Veteran of the Year recipient) and professionally on multiple dance teams in the Syracuse area (Syracuse Silver Knights, Syracuse Stallions). Amanda has a B.A. in Psychology from LeMoyne College and a M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Cazenovia College. When Amanda is not at Aspire (which isn’t often), she is spending time with her family and 2 dogs, Luna & Sadie. Being at Aspire, she’s able to marry together her love of dance and her desire to help others. Currently, Amanda is teaching both recreational dance classes, the Aspire Company, and the Aspire Performance Team.

Kerry Sage

INSTRUCTOR

(Competition, Company & Recreational Programs)

Kerry grew up dancing at The Dance Studio CNY with Linda Bell and loved every minute! It really shaped who she is as a person and gave her a love of dance that TDS has always been known for. As a top dancer at TDS, Miss Kerry complemented her many routines with great tumbling skills and an extensive array of leaps and turns. Kerry is an accomplished dancer in many genres of dance including ballet, jazz, contemporary, tap, acro, jazz and hip hop. Over the years Kerry has received many scholarships to various dance conventions, 2nd place Senior Overall Solo out of 30 dancers and invitations to perform in the opening festivities at the Power of Dance Nationals. She is the perfect choice to help coach and train the next generation of Performance Team dancers into their greatness! Miss Kerry graduated from Fayetteville-Manlius High School in 2017, attended Continental School of Beauty, and is now a licensed hairstylist at The House of John Paul in downtown Syracuse.

Larissa Nichols

INSTRUCTOR • SOCIAL MEDIA SPECIALIST

(Competition, Company & Recreational Programs)

Larissa has been part of the Aspire Dance Family since our opening in 2021 and has been teaching with us for the past four years. She began her early training at Chambers Performing Arts under Paige Chambers Rutsche (Founder of Resolute Artists Agency, former Radio City Rockette, and Broadway veteran) and Susan Chambers. During her time there, Larissa was selected to attend the Broadway and Beyond intensive in New York City for three consecutive summers, training with numerous Broadway all-stars. Her training also includes vocal and acting studies through Fayetteville-Manlius High School’s music and theatre departments as well as private coaching. In 2020, Larissa earned a “Platinum” placement and full scholarship to the Joffrey Ballet’s Musical Theatre Summer Intensive. She furthered her dance education at Central New York studios such as Elevation Contemporary Dance with David Slocum and Dance Center North with Larry Crabtree and Cathy Mucci, preparing her to become both a versatile performer and dedicated educator. At Aspire, Larissa has trained with Company 6 and the Elite Competition Team, performing featured roles such as the Dew Drop Fairy (2021) and Sugar Plum Fairy (2022) in The Nutcracker. Outside of Aspire, she inspires young artists as Director of Launch Models & Talent. She currently teaches Musical Theatre, Tap, Lyrical, Ballet, Jazz, and Contemporary.

Emily Bender

INSTRUCTOR/ENROLLMENT COORDINATOR/ SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER

(Company, Recreational & After-School Programs · Enrollment & Summer Camps)

Miss Emily has had a passion for dance for as long as she can remember. Having moved around a few times as a child, she studied at multiple studios and learned multiple styles including Irish, tap, jazz, and lyrical. She earned her Bachelor’s in Dance at SUNY Brockport where she found even more ways to channel her love of dance into modern and ballet techniques, dance history, and kinesiology. Miss Emily has studied with Sondra Fraleigh (founder of EastWest Somatics), Bill Evans (Bill Evans Dance Company, Evans Somatic Dance Institute), and renowned choreographers including Garth Fagan, David Dorfman, and educators from the Limon Dance Company. Her teaching style emphasizes injury-prevention so that dancers have the skills to continue dancing throughout their lives. She joined the Aspire Dance Family in 2023 and readily took on additional duties which have helped grow our programs and continue to keep our studio’s business practices organized and professional. Outside of Aspire Dance CNY, Miss Emily also teaches a monthly dance program to residents at Loretto Health & Rehabilitation. She also loves to spend time making memories with her family.

Susan O'Connor

INSTRUCTOR • AFTER SCHOOL DANCE PROGRAM COORDINATOR

(Recreational Program)

Angela Bravo

INSTRUCTOR

(Recreational Programs)

Angela Bravo, a native of Upstate New York, trained at Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute and attended prestigious programs including Saratoga Summer Dance Intensive and Syracuse City Ballet. A graduate of Belhaven University with a BFA in Dance, she went on to perform professionally with Vivid Ballet and Ballet Hartford, appearing at venues such as the White House and festivals nationwide. Today, she shares her passion and experience by teaching and inspiring dancers of all ages.

Tiffany Crimi

INSTRUCTOR

(Recreational Program)

Tiffany has been dancing since the age of three—dance has always been one of her greatest passions in life. She began her training at Caitlin Clark’s Centre of Dance, where she studied ballet, modern, tap, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, and pointe. She was a competitive dancer earning first-place trophies for her solos and consistently placing high with her group dances.

Tiffany continued her love of dance at Le Moyne College, where she was a member of the Le Moyne Student Dance Company for four years. During that time, she served on the board, worked as a costume coordinator, and contributed choreography. She graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Biology and a minor in English. After college, Tiffany began teaching younger students and has loved every moment. The joy of seeing each student discover the fun of dance brings her so much happiness.

In addition to teaching dance, Tiffany is also an elementary school teacher, working specifically with first grade, where she incorporates creativity and passion into her classroom lessons. Her favorite styles of dance are lyrical and contemporary.
When she is not teaching, Tiffany enjoys traveling with family and friends or preparing engaging lessons for her students. She is thrilled to be joining the Aspire family and looks forward to teaching and inspiring all of the amazing dancers to come!

Cordelia Thomas

INSTRUCTOR

(Recreational Program)

Miss Cordelia is from Buffalo, New York. She started her career dancing at American Academy of Ballet. This is where she built her technique as a ballet performer. She then spent most of her years dancing at Performing Arts Dance Academy. These years she spent competing and growing as a well rounded dancer. Throughout high school, she also participated in the Nutcracker and the spring shows of Greater Niagara Ballet Company. She is currently dancing at Le Moyne College, where she attends school. She is a part of the Le Moyne Dance Company, where she currently sits on the board as Public Relations officer. She is double majoring as a Marketing and Business Administration student. In her free time, she enjoys traveling and seeing Buffalo sports games! She couldn’t be more excited to start this school year teaching with Aspire!.

Jaden Teeter

INSTRUCTOR

(Recreational & After School Programs)

Miss Jaden grew up dancing since the age of three at Studio 315 (formerly Tamara Lynn’s School of Dance) in Tully, NY. There, she learned many foundational skills in the areas of ballet and jazz. After high school she attended SUNY Oneonta to pursue her bachelor’s degree in psychology. During her time at Oneonta, she had the lovely opportunity to be a member of the Terpsichorean Dance Company, which is a student run dance company with a new showcase every semester. She gained much experience in contemporary, hip hop, and jazz by performing in dances choreographed by my amazing peers. Outside of dance, she loves going for hikes as well as working out and spending time with friends!

Gracelyn Gray

INSTRUCTOR

(Recreational Program)

Miss Gracelyn has been a dancer for 13 years. In that time she danced with the Syracuse City Ballet Company for 8 years, (from 2012-2020), as part of their Junior Company staff. She was in many productions spanning from Sleeping Beauty, Aladdin, Peter Pan, Snow White, and many years of Nutcracker. She was also a competitive and company dancer with the Movement Box for her last 2 years of dance. Her favorite style of dance is definitely ballet! She is also a Missionary and a Pastor in training. She loves learning new things, especially learning more about different cultures, the Earth, and wildlife. One of her biggest dreams is moving to the Dominican Republic to continue her work fighting against human trafficking. She is so excited to start teaching at Aspire Dance CNY!