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 Nicholls Bird
INSTRUCTOR • SOCIAL MEDIA SPECIALIST
(Competition, Company, Recreational, & Adult 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)
Miss Susan began dancing at a young age in the suburbs of Rochester, NY. She spent many hours at Pittsford Ballet School and Hochstein School of Music and Dance. She is extensively trained in ballet and enjoys expanding her dance knowledge by studying a wide variety of styles including jazz, tap, and even Latin ballroom. One of her proudest dance moments is seeing the first dance she choreographed as a teenager being performed by her old dance studio to this day. She also enjoys dancing in Aspire’s Nutcracker with her husband and daughter. This is her third year teaching the littlest dancers at Aspire and loves it! When not at the studio, Miss Susan loves spending time with her husband and three kids.
Angela Bravo
INSTRUCTOR
(Company 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.
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!
Kimberly Loomis
INSTRUCTOR • ADULT PROGRAM COORDINATOR
(Recreational/Pre-Company/Adult Program)
Dance has been a life long passion and calling for Kim, and for more than 30 years she has shared that love of movement with students of all ages. As an experienced dance educator, choreographer and movement specialist, she is known for creating classes that are both encouraging and inspiring where dancers can grow in confidence, artistry and joy. Kim began her training in Syracuse at The Metropolitan School of the Arts and Syracuse School of Dance where she also performed with The Syracuse Contemporary Dance Company. After she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Dance from SUNY Brockport, she continued to deepen her studies in choreography and performance through training at The Boston Conservatory and various programs in NYC. Over the years, Kim has taught modern, contemporary and ballet to students of all ages and experience levels in studios, after school programs and homeschool communities. Her teaching style blends strong technique with creativity, musicality and genuine care for each student as an individual. She was the founder and director of the Syracuse based-Still Moving Dance Company focused on bringing creativity, expression and connection into the Syracuse Community. Outside of the studio, Kim is a busy mom of 8 children, lives on a dairy farm and continues her love of nurturing and educating as a preschool teacher.
Gabriella Garaet
INSTRUCTOR
(Recreational Programs)
Miss Gabbi is so excited to be joining the Aspire Dance CNY family. Her love for dance started when at 2 years old at Celebrations Dance Center, where she danced through high school. She trained and competed in many styles, including ballet, contemporary, tap, jazz, hip hop, lyrical, and modern. She’s also had the opportunity to teach young dancers in ballet, tap, jazz, and hip hop in both studio and school-based settings.
After high school, I stepped back from dance to focus on my education and earned my bachelor’s degree in psychology from SUNY Fredonia. I’m currently in my last year of graduate school at Syracuse University, graduating with my MSW in May, and working towards becoming a child and adolescent therapist.
I love combining my knowledge of dance and child development to create a welcoming, inclusive, and encouraging space for all dancers. I am so grateful to have found my way back to dance and teaching, and I’m excited to share that love with the Aspire community!
When I’m not dancing or studying, I’m usually grabbing an iced coffee, watching a movie, or making a new pasta dish.
Keira Kennedy
INSTRUCTOR
(Recreational Program, After School Program)
Keira has been dancing since the age of two, training at Elevations Contemporary Dance and Revolve Dance Alliance. She began competing at age 9, as well as attending conventions, and has earned scholarships to AMDA, Revel Dance Convention Nationals, and other programs. She is well versed in many styles including ballet, modern, jazz, acro, and more! Alongside her dance training, she also has a background as a competitive gymnast and a cheerleader. Keira graduated from Fayetteville Manlius High School a year early and studied Dance at Florida State University. This is her first year at Aspire and she is so excited to share her love of dance with students!
Rachel Salmon
INSTRUCTOR • ASSISTANT INSTRUCTOR
(Tumbling Program, Recreational Program, & Adult Program)
Rachel is excited to be joining Aspire and can’t wait to share her love of dance and tumbling with you all!
Rachel began dance and gymnastics at the age of 3. Around age 14, she transitioned from gymnastics to dance and tumbling after discovering that floor was her favorite event. She trained in ballet, lyrical, modern, pointe, jazz, musical theatre, hip-hop, clogging, tap, and acro.
Throughout her competitive career, Rachel earned numerous awards, titles, and scholarships. She also competed in the Miss New York competition for the Miss America Organization, where she won a talent award for her acro jazz routine.
After her competition years, Rachel found her passion for teaching and taught dance and tumbling for 7 years at Center Stage Studio of Dance where she grew up training. While earning her bachelor’s degree in psychology, Rachel continued her love of dance by helping run her college dance team and supporting dancers in their growth both on and off the stage.
Rachel recently moved to the Manlius area after graduating with her master’s from Syracuse University and is excited to become part of the Aspire community. Outside of the studio, she works full-time as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor with a special interest in athletes and performance. She brings a unique understanding of confidence, resilience, and mental strength into every class and looks forward to helping her students build skills, confidence, and a lifelong love for dance/tumbling!
Elena Gillis
INSTRUCTOR
(Adult Program Fitness Instructor)
Elena grew up as an athlete all throughout grade school and college. Every school season and summer was spent running, swimming, and lifting weights. After years staying at home with children, Elena decided to pursue a career in the fitness industry. She began at the local Austin YMCA as a water aerobics instructor where she taught and sweated from the poolside. While there, she also developed a popular strength training group exercise class for local gym members.
After making the big move to Syracuse in 2023, Elena began teaching a variety of classes at the Manlius YMCA where you can still find her from time to time. Elena is an encouraging and motivating instructor who will sweat with you and help you feel great while doing it. She is passionate about working with people of all ages and abilities. Elena believes it is never too early or too late to get stronger. She brings her optimism and bright personality to every class, and don’t be surprised if she shows up in sparkles!
Elena is an ACE Certified Group Fitness Instructor and personal trainer. Whether you’re new to exercise, returning to fitness, or looking to take your current routine to the next level, she promises to make fitness effective, approachable, and enjoyable for you. Elena is a strong believer that exercise should empower you—not intimidate you—and that consistency and progress are more important than perfection.