63 Main Street
Geneseo, NY 14454
585.243.5240
Geneseo, NY 14454
585.243.5240
Shakti Yoga Classes
Middle Eastern Belly Dance
Ballroom Dance
Zumba
Instructors
Jacki McCausland
Jacki’s first memories of dancing were at the age of four in her mother’s home basement dance studio on Long Island, NY. Since then, she has enjoyed studying and exploring many styles of movement expression - ballet, modern dance, jazz, tap, multi-cultural dances and yoga. Jacki concentrated in dance at SUNY Purchase and SUNY Geneseo, receiving a BPS in dance from Empire State University in 1976. She has taught numerous dance workshops and residency programs in public schools with grants funded by BOCES and the Genesee Valley Council on the Arts. Presently, Jacki serves as owner and director of the Valley School of Dance, founded in 1982. She is a certified Anusara Yoga instructor, and has co-directed she has co-directed the Shakti Yoga Center since 1990. Jacki has been a dance faculty member at SUNY Geneseo since 1984 and she is on the dance faculty at the University of Rochester.
Jacki’s first memories of dancing were at the age of four in her mother’s home basement dance studio on Long Island, NY. Since then, she has enjoyed studying and exploring many styles of movement expression - ballet, modern dance, jazz, tap, multi-cultural dances and yoga. Jacki concentrated in dance at SUNY Purchase and SUNY Geneseo, receiving a BPS in dance from Empire State University in 1976. She has taught numerous dance workshops and residency programs in public schools with grants funded by BOCES and the Genesee Valley Council on the Arts. Presently, Jacki serves as owner and director of the Valley School of Dance, founded in 1982. She is a certified Anusara Yoga instructor, and has co-directed she has co-directed the Shakti Yoga Center since 1990. Jacki has been a dance faculty member at SUNY Geneseo since 1984 and she is on the dance faculty at the University of Rochester.
“Dancing is enlivening to the body, stimulating to the mind, nourishing to the heart and expanding to the spirit. May each of our dance students experience the benefits of this most joyful expression of life!”
Cindy McKinney
Cindy McKinney has over twenty years dance experience, has been teaching dance for over fifteen years, and is certified by New York State to teach dance. She has studied dance at many Rochester area dance studios, SUNY Brockport, the University at Buffalo, and SUNY Geneseo. Cindy has also taken many master dance classes, participated in countless dance competitions, and attended numerous dance conventions in New York City and Orlando, Florida.
Cindy has been teaching at Valley for ten years and is thrilled to be the Assistant Director. It has been a privilege for her to pass on her love and knowledge of dance to her students. Cindy has high expectations for her students and wants all of them to be the best they can be. She believes that dance is a combination of hard work and fun. Cindy knows all of the benefits and rewards that dance can bring to an individual, and she considers it an honor to teach it to others.
Cindy McKinney has over twenty years dance experience, has been teaching dance for over fifteen years, and is certified by New York State to teach dance. She has studied dance at many Rochester area dance studios, SUNY Brockport, the University at Buffalo, and SUNY Geneseo. Cindy has also taken many master dance classes, participated in countless dance competitions, and attended numerous dance conventions in New York City and Orlando, Florida.
Cindy has been teaching at Valley for ten years and is thrilled to be the Assistant Director. It has been a privilege for her to pass on her love and knowledge of dance to her students. Cindy has high expectations for her students and wants all of them to be the best they can be. She believes that dance is a combination of hard work and fun. Cindy knows all of the benefits and rewards that dance can bring to an individual, and she considers it an honor to teach it to others.
Deb French
Deb French has a minor in dance from SUNY Geneseo and a Masters degree in Dance from SUNY Brockport. She has studied Modern, Jazz, Ballet, African, Flamenco, Latin, Swing and various folk dance styles. She has taught fitness and aerobics classes and most recently has become a certified Zumba instructor. Deb has a passion for dance and movement and loves to share that passion with her students.
Deb French has a minor in dance from SUNY Geneseo and a Masters degree in Dance from SUNY Brockport. She has studied Modern, Jazz, Ballet, African, Flamenco, Latin, Swing and various folk dance styles. She has taught fitness and aerobics classes and most recently has become a certified Zumba instructor. Deb has a passion for dance and movement and loves to share that passion with her students.
Cami Schill
Cami is a resident of Avon, very happily married to Joseph Schill and blessed with two beautiful children: Lehna, age 9 and Ben, age 14. She has been dancing since the age of 4 and studied in the Rochester area until attending the University of NewYork at Purchase as a dance major. Throughout her earlier dance endeavors, Cami studied at the Martha Graham School of Modern Dance in New York City, danced with Moving Images (an Albany based modern dance company), and served as an apprentice to Garth Fagan Dance. Cami is also a devoted student of Anusara Yoga and works as a Library Media Specialist for Attica Middle School.
Cami is a resident of Avon, very happily married to Joseph Schill and blessed with two beautiful children: Lehna, age 9 and Ben, age 14. She has been dancing since the age of 4 and studied in the Rochester area until attending the University of NewYork at Purchase as a dance major. Throughout her earlier dance endeavors, Cami studied at the Martha Graham School of Modern Dance in New York City, danced with Moving Images (an Albany based modern dance company), and served as an apprentice to Garth Fagan Dance. Cami is also a devoted student of Anusara Yoga and works as a Library Media Specialist for Attica Middle School.
Beverly
Henke-Lofquist
In addition to teaching at the Valley School of Dance, Beverly Henke-Lofquist also teaches and supervises college-aged student clinicians in the Communicative Disorders and Sciences Program at SUNY Geneseo. She has specialized training working with preverbal and verbal preschoolers from the Callier Center for Communication Disorders in Dallas, Texas and is certified as a Speech Language Pathologist from the American Speech Language Hearing Association. She has studied dance and movement for most of her life, performing modern dance with the Concert Dance Company under the direction of Jane Dakak. "Miss Beverly", as her three year olds call her, has also choreographed synchronized swimming and figure skating performances with children.
In addition to teaching at the Valley School of Dance, Beverly Henke-Lofquist also teaches and supervises college-aged student clinicians in the Communicative Disorders and Sciences Program at SUNY Geneseo. She has specialized training working with preverbal and verbal preschoolers from the Callier Center for Communication Disorders in Dallas, Texas and is certified as a Speech Language Pathologist from the American Speech Language Hearing Association. She has studied dance and movement for most of her life, performing modern dance with the Concert Dance Company under the direction of Jane Dakak. "Miss Beverly", as her three year olds call her, has also choreographed synchronized swimming and figure skating performances with children.
Heather
Acomb
Heather Acomb recently graduated with her MFA in Dance from The College at Brockport, and also holds a BA in Communication with minors in Dance and English from SUNY Geneseo. She has performed the works of Doris Humphrey, Larry Keigwin, José Limón, and Mark Santillano, former Pilobolus member. Heather has performed in several cities across the North East, such asBuffalo Detroit Montclair Rochester
Heather Acomb recently graduated with her MFA in Dance from The College at Brockport, and also holds a BA in Communication with minors in Dance and English from SUNY Geneseo. She has performed the works of Doris Humphrey, Larry Keigwin, José Limón, and Mark Santillano, former Pilobolus member. Heather has performed in several cities across the North East, such as
Nikki Lynn
Nikki Lynn grew up in Norwich, New York and currently works in Residence Life at SUNY Geneseo. She began her dance training at the age of three at the Decker School of Ballet in Norwich, NY and Oneonta, NY. Favorite ballets she has performed in include The Nutcracker, Coppelia, Gaite Parisienne, Paquita, and Seasons. Nikki is beginning her second year teaching ballet at the Valley School of Dance.
Nikki Lynn grew up in Norwich, New York and currently works in Residence Life at SUNY Geneseo. She began her dance training at the age of three at the Decker School of Ballet in Norwich, NY and Oneonta, NY. Favorite ballets she has performed in include The Nutcracker, Coppelia, Gaite Parisienne, Paquita, and Seasons. Nikki is beginning her second year teaching ballet at the Valley School of Dance.
Hannah Livingston
Hannah Livingston has been dancing at The Valley School of Dance in Geneseo for fourteen years. She has been a teacher at Valley for two years now, and has been assisting for four. Hannah has gone to various workshops such as, SUNY Geneseo's Dance Day, and Limon's summer program at Brockport. She enjoys dancing as much as she does teaching, and hopes her students find the same love for dance as she does. Hannah alos hopes to continue dancing through her college years soon to come!
Hannah Livingston has been dancing at The Valley School of Dance in Geneseo for fourteen years. She has been a teacher at Valley for two years now, and has been assisting for four. Hannah has gone to various workshops such as, SUNY Geneseo's Dance Day, and Limon's summer program at Brockport. She enjoys dancing as much as she does teaching, and hopes her students find the same love for dance as she does. Hannah alos hopes to continue dancing through her college years soon to come!
Sarah Peace
Sarah Peace is a senior at Geneseo Central School. She has been dancing at Valley School for several years, and has trained in tap, jazz, ballet, hip hop, and modern dance. She began teaching in the spring of 2008, and has continued to co-teach tap/jazz and creative dance classes with Hannah Livingston. She also assists several classes. Recently, Sarah participated in the Limon Dance Company's Summer Youth Program workshops at SUNY Brockport. Sarah enjoys sharing her love of dance with her students, and plans to study dance further in college.
Sarah Peace is a senior at Geneseo Central School. She has been dancing at Valley School for several years, and has trained in tap, jazz, ballet, hip hop, and modern dance. She began teaching in the spring of 2008, and has continued to co-teach tap/jazz and creative dance classes with Hannah Livingston. She also assists several classes. Recently, Sarah participated in the Limon Dance Company's Summer Youth Program workshops at SUNY Brockport. Sarah enjoys sharing her love of dance with her students, and plans to study dance further in college.
Lauren Alaimo
Lauren Alaimo is from Williamsville, New York and has been studying dance since the age of two years old. She has been trained in ballet, pointe, jazz, lyrical, tap, modern and musical theatre, but she concentrates her training in ballet and musical theatre. She has performed in productions of The Nutcracker, West Side Story, Godspell, 42nd Street, Copacabana, and Bye, Bye, Birdie in Williamsville. Since becoming a student at SUNY Geneseo, she has become an active member of the Musical Theatre Club and Dance Ensemble on campus. She choreographs musical theatre pieces for her peers to perform, and has been featured in Geneseo’s Dance Ensemble, including Joseph Langworth’s restaging of Jerome Robbins’ original choreography of “Cool” from West Side Story. She has also been seen performing on campus in Two Gentlemen of Verona and I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change. Lauren is studying Psychology, Musical Theatre, and Dance at Geneseo and is hoping to eventually go to graduate school for Dance Therapy.
Lauren Alaimo is from Williamsville, New York and has been studying dance since the age of two years old. She has been trained in ballet, pointe, jazz, lyrical, tap, modern and musical theatre, but she concentrates her training in ballet and musical theatre. She has performed in productions of The Nutcracker, West Side Story, Godspell, 42nd Street, Copacabana, and Bye, Bye, Birdie in Williamsville. Since becoming a student at SUNY Geneseo, she has become an active member of the Musical Theatre Club and Dance Ensemble on campus. She choreographs musical theatre pieces for her peers to perform, and has been featured in Geneseo’s Dance Ensemble, including Joseph Langworth’s restaging of Jerome Robbins’ original choreography of “Cool” from West Side Story. She has also been seen performing on campus in Two Gentlemen of Verona and I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change. Lauren is studying Psychology, Musical Theatre, and Dance at Geneseo and is hoping to eventually go to graduate school for Dance Therapy.
Lora Emel
Lora Emel is a senior at SUNY Geneseo who has been dancing for the past 18 years. Although she has practiced many types of dance, she has a special love for tap. While growing up in buffalo Lora competed in various local and regional competitions. She has more recently choreographed for Orchesis, Geneseo’s dance club and assisted here at Valley. This is Lora’s third year at the Valley School of Dance and she is honored to be a part of the amazing community and family. She can’t wait for this next year to begin so that she can share her passion and energy with everyone at the studio.
Lora Emel is a senior at SUNY Geneseo who has been dancing for the past 18 years. Although she has practiced many types of dance, she has a special love for tap. While growing up in buffalo Lora competed in various local and regional competitions. She has more recently choreographed for Orchesis, Geneseo’s dance club and assisted here at Valley. This is Lora’s third year at the Valley School of Dance and she is honored to be a part of the amazing community and family. She can’t wait for this next year to begin so that she can share her passion and energy with everyone at the studio.
Jillian DeGironimo
Jillian is a Junior at SUNY Geneseo, with a major in Speech Pathology and minor in Dance. She has been dancing for 13 years in various styles such as Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Pointe, and Modern. She is an active member of Geneseo Dance Ensemble where she has had the opportunity to work with Jim Hansen a professor at SUNY Brockport. Jillian has had the fortune to choreograph for the dance club Orchesis for the past four semesters, and she also is an active member of dance team, the Geneseo Knightline. This is Jillian's second year at Valley School of Dance and she is looking forward to teaching this semester.
Jillian is a Junior at SUNY Geneseo, with a major in Speech Pathology and minor in Dance. She has been dancing for 13 years in various styles such as Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Pointe, and Modern. She is an active member of Geneseo Dance Ensemble where she has had the opportunity to work with Jim Hansen a professor at SUNY Brockport. Jillian has had the fortune to choreograph for the dance club Orchesis for the past four semesters, and she also is an active member of dance team, the Geneseo Knightline. This is Jillian's second year at Valley School of Dance and she is looking forward to teaching this semester.
Allison Bohman
Allison Bohman began her dance training under the direction of Kathleen Kairns-Scholz at the American Ballet Studio. It was here that she had the opportunity to perform the role of Clara in "Clara's Dream The Nutcracker", with the American Dance Theatre of Long Island. Favorite regional theatre credits include "Cats", "Oliver", "Annie Get Your Gun", "The Holiday Spectacular", and "A Christmas Carol" all at The Gateway Playhouse in Bellport, NY. In New Jersey, Allison has been seen singing and dancing in Papermill Playhouse's New Voices Concert, which culminated their summer musical theatre conservatory. Currently, Allison is entering her senior year at SUNY Geneseo and is majoring in childhood education and special education with a concentration in dance. She is a proud member of the Geneseo Dance Ensemble, Musical Theatre Club, and is the vice president of Alpha Psi Omega theatre and dance honor society. Allison is thrilled to begin sharing her love of movement with students at the Valley School of Dance!
Allison Bohman began her dance training under the direction of Kathleen Kairns-Scholz at the American Ballet Studio. It was here that she had the opportunity to perform the role of Clara in "Clara's Dream The Nutcracker", with the American Dance Theatre of Long Island. Favorite regional theatre credits include "Cats", "Oliver", "Annie Get Your Gun", "The Holiday Spectacular", and "A Christmas Carol" all at The Gateway Playhouse in Bellport, NY. In New Jersey, Allison has been seen singing and dancing in Papermill Playhouse's New Voices Concert, which culminated their summer musical theatre conservatory. Currently, Allison is entering her senior year at SUNY Geneseo and is majoring in childhood education and special education with a concentration in dance. She is a proud member of the Geneseo Dance Ensemble, Musical Theatre Club, and is the vice president of Alpha Psi Omega theatre and dance honor society. Allison is thrilled to begin sharing her love of movement with students at the Valley School of Dance!
Amy LaFleur
Amy LaFleur has been dancing since age 3 and has received most of her dance training from Logrea Dance Academy in Westchester, New York. She was a senior member of the Westchester Ballet Company and performed in various ballets and contemporary modern pieces throughout high school. She has taught dance at the Croton Children’s Theatre Camp and Logrea. After high school graduation, Amy attended Elon University for 2 years as a dance minor and psychology major. She transferred to SUNY Geneseo in 2009 to pursue a Speech Pathology degree. She has been involved in Geneseo Dance Ensemble and Orchesis since making the transfer. This past summer, Amy was given the opportunity to work with Naganuma Dance, a modern company based in New York City on the citySUNSET project. Amy looks forward to an exciting year at Valley School of Dance!
Amy LaFleur has been dancing since age 3 and has received most of her dance training from Logrea Dance Academy in Westchester, New York. She was a senior member of the Westchester Ballet Company and performed in various ballets and contemporary modern pieces throughout high school. She has taught dance at the Croton Children’s Theatre Camp and Logrea. After high school graduation, Amy attended Elon University for 2 years as a dance minor and psychology major. She transferred to SUNY Geneseo in 2009 to pursue a Speech Pathology degree. She has been involved in Geneseo Dance Ensemble and Orchesis since making the transfer. This past summer, Amy was given the opportunity to work with Naganuma Dance, a modern company based in New York City on the citySUNSET project. Amy looks forward to an exciting year at Valley School of Dance!
Katie Keller
Katie Keller has been dancing for 16 years, and has studied tap, ballet, jazz, modern, lyrical, pointe, musical theatre, and hip hop with Jody DeLoria at Jody B’s Studio of Dance in Penfield, NY. She was also a member of the NDA national championship winning Penfield High School Dance Team. Katie has taught dance at Jody B’s, as well as choreographed many children’s’ musicals, and coached countless dance and cheer camps in the Rochester area. She has performed in productions of Grease, Hello Dolly, The Pajama Game, Fame, Chicago, and West Side Story, and has studied acting, singing, and dancing from Broadway professionals through the Rochester Broadway Theatre League’s “Summer Stars” and “Master Class” programs. She will be starting her sophomore year at SUNY Geneseo in the fall, continuing her major in Mathematics with Adolescent Teaching Certification and her minor in Dance. She is an active member of the Geneseo Dance Ensemble, and is also the School of the Arts Representative for Orchesis Dance Club. Katie is ecstatic to be joining the Valley School of Dance, and cannot wait to share her passion for dance with all of her students!
Katie Keller has been dancing for 16 years, and has studied tap, ballet, jazz, modern, lyrical, pointe, musical theatre, and hip hop with Jody DeLoria at Jody B’s Studio of Dance in Penfield, NY. She was also a member of the NDA national championship winning Penfield High School Dance Team. Katie has taught dance at Jody B’s, as well as choreographed many children’s’ musicals, and coached countless dance and cheer camps in the Rochester area. She has performed in productions of Grease, Hello Dolly, The Pajama Game, Fame, Chicago, and West Side Story, and has studied acting, singing, and dancing from Broadway professionals through the Rochester Broadway Theatre League’s “Summer Stars” and “Master Class” programs. She will be starting her sophomore year at SUNY Geneseo in the fall, continuing her major in Mathematics with Adolescent Teaching Certification and her minor in Dance. She is an active member of the Geneseo Dance Ensemble, and is also the School of the Arts Representative for Orchesis Dance Club. Katie is ecstatic to be joining the Valley School of Dance, and cannot wait to share her passion for dance with all of her students!