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 and blessed with her two beautiful children, Lehna and Ben. 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 and blessed with her two beautiful children, Lehna and Ben. 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 is a dance artist and educator originally from the Rochester, NY area. She has performed widely and had her work shown in several locations throughout New York State, as well as across the country. Heather has been a member of the Bill Evans Dance Company since 2009, and in 2011 she became certified in the Bill Evans Method of Teaching Laban-Based Modern Dance Technique. She serves as a teaching assistant to Mr. Evans in his technique classes and summer workshops. She also performs on a project basis with Treeline Dance Works. Most recent performance credits with Treeline include Triskelion ARTS in Brooklyn and Ravel's Boléro with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. She has performed the works of Doris Humphrey, Larry Keigwin, and José Limón, among others, and has studied extensively with numerous master teachers and dance artists including the Limón Dance Company, Garth Fagan Dance, Sean Curran, and Mandy Moore, among others. She received 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. Currently, Heather serves on the dance faculty at SUNY Geneseo. She is extremely happy to be back at Valley after a brief hiatus teaching at Hobart & William Smith Colleges as a Visiting Assistant Professor.
Heather is a dance artist and educator originally from the Rochester, NY area. She has performed widely and had her work shown in several locations throughout New York State, as well as across the country. Heather has been a member of the Bill Evans Dance Company since 2009, and in 2011 she became certified in the Bill Evans Method of Teaching Laban-Based Modern Dance Technique. She serves as a teaching assistant to Mr. Evans in his technique classes and summer workshops. She also performs on a project basis with Treeline Dance Works. Most recent performance credits with Treeline include Triskelion ARTS in Brooklyn and Ravel's Boléro with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. She has performed the works of Doris Humphrey, Larry Keigwin, and José Limón, among others, and has studied extensively with numerous master teachers and dance artists including the Limón Dance Company, Garth Fagan Dance, Sean Curran, and Mandy Moore, among others. She received 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. Currently, Heather serves on the dance faculty at SUNY Geneseo. She is extremely happy to be back at Valley after a brief hiatus teaching at Hobart & William Smith Colleges as a Visiting Assistant Professor.
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!
Felicia Vanacore
Felicia Vanacore has been dancing for twelve years studying ballet, tap, jazz, theatre, modern and hip-hop dance at Astoria Dance Center and Astoria School of Fine Arts in Astoria, Queens. She also participated in the I Love New York competition for two years with Astoria Dance Center. Felicia has assisted for three years within the two dance schools. Felicia will be a junior at SUNY Geneseo majoring in Early Childhood/Childhood Education with a concentration in dance. Felicia has been part of Orchesis for four semesters, choreographing for one semester at SUNY Geneseo. She is also a member of the Geneseo Dance Ensemble. Felicia has taken ballet class at Valley for 3 semesters. She is excited to share her passion for dance at Valley this year!
Felicia Vanacore has been dancing for twelve years studying ballet, tap, jazz, theatre, modern and hip-hop dance at Astoria Dance Center and Astoria School of Fine Arts in Astoria, Queens. She also participated in the I Love New York competition for two years with Astoria Dance Center. Felicia has assisted for three years within the two dance schools. Felicia will be a junior at SUNY Geneseo majoring in Early Childhood/Childhood Education with a concentration in dance. Felicia has been part of Orchesis for four semesters, choreographing for one semester at SUNY Geneseo. She is also a member of the Geneseo Dance Ensemble. Felicia has taken ballet class at Valley for 3 semesters. She is excited to share her passion for dance at Valley this year!
Megan Killea
Megan has been studying dance for the past thirteen years training primarily in ballet along with modern and jazz. Megan trained at the Logrea Dance Academy and was a senior member of the Westchester Ballet Company. Megan's repertoire with WBC included the Mechanical Ballerina and Dew Drop Fairy in the Nutcracker, Prayer variation from Coppelia, The Duck from Peter and the Wolf, and the CanCan Doll in La Boutique Fantastique. Megan has also been accepted to and attended many prestigious summer dance intensives including American Ballet Theatre in New York, the Boston Ballet, Ellison Ballet and Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet. Megan has taught and assisted all age level ballet classes (including Pointe) at Logrea Dance Academy. In 2010, Megan was the Assistant Choreographer for John Jay High School's spring musical production of "The Sound of Music" and in the summer of 2011, she was the Assistant Choreographer for "My Fair Lady" at Croton Teen Theatre. Megan will be entering her sophomore year at SUNY Geneseo fall of 2011 and is very excited to be teaching at Valley School of Dance.
Megan has been studying dance for the past thirteen years training primarily in ballet along with modern and jazz. Megan trained at the Logrea Dance Academy and was a senior member of the Westchester Ballet Company. Megan's repertoire with WBC included the Mechanical Ballerina and Dew Drop Fairy in the Nutcracker, Prayer variation from Coppelia, The Duck from Peter and the Wolf, and the CanCan Doll in La Boutique Fantastique. Megan has also been accepted to and attended many prestigious summer dance intensives including American Ballet Theatre in New York, the Boston Ballet, Ellison Ballet and Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet. Megan has taught and assisted all age level ballet classes (including Pointe) at Logrea Dance Academy. In 2010, Megan was the Assistant Choreographer for John Jay High School's spring musical production of "The Sound of Music" and in the summer of 2011, she was the Assistant Choreographer for "My Fair Lady" at Croton Teen Theatre. Megan will be entering her sophomore year at SUNY Geneseo fall of 2011 and is very excited to be teaching at Valley School of Dance.
Stephanie Willmarth
Stephanie Willmarth is delighted to be sharing her love of dance with students at Valley School of Dance! Stephanie has been dancing for sixteen years, eight of them as part of the competitive dance team at Dance 22. During this time, she completed eight years of extensive private study in ballet and pointe with Sharon Detweiler, lyrical with Kathy Rudyj-Coon, and taken classes with dozens of master teachers from around the US and Canada. She has played the roles of Clara in Dance 22's "Nutcracker", and Fiona and The Shopkeeper in The Original Children's ballet "A Dog for Emily". As a competitive dancer, Stephanie has received numerous awards, won scholarships to Broadway Dance Center and Dance Masters of America Workshops, and has been recognized by Dance Masters of America for excellence in tap, jazz, ballet and lyrical. She is currently a company member of Geneseo Dance Ensemble, and is the recipient of the Hubert and Gertrude Chanler Scholarship in Dance through SUNY Geneseo. At SUNY Geneseo, Stephanie is majoring in Childhood with Special Education, and has a concentration in Dance. Stephanie has also completed her first year of Dance Masters of America's Teacher Training School at the University at Buffalo, and is working towards her dance teaching certification.
Stephanie Willmarth is delighted to be sharing her love of dance with students at Valley School of Dance! Stephanie has been dancing for sixteen years, eight of them as part of the competitive dance team at Dance 22. During this time, she completed eight years of extensive private study in ballet and pointe with Sharon Detweiler, lyrical with Kathy Rudyj-Coon, and taken classes with dozens of master teachers from around the US and Canada. She has played the roles of Clara in Dance 22's "Nutcracker", and Fiona and The Shopkeeper in The Original Children's ballet "A Dog for Emily". As a competitive dancer, Stephanie has received numerous awards, won scholarships to Broadway Dance Center and Dance Masters of America Workshops, and has been recognized by Dance Masters of America for excellence in tap, jazz, ballet and lyrical. She is currently a company member of Geneseo Dance Ensemble, and is the recipient of the Hubert and Gertrude Chanler Scholarship in Dance through SUNY Geneseo. At SUNY Geneseo, Stephanie is majoring in Childhood with Special Education, and has a concentration in Dance. Stephanie has also completed her first year of Dance Masters of America's Teacher Training School at the University at Buffalo, and is working towards her dance teaching certification.
Kelly Keenehan
Kelly Keenehan is from Rochester, NY and has been studying dance since the age of four. Most of her training comes from New York Academy of Dance where she practiced ballet, pointe, tap, jazz and modern. She is a Senior Computer Science major at SUNY Geneseo with minors in Business Studies and Mathematics. In the past six semesters, she has taken seven different dance courses, including ballet, jazz, modern and kinesiology. As an active member of the Geneseo Dance Ensemble, Kelly has had the opportunity to learn with Joseph Langworth, Bill Evans, and Eran Hanlon. Kelly was one of the Student Assistant Directors for the Spring 2011 Showcase. In addition, she is the Senior Co-President of Orchesis, Geneseo’s student-run dance club. Kelly is very excited to share her love of dance with the students at Valley!
Kelly Keenehan is from Rochester, NY and has been studying dance since the age of four. Most of her training comes from New York Academy of Dance where she practiced ballet, pointe, tap, jazz and modern. She is a Senior Computer Science major at SUNY Geneseo with minors in Business Studies and Mathematics. In the past six semesters, she has taken seven different dance courses, including ballet, jazz, modern and kinesiology. As an active member of the Geneseo Dance Ensemble, Kelly has had the opportunity to learn with Joseph Langworth, Bill Evans, and Eran Hanlon. Kelly was one of the Student Assistant Directors for the Spring 2011 Showcase. In addition, she is the Senior Co-President of Orchesis, Geneseo’s student-run dance club. Kelly is very excited to share her love of dance with the students at Valley!
Melissa Wiese
Melissa Wiese has been dancing for 16 years, studying tap, jazz, lyrical, hip hop, pointe, ballet, and musical theater at Karyn Kelly Dance Center in Williamsville, NY. She has competed at local, regional, and national levels since she was 6. She has traveled with her dance company to places like Myrtle Beach, New York City, and Disney World for competitions and showcases. Melissa assisted at her dance studio for 4 years for various levels and types of dance. Following her last recital at Karyn Kelly, she received the "Heart and Soul Award" for her dedication and love for dance. She plans to do Orchesis in the following semesters. She attends SUNY Geneseo, majoring in Childhood and Special Education with a concentration in Mathematics. She is very excited to be teaching at Valley School of Dance."
Melissa Wiese has been dancing for 16 years, studying tap, jazz, lyrical, hip hop, pointe, ballet, and musical theater at Karyn Kelly Dance Center in Williamsville, NY. She has competed at local, regional, and national levels since she was 6. She has traveled with her dance company to places like Myrtle Beach, New York City, and Disney World for competitions and showcases. Melissa assisted at her dance studio for 4 years for various levels and types of dance. Following her last recital at Karyn Kelly, she received the "Heart and Soul Award" for her dedication and love for dance. She plans to do Orchesis in the following semesters. She attends SUNY Geneseo, majoring in Childhood and Special Education with a concentration in Mathematics. She is very excited to be teaching at Valley School of Dance."