Overview: Founded in Doris Humphrey’s principles of fall and recovery, Jose Limon created an approach for teaching movement that allowed for contemporary inspiration and evolution. In this technique class, historical influences are connected to current movement styles through floor work, standing center exercises and locomotor phrases.

Ken Skrzesz: Ken currently lives in the Hudson Valley where he serves as a nonprofit consultant for organizations on the East Coast. He was recently the theatre teacher for Apex Arts at Anne Arundel County Public Schools and continues to be an active master teacher of acting and dance throughout the United States. Until 2021 he served as the Executive Director of the Maryland State Arts Council emphasizing procedural equity as the path toward quality arts experiences for all Maryland residents. From 2014-2017, Ken was the Coordinator of Fine Arts for the Maryland State Department of Education, where he shared his vision of creativity and collaboration as the driving forces of success for all students.  Ken has designed and implemented arts education and professional development programs in numerous locations through standards development, curriculum writing, and assessment. His knowledge of all art forms, with a special emphasis on developing the creative and collaborative processes, has allowed him to strategically plan successful community partnerships, donor development campaigns, and recruitment programs with a unique commitment to serving economically challenged and historically resilient populations.  He has served as the Performing and Visual Arts Magnet Teacher Specialist for Anne Arundel County Public Schools, the Executive Director of the Clear Space Theatre Company and Kinetics Dance Theatre, and the Director of Student Life for the School of American Ballet.  Long-term teaching posts include the Carver Center for Arts and Technology, Goucher College, Southwest Missouri State University, and the University of North Carolina. Ken’s former students have appeared on television (MAD MEN, SCANDAL, WILL AND GRACE), Broadway (MAMMA, MIA!, CHICAGO, THE WILD PARTY, SOUTH PACIFIC, THE LION KING, HAIRSPRAY, THE BOOK OF MORMON), and appear in numerous professional regional theatre and dance companies, movies, and national tours. Ken has danced, sung, acted, choreographed and directed both nationally and internationally.  He earned his Master of Fine Arts in dance from the University of North Carolina-Greensboro where he performed with the dance, opera, and theatre departments. He is a native Baltimorean where he received his Bachelor of Fine Arts from Towson State University. Ken’s recognitions include the Baltimore Mayor’s Award for Distinguished Service in the Arts, distinguished alumni awards from Towson State University and from the University of North Carolina, a choreography commission from the National Endowment of the Arts, and multiple choreography awards from the Maryland State Arts Council. Ken is a member of Actors’ Equity Association and the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers. In 2016, Ken received the National Dance Education Association’s Outstanding Advocate and Champion of Dance Education award and in 2017 Ken received the Performing Arts Advocate of the Year award from the Scarborough Foundation. www.kenskrzesz.com

Overview: This lecture/demonstration is designed for ballet teachers looking to refresh their classes, reignite excitement in their dancers, and bring new life into intermediate and advanced ballet training. The session offers practical tips, creative class structures, and ready-to-use combinations that keep dancers mentally engaged, physically challenged, and artistically fulfilled. You'll explore fresh ideas for barre and center, student-driven challenges, and strategies that make ballet both rigorous and joyful. Although a handout will be provided, teachers should come ready to take notes, move a little, and leave with a renewed sense of how to share the joy of ballet with their dancers.

Lisa Carey: Lisa Carey earned her EdM in Dance from Temple University in Philadelphia and holds dual B.A. degrees: one in Dance with a concentration in Theatre, and the other in Communications and Mass Media from Goucher College in Baltimore, MD. She began teaching at the Center for Performing and Fine Arts (CPFA) in 2011 and was appointed Dance Department Chair in 2016.

Lisa's early dance training was at Princeton Ballet School, where she was accepted into their pre-professional program. She studied under esteemed instructors such as Kyra Nichols, Maria Youskevitch, Douglas Martin, Mary Barton, and Lisa DeRavel. Additionally, she attended summer programs at the Kirov Academy of Ballet in Washington, D.C., American Repertory Ballet, and Studio Maestro in New York. While at Goucher College, Lisa was selected to perform in works choreographed and staged by Nilas Martins, Charla Genn, Ann Marie DeAngelo, Robert Weiss, and Michael Vernon. She also participated in The Moving Classroom Project, a traveling dance initiative that brought performances and educational experiences to inner-city elementary schools. At Temple University, Lisa completed her thesis advocating for the inclusion of dance education as a vital component of arts curricula. Her thesis also provided a comprehensive introductory dance course curriculum. While at Temple, she danced professionally with Alchemy Dance Company, performing original works by Artistic Director Amy Harding.

At CPFA, Lisa teaches and choreographs Ballet, Pointe, Modern, and Jazz dance techniques and is certified in Progressing Ballet Technique. She continues her own professional development, regularly attending dance teacher training workshops in New York, Rhee Gold’s DanceLife Teacher Conferences, and various Master Classes. As a department chair, she is passionate about fostering a supportive, creative environment that builds technique, artistry, and confidence, while preparing students for the evolving world of dance.  Many of her students have been accepted to prestigious programs including AMDA, Pace University, Oklahoma City University, The Julliard School, University of Arizona, Muhlenberg College, Point Park University, DeSales University, Dean College, University of the Arts, Goucher College, TAPS, Montclair State University and Ursinus College. 

Overview: Coming soon!

Leslie King: Bio and headshot coming soon!

Overview: Based on Luigi’s “Style Class”, this 90 minute jazz class will allow for an in-depth study of the technique, artistry and choreographic style of classic jazz. Dancers will be guided through a comprehensive explanation of the most foundational technique exercises which are designed to both warm up the body and build a solid jazz technique. Next a combination will be taught and explored. The dancers will be presented with a deeply detailed approach to the choreography that will nurture the development of musicality, phrasing, presence and personal style.

William Waldinger: Bill Waldinger is a regular faculty member at The Joffrey Ballet School, Ballet Academy East, Broadway Dance Center (regular guest artist), New York Film Academy and the New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts. He has also taught at The Kanyok Arts Initiative, Molloy College's CAP 21 Musical Theater Program, The Manhattan Ballet School (Director of Jazz), the contemporary company Cora Dance (Director of Ballet), and Hamilton Dance (Director of Ballet). Bill frequently travels the world as a guest Teacher, teaching both classical Ballet and Jazz. Most recently he taught for the Irish National Ballet and the Phoenix Performing Arts College, both in Dublin, Ireland. In addition, he has developed absolute beginner “Dance Classes For Singers" at The Singers’ Forum. Certified by Luigi to teach the Luigi Jazz Technique, Bill has been interviewed and taught on camera for the feature film Uprooted, The Journey of Jazz which chronicles the history of Jazz Dance (this film currently streams on YouTube). He has taught Luigi Jazz workshops for the New Rising Sun Dance Project at DANY Studios/Joyce SoHo and has coordinated workshops bringing together the techniques of Luigi and Matt Mattox with classic musical theater choreography.

As a performer, Bill has appeared in musical theater, concert dance, commercials, music videos, television and industrials. Highlights include regional and Off-Broadway productions of A Chorus Line (Paul in the first regional production), Carousel (Carnival Boy), Kismet, Drood, Oklahoma! (Dream Curly), A Funny Thing..., Guys and Dolls and Godspell. He was a company member of The David Storey Dance Works and the Labyrinth Dance Theater. He has danced in commercials for Time-Life, music videos for the group Fila-Antoine, was a featured dancer on the television show Soul Alive and appeared in videos for the Theater Dance Workshop.

Bill began his dance training with the legendary jazz master Luigi. Bill also studied jazz under Chris Chadman, Natasha Barron, Cecelia Marta, Richard Pierlon and Lynn Simonson. Bill studied ballet with Gabriella Darvash, Dick Andros, David Howard, Dorothy Lister and Douglas Wassell and modern dance with Bill Hastings and David Storey.

Overview: Step into rhythm with this engaging tap class designed for educators and dancers alike. Through progressive tap exercises, participants will explore the building blocks of rhythm, timing, and coordination while connecting movement to foundational music theory. The class will highlight how note values translate into tap steps, empowering dancers to not only move but also hear and understand rhythm on a deeper level. Whether you are new to tap or experienced, this class offers practical tools, creative insight, and accessible teaching strategies to bring back to your own students.

Erika Speer: Erika Speer is a teacher and choreographer and has been sharing her talents as an educator for over 20 years.  After graduating from Brentwood High School in NY, Erika moved to Philadelphia where she received her BFA in Dance Education from the University of the Arts. Erika currently teaches at Pennsylvania Leadership Charter School Center for the Performing and Fine Arts and is currently pursuing  her master’s degree at Point Park University in Teaching and Leadership. Erika is a Level I and II certified tap teacher through the ITAP certificate program and hopes that her love and passion for dance will inspire others to pursue their dreams as well.

Overview: Coming soon!

John Barrella: Street Dance Educator, Choreographer, Performer, Consultant & Company Director

John Barrella is a distinguished figure in the dance community, with a primary focus on street dance culture. A versatile artist, he employs techniques rooted in Locking, Popping, B-boy, and Hip Hop. Notably featured in music videos such as "Get Away" by Alissia and “HSKT” by Tenin, John's portfolio extends to high-profile events like Tedx: Chaos, halftime shows for the NY Knicks, and the NYC Breakers’ Battle of the Boroughs reunion.

As a renowned choreographer, John's work resonates on the international stage. His unique movement approach has left an indelible mark on dancers in numerous schools, programs, and teams globally. At the age of 14, he embarked on his dance journey at the "School of the Arts” in East Brunswick, NJ, where he honed his skills in modern dance and Ballet. John's early training also encompassed human anatomy, improvisational techniques, childhood education, choreography composition, musical theatre, and theatre.

From his teenage years, John immersed himself in Hip Hop under various artists and became an integral part of the WildStyle dance company, mastering core Hip Hop techniques and exploring additional genres like house dance, waacking, and dancehall. Continuing his education, John remained under the tutelage of master and pioneering hip-hop artists, with notable influences including Tom Mckie, Spex, Brian Green, Bev Brown, Jazzy J, Sekou, Pavan Thimmiah, and more.

As the owner/director of the dance company "Redef" since 2007, John's artistic vision comes to life in performances across NJ, NY, Philadelphia, and beyond. His comedy-based work, "Stupid Humans," offers satirical takes on the performing arts through live shows and dance films. Beyond directing the company, John serves as an adjunct professor for Hip Hop at Rider University, contributes to various arts boards, presents at numerous conventions, and appears in dance education facilities internationally to train both students and teachers.

In recent years, John has pioneered “The Comix Method”, a program training teachers globally in hip-hop terminology, technique, and educational practices. Applied in classrooms worldwide, this program reflects John's unique instructional method. His classes and events aim to instill aspiring dancers with the fundamentals of street and Hip Hop dance, promoting both freestyle artistry and mastery of choreography. John's overarching goal is to inspire individuals to become artists and creatively challenge themselves, fostering positive growth both within and beyond the realm of dance.

Overview: Step into the high-energy world of professional sports entertainment with this dynamic session designed specifically for dance educators. This class will break down the core technical elements of pom and NFL-style sideline dance, with a focus on how to effectively teach and integrate this style into your studio curriculum.

We’ll cover the foundations of sharp, clean pom technique, along with a high-energy sideline combo. You’ll also get insight into what auditions really look like, how to prep dancers for them, and how to help your students navigate the transition from studio to the professional sports entertainment world.

Whether you’re looking to add pom to your class lineup or have dancers who dream of going pro, this session will give you the tools, language, and structure to make it happen.

Ariana McGrath: Baltimore native Ariana McGrath is a versatile performer and passionate educator with a foundation in ballet, jazz, tap, lyrical/contemporary, and musical theater. 

Ariana launched her professional career with Disney Cruise Line, where she performed as a featured dancer and quickly rose to the role of Dance Captain and Female Swing. Her performance credits also include the innovative show 366 with “On the DL” and Alternative Dance Project.

An award-winning choreographer, Ariana has created original work for studios and schools across Maryland. Her choreography has been recognized on the competition circuit, and she has served as head choreographer for America’s Miss National Pageant. She has also judged for East Coast USA Pageant System and On Point Dance Competition. A well-rounded artist, Ariana has also trained in aerial arts—Spanish web, silks, and aerial hoop—at the Toronto School of Circus Arts. 

Ariana most recently performed professionally for the NFL on the sidelines of M&T Bank Stadium as a Baltimore Ravens Cheerleader.

Today, Ariana shares her love of dance as a teacher and choreographer, with a special passion for musical theater and reviving classic jazz and lyrical styles for the next generation of performers.