Cara DeMeo Director/Instructor: Cara has been studying dance for over 28 years. She has
always felt the need and want to share her love and passion for dance with others and loves to teach! She has studied Tap,
Jazz, Ballet, Lyrical and HipHop. Cara has danced as a competitive dancer and won several top awards, some of which she is
most proud of are:”Most Well Rounded Dancer” which she had to compete as soloist in Tap, Jazz, Lyrical and Open
and win each category to win this title. She was honored to win choreography awards beginning at the age of 14 and other various
awards. Cara has been hired to choreograph
for Channel 6 for 3 seasons of their hit TV show “CR6” and for local commercials. She has attended many dance
conventions and studio seminars to keep herself updated with the changing times. Cara has joined hands with The American Cancer
Society and is the founder of “Entertaining For A Cure” a fundraiser to raise money for the society. She is entering
her 17th year directing Dance Force and is very proud how each year the studio has grown and has continued to sculpt
tiny dancers into wonderful dancers! Cara has a laid back yet structured teaching style….having fun is always most
important! When she is not teaching or choreographing she is playing with the love of her life, her daughter Mia!
Jackie
Stark has studied tap, jazz, ballet, lyrical and pointe since a young child. She was a competitve dancer and won
many awards. She has been teaching at Dance Force for many years and also spends her time teaching Zumba, Yoga, Aerobics and
other fitness classes. She teaches fitness classes at Dance Force and a variety of gyms. Jackie has a new addition to her
family..Emily, a beautiful baby girl!
Therese Peck: has been with Dance Force since 2005.
She was graduated from SUNY Brockport (got to dance with Bill Evans!) with a degree in Dance and Interdisciplinary Arts for
Children with a concentration in children's dance. She has studied Tap, Ballet, Irish Steph, Jazz, Musical Theater,
and Modern. She has interned with the New York State Theater Institute, which introduced her to choreographing for the
stage. She has choreographed for several local school districts as well as Schenectady Light Opera Company.
Nicole
Healey: started lessons with Cara in 1993, and started dancing at Dance Force in 1999. Nicole
was a competitive dancer for 3 years. She has studied Jazz, Lyrical, Ballet and Hip Hop with Cara and has recently
taken class from Shane sparks, Wade Robson, Brian Friedman, Mia Michaels, and Laurie Ann Gibson. Nicole has taught at
Dance Force since 2006. She has backup danced for the Kast, a local music group and participates in hiphop groups; Chaos
and Limited Edition. Nicole has gotten awards for her choreography and currently takes class at Broadway Dance Center and
conventions like The Pulse to stay updated.!
Laura Smith: Laura began dancing at a very young
age, studying Tap, Ballet, Jazz, Gymnastics, Baton and Pointe. Laura studied dance and musical theater at Plymouth State University,
NH and received a B.A in Creative Arts Therapy. Laura continues to keep her dance skills updated through participation in
adult dance classes and a multitude of musical theater performances through the Capital District. Laura has had extensive
experience working with children and teaching dance. Laura's classes focus on being fun and
exciting while also learning all of the important technical skills of dance and gymnastics. This is Laura's 7th year teaching
at Dance Force.
Jonelle Cislo started taking dance classes
at age 3! She attends workshops with Wade Robson, Mia Michaels, Shane Sparks, Brian Friedman, and other NYC Workshops. Jonelle was an Albany
Conquest Treasures Dancer from 2004-2008 and also danced for the Albany Patroons. Currently she coaches Amsterdam Vibe Dance
team for Collegiate baseball championship team the Mohawks, has been a SIENA
Dance Camp Instructor since 2006 and became ZUMBA certified in 2007. Jonelle has choreographed for several local artists and
groups. This is Jonelle's 6th year teaching at Dance
Force. Crystle
Fonda:began dancing at a young age and started taking classes at Dance Force in 2000. She studied Jazz, Ballet, Pointe,
Lyrical, and Hip Hop with Cara and was a competitive dancer for 5 years. Since graduating High School she has remained close
with the Dance Force dancers and staff and has helped out backstage at the Recital each year. In college she took several
classes in dance, creative movement, and recreation. She graduated from Old Dominion University with a B.S in Therapeutic
Recreation and a concentration in Child Life Studies. She has an extensive background in working with children of all ages
and abilities. She currently works as a Recreational Therapist at a home for disabled children. This is her second year
teaching at Dance Force and she’s excited to become a part of its staff.
Sara
Senecal -Sara Senecal is currently in her second season with the Ellen Sinopoli Dance Company, the resident company of
the Egg in Albany, NY. She graduated magna cum laude and phi beta kappa from the University at Buffalo with a B.A. in Dance
and a minor in Education. During her time there she was a dancer in Zodiaque Studio Dance Ensemble and a dancer and choreographer
for Emerging Choreographers' Showcase. She has studied with various artists such as Jump Rhythm Jazz Project, Urban Bush Women,
and collaborated with visual artist Saya Woolfalk as a dancer and co-choreographer for her performance art exhibit "No
Place: A Ritual of the Empathics" shown in Buffalo, NY and New York, NY. Sara is originally from Schenectady, NY
where she studied at Merritt Dance Center under Mara and Marlene Merritt where she spent ten years competing in regional and
national competitions.
Megan Kramer:
Chel Marzullo:
