Cara DeMeo Director/Instructor: Cara has been studying dance for over 27 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. She won second runner up to“Dancer of
the Year” at American Dance Awards. Cara has been hired to work with various theater programs and was also hired by
Channel 6 to choreograph and dance for 3 seasons of their hit TV show “CR6”. She has also choreographed 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 14th 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 6th year teaching at Dance Force.
Sara Lavenia has studied various
styles of dance including Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Hip Hop, Lyrical and Pointe. She was a competitive team and soloist for many
years and recieved many top awards. Sara's classes are always fun due to her enthusiasm! Sara has taught at Dance Force for
many years and is now returning since having her daughter!
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 fourth 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 first 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.
Andrea Nicosia-
Hip Hop Instructor
