Faculty
Rebecca Hanley--Studio Owner and Director
Rebecca grew up in the Catskills and started dancing at a young age locally. Rebecca’s dance training includes many styles of dance including jazz, tap, ballet, modern, and lyrical. She has performed at a number of dance competitions, annual productions, and shows throughout the community.
Rebecca has taken three years of dance classes and dance history in high school and attended competition workshops during that time. She has participated in classes from professional Broadway faculty/choreographers including Ashlee Dawson, Bobby Clark, and Thom Lake. Rebecca has also completed the Broadway Dance Center’s teacher workshop in NYC and completed many college dance classes throughout her time at SUNY Oneonta. Rebecca taught ballet, jazz, tap, lyrical, and tumbling for a number of years before opening the doors at CDM.
Rebecca graduated from Downsville Central School and has her bachelors degree in Child and Family Studies from SUNY Oneonta. She is was previously the Director/Lead Teacher of the YMCA Jumpstart Preschool program and After School program at Walton.
Rebecca is First Aid and CPR certified. She holds her Barre Above, and, Zumbini/Zumbini for school licenses, as well as being certified in SPARK Early Childhood and School Aged curriculum.
© Kalz Photography
Joy Garrett--Teacher
Mrs. Garrett (Ms. Joy) was born and raised in Virginia where she began dancing at the age of 3. Upon high school graduation she attended Virginia Commonwealth University where she received a BFA in Dance and Choreography. She started Joy's School of Dance, Inc. in 1989 teaching Ballet, Pointe, Tap, Jazz, Modern and choreographing for the JSOD Jewel Competition team.
Additionally she has choreographed numerous musicals for high schools and churches and is a member of Dance Educators of America. Several of her students have furthered their career and dance in numerous companies in Richmond, VA and New York City.
Miss. Joy teaches our higher level ballet and pointe classes.
Virginia Collier--Teacher
Virginia Collier (Miss. GiGi) began her dance training at the age of
six in Oneonta, NY. She had a difficult time communicating because she was partially deaf when she was younger and found a way to express herself through dance.
Miss. GiGi’s training consisted of tap, jazz, ballet, hip-hop, contemporary, lyrical, modern, mime, flamenco, commercial heels and African from various teachers across the United States. She has studied with choreographers such as Emma Rosa, Jacey Lambros of the
Rockettes, Frank Hatchett, Savion Glover and Jammie Walker from
Jessica Lang Dance Company among others. Ms. GiGi’s performance
experience includes Wheat State Dance Collective (Contemporary
Company) based in Wichita, KS, traveling internationally with Wichita
Contemporary Dance Theatre, being a member of The Terpsichorean
Dance Company back in her hometown, and being a part of an
African Dance Troupe based in Brooklyn. She has danced &
choreographed for a variety of music videos, competitions, and
created/founded The VAM Ladies (a social media dance group),as
well as participating in numerous workshops, intensives and musical plays.
Miss. GiGi graduated with a BFA in Dance from Wichita State
University.
Miss Gigi teaches a number of classes at CDM ranging from ballet, jazz, tap, and hip-hop.
Madison Serra--Teacher
Madison Serra was born in Long Island and began dancing at the age of 4 at TJE Dance Force. At the age of 8 she moved with her family to Walton and began dancing at CDM in 6th grade. Madison's dance training includes ballet, pointe, jazz, hip-hop and tumbling. She was also a member of the CDM competition team for 4 years where she has represented CDM in receiving many high awards for her solos.
Miss Madi began volunteering her time at CDM at the age of 14 in many classes and has learned the way of the dance classroom from our established teachers. She is grateful to have been given the opportunity to give back to other dancers, what has been given to her.
Madi is a Walton Central School graduated and is currently a full time student at SUNY Delhi studying Early Childhood Education.
Miss Madi teaches many of our younger students including creative movement and tumbling classes.
Carli--Substitute Teacher
Carli grew up in the Catskills and started dancing locally at age 4. Her dance training includes lyrical, modern, tap, jazz, and ballet. She has performed in many annual productions and competitions growing up.
Miss Carli graduated from Downsville Central School and has her bachelors degree in Business Administration from Elmira College. During her time at Elmira she was a member and Vice President of the dance team, and a member of the dance club, Orchesis. She choreographed for and performed at many community events, basketball games, and productions.