Madeline Underwood
Madeline is a proud alumni of Starz Elite Dance Center where she spent her competition career. While at Starz she won many Regional and National first overalls and Titles. She was also featured on Dance Moms as a member of the Candy Apple team on Season 7 and appeared in Bloch’s “Dance with confidence” campaign shot by Jordan Matter. She has also modeled for both Showstopper and KAR dance competitions. She has spent the last year training at the Brea Space in California under the direction of Krista Miller. She can’t wait to share her leaps and turns secrets with you!
July 7th
Leaps & Turns
Ages 7-11 4-6pm
$65
July 7th
Leaps & Turns
Ages 12+ 6-8 pm
$65
Jenna Petty
July 13th
Dance Team Clinic
Ages 7-11 4:30-6pm
$45
July 13th
Jazz
Ages 12+ 6-7:30 pm
$45
Jenna Petty has studied dance for 16 years in lyrical, jazz, ballet, tap, contemporary, ballroom and hip hop genres. Jenna has competed in dance for over 10 years and has won many solo and team championships on a regional and national level.
Jenna has trained on the convention circuit in all genres and has been selected to assist choreographers on their national tours and teach classes. Recently, Jenna assisted at the 24seven dance convention in San Diego, and was selected as a member of the #iafrogue company for IAF Studios and as Pro Reveler of the Year for Revel Dance Convention. She was also selected and performed as a member of Break the Floor’s Beat Squad at DancerPalooza.
Jenna auditioned for SYTYCD where she made it to the final 50. In addition to training and competing across the US, she was cast in two dance videos with Disney’s Sofia Wylie. Jenna is also a brand ambassador for Jo and Jax dancewear as a #jjgirl, and has modeled for other dancewear brands throughout the years.
Jenna’s home studio is Dance Productions - The Remix and she is currently attending High Point University where she is a member of High Point’s Dance Team.
Carisa McMillian Wilson
July 14th
Lyrical Contemporary
Ages 7-11 4-6pm
$65
July 14th
Lyrical Contemporary
Ages 12+ 6-8 pm
$65
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CARISA ROSE WILSON has studied and performed various dance techniques across the United States since the age of three. She attended Appalachian State University, where she received her BFA in Dance, and was the captain and choreographer for the dance team.
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Following graduation, Carisa relocated to Dallas, Texas where she became a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader. She appeared on CMT’s hit show, “Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making the Team.” Carisa was selected for her dance ability to be a part of the DCC Show Group, which travels to perform in various countries. During her time as a cheerleader, she performed with Selena Gomez, Kenny Chesney and One Republic. Additionally, she received an award for the choreography and performance for her solo at auditions.
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Carisa now resides in Raleigh, teaching and choreographing for studios in the surrounding area. She joined the convention and adjudication faculty of Epic Dance Showcase in 2015, as well as the faculty of the Commercial Dance Intensive in 2017.
Eli Thomas
July 20th
Jazz and Technique
Ages 8-11 4:30-6 pm
$45
July 20th
Jazz and Technique
Ages 12+ 6-7:30 pm
$45
Eli Thomas has spent his life loving dance. Spending his early years focused on ballet, his love for all genres of dance grew as he grew. After many years of competitive dance, traveling the country performing and training he chose to receive training in Acro where he is now certified by The Acrobatic Arts of USA and Canada. He has assisted and taught along side with some of the best in the industry. Enjoying many opportunities such as dancing at Disney multiple times receiving many awards: national titles, national choreography awards, and multiple national choreography of the year nominations over the years. He will tell you his greatest accomplishment is sharing his passion for teaching and passing his knowledge down to those eager to learn, grow, and most of all experience the love of dance.
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Sara Brendel
August 5th
Contemporary
12:00am-1:30pm
$30
Sara Brendel is a native of St. Louis, Missouri and has years of dance training and performance experience. She started her professional career dancing for Norwegian Cruise Lines and Princess Cruise Lines. She has worked industrial shows and special events for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Nissan Motors, Siemens Technologies, and several other companies with Event Show Productions. She performed in Branson, Missouri with the production shows "Dino's - Somewhere in Christmas" and "The Shoji Tabuchi Show”. Sara also danced in the Broadway-style production of "Katonga" at Busch Gardens, Tampa Bay. Sara has performed beside talented dancers with the Les Grand Ballets Canadians and appeared in the musicals “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”, "The Music Man", and "42nd Street".
Sara received her education from Columbia College Chicago and Webster University as a dance major with a concentration in choreography. Sara has set numerous nationally award-winning pieces and her work has received several choreography awards. She has choreographed opening numbers for many special events including Aveda Beauty shows and Kids Artistic Revue Star Showcase as well as having her choreography featured on ESPN. Her work has also been perform by the SueMo Dance Company in Milwaukee, WI.
Sara's students have been accepted into prestigious dance programs at the Edge Performing Arts Center, Oklahoma City University, Chapman University and several other universities. Many of her students have successful dance careers performing with world tours, professional dance companies, production shows, music videos and cruise lines.
Sara is a faculty member for KAR Convention teaching jazz and contemporary classes as well as a judge for Rainbow Connection, Kids Artistic Revue and KAR Live Dance Competition. She has had the honor of teaching and judging talented dancers across the country as well as internationally with Kids Artistic Revue Australia. Sara encourages her students to push their boundaries and to never settle.
Marissa Rignola
August 8th
Ages 12 & Under 10:00am-11:30am
Ages 13+ 11:30am-1:00pm
$30
Born in Long Island, NY, Marissa Rignola grew up training at a local studio in all genres and upon graduation, was given the opportunity to perform for the New York Knicks half time show; and soon after the ASEID Contemporary Dance Company at the Dicapo Opera Theatre. Marissa continued her growth in dance by attending the pro-semester at Broadway Dance Center. Sheila Barker, Tracie Stanfield and Kat Wildish were some of Rignolas greatest mentors. Their guidance is what ignited her passion for teaching and choreography. After completing her dance residency in the city, sharing her knowledge and love of dance with the younger generations was inevitable. Through her guidance, Marissa’s students have gone on to dance professionally on Broadway in Grease & Beauty and the Beast, Radio City, Sythesis Dance Project, Cruise Lines and Universities such as Marymount, Montclair State, AMDA, RUTGERS and UCLA just to name a few. Marissa’s work has been recognized nationally at some of today’s most prestigious dance competitions. Her creativity has been described as captivating, moving and astonishing. Marissa currently holds the title of Competition Director at North Shore Dance in Long Island, NY.
Lonni Olsen
Being a California native, Lonni was lucky enough to grow up very close to the industry. She began her teaching career at a young age in her home studio, Mather Dance Company and then continued to assist Shannon Mather and Blake Mcgrath through her years of training. Lonni currently assists some of the top choreographers in the industry, such as Marguerite Derricks, Travis Wall, Khasan Brailsford, and Krista Miller giving her untouchable knowledge to succeed in the industry. Because of these things and her unique and encouraging approach to educating, she teaches at some of the top studios in the industry such as IAF, Millennium Dance Complex, Broadway Dance Center, online platforms like CLI, TMILLY TV, The Space TV, as well as countless other studios all over the world. Lonni has a way of connecting with students of all ages and levels. Giving her an edge when it comes to teaching.
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Lonni has had many incredible opportunities in the industry thus far. She has appeared in many commercials, films, and television shows such as The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Latin AMAs, The Affair, World of Dance, The Binge, Mobbed, and so many more. She has worked as an assitant choreographer on shows such as SYTYCD and Flirty Dancing. Lonni had the pleasure of working with Gucci on their Spring/Summer Campaign, and traveled to Shanghai to work for Dolce and Gabbana in the world renowned fashion show. Lonni has danced for some of the world’s biggest brands, such as Google, Sprint, Verizon, Universal Japan, Vidcon and Nuskin. As a professional, she has toured and worked with artists including Lindsey Stirling, Derek Hough, Cait Fairbanks, Megan Nicole and others.
Being open, willing, and ready is what you need to know going into a class with Lonni. She encourages you to not only execute the movement given to you, but to dig much deeper within. Why are you moving? How are you doing each move in particularly? Can you push even more? Coming from a very versatile and technical background, Lonni prides herself on a well versed classroom setting. Working hard isn’t all she focuses on. Lonni constantly encourages you to work on your performance, story telling, pushing your own boundaries, feeling what’s happening around you and in you, and most of all being present. Lonni’s contemporary style is very much unique to who she is. She pulls from her training of jazz, hip hop, grooves, technique, and even tap when creating. She is determined to always continue growing as an artist with you in the room. Lonni brings a unique dynamic energy to all she does and although her class is challenging, you will always leave her class feeling growth, inspired and ready for so much more.
