Faculty
Miss Katie
Artistic Director/Owner/Teacher
Katie has been dancing since the age of 4. Katie grew up in Tolland, CT training at Dance Express in ballet, tap, lyrical, jazz, hip-hop and pointe. At the age of 12, she began competing on company team and assistant teaching. Katie was a 1st company dance member for 7 years competing regionally in large groups, duets and solo performances. Katie’s choreography has won several awards in regional and national competitions throughout New England. Her choreography consists of hip hop, jazz, and lyrical for local dance studios, competition and college dance teams throughout Connecticut.
She graduated from the University of Connecticut in 2004 with a degree in Marketing where she also performed on the UConn Dance Team. In February 2008, she accepted an intern position into a pre-professional dance program at the Broadway Dance Center (BDC) in New York City for six months. During her studies at BDC, she trained with many talented choreographers such as Sheila Barker, Tracie Stanfield, Ray Hesselink, Judy Rice, Dorrit Koppel, Chio Yamada, Rhapsody, Derek Mitchell, Jason Marquette, Michelle Barber, Michele Assaf and Shea Sullivan.
Katie has performed locally as a member of the Connecticut Sun Solar Power Dance Team in 2004 and 2005, performing at Mohegan Sun. Katie resided in Tampa, FL from 2009-2010 where she performed at Busch Gardens amusement park as a dancer in several performances and shows to include Katonga, Dance to the Music, Christmas Celebration and Summer Nights. During her time in Tampa, she also performed with dance companies, Moving Current Collective and Hybrid Dance Company.
Katie has been involved in the dance industry for over 25 years. She has taught students ages 2 to adult in all styles of dance for over 20 years. She performed professionally for 5 years throughout CT and FL. Her dance style is very dynamic, funky, and fresh, with the latest trends. When she is not dancing she is enjoying her time with her husband, and their two dogs. She is so honored and grateful for her Dancers Ink Family and loves sharing her knowledge and passion of dance with all our students.
Miss Melissa: Teacher
Combo, Jazz, Tap, Hip Hop, Ballet, Musical Theatre Jazz, Lyrical, Competition Team
Miss Melissa is from Long Island, New York. She began dancing at the age of 6, at Backstage Studio of Dance in Port Jefferson Station NY, where she continued to study through high school. She trained in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Hip-hop, Lyrical, Modern and Pointe. At 13, she was accepted as a member of the company dance team for Backstage, and danced in competitions throughout New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. She also had the opportunity to perform with her dance company in Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World, Florida.
Melissa graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications in 2011, from The University at Albany. During her time at SUNY Albany she was a member of the University Dance Council, a student group that performed in recitals at the end of each semester. She choreographed for the club in styles of Hip-hop, Lyrical and Jazz. In 2009, Melissa was selected to be an Executive Board member as the club’s Treasurer during her senior year. As an E-Board member, she was in charge of the group’s fiscal success and in addition was one of four responsible for running and maintaining the club consisting of over 200 dancers.
Melissa has had 17 years of dance experience and has choreographed for students ranging from ages 5-22. She is thrilled to have the opportunity to share her knowledge and love of dance with the students at Dancers Ink.
Miss Keturah: Teacher
Combo, Hip Hop, Jazz, Musical Theatre Jazz, Ballet, Tap, Competition Team
Miss Keturah started dancing at the age of 2 studying ballet, tap and jazz at her mothers dance studio where she grew up in New York. At the age of 7 she was introduced to the amazing world of Musical Theatre. Through Tri-Arts Theatre she had opportunities to train every summer with professional directors, choreographers and dancers from Broadway. She was privileged to learn the styles of Ballet, Tap, Jazz and Musical Theatre from professionals such as Ray Roderick, Stephen Nachamie, Cheryl Swift, Stephen Reed, Mark Frawley and many more.
At the age of 15 Keturah joined the Rhinebeck Dance Center in New York where she trained in classical ballet under the instruction of Roya Curie. As well as jazz, rhythm tap, musical theatre, acro and hip hop with Michelle Ribble and others. Here she also had opportunities to take master classes with Tony Waag of the American Tap Dance Orchestra and Margaret Tracey of the Boston Ballet. Keturah has studied dance in both New York and California where she lived for 6 years.
In her over 30 years of dance experience Keturah has been a Dance instructor for Rhinebeck Dance Center, Dutchess County Youth Bureau, Rhinebeck School Dance Program, Indian Mountain Private School, and has been a private dance coach in NY, CT and CA. Keturah has also worked as Director/ Choreographer for Webutuck High School musical theatre program in NY.
As a performer Keturah has been in many productions at theatres throughout NY, CT and CA. A few of her favorites include A Chorus Line – Val; Crazy For You – Patsy (Dance Capt.); and Cabaret – Rosie (Dance Capt.). Keturah has also performed on The Mellenium Stage at The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington DC.
Keturah is excited to be a part of Dancers Ink to share her love and enthusiasm for dance with all her students. It is a gift to see joy and confidence grow within a young dancer.
Miss Amy: Teacher
Combo, Jazz, Tap, Lyrical, Ballet, Contemporary, Musical Theatre Jazz & Competition Team
Amy began her dance training at age 5 under the direction of Paula McCormick at SeaSide Dance and Gymnastics Centre in Westerly, RI. At age 8, Amy started dancing competitively and attending conventions. Amy then went on to graduate cum laude with a Bachelor’s degree in Dance Performance at Rhode Island College in Providence, RI. While at RIC, Amy had the pleasure of working with Gus Solomons Jr., Jennifer Nugent and Paul Matteson, Katie McNamara, Heidi Henderson, Michael Bolger, Eva Marie Pacheco and Art Bridgman and Myrna Packer and Kellie Ann Lynch. She was the co-director of the RIC dance company as well as the assistant choreographer of the musical HAIR her senior year.
After college Amy danced with the Providence Ballet Theatre in Providence, RI for two seasons and for Mystic Moves Dance Theatre for two seasons as well as teaching back at her old studio. Amy has taught at studios in Westerly, Charlestown and Myrtle Beach, SC where she taught both recreational and competitive levels. Her contemporary choreography was featured in the All Star performance at World Ballet in 2018 and is also Module 1 Certified in Acrobatic Arts.
Amy is very excited to be back in New England and continue sharing her love of dance and movement with the students of Dancers Ink!
Miss Meredith: Teacher
Combo, Jazz, Tap, Hip Hop, Ballet, Competition Team
Meredith began dancing at the age of 2 under the direction of Jim Caisse at Dance Arts Centre in MA. She started competing at the age of 10 and won numerous awards both at a group level and as a soloist, and was crowned Boston Miss Teen DEA in 1996. Also, while under the direction of Jim Caisse, she worked as an assistant teacher and performed while aboard the Royal Majesty cruise ship as well as for the government of Bermuda.
Meredith went to college to study Nursing, while still continuing to dance and she began teaching in 1998 in MA with her sister Heather Fortier. After graduating college and while working as a nurse she continued to teach dance, this time moving to Westerly RI alongside her sister. She has taught all ages ranging from age 2 through Adult and in all dance styles.
Meredith currently lives in Westerly with her husband Joel and their 4 children who are all students at Dancers Ink. She loves being a part of the Dancers Ink family and sharing her love of dance with her students.
Miss Kelsie: Teacher
Combo, Jazz, Tap, Hip Hop, Ballet, Lyrical
Kelsie has been dancing since the age of three. In her early years she trained at two studios;
Lydia Discuillio School of Dance and Dancers Ink. Kelsie continued her passion for dance throughout college and beyond. She went to Dean College and received her Bachelor of Arts degree with a minor in English. Back in 2017, Kelsie performed at a Patriot’s Home Opening Game at Gillette Stadium with the dancers of Dean College. While studying dance in college, Kelsi wrote a book titled ‘Dance Auditions; What I Wish I Knew’ with Joan Phelps Palladino, the creator of the dance program at Dean College. Since graduating from Dean College, Kelsie performs as a dancer in a restaurant at Mohegan Sun and teaches at two studios.
Kelsie is a part of a talent company called DFX and loves the opportunities this company gives her to grow as a dancer and performer. She religiously takes adult dance classes once a week to keep up with her own technique and dance background. In Kelsie’s free time, she loves long walks by the water, going to the gym and hanging out with friends and family. Kelsie is excited to come back to Dancers Ink not as a student anymore but as a dance instructor.
Miss Aurora: Teacher
Hip Hop, Jazz
Aurora has been dancing since the age of 3 where she enrolled in a ballet/tap/tumbling class. After moving to Connecticut, she studied ballet, tap, and jazz under the instruction of Miss Joy Fidrych for 3 years. Aurora joined Dancers Ink at age 7 for its inaugural year. Aurora accepted a position on the very first Petite Jazz competitive team in 2013. She competed with team and company until her senior year in 2023 performing jazz, musical theater, and hip-hop in small groups, large groups, production, and duet/trio numbers. During her time at DI, she studied ballet, tap, lyrical, jazz, hip-hop, and musical theatre as well assisted many younger aged classes of all styles. Aurora was awarded many honors and top-place trophies throughout her competitive seasons and received her 15-year dance trophy at her senior recital. Since then, Aurora often dropped into the studio to observe and encourage her DI dance family. She attended many 2023/24 competitions supporting the current competitive dancers and volunteered her time to help with the 2023/24 recital. Aurora is honored to continue her journey with Dancers Ink as a dance instructor this year teaching beginner jazz and hip hop.
Aurora is currently finishing up her liberal arts courses at CT State at Three Rivers. She plans to pursue a degree in Tourism, Hospitality, and Event Management at Southern Connecticut State University.
Miss Mackenzie: Teacher
Hip Hop, Jazz
Mackenzie began dancing at the age of 3, at Broadway Kids and Company, until joining The Dancer’s Edge in East Lyme. There she trained in various styles including ballet, tap, jazz, hip-hop, lyrical, contemporary, modern and pointe. At the age of 12, she joined the studio’s competition team, performing in groups, duos/trios, and solos. She continued training and competing at the studio through an ownership and name change to Studio 22 Dance Center until graduating from high school. Mackenzie recently graduated from the University of New Haven with a Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice where she was a part of the school’s dance team for three years. During this time she was a choreography captain for two years, where she choreographed many dances for the team in various styles such as hip-hop and jazz. These dances were performed at multiple football games, basketball games, and the yearly showcases. Mackenzie has a passion for dance and performance and is excited to join Dancers Ink to share this with her students.
Miss Sadie: Summer Guest Teacher
Jazz, Hip Hop, Lyrical
Sadie trained at Dancer Ink for 7 years in Ballet, Jazz, lyrical, contemporary, hip hop, musical theater, and tap. She joined Dancers Inks’ competition team and competed with them for 5 years. Sadie currently studies Elementary Education at Endicott College and is a member of their Dance program. She is a part of their Repertory Dance Ensemble which performs pieces created by guest and faculty choreographers. Through the Repertory Dance Ensemble and Endicott’s Dance Program, Sadie has had the opportunity to train with many professionals including Scott Fowler, a Broadway dancer and choreographer for LA Dance Magic, Tara Brown, the director and founder of Boston Dance Studios, Heather Myers, a member and choreographer for We The Females – a dance company located in Boston, Joseph Jefferies, dancer and educator at the Boston Ballet School and Endicott College, Zachary Betty, artistic Director of N Squared, a contemporary dance company located in New Hampshire, and multiple former and current Boston Celtics Dance Team Dancers. She is also a part of EDGE, Endicott’s Student Run Audition based Dance Club. Sadie is ecstatic to return to Dancers Ink this summer!
