INSTRUCTORS
The Faces of Our Dancers
HILARY HARRISON
NY based movement artist, teacher, choreographer, model and dancer Hilary Harrison is a well versed artist with background in many different genres. She is currently a performer in “Beings Dance” under Emily Bufferd, faculty at Eglevsky Ballet and Kanyok Arts Initiative, and judging for In10sity Dance. Credits include “In The Heights” film, Rachael Platten “Waves”, Capezio anniversary, and Dizzyfeet Gala. When not dancing, she can be found modeling and consulting with Capezio. Most recently Hilary has taken on learning new modalities of moving and knowledge of the body. She is a 200hr Registered Yoga Teacher and certified teacher in Tspheres and Flexistretcher. Hilary is an ABT Certified Teacher, who completed the ABT teacher training intensive in Pre-Primary through Level 3 of ABT’s training curriculum.
STEPHANIE CASTNER
Originally from Baltimore, MD, Stephanie grew up studying the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) Ballet syllabus, in which she completed her Grade 1- Intermediate Foundation examinations, as well as the ISTD Modern syllabus. She attended the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) where she continued her dance training. Here she studied various modern dance techniques (Limón, Taylor, Graham, Horton) and choreography, and received her Bachelor’s degree in Dance and Media Communication Studies. After graduating, Stephanie moved to New York City to teach and study contemporary dance performance. In the summer of 2019, Stephanie worked alongside her mentor, Shelly Hutchinson, as assistant choreographer on the production of BLACKHOLE WEDDING as a part of New York Musical Festival (NYMF).
ALEXIA WAITES
Alexia Waites was born and raised in Biloxi, Mississippi where she began dancing at age two. She went on to attend Pace University as a BFA Commercial Dance major where she graduated then graduated with concentrations in performance, pedagogy, and choreography. She has had the opportunity to dance and perform with many well-known choreographers such as Josh Bergasse, Scott Jovovich, Alexandra Damiani, Karla Garcia, Jess Hendricks, Chip Abbott and Jacki Ford. One of her performance highlights is performing an excerpt from Broadway’s On The Town with American Ballet Theatre’s Misty Copeland. She has been teaching since the age of 15 and always enjoys sharing the joy of dance with those around her.
HALEY HERMAN
Haley Herman is a New York based dancer, singer, and actress. After dancing in her home town of Rockville Centre in Long Island for 10 years, she joined a training/performance company under the direction of Laurie Kanyok in downtown Manhattan. As a member of the collective at Kanyok Arts Initiative, she continues her dance training as well as singing and acting. In her time with KAI she has performed for and worked with industry professionals. Most recently she performed at the 2020 Dance Against Cancer event at the Manhattan Movement and Arts Center. Haley has received summer training from reputable schools throughout New York, Texas, and North Carolina. She has also had the joy of teaching young dancers in Long Island, in the styles Ballet, Jazz, Contemporary, and Tap. She is an ambassador for New York based nutrition/wellness resource for dancers/athletes To The Pointe Nutrition, founded by former dancer turned Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Rachel Fine. When she isn’t training or rehearsing, she enjoys practicing yoga, spending time with family, reading, creating short films, writing scripts, and hiking.
HAILEY FLEMING
Hailey Fleming is currently training with Kanyok Arts Initiative and is a Peridance Independent Study student. She recently graduated as a dance major at The Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts where she performed in many student and faculty choreographed
shows. She also choreographed numerous works displayed in these performances and created a group piece for her senior project. While she was in high school, Hailey also danced for MJ Dance Center and Hunterdon Hills Ballet where she performed in annual recitals
and participated in multiple competitions. In 2021, Hailey Fleming intends on pursuing a BFA in dance and hopes to transition into company-based work.
AIMEE SMYKE
Originally from Columbus, Ohio, Aimee Smyke moved to NYC in 2015 to obtain a BFA in Commercial Dance and a minor in Digital and Time-Based Art at Pace University. Aimee has performed with several companies in both NYC and LA including Caleb Teicher and Company, Broadway Cares, Royal Flux, and Emma Portner’s ‘The Flock’ among others. Her film credits include Superfruit’s “Worth It” directed by Lindsey and Craig, and Mario Spinetti’s “High Hopes”. She has performed work by Sarah O’Gleby, Chip Abbott, Josh Prince, Rhonda Miller, Paul McGill, and Anthony Morigerato to name a few. Most recently Aimee has worked with Dance Lab New York (Broadway Dance Lab), appeared as a featured dancer in Bridesmaids: A Dance Narrative, and participated in a workshop for the new musical, BLISS. Aimee is so excited to keep sharing her love of dance and art all around the world!
HANNAH CAMPINELI
Hannah Campanelli grew up dancing in Upstate New York where she trained at Draper Center for Dance Education and Pittsford Dance Studio. After high school, she moved to New York City where she graduated with a BFA Commercial Dance degree from Pace University. Here she studied ballet, jazz, contemporary, hip hop, modern, pedagogy, and choreography. In NYC, she performed choreography by Talia Favia, Lauren Gaul, Scott Jovovich, Rhonda Miller, and Karla Garcia with the Hamilton National Tours cast. She has recently presented work in the Young Choreographer’s festival and Ryan Daniel Beck’s On One Condition showcase in NYC. Hannah recently moved to LA to pursue dance professionally and is currently represented by Go2Talent.
TARA DURKIN
Tara Durkin is a freelance artist currently based in New York City. She began her training at a local studio before joining Broadway Dance Center’s Children and Teen program at age 14. During her time there, Tara had the opportunity to work and train as a company member of Arts in Motion (AIM) with artists including Rachelle Rak, Brinda Guha, Justin Conte, Cat Cogliandro, and Stacie Webster. After graduating from Long Island High School for the Arts, Tara continues her work as a freelance artist and has had the pleasure of working closely with leading contemporary choreographers, Erica Sobol, Adi Salant, Tilman O'Donnell, David Harvey, Medhi Walerski, Jermaine Spivey, and Spencer Therburge. Most recently, she has performed the works of Emily Greenwell, Alex Mitchell, Ricky Jinks, Kyle Livsey of Pinkydance and Mary Grace McNally of MG&Artists. Tara is also an apprentice for MG&Artists and worked as an understudy for their most recent show “When Its Falls” which premiered this past winter. In addition to these works, Tara also has a strong passion for teaching children of all ages. Over the past few years, she has taught at studios all over Long Island and the city including Broadway Dance Center. Tara believes it is her responsibility as an educator to not only teach the technical aspect of dance but to create a safe environment where kids feel the liberty to express themselves through movement and become more connected to their emotional and physical bodies.
HALEY NACHLAS
Haley Nachlas is a New York based performer, teacher and choreographer. She graduated summa cum laude from Pace University with a BFA in commercial dance concentrating in performance, choreography and pedagogy under the direction of incredible professors. Throughout her education she worked with choreographers such as Mandy Moore, Billy Griffin, Nick Kenkle, Fosse Rep restaged by Kathryn Doby, Dee Caspary, Lauren Gaul, Joey Dowling, Rhonda Miller and many more. Professionally she has performed in regional theatre most recently in “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas” at the Totempole Playhouse. She has performed in several NYC benefit concerts such as Artists for Altzheimers where she performed Karla Garcia’s work. Haley has taught and choreographed in the MD, NY and NJ areas and loves to share her passion for dance, technique and story- telling. She is currently represented by CESD talent agency.