James Robey B.F.A., M.F.A.  Director | Modern/Contemporary, Jazz, Ballet, Tap, Pas de deux. James Robey holds a BFA in Dance from the University of Akron and an MFA in Dance from the Peck School of the Arts at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee where he graduated Phi Kappa Phi. James is Founding Artistic Director of James Robey Dance, a member of the Society of Dance History Scholars, part of the International Association of Dance Medicine and Science, a member of the National Dance Education Organization, on the Advisory Board of the Connecticut Dance Alliance, on the Advisory Board for the Ridgefield Music and Arts Center, on the Danbury Task Force for Dance, and is author and creator of the James Robey Jazz Dance Technique and Syllabus. He has been a faculty member in the dance programs at The Hartt School/University of Hartford and the University of Akron. Recently, James performed and choreographed in the Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra's production of "Histoire du Soldat", the 5x5 Dance Festival at St. Joseph's College, CT Meets NY Dance Fest at Dance New Amsterdam in NYC, Ridgefield 300: A Concert Celebration, Locust Contemporary Dance Works, Naugatuck Valley Community College, Zig Zag Ballet's “A Celebration of Men in Dance” in Vermont, Connecticut, and New York, and choreographed original works for Full Force Dance Theatre and Artists for Peace. James is a two-time finalist in the Leo's Choreography Competitive Event at the Jazz Dance World Congress. Professional performing experiences include the Metropolitan Opera Ballet Company, Connecticut Ballet, New York Dance Theater, Ground Works Dance Theater, Off Center Dance Theater, Ohio Dance Theater, Covenant Ballet Theater of Brooklyn, Cleveland Opera, Disney World, Tokyo Disneyland, Norwegian Cruise Lines, and Busch Gardens. James has also taught for Manhattan Motion Dance Studios (NYC), Wellesley College (MA), Long Island High School for the Performing Arts (Syosset, NY), Dance Institue in Akron (OH), served as Director for the modern and jazz program at Eastern Connecticut Ballet (CT), and was Director of the dance department and taught a philosophy-based senior seminar course at Western Reserve Academy (OH). In addition, he has taught master classes throughout the U.S., Guam, Canada, and Japan.

Melissa Gerth Assistant Director | Pre-ballet, Jazz, Modern, Yoga. Melissa Gerth, a native of Ontario, Canada, trained at the New School for Drama graduate program in NYC. She has a BA in Music from the University of Akron, her yoga teacher certification from the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health in Lenox, MA, where she now assists with the 200-hour yoga teacher training programs, and is a certified teacher of the Jazz Dance Technique & Syllabus. Her performance credits include acting with Axial Theatre Company, “Two Hearts” written by Linda Guliano, “Maiden Voyage” written and directed by Tony Howarth, Sally Bowles in “Cabaret” directed by Mike Limone, lead vocalist for the Wingnuts, The Metropolitan Chorale at Weill Recital Hall, Haydn’s “The Creation” at Carnegie Hall, Spirit Cruise Lines, Downtown Cabaret Theatre Children’s Company in Bridgeport, and musical guest artist for “The Girl Show” at Caroline’s Comedy Club. In addition to dancing with James Robey Dance and Edgar Cortes Dance Theatre, Melissa has both choreographed and danced for Ridgefield 300th: A Concert Celebration, the Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra Production of "Histoire du Soldat", and the 5x5 Dance Festival at St. Joseph's College. Melissa became Assistant Director for the Ridgefield Conservatory of Dance in 2002, where she teaches yoga, modern, jazz, and pre-ballet. In addition, Melissa maintains a private Vocal Studio in Ridgefield, CT.

Antonio Boss | Hip Hop. Antonio Boss trained in Duke University’s Musical Performance program in Durham, North Carolina, with Jim Moore of the Georgia Ballet and with Serita Allen of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Antonio holds a Bachelor of Music Education from Charleston Southern University in Charleston, South Carolina. A versatile performer and teacher, Antonio has performed in productions in London, Japan, and throughout the United States. Some of his performing experiences include dancing with Neville Dance Theatre, as a back-up dancer for recording artist Stephanie Vara, in a music video for Matt Palmer, in a commercial for The Soul Train Music Awards, and on the television shows Regis and Kelly, the Early Morning Show, and Good Morning Orlando.

Madeline Deavenport | Ballet, Pointe. Originally from San Diego, CA, Madeline Deavenport studied at  the California Ballet School. At 16 she moved to Philadelphia, PA to train at the Rock School.  Madeline  has danced with North Carolina Dance Theater, The Pennsylvania Ballet, Wausau Dance Theatre, Columbia City Ballet, Opera Delaware. and currently dances with the New Chamber Ballet, Rebecca Kelly Ballet, and Ballet New York. In addition, Madeline is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree in Performing Arts through the LEAP program and is completing her Pilates Certification at The Fitness Guru in Brooklyn.

Anthony Jones | Ballet, Nutcracker, Ridgefield Civic Ballet. A native of Minneapolis, Tony Jones received his early ballet training at the Minnesota Dance Theatre before attending the National Ballet of Canada School as a year round boarding student beginning at age 11. At age 14 he came to New York where he was a student at the School of American Ballet, the official school of the New York City Ballet. At SAB he was guided by Richard Rapp, Andrei Kammeravsky and most notably Stanley Williams. In 1990 Tony joined the Pacific Northwest Ballet, in Seattle, WA and was promoted to Soloist in 1993. While at PNB he danced many soloist and principal roles in works by George Balanchine ( Chaconne, Divertimento #15, Agon, Who Cares?), August Bournonville ( Flower Festival Pas de duex, Napoli), and in the full-length ballets Swan Lake, Cinderella, Romeo & Juliet, The Nutcracker, and Coppelia. In 1999 Tony was appointed Artistic Director of the Huntington Ballet Theatre, Huntington, New York, a position he served in for 7 years. While there he taught all levels of ballet technique and created many pieces of original choreography including full-length productions of Cinderella and Coppelia. He has also taught at the Huntington YMCA Ballet Academy and has been a guest teacher at Pacific Northwest Ballet School. Mr. Jones is a graduate of New York University where he studied Art History as an undergraduate and Museum Studies as a graduate student.

Irene Malcolm | Pre-ballet, Ballet. Originally from Zimbabwe, Africa, Irene received Royal Academy of Dance training under Audrey Looker both in Zimbabwe, Africa and Toronto, Canada. While in Toronto, she attended the Ryerson University Theater School’s teacher training program where she studied ballet and pedagogy from Nadia Potts, Carina Bomers, and Anushka Roes of the National Ballet of Canada.

Victoria North | Ballet, Pointe. Victoria was born in Washington D.C. and received her training from The Maryland Youth Ballet. She spent two seasons with North Carolina Dance Theater II, performing with the company in ballets such as Balanchine's Agon and Divertimento #15 and appearing in featured roles with the second company in The Sleeping Beauty and Balanchine's Who Cares, among others. Ms. North spent one season with Aspen Santa Fe Ballet where she was honored to appear in Nicole Fonte's The Wall and as the Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker. She then danced for Complexions Contemporary Ballet for two seasons. Under the direction of Dwight Rhoden and Desmond Richardson, Victoria originated roles in Rhoden's Artifice, Mergers, and Chapters. In New York City, she is currently a member of New Chamber Ballet and of Avi Scher and Dancers and attends Columbia University. Ms. North is a cofounder and current Artistic Director of Columbia Ballet Collaborative.

Peter O'Brien | Ballet, Pointe. Peter trained at the Royal Ballet in England, is a Royal Academy of Dancing Scholar, and Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) certified teacher. By 1979 Peter had danced every major ballet in the Royal Ballet's repertoire and decided to broaden his horizons. He was invited to join the New London Ballet, directed by Andre Prokovsky and partnered Galina Samsova. Peter's extensive dance career took him all over the world.Guest appearances include New London Ballet, Northern Ballet Theater, Stadttheater Bern, Australian Ballet Company, Ballet Francaise de Nancy, Zurich Opera House, Alta Balleto, La Scala Milano, Nureyev and Friends. He partnered famous ballerinas such as Margot Fonteyn, Galina Panow, Margret Barbieri, Vyvyan Loraynne, Jeanette Ordman, Galina Samsova, Merle Park, Ilisabett Terrabust, Marion Tage, and Yoko Morashito. As a teacher he served as Senior Teacher Head of the department of boys, at the prestigious Hammond School in Chester , England. Currently he teaches for Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and Steps on Broadway. In addition, he has been a guest teacher for Het National Ballet Amsterdam, Zurich Opera House, English National Ballet, Netherlands Dance Theater, Den Haag, Zurich Tanz Theatre, Swiss Chamber Ballet, CH Tanztheater (Zurich), Ventura Dance Company, Axas Dance Company, Hartford Ballet, and Juilliard.

Amy Piantaggini | Pre-ballet, Ballet, Modern. Amy trained in Classical Ballet, Pointe, Modern, Flamenco and East Indian dance at the Boston Conservatory as well as the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance, where she received the Coca-Cola Finalist Award for Artistic Excellence and the Gregory Peck Scholarship. She is a former member of the Martha Graham Dance Company and has appeared in dance on film including Palisades Pictures' "Ghostlight". Amy's teaching experience includes the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance in NYC as well as numerous schools throughout New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from Ashford University and also teaches yoga and Pilates.

Guest Faculty | Peter Boal (New York City Ballet & Pacific Northwest Ballet), Michael Trusnovec (Paul Taylor Dance Company), Victoria North (Columbia Ballet Collaborative), Tracie Stanfield (Synthesis Dance Project), Andrew Palermo (Dre Dance, B'way), Eran Bugge (Paul Taylor Dance Company), Eric Jordan Young (B'way), Bill Hastings (B'way veteran), Finis Jhung, Abby Silva (Parsons), Suzie Dodge (Paul Taylor & Dodge Dance Company), Sam Sinns (B'way Nat'l Tours), Kirven Boyd (Alvin Ailey), Paul Dennis (Jose Limon), James Harkness (B'way's Lion King), Tiger Martina (B'ways Movin' Out), Katie Stevinson-Nollet (Full Force Dance Theatre), Elie Lazar (Joffrey Ensemble Dancers), Yu Xin (ABT, Pacific Northwest Ballet, and Shanghai Ballet), Michelle Fleet (Paul Taylor Dance Company), Cory Stearns (ABT), Adam Battelstein, Parsons Dance Company, Taylor II Dance Company, Pilobolus Dance Theatre, Ailey II Dance Company.