James Robey Director | Modern, Jazz, Ballet, Tap. James Robey graduated Magna cum Laude with a BFA in Dance from the University of Akron and is an MFA candidate in Performing Arts-Dance from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. James is Artistic Director of James Robey Dance Company, a faculty member at the Hartt School of the University of Hartford, on the Advisory Board of the Connecticut Dance Alliance, on the Advisory Board for the Ridgefield Music and Arts Center, and on the Danbury Task Force for Dance. Recently he 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 Dance Theater, Cleveland Opera, Disney World, Tokyo Disneyland, Norwegian Cruise Lines, and Busch Gardens. James has taught for the University of Akron (OH), 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. James' articles on dance can be found online at  Mindful Dance, The Connected Dancer, This Business of Dance and Music, Dance.net, Dancer Universe.com, Dance 2 Death, and translated into Spanish for Danza Ballet and Se Piensa. For more information on the company visit James Robey Dance.

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 and 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. 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 the James Robey Dance Company, 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.

Anthony Jones | Ballet, Nutcracker, Ridgefield Civic Ballet. A native of Minneapolis, Mr. 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 Mr. Jones 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 Mr. Jones 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. Besides his endeavors in ballet, Mr. Jones is also employed full-time at The Frick Collection, New York City.

Irene Malcolm | Pre-ballet. Irene received Royal Academy of Dance training under Audrey Looker 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.

Garrett Minniti | Hip Hop, Tap. Garrett Minniti moved to New York City from Los Angeles where he was a teacher at the renowned Edge Performing Arts Center. He also taught classes for Cal State University in Fullerton and Steps on Broadway (NYC). His past performing credits include the national tours of "42nd Street", "SWING", and the international tap sensation "Caution, Men at Work". He has also performed for television, film, and threatre productions including "A Night with the Stars" (Warner Bros. Studios), "Things Ain't What They Used To Be" with tap dance great Parris Mann, and "The Great Pretenders" (ABC Television). He feels very blessed to have worked with such talents as Jason Samuels Smith, Tina D'Amato, Tommie Retter, Adam Garcia, and Francis Ford Coppola.

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. 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.