Dance-Faculty

Angela D’Valda Sirico & Steve Sirico

Artistic Directors

Angela D’Valda Sirico and Steve Sirico have been teaching, choreographing and producing shows for over thirty years. In 1979 they formed the Adagio team of D’Valda & Sirico after performing in shows and on television worldwide as individual dancers. Their performing credits include “Scala” Barcelona, Spain, Casino Estoril, Portugal, Theatre Royal, Oxford, England, Riviera Hotel, Las Vegas, Hotel Tequendama Bogota, Columbia, Teatro Nacional, Buenos Aires, Argentina,and as Guest Artists for Wayne Sleep’s smash hit “Dash”, Dominium Theatre, London. They were featured artists in Royal Command performances in Spain and had the privilege of performing for Princess Diana of Wales. D’Valda & Sirico’s many television credits include “David Letterman”, “Star Search”, and “Tarde Para Todos” as well as variety shows in the U.S.A, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Finland, Portugal , Italy and Argentina. Their combination of explosive choreography and exciting partner work has been given rave reviews both nationally and internationally. Their choreography for the acclaimed “Brother Can you Spare A Dime” was commissioned by Boston Ballet II and performed by the company.

Angela and Steve have owned and directed the Dance and Music Centre in Fairfield since 1987. They are known for their innovative choreography and special talent for developing excellent dancers of all ages. Their students have received scholarships and contracts to American Ballet Theater, Boston Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, Nashville Ballet, Ballet Hispanico, Hartford Ballet as well as the National tours of “Fosse”, ”Fame” and “We Will Rock You” and on Broadway in “Chorus Line”. Angela and Steve were on the faculty of Dance Educator’s of America’s Teacher Training program for ten years. Steve is the author of his Jazz Dance syllabus and together they authored their Partner syllabus both used for Teacher Training worldwide. Angela served as Chairperson for the tri state panel of the Royal Academy Of Dancing and they have taught as guest faculty for Mt. Holyoke College, Michigan State University, The University of Arkansas, Yale University and Fairfield University. They teach Master Classes in Ballet, Jazz, Lyrical Jazz and Partner work all over the world including residencies in England, Spain, Costa Rica and Mexico. From 2003-2005 they were presenting faculty for Dance Teacher Magazine’s Summer Teacher’s Conference in NYC. They continue to be active as adjudicators for major dance competitions and recently produced and choreographed the opening production number for the National Speaker’s Association at their annual convention at the Marriott Marquis on Broadway. In 2007 Steve and Angela launched Dance Teacher Web, an online creative and business resource for teachers and studio owners from all over the world.

Simone DePaolo

Assistant Artistic Director

Simone studied locally prior to her acceptance into Alvin Ailey’s School of American Dance. She has performed extensively throughout Europe and northern Africa in various clubs, resorts, and aboard cruise ships. Simone has appeared in “Smokey Joe’s Cafe (Downtown Cabaret Theater and Weston Playhouse, Weston, Vermont), “Streakin Through the 70’s” in New York City, and “Jesus Christ Superstar” (which she also choreographed) and “Toob Time” at SHU Theater for the Performing Arts. She has performed with jazz pianist, John Eaton and the band, Odyssea. An award winning choreographer, Simone adjudicates and teaches for major dance organizations throughout the country.

Jaclyn Gabriel

Dance Faculty

The former lead dancer of the Long Island Dance Company, Jaclyn was awarded the titles of “Miss Headliner”, “Miss Footloose”, “Miss Starpower”, and “Miss Starquest”. She attended CW Post Long Island University as a Dance Major. A principle dancer in the Post Concert Dance Company, Jaclyn went on to perform as a magician’s assistant and dancer in the Off-Broadway production of Peter Gabriel’s Magic on Broadway. She was also chosen to dance as the “Ice Princess” in The Nutcracker on Broadway at Manhattan City Center. In addition, she was a finalist on Ed McMahon’s “Next Big Star”.

Jessica Rizzo

Dance Faculty

Jessica Rizzo is a native New Yorker and suma cum laude graduate with her BFA in dance performance from the University of Massachusetts Amherst 5 College Dance Program. Since then, Jess, a Chancellor’s Talent Award Scholarship alumni has been fortunate to have graced stages all over the world. Some of her favorite work has been the National Tour of Guys and Dolls dancing alongside Maurice Hines, The European Tour of Grease, West Side Story, Cabaret and Sweet Charity as well as lyrical and modern pieces by Suzi Taylor and Megan Brazil. Jess choreographs for up and coming R&B groups in NYC and teaches master classes all over the country.

LaToya Roberson

Dance Faculty

LaToya trained with Pittsburgh Youth Ballet, North Carolina School of the Arts, Dance Theater of Harlem and The Ailey School, where she received the Judith Jameson Fellowship. She has had the opportunity to perform with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, studying under and dancing for dance greats such as Melissa Hayden, Gelsey Kirkland, Authur Mitchell and Judith Jameson. She has been a featured dancer on Live! With Regis and Kelly and the MTV Video Music Awards. She is currently a principle dancer in Genesis Dance Company, based in New York City.

Jonathan Whitley

Dance Faculty

Jonathan Whitley is a renowned teacher and choreographer of Hip Hop. His choreography credits include artists such as Young Fellaz from Def Jam records, Danni Alexander of VP Records and pop artist Sa’Rah. Most recently he toured with Ashanti. As a teacher he is known for his innovative classes where students not only learn the latest moves in a fun and stimulating atmosphere but are taught the most current techniques.

Jeanne Wingate

Dance Faculty

Jeanne began her career as a member of the Zebra Dance Company under the direction of Kim McKeever. She then joined the D’Valda & Sirico Dance Company, performing and teaching Ballet, Jazz and Tap from 1987 to 2000. Jeanne has also taught for St. Savior’s Dance School and early childhood programs at Connecticut Dance School. She instructed special education classes for the Fairfield YMCA, is on the faculty of the Missoula Theatre at Fairfield University and has choreographed for the FHS Dance Team. Jeanne has studied at Broadway Dance Center, Steps on Broadway and is certified through Dance Masters of America.

Lena Pike Rodriguez

Dance Faculty

Lena Pike was born and raised in Rineyville, Kentucky and earned a BFA in Dance from Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri in 2006. This is Lena’s second season teaching at the Dance and Music Center and she also teaches at The Bridge for Dance in Manhattan. She is currently a company member of Neville Dance Theatre, based in Brooklyn.

Jason Marquette

Dance Faculty

Jason Marquette has a BFA in Musical Theater from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. He is currently on faculty at numerous studios in New York and NJ. Jason’s choreography has been showcased in New York City as well as Philadelphia, and Finland. He has been performing professionally all over the United States for the past 11 years. His credits include The Broadway National Tour of 42nd Street, The Musical (original cast), Crazy For You and Anything Goes at the Westchester Broadway Theater; Music Man, Mame and My Fair Lady at the Music Circus in Sacramento, CA; Swing, The Musical at North Shore Music Theater in Beverly, MA; On Your Toes at The Cape Playhouse in Dennis, MA; Beauty and the Beast at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fl; and Dance Dance Dance at HersheyPark in Hershey, PA.

Georgia Teperikidou

Dance Faculty

Georgia Teperikidou attended the National School of Dance in Thessaloniki, and The Steinhardt School of Education at NYU where she completed a Masters in Education. She also is a Certified Movement Analyst accreditted by the Laban/Bartenieff Institute of Movement Studies. Georgia has performed with the Professional Ballet Company, Esse Aficionado, and as a guest artist with Douglas Dunn, Frederick Curry as well as at numerous international festivals. Prior to joining the Dance and Music Centre faculty, she has taught ballet and modern for many distinguished arts organizations including Margot Fonteyn Academy of Ballet, City Center and American Ballet Theater.

Devin

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