Gabriella Burke is an alumna of Juliana’s and a graduate of Pace University with a BFA in Commercial Dance. She is also a certified Pilates instructor. Gabriella recently toured with the second U.S. tour of *Anastasia*, where she portrayed Olga/Odette in the 2022-2023 season. We are delighted to have her back in the studio for Fusion and wish her continued success in New York!

Duncan Cooper received most of his training at San Francisco Ballet and was the first recipient of The Lew Christensen scholarship for the most outstanding Male dancer. In addition he was the first student to be promoted from the school directly into the company where he spent 5 years.

He then joined The Dance Theater of Harlem as a principal dancer for 9 years where he performed leading roles Like Albrecht in Giselle , Jerome Robbins Fancy Free, and many more.

He has Performed a multitude of lead roles with New York City Ballet, Washington Ballet, Royal Birmingham Ballet.

Duncan Cooper has also been a long-standing faculty member with Alonzo King’s Lines Ballet, Revel Dance Convention and is currently the Grand Ambassador at Universal Ballet Competition.

Mr. Cooper continues to travel around the country and abroad teaching, choreographing, and passing on his craft as a dance educator. In addition he founded Duncan Cooper Workshops, where he offers high level instruction, with intense energy, inspirational classes, pushing students to expand their personal boundaries.

Meredith Gagnier first came to Juliana’s as a student in middle school. She went on to study dance at Western Michigan University and became a certified ballroom dance instructor after graduation. Some career highlights include numerous awards at regional and national ballroom dance competitions and collaborating with Fabian Sanchez from ABC’s Dancing with the Stars to choreograph and dance in a music video staring Recording Artist Sean Forbes and Academy Award Winning Actress Marlee Matlin.

Alison Ingelstrom is an Idaho native. She received her BFA in Dance Performance from the accredited Chapman University in Orange, California. Since moving to New York, Alison has worked with choreographers such as Sonya Tayeh, Ryan Heffington, Warren Carlyle, Ashley Wallen, and Marguerite Derricks.  Some of her film and tv credits include Imaginary Friends (Paramount), Up Here (Hulu), Tick, Tick… BOOM! (Netflix), Blue’s Big City Adventure (Paramount Plus), The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Amazon), The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and Good Morning America. Her commercial and brand credits include Neiman Marcus, Gap, Macy’s, Wella, and Mass Mutual.

Her live performance and theater credits include; Hugh Jackman World Tour (The Man, The Music, The Show), Seeing You (Off-Broadway), Cleopatra (Off-Broadway), Moulin Rouge (Broadway Lab), The Lucky One’s (Lab).

Amanda Knight is a third generation dancer. She grew up dancing at JAOD under the instruction of Juliana Pirpinelli and has taught dance since 1998. Amanda’s love for dance has motivated her to lead all types and styles of dance so she can teach others, no matter your age, anyone can learn. Amanda has performed with Enrique Iglesias, Boyz II Men & Mariah Carey. She teaches all her students to love what they do and do what they love. Amanda’s passion, drive, and love for dance shine through in everything she does.

Nick Lazzarini is an American dancer. He is best known as the first season winner on the Fox reality show So You Think You Can Dance. He is a trained dancer in jazz, lyrical, hip hop, ballet and modern dance styles.

Caroline Lewis-Jones, from South Carolina, has been dancing for over 28 years. At the age of 18, she moved to New York City where she performed for six years. Her credits include the VMA’s with NSYNC, the Latin Grammy Awards, WNBA National Commercial, a French Energy Commercial, Disney Industrials, Britany Spears and Madonna Me Against the Music video, MTV’s Body Rock Fitness Video, and more.

Although successful as a commercial dancer, Caroline’s true passion lies within contemporary company work, where she has had the opportunity to work for Mia Michaels‘ Company R.A.W, Notario Dance Company, Rhapsody and Company, A.S.H Contemporary, and Justin Giles’ Soul Escape.

In 2001 she traveled to Seoul, Korea where she performed for Jason Parson’s and POZ Dance Theatre.  In July 2010, Caroline performed with Sonya Tayeh from So You Think You Can Dance with her company in Chicago. She also choreographs for studios around the country and teaches for Adrenaline Dance Convention and The Sessions.

In December 2007, Caroline choreographed and performed a one-woman show called Finding My Way, about the loss of her mother and her life currently without her. It is her greatest accomplishment yet. Caroline also founded Unbound Dance Company in Columbia, South Carolina. Her goal as Artistic Director of UNBOUND is to inspire and give dancers, young and old, a new outlet to perform.  She wants to show Columbia a new way of moving with no boundaries.

Caroline also has a deep passion for inspiring kids around the country to eat healthier, and fuel their bodies correctly for optimum performance.  She is a Certified Health Coach and works with the dancers and families she meets through her travels. Her mission in life is to encourage and educate dancers on Whole Food Nutrition to prevent disease. Her nutrition business is called Dance Strong.

Natalie Miramontes is a professional entertainer & dancer with recognized achievements in award-winning productions, entertainment tours, innovative modern hip hop dance groups & NBA dance teams. Originally from the Bay Area, Natalie got her start by co-founding the groundbreaking hip hop group Soul Conspiracy. Since then through her career in the NBA, she has traveled around the world making stops in England, China, Italy, Japan and everywhere in-between dancing, choreographing and performing with some of the best in the business.

Some of her choreography and dancing can been seen behind acts like Flo Rida, T-Pain, Jay Sean, Bobby Brown, Taio Cruz, Salt N Pepa, Gladys Knight, MC Hammer, Travie McCoy, Naughty By Nature, Sheila E, Morris Day, Gym Class Heroes, 112, Robin S, Vanilla Ice, The Temptations, Doug E Fresh, DJ Kool, Baby Bash & Black Sheep.

Natalie spent 6 seasons in the NBA as a dancer, choreographer and a captain. Currently, Natalie is the Director of the Detroit Pistons Dancer

Aaron Parkhurst has almost two decades of tap dance experience under his belt. He received dance training in his hometown of Albany, NY. Working in NYC professionally for the past 10 years, he now calls the city his home. Aaron is a guest instructor for Shuffles NYC, Dance Masters of America, as well as SLIDE, a week long tap intensive directed by Mike Minery. He also teaches private lessons in NYC and travels to choreograph and instruct master classes throughout the country. He enjoys teaching and passing on his love for dance to younger generations. Aaron has also enjoyed a career in concert dance, working as a soloist and collaborator in NYC and in LA. He was a company member and soloist for AM Dance Project in New York City under artistic director Anthony Morigerato. Aaron has performed at NY City Center in the 125th anniversary show for Capezio. He performed in Tap the Show choreographed by Mike Minery for 4 years including a national tour with the show, traveling to almost all 50 states. He was an associate choreographer and dance captain while on tour. Aaron has danced, choreographed, and entertained for corporations such as FedEx, Hershey Entertainment, and Gaylord Opry Entertainment among others. Favorite theatre credits: 42 nd Street, White Christmas, Thoroughly Modern Millie, and My One and Only.

Nina Pollzzie is currently a student at Point Park University studying dance with a concentration in modern. During her time at Point Park, she has had the pleasure of working and performing works from choreographers Rennie Harris, Martha Nichols, Maud Arnold and Marc Spaulding. In the summer of 2022, Nina also had the opportunity to attend the Hubbard Street intensive where she got to work and perform works from, Kameron Saunders and James Gregg. Nina works as an instructor and choreographer for Haja Dance Company in Newport Michigan where she also spent her life as a dancer under the direction of her Selena Williams-Molter. Nina has a passion for creating and teaching proper technique to her students.

Kelly Quinn is an alumna of JAOD and is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Dance at the University at Buffalo. Over the summer or between semesters, you might see them at JAOD. At UB, Kelly has received extensive training in modern, ballet, tap, jazz, and many other dance styles. They have performed with the UB Zodiaque Dance Company, participated in the UB ChoreoLab, and showcased their work in the Emerging Choreographers Showcase. Kelly also has experience teaching a wide range of dance styles to students of all ages at Juliana’s Academy of Dance under the mentorship of Juliana Pirpinelli, and they have continued teaching in Buffalo, New York, at Miss Barbara’s School of Dance. Kelly is looking forward to their senior year at UB, which will culminate in the 2024 Senior Showcase, where they will direct and perform. They are set to graduate in May 2025.

She may be small but she is mighty! From acrobatics to contemporary to acting, Courtney Schwartz can do it all. Growing up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, she trained vigorously from 2 to 18 years old at her home dance studio. Right after graduating high school Courtney booked her first professional job and toured with Odyssey Dance Theatre for two years. Her opportunities started to sky rocket when she was assisting in the convention circuit and met Talia Favia. In case just dancing wasn’t enough, Courtney was casted the role as head cheerleader Samantha on “Girl Meets World” and has worked for multiple Disney shows. She has worked with the industries finest such as Talia Favia, Wade Robson, Mandy Moore, Andrew Winghart, Teddy Forance, and Jaci Royal just to name a few! Courtney’s hard work and incredible work ethic has landed her as Talia Favia’s right hand dancer and assistant for the past 10 years! From So You Think You Can Dance to Dancing With The Stars, Courtney has been behind the scenes to help bring Favia’s visions to life. Her growth has suspended and shocked everyone who gets the pleasure of watching her move. With Schwartz’s dependable attributes, she has been on tour with Radix Dance Convention as their professional assistant since day one with Talia. Courtney is beyond grateful to now be a faculty member on Radix and loves teaching and dancing with dancers all over the country!

Samantha Shelton received her professional training from the Joffrey Ballet in New York and in Michigan with Rose Marie Floyd. She also studied in London with Anita Young (Royal Ballet) and at the Cecchetti International program in England.

Most recently, she was invited to guest teach at Duke University as part of the partnership between the American Ballet Theatre (ABT) Studio Company and Duke University. For the past 20 years, she has been on the ballet faculty for ABT Summer Intensive, currently directed by Kate Lydon, setting repertoire and choreographing new ballets for the final performances.

Currently, she is on faculty for the ABT Summer Intensives at the University of Texas and travels the country as an adjudicator for the ABT National Audition Tour, selecting dancers for training programs in New York, Texas, California, Florida, and Alabama.

Shelton taught at the ABT program at the University of Alabama and the Detroit Opera House/Wayne State University.She has choreographed and taught for the professional ballet programs at Houston Ballet, Walnut Hill School in Boston, Ballet Tennessee, Missouri Contemporary Ballet, Duke University, and Interlochen Arts Academy. She also taught company class for Complexions, Ballet Hispanico and Grand Rapids Ballet.

Shelton received her first professional offer at 17 and has performed extensively in both classical and contemporary ballets.Classical roles include the Grand Pas from Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, Don Quixote, Giselle, and Raymonda. In her guest artist performances, she has partnered with Craig Salstein (of ABT), Arch Higgins (New York City Ballet), and Christopher Stowell (San Francisco Ballet) among many others.

She holds an M.F.A in Dance from the University of Michigan, where she was awarded a Rackham Thesis grant, and a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Michigan. She has also done graduate work at New York University in Performing Arts Administration with internships in development, public relations and marketing at Carnegie Hall and the Orchestra of St. Luke’s.

For six years, she served on the University of Michigan’s School of Music, Theatre & Dance Alumni Society Board of Governors, and in May 2012, she spent three weeks in Taiwan, teaching and presenting a piece of choreography for Tainan University. She has also held professorships at several colleges and universities including Alma College, Grand Valley State University and Wayne State University.

She is certified through the American Ballet Theatre National Curriculum Training Program and in August of 2014, co-taught the ABT NTC with Harriet Clark at the Detroit Opera House.Shelton is the Artistic Director of Samantha Shelton Ballet Training Programs.