Jacqueline Babcock (Owner/Artistic Director/Teacher)
A Syracuse native, Jacquie began her love for dance and theater studying under the direction of Toni Wright (Toni Wright's Dance Theater), Anita Erhler and Frank Mastrocola (Anita Ehrler's Dance Extensions). She also developed her skills performing in local theater in and around Syracuse with companies such as The Talent Company, Salt City Center and Merry-Go-Round Playhouse. After high school, she continued her education at The University of the Arts as a musical theater major. Her professional credits include several regional theater companies throughout the northeast. Most recently, performing with the Broadway National Touring Company of CATS playing roles of Sillabub and Rumpleteaser. In 2007, her travel brought her back home were she was the founder of CNY Performing Arts Center in Syracuse, where she was the owner and artistic director until 2013. In 2014, after making the move to Earlville, NY she is so blessed and grateful to have been able to open TSDC, find it's home in the Hamilton, NY community and teach so many incredible students while she and her husband raise their three beautiful daughters.
A Syracuse native, Jacquie began her love for dance and theater studying under the direction of Toni Wright (Toni Wright's Dance Theater), Anita Erhler and Frank Mastrocola (Anita Ehrler's Dance Extensions). She also developed her skills performing in local theater in and around Syracuse with companies such as The Talent Company, Salt City Center and Merry-Go-Round Playhouse. After high school, she continued her education at The University of the Arts as a musical theater major. Her professional credits include several regional theater companies throughout the northeast. Most recently, performing with the Broadway National Touring Company of CATS playing roles of Sillabub and Rumpleteaser. In 2007, her travel brought her back home were she was the founder of CNY Performing Arts Center in Syracuse, where she was the owner and artistic director until 2013. In 2014, after making the move to Earlville, NY she is so blessed and grateful to have been able to open TSDC, find it's home in the Hamilton, NY community and teach so many incredible students while she and her husband raise their three beautiful daughters.
Shelly Bluy (Acro/Contemporary/Competition Team)
Shelly’s love for dance began at the Donna Frech School of Dance in Norwich, NY, at the age of 2. She studied several forms of dance, including tap, ballet, jazz, lyrical, modern, hip hop and acrobatics. She spent 11 years competing locally and nationally and won numerous top awards, including Teen Miss NADAA in 2009. Shelly has attended many conventions with master teachers such as season 4 So You Think You Can Dance finalist Katee Shean, Anthony Bradford, Bob Rizzo, Bethany Hooks,
Katherine Sullivan and Frank Hatchett, just to name a few.
Shelly previously taught at the Donna Frech School of Dance, as well as the Leslie School of Dance in Elmira, NY, where her students’ won numerous awards for their dance, and acrobatic routines. In 2014, Shelly graduated from Cazenovia College with a Bachelors degree in Inclusive Elementary Education, and went on to receive her Masters degree from Binghamton University in Literacy Education, in 2016. She is currently a special education teacher at Sherburne-Earlville Elementary School. Shelly’s love and dedication for dance shows through her teaching, and she enjoys working with children of all ages.
Kriss Young (Strength & Conditioning/Competition Team)
Kriss Young is the owner and lead instructor at The Zen Den Inc. in Hamilton N.Y. She has spent her life being involved with fitness and movement. She grew up dancing, with major focus on acrobatics and contemporary, but also participating in ballet, jazz, musical theater and lyrical.
She completed her Master Personal Trainer & Nutrition Consultant Certifications with National Personal Training Institute in Orlando, FL in 2002, followed by Mat Science I Pilates and then completed Stott Pilates Reformer Certification in Las Vegas, NV in 2004. She has completed numerous continuing education courses including The Les Mills Body Flow, Children's Yoga Teacher Training thru Yogi Beans in NYC, Total Barre, Zen*ga, Halo Trainer and Injured & Special Populations thru Merrithew Health & Fitness. She is currently working to complete all levels Pilates certification on Mat, Cadillac, Chairs & Barrels and Reformer with the goal of becoming a Instructor Trainer over the next few years.
Kriss is also an Independent Consultant for Arbonne (a health and wellness company) and most importantly is a mother to her amazing daughter (perhaps slightly biased). She love being able to help people become healthier, happier individuals by transforming their minds and bodies!
Kriss Young is the owner and lead instructor at The Zen Den Inc. in Hamilton N.Y. She has spent her life being involved with fitness and movement. She grew up dancing, with major focus on acrobatics and contemporary, but also participating in ballet, jazz, musical theater and lyrical.
She completed her Master Personal Trainer & Nutrition Consultant Certifications with National Personal Training Institute in Orlando, FL in 2002, followed by Mat Science I Pilates and then completed Stott Pilates Reformer Certification in Las Vegas, NV in 2004. She has completed numerous continuing education courses including The Les Mills Body Flow, Children's Yoga Teacher Training thru Yogi Beans in NYC, Total Barre, Zen*ga, Halo Trainer and Injured & Special Populations thru Merrithew Health & Fitness. She is currently working to complete all levels Pilates certification on Mat, Cadillac, Chairs & Barrels and Reformer with the goal of becoming a Instructor Trainer over the next few years.
Kriss is also an Independent Consultant for Arbonne (a health and wellness company) and most importantly is a mother to her amazing daughter (perhaps slightly biased). She love being able to help people become healthier, happier individuals by transforming their minds and bodies!
Lisette Shiffer (Acting/Musical Theater)
Lisette grew up in Hamilton NY after living several different places like London, Colorado and NYC. She has been acting coach for Spot Dance Center Musical Theatre Camp and is excited to teach acting in the fall. She got her first taste of acting when she was 15 and her mother encouraged her to audition for the school drama club production. She has had the acting bug ever since. She has a BA in Theatre Arts from SUNY Fredonia and a Postgradute Diploma in Advanced Theatre practice Performance Strand from the Central School of Speech and Drama, London UK. She has worked with Theatre Companies in NYC and Colorado. Doing acting, teaching and even backstage work. Most recently she was Assistant Director as well as played Olivia in SUNY Morrisville’s production of 12th night. Her first time Assistant directing and she loved it! Hoping to do it again this year. Her favorite roles she played have been Ado Annie I’m Oklahoma and Olivia in 12th night, which she played twice. She has been a vegan for 12 years and loves Oreos. She is very excited to be working with Spot Dance Center.
Lisette grew up in Hamilton NY after living several different places like London, Colorado and NYC. She has been acting coach for Spot Dance Center Musical Theatre Camp and is excited to teach acting in the fall. She got her first taste of acting when she was 15 and her mother encouraged her to audition for the school drama club production. She has had the acting bug ever since. She has a BA in Theatre Arts from SUNY Fredonia and a Postgradute Diploma in Advanced Theatre practice Performance Strand from the Central School of Speech and Drama, London UK. She has worked with Theatre Companies in NYC and Colorado. Doing acting, teaching and even backstage work. Most recently she was Assistant Director as well as played Olivia in SUNY Morrisville’s production of 12th night. Her first time Assistant directing and she loved it! Hoping to do it again this year. Her favorite roles she played have been Ado Annie I’m Oklahoma and Olivia in 12th night, which she played twice. She has been a vegan for 12 years and loves Oreos. She is very excited to be working with Spot Dance Center.