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.
Felix LaBella III (@felixlabella) Technique, Lyrical, Jazz, Musical Theater, Tap
is proud to be back in his hometown of New Hartford, NY where he is a proud director, choreographer and arts educator. Most recently, he resided in Tampa, FL where he worked as a Show Director, Supervisor & Creative Consultant for Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises & Regent Seven Seas. He is a proud member of the Actor’s Equity Association (AEA) and holds a bachelor’s degree in dance and business from Skidmore College where he graduated with honors cum laude before moving to NYC, where he resided for over 10 years. His national and international touring credits include 42nd Street (Broadway Revival), Oklahoma (1st National Broadway Revival, Dance Captain) and CATS (Original Broadway Production). Regional theater: Around the World in 80 Days (World Premiere, Fulton Opera House), West Side Story, A Chorus Line and Crazy for You. As a director/choreographer, Felix most recently worked on Rodger and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma at Naples Players in Naples, FL and Little Venice Theater, in Venice, FL. In addition, Mr. LaBella directed and choreographed an award-winning production of Bob Fosse’s Chicago in Saratoga Springs, NY. Felix has trained in dance, voice and gymnastics for over 25 years and has judged and been an emcee for numerous national dance conventions and competitions including REVEL Dance Convention, Turn It Up, National Dance Showcase and Uproar. Felix is a passionate dance teacher and educator who has taught and continues to teach master classes for studios and colleges across the country including the Alvin Ailey School in NYC, Jeanette Neill Dance of Boston, Arizona State University, and the Princeton Ballet Academy. |
Carli Rodio (Ballet)
is a Frankfort, NY native with a dance career over 25 years long. She grew up studying Royal Academy of Dance curriculum, and dancing with the Leatherstocking Ballet Company. After high school she attended the University of the Arts in Philadelphia as a dance major. In 2009, she had the opportunity to study at Peridance Center Manhattan under the direction of Igal Perry. She has worked with several Manhattan based companies and choreographers. Some of her favorites include Diego Funes (De Funes Dance), Annabella Lenzu (Lenzu Dance/Drama), Michael Chernov (Gelsey Kirkland Academy of Classical Ballet), and Ronen Koresh (Koresh Dance Co.).
Carli has taught and choreographed in various dance studios in the CNY area, as well as community theaters. Most recently she has obtained a stretch and flexibility coaching certification through the National Academy of Sports Medicine. She hopes to inspire her students to express themselves creatively, on purpose, in power, and with passion.
is a Frankfort, NY native with a dance career over 25 years long. She grew up studying Royal Academy of Dance curriculum, and dancing with the Leatherstocking Ballet Company. After high school she attended the University of the Arts in Philadelphia as a dance major. In 2009, she had the opportunity to study at Peridance Center Manhattan under the direction of Igal Perry. She has worked with several Manhattan based companies and choreographers. Some of her favorites include Diego Funes (De Funes Dance), Annabella Lenzu (Lenzu Dance/Drama), Michael Chernov (Gelsey Kirkland Academy of Classical Ballet), and Ronen Koresh (Koresh Dance Co.).
Carli has taught and choreographed in various dance studios in the CNY area, as well as community theaters. Most recently she has obtained a stretch and flexibility coaching certification through the National Academy of Sports Medicine. She hopes to inspire her students to express themselves creatively, on purpose, in power, and with passion.
Taylor King (Ballet/Pointe)
Taylor King is a graduate of East Carolina University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Performance; and a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro with a Master of Fine Arts in Choreography. Taylor King is an ABT® Certified Teacher, who has successfully completed the ABT® Teacher Training Intensive in Pre-Primary through Level 5 of the ABT® National Training Curriculum. She has successfully completed courses from the National Dance Education Organization’s Online Professional Development Institute. Her training has taken her to Ghana, where she studied in the Ewe tradition of Gahu, a traditional dance style, and Tokoe, a modern local dance. She is a former educator at Laurence School in Van Nuys, CA, Northfield Mount Hermon School (“NMH”), a boarding preparatory school in Massachusetts & instructor of record at The University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Taylor is originally from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, wherefrom the age of two, she began her journey as a dancer, by studying ballet at The Ballet School of Chapel Hill. She continued to pursue her passion for dance by studying other styles of dance such as rhythmic tap, modern dance through Graham and Release technique, jazz, capoeira, and hip-hop. She was a performer and visiting choreographer with Quantum Dance Collective directed by Meg Van Dyke in their last running season. Taylor established a collaborative dance company, VEERdance, with Fern Katz and Verity Nichols. VEERdance is an emotive contemporary dance company emerging from a desire for collaboration. VEERdance has been selected to perform in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New York City. The company has received grants from the West Stockbridge & Montague, MA Local Cultural Councils. Taylor has been fortunate as a choreographer to have her work be selected in dance showcases, venues, and festivals throughout the east coast. In 2020, her piece Dies Irae was selected to be performed at the Showcase performance at The National High School Dance Festival in Pittsburgh, PA. Taylor is a novice dance filmmaker and her first work, Friday the Thirteenth, was selected in the Lift-Off Spring Showcase 2021 based in London, England in 2021.
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.