GDS Instructors
Zuleka Diamond
Zuleka is currently a Teaching Artist for Alvin Ailey Arts in Education & Community Programs. She is a “New York City-based” professional dancer, choreographer. Zuleka attended the preeminent Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts. Zuleka was given a full scholarship to the Martha Graham School as well as Peridance Capezio Center. Credits include: So You Think You Can Dance, the Bad Boy Family Reunion Tour, and Beyonce’s “Move Your Body” campaign, just to name a few. Zuleka has had the opportunity to work with Frank Gatson, Laurieann Gibson, Luam Keflezgy, and many more. Blending Hip Hop with her extensive training, Zuleka is known for finessing quality of movement and she pushes her dancers to Dance With Finesse. “Anybody can be a dancer. It’s the drive and passion that makes you an artist.”
Chase Maxwell
Chase is a product of the Debbie Allen Dance Academy in Los Angeles. After graduating from the Academy, Chase attended The Boston Conservatory from which he completed his BFA. He has made appearances in commercials, music videos, television, independent films, and theater both as performer and choreographer. Chase has performed at the Kennedy Center, Alliance Theater, Dorothy Chandler Pavillion, and Radio City Music Hall. He also has had the pleasure to assist the likes of Baayork Lee, Danny Pelzig, Sean Cheeseman, and Debbie Allen. He made the top 30 of SYTYCDS14 and made his Broadway debut in Wicked. After performing and choreographing throughout Japan he is happy to come back and teach at GDS.
Jacob Taylor
Jacob Taylor received his formative training at Boulder Ballet School and in the summer programs of American Ballet Theater, The School of American Ballet, Kansas City Ballet, Kaatsbaan, and Perry Mansfield. Mr. Taylor is a graduate of the Ballet Performance Program at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music where he was coached by Violette Verdy and Michael Vernon. At IU he performed in works by George Balanchine, Martha Graham, Agnes de Mille, Dwight Rhoden, Paul Taylor, Twyla Tharp and Antony Tudor. His professional performance career includes dancing for such companies as Boulder Ballet, Colorado Ballet, Eglevsky Ballet, FJK Dance, Lydia Johnson Dance, Indianapolis Ballet, and New Jersey Ballet. Mr. Taylor has taught for Peridance Capezio Center, Brooklyn Ballet, Colorado Ballet Academy, and 92NY. He has been commissioned to choreograph new works for Boulder Ballet, Ballet Fest LA, Colorado Ballet Academy, New England Ballet Theatre, IU Opera Theatre, SoCal Choreography Festival, and Shut Up and Dance festival with dancers of Philadelphia Ballet.
Ashlie Roth
Originally from Portland Oregon, Ashlie Roth received her Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Dance with a minor in Leadership and Business Strategy from Western Michigan University. Named the 2024 Presidential Scholar of Dance, she served as the Co-Founder and Artistic Director for WMU's hip-hop student organization, 269 Crew. Her choreography for the crew was selected to perform in WMU’s 2024 Winter Gala Dance Concert and for the Detroit Pistons Pregame Show. Her co-choreographed duet, To whatever end, was selected to represent WMU at the American College Dance Association regional conference. In 2023, Ashlie was invited to perform with South Chicago Dance Theatre in Memoirs of Jazz in The Alley, premiering at the Auditorium Theatre in Chicago, IL. Ashlie has danced in works by acclaimed choreographers such as Jennifer Archibald, Penny Saunders, Kimberly Cooper from Decidedly Jazz Danceworks, Tsai Hsi Hung, Jae Man Joo, Jared Baker, and more. Her diverse training and leadership experience has prepared her for a professional dance career after completing her college degree.
Craig Washington
Craig Washington is a performing Artist based in New York City. He attended Talent Unlimited High School as well as SUNY New Paltz for Music and Dance. Since graduating, Craig trains and works professionally as a Dancer/ Instructor. He has received training in Hip Hop, Street Jazz, West African and Vogue from Broadway Dance Center, Alvin Ailey and Rock the Industry under the direction of Luam Keflezy. Credits: Les Ballet Afrik, Works and Process, Shirley House, Project Runway, Candace Brown: The Soul Spot and more.
Samantha Stiglianese
Samantha is a competitive dancer, choreographer and instructor with over 15 years of experience in the industry. She enjoys sharing her passion for dance with hundreds of students across the tri-state area specializing in Lyrical, Ballet and Jazz. Samantha is thrilled to have the opportunity to join Greenwich Dance Studio and is eager to help our students refine their technique with ABT curriculum standards. She continues to further her dance education by taking classes and workshops in NYC as well as performing in local theater productions. Her animated personality, and love of the arts will make her classes inspiring and fun. Samantha's goal as a teacher is to give students a thorough education while inspiring their creativity, discipline and self-confidence.
Que Velez
Merquides Velez Jr, or formally known as “Què” was born & raised in Milwaukee, WI. He attended the infamous Milwaukee High School of the Arts where he began his passion for dance training in styles such as Ballet, Modern, Jazz, Contemporary, African, & Pointe. After high school he moved to L.A in 2018 to follow his dreams as a professional dancer. Shortly after moving to L.A he started dancing under the direction of the dance legend, Debbie Allen. Since then he has went on to work with Todrick Hall, Ledisi, MAC, Tichina Arnold, & Griffin Mathews to name a few. Currently he is living in NYC continuing to chase his dreams as a professional dancer/choreographer.
Guest Instructors
Jackie Aitken
Australian-born Jackie is a highly sought-after performer with over a decade of worldwide professional experience. Currently a Radio City Rockette, she was previously a Principal dancer at the famous Moulin Rouge in Paris, France.
As a Rockette, you would have seen Jackie performing numerous times on television for—The Tony Awards, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, NBC Rockefeller Tree Lighting, Jimmy Fallon, The Today Show, Live with Kelly, and many more.
Jackie’s talents have seen her dancing and modeling for major campaigns internationally including Mac Cosmetics, Adidas, Pandora Jewelry, New York & Company, as well as New York Fashion Week for designers Staud and Desigual.
Bailey Callahan
Bailey is a celebrated nine-year veteran of the Radio City Rockettes. She has starred in both the Radio City Christmas Spectacular and the New York Spectacular, working with directors Linda Haberman, Dennis Callahan, Julie Branam, and Mia Michaels. As a Rockette she has had the honor of performing in seven Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parades, the 71st Annual Tony Awards, MTV’s Video Music Awards, The Rockefeller Tree Lighting, NBC’s Michael Buble Christmas Special, the New York Knicks Half Time Shows, and much more. She is involved in the Rockettes’ dance education program, having taught numerous master classes, audition prep workshops, and the prestigious Rockette Summer Intensive. In addition to her time at Radio City Music Hall, Bailey has also debuted in Singin’ in the Rain at the John W. Engeman Theater directed by Drew Humphrey, and the Broadway by the Year concert series at Time Square’s Town Hall choreographed by Danny Gardner.
Kelsey Donovan
Kelsey graduated Summa Cum Laude with a BFA in Dance from The Conservatory of Dance at Purchase College, SUNY, where she had the opportunity to perform works by Hannah Garner/2nd Best Dance Company, Loni Landon, Amy Miller/Gibney Company, Peter Chu, MICHIYAYA, and Michael Cole. She is also grateful to have experienced additional training through BEMOVING by Bret Easterling, Alonzo King LINES Ballet, BODYTRAFFIC, VIM VIGOR, Nuova Officina Della Danza, and the Orsolina 28 program, where she performed and studied the repertory of Jiří Kylián, Crystal Pite, and Marco Goecke. Through the b12 festival in Berlin, she performed work by Micaela Taylor and Antonin Rioche. Kelsey worked with Olivia Ancona and performed a senior repertory solo choreographed by Sharon Eyal and Gai Behar. Additionally, Kelsey earned her minor in Arts Management, also from Purchase College, and is a proud GDS alum.
Seneca Lawrence
A New Hampshire native, Seneca grew up on the competition circuit before training at the Boston Ballet School and later receiving her BFA in Dance Performance from SUNY Purchase. Currently based in NYC, she is a company dancer with The Painted Ladies, HT Chen & Dancers, as well as a freelance artist performing and choreographing for works included at the American Dance Guild and Your Move Dance festivals. Teaching credits include Chen Dance Center, MiXt Co., 92nd St. Y, Tyler Brown Dance Studio, Anita’s Studio of Dance, and Four Corners Creative. Seneca is also an actor, singer, and comedy improviser, who performs throughout the city and has worked on a variety of tv shows, films, and commercials.
Jimmy Stuart
Born and raised in Long Beach California, Jimmy began his path in dance under the guidance of some of the most sought after teachers and choreographers in the industry. Most notably under the teachings and training of internationally recognized master instructor, Paula Morgan. His journey with dance has allowed him to travel the country choreographing and teaching at countless workshops, master classes, and conventions, as well as perform on television, in theater, and in multiple other venues. Select credits include The Dirty Dancing National Tour, where he understudied the role of Johnny Castle, originally performed by the late Patrick Swayze, the world premier of “Seeing You,” an immersive theater piece created by Randy Weiner and Ryan Heffington, and performing with Derek and Julianne Hough on Good Morning America to name a few. With a heavy focus on musicality and movement quality, Jimmy’s class provides a challenging but safe environment to explore one’s personal ability as well as define a strong sense of individuality through movement.
Julia Maggiola
Julia graduated Magna Cum Laude from New York University, and since graduation has become a professional choreographer and dance teacher. In addition to teaching dance, Julia is a film and TV actor and currently freelances with an agency and management team in NYC. A Connecticut native, Julia began dancing in her hometown of Fairfield and was lucky to continue studying dance and performing in many locations, such as New York City, Los Angeles, and Florence, Italy. Julia has always had a passion for teaching and hopes to spread the joy and fulfillment that dance can bring to all the students she has the opportunity to have in her classes.
Karla Garcia
Originally from the Washington DC area, Karla graduated from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts with a BFA in dance. She's performed in the Broadway shows West Side Story and Hot Feet; and the First National Tours of Wicked and Addams Family. She was also in the top seven females of FOX's So You Think You Can Dance, Season 5. Karla was also a regular dancer on season 2 of NBC's SMASH. When not performing, Karla teaches at Broadway Dance Center and different dance studios around the country. She has showcased her choreography at Broadway Underground at B.B. King's in Times Square, the Joyce Theatre, BC Beat Showcase, and numerous dance competitions. She constantly strives for creative growth, as she combines influences from her technical background with different textures of contemporary, jazz, and hip-hop, and musical theater.
Zoje Azeke
Zoje is a movement based artist living and working in NYC. He is represented by McDonald Selznick Associates and Wilhelmina Models. Recording artist credits include Beyonce, Madonna, Kendrick Lamar, Rihanna, Nicki Minaj, Katy Perry, Jennifer Hudson. Film Credits include: In The Heights, Bolden, Carry Me Home; Days After Your Departure and currently Tick Tick Boom with Lin Manuel Miranda. Television credits include: Succession (HBO), Vinyl (HBO), The Get Down (Netflix), The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon (NBC), Tell Me a Story (CBS) Stage credits: include the Grammys, the MTV VMAS, and Victoria Secret Fashion Campaigns include: Nike, Adidas, Reebok, and Coach. He played Aire in the original cast of Queen of the Night at the Diamond Horseshoe in NYC.
Alison Ingelstrom
Alison 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, Brooke Wendle, Jermaine Browne, Ricky Hinds, Brian Thomas, Jenn Freeman, Mike Esperanza, and Kellen Stancil. Her credits include Franco Dragone, Macy’s Front Row Fashion Show, NBC’s The Red Nose Day Dance-A-Thon, Live Nation’s New Years event 'Coco and The Vanity Vixens’ and was an assistant to Sonya Tayeh on Encores 'The Wild Party' and Art Emerson’s 'An Audience with Meow Meow, She has taught and assisted at studios throughout the country and dance conventions such as The Dance Sessions, Adrenaline, and 24seven. Alison is signed with BLOC New York and continue her dance education in New York by attending workshops like Rock the Industry with Luam Keflezgy and Spinkick dance intensives. Alison believes in a well-rounded and everlasting dance education.
Ayaka Cento
From Ehime, Japan, Ayaka is a dancer based in New York. She holds a BFA from SUNY Purchase and has danced for the world tour of The Phantom of the Opera, the Metropolitan Opera, MorDance, Ayalis in Motion and AZOTH Dance Theatre, among many others. Her teaching credits include SUNY Purchase, Gibney Dance Center, Chen Dance Center, Dance Project of Washington Heights, Musashino University and Tatewaki Hiroko Ballet Academy.
Rose Iannaccone
Rose is a CT native now living in NYC. She grew up on the competition circuit earning herself many title, 1st place overall, and judges choice awards. She attended The Institute for American Musical Theater and graduated in 2018. During her time in school, Rose started working professionally. Some of her credits include Andy Blankenbuehler’s CATS 1st National tour (Rumpelteazer), Mamma Mia (Ali/Dance captain) at Arts Center for Coastal Carolina, Newsies (ensemble), Carousel (ensemble), Kiss Me Kate (ensemble), Singin in the Rain (ensemble), and Gypsy (Amanda) at Broadway at Music Circus, Ogunquit Playhouse and Gateway Playhouse. In addition to musical theater, Rose has performed with Theresa Stone’s AbstraKT Beings and Nijawwon Matthews’ XY DANCE company. You can also see her perform in Lil Uzi Vert's music video for “Demon High”, The Premiere “Fosse Verdon” commercial, as well as “Todrick Hall Returns to Broadway” commercial. When Rose isn’t performing, she is pursuing her passion for teaching and mentoring emerging professionals at studios across the country.
Tyler Schnese
Tyler grew up in Appleton, WI. After graduating from SUNY Purchase he joined the Hessisches Staatsballet in Wiesbaden/Darmstadt where he danced works by Alexander Ekman, Richard Siegal, Crystal Pite, Václav Kuneš, Cayetano Soto and Marcos Morau (La Veronal) among others. He received a nomination for the German Stage Prize (Der Faust) in 2016 for his interpretation of the title role in Tim Plegge’s Kaspar Hauser. Tyler is currently based in Brooklyn where he has danced with MeenMoves, MADBOOTS DANCE, and Gibney Dance Company where he was nominated for the Princess Grace Award in 2018. He is currently teaching in and around New York City at Gibney, SUNY Purchase and Greenwich Dance Studio.
Skyler Miller
Skyler Miller was raised in St. George, Utah, where she received her training from Diamond Talent Production. She graduated with a BFA from SUNY Purchase Conservatory of Dance Class of 2022. Skyler just completed a summer season with the Hudson Ballet Theatre, as a Trainee, where she performed with the company in their Summer Gala. Her recent training includes artÉmotion and Ballet West Academy intensive, Alonzo King LINES Ballet, and Musical Theatre Lab in Martha’s Vineyard.
GDS Teachers, please click on the button below to access our password protected Teacher Page