American Dance Academy
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Master & Guest Teachers:

  

Billy Griffin

Musical Theater

2025 Dance Company Choreographer

Manny Castro

Latin Jazz

2025 Dance Company Choreographer

Akia Deyvon

June Master Teacher

Hip Hop

2025 Dance Company Choreographer

Amelia Burkhardt

July Master Teacher

Musical Theater

Alexa Luke

August Master Teacher

Contemporary

Joseph Huberty

Ballet

June Guest Instructor

Kolby Colmary

Hip Hop

June Guest Instructor

Emily Gilligan

Dance Team Hip Hop

June & July Guest Instructor

Tori Closson

Dance Team Pom

Summer Guest Instructor

Cali Cummings

Cheer Dance

June & July Guest Instructor

 

 

 

Beth Mondzelwski

Ballet

July Guest Instructor

Rachel Neitzke

Ballet

July Guest Instructor

Paige St John

Jazz

August Guest Instructor

Jessica Ice

Musical Theater

August Guest Instructor

 

Billy Griffin

2025 Musical Theater Dance Company Choreographer

Billy Griffin is a New York City-based choreographer and dance educator with a BFA from NYU/Tisch. Select choreography credits include the National Tour of "Friends! The Musical Parody", as well as work for the Hudson Valley Dance Festival featuring "So You Think You Can Dance" winner Ricky Ubeda, The Red Bucket Follies for BC/EFA, The Drama League Gala At The Plaza (honoring Steve Martin), Hershey Park, Issac Mizrahi for QVC, The Miss America Organization, The National YoungArts Foundation, New York Musical Festival (nomination for choreography), The Joffrey Ballet School, The Steps Conservatory, Fordham/Ailey, New York University and Pace University. As a performer, Billy was in the Broadway/National Tour Productions of "Mary Poppins", "White Christmas", and "Young Frankenstein".  Associate/ Assistant credits include work with Sonya Tayeh, Josh Bergasse, Andy Blankenbuhler, and Al Blackstone. Billy teaches weekly at both Steps on Broadway and Broadway Dance Center. Billy is also a proud Legacy Ambassador for lululemon. 

IG:@SillyBillyGriffin

Manny Castro 

2025 Latin Jazz Master Class & Dance Company Choreographer

Manny Castro is the Studio Director of DanceZone in Miami, Florida. His many television credits include; "America's Got Talent", "Dance Moms", "World of Dance", "Live to Dance", and many Spanish productions. Manny has toured with many popular recording artists such as; Paula Abdul, The Black Eyed Peas, Ricky Martin, and Shakira. He judges for many national dance competitions and teaches jazz, contemporary, and hip hop dance, but is mostly known for Latin ballroom and Latin fusion dance styles.

 
2025 Hip Hop Master Class & Dance Company Choreographer
 

Raised in Mt. Pocono, Pennsylvania, Akia did not have many creative outlets/options growing up. He gained most of his inspiration and initial training via the internet by studying popular industry choreographers, music videos from the greatest artists/entertainers of his time, and dance television shows such as So You Think You Can Dance & America's Best Dance Crew. He always dreamt of starting his own dance company to train others, perform, compete, and eventually tour worldwide and have the opportunity to book his dancers for professional gigs. He turned the dance crew into a company in 2017 following graduating with his Bachelor's degree in Mass Communications & Dance at Bloomsburg University.

 

The company is currently an award-winning team that has also had the opportunity to open up for Pharrell Williams at the Something In The Water Festival 2019. Akia strives to remain innovative with his unique style of choreography and creative visions. Every year the company elevates and reaches newer heights and bigger accomplishments. He has so much more in stores for the company and continuously aspires to inspire others. He has an immense passion for seeking growth in other talented individuals. With Akia's leadership qualities and commercial experience, the success of the company has continued to thrive throughout the years! Credits include; BET HipHop Awards, The Color Purple Musical Film, Praise This, BET Awards, Superbowl 56 Halftime Show and more!

Amelia Burkhardt

July Musical Theater Master Teacher

Amelia is a professional Dancer, Choreographer, Performer, Dance Educator, and Seasoned Adjudicator based in New York City. She is currently finalizing her summer teaching schedule and is reaching out to see if there is interest in Guest Classes or Choreography. She would absolutely love the opportunity to work with your studio this summer.

 

With over 15 years of teaching experience, Amelia has worked with Dance Studios and Dance Teams across California, New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut, as well as at universities including UCLA, LMU, CSUN, and the University of Delaware. For the past four years, she has taught at the iconic Steps on Broadway in NYC. She has also been an instructor for the Liberate Artists Intensive, traveling nationally and internationally to teach in cities such as Los Angeles, New York, Honolulu, and locations in Australia. As an adjudicator, she has judged for SDA competitions for the past decade. Amelia is currently represented by Suite Talent in NYC.

 

Originally from the Los Angeles area, she trained extensively as a commercial dancer—taking classes, attending auditions, performing in shows and companies—before joining The Hello Kitty National Tour as a Principal Dancer and Female Dance Captain. After the tour, she relocated to New York City to further pursue her professional and teaching career.

 

Throughout her career, Amelia has worked with some of the industry's top choreographers, including Emmy Award winners Napoleon and Tabitha D’umo (NappyTabs), Karla Garcia, Al Blackstone, Galen Hooks, Tyce Diorio, Billy Griffin, Meg Lawson, Matt Cady, and Broadway veterans Denis Jones and Lorin Latarro.

 

Her performance credits include In The Heights, Legally Blonde, Kinky Boots, Peter Pan, Elf the Musical, The Hello Kitty Festival National Tour, Chicago 25th Anniversary Event, Broadway Bares, The Green Room 42 Cabaret, Nickelodeon’s Big Time Rush, Good Morning America, FOX’s Mobbed, Rosario Dawson’s Voto Latino Campaign, Maya Angelou’s Harlem Hopscotch music video, and NY Theatre Barn.

 

Her teaching repertoire includes Jazz, Musical Theatre, Contemporary, Lyrical, Jazz Fusion, Technique, Strength Training, Progressions, Improv, Mock Auditions, and Acting through Dance.

 

Amelia is deeply passionate about teaching and sharing her love and knowledge of dance, both within the competition circuit and the professional industry.

Alexa Luke

August Contemporary Master Teacher

Faculty at Broadway Dance Center, Peridance, and Brickhouse NYC

Alexa Luke is a Georgia native, currently living and working professionally in New York City. She received her early dance education at Roswell City Dance under the direction of Shannon Childers, and then went on to tour as an assistant with Intrigue Dance Convention. Alexa’s primary interests and passions lie in contemporary dance. She finds this vocabulary of movement particularly inspiring. She sees the possibilities as endless, and strives to develop new concepts and discoveries through moving and creating. Alexa currently teaches at multiple studios in the tristate area, as well as at Brickhouse NYC, Broadway Dance Center, and Peridance. She has presented work at shows including Sybarite NYC, Brickhouse Openhouse, and Uptown Rising. Alexa is extremely committed to her work, and finds genuine fulfillment in discovering new ways to reach people and create connection through movement. She hopes to be ever-growing and ever-learning, continuously spreading her love for dance with those around her.

Joseph Huberty

June Ballet Guest Instructor

JOSEPH HUBERTY, originally from Wisconsin, moved to Sarasota in 2020 to be a trainee with The Sarasota Ballet. He was promoted to their Studio Company in 2022 and has worked with notable choreographers, including Gemma Bond, Maria Konrad, Johan Kobborg, and Sir David Bintley. Ballets he performed there include La Sylphide, Giselle, The Nutcracker, Sir Kenneth MacMillan’s Elite Syncopations, and Balanchine’s Theme and Variations and Western Symphony. Joseph is currently a company dancer for the First State Ballet Theater.

Kolby Colmary

June Hip Hop Guest Instructor

A dynamic and versatile performer, Kolby has built a robust career across film, television, theater, and live entertainment. His film credits include I Heard The Bells (Sight & Sound Films), where he portrayed Mary’s Brother, showcasing his emotional range and cinematic presence.

 

On stage, he has performed in the Winter Wonderland, and The First Noel, demonstrating his strength in theatrical storytelling and musicality. A seasoned live performer, he has graced iconic stages such as the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade (performing with Jennifer Hudson) and the American Music Theater. 

 

Commercially, he has brought energy and precision to national campaigns such as GAP X Harlem Fashion Row, and His music video credits include Losing Game (Kontravoid ft. Chelsey Crowley) and Prime Time (Min ft. Lil Cherry), blending sharp technique with compelling screen presence. 

 

Kolby honed his training through the Professional Semester at Broadway Dance Center and has assisted Artist Simply Human. He has worked closely with renowned choreographers including Luam Keflezgy, Ebony Williams,and Neil Schwartz, among others. He was also selected for Skeleton Crew with Rich + Tone and has been featured in projects at The Pit NYC and Philadelphia’s 6ABC. 

 

His comprehensive training spans Hip Hop and Street Jazz (Luam Keflezgy, Lisette Bustamante, Kelly Peters, and more), Contemporary (Sabrina Phillip, Cat Cogliandro), Tap (Maud Arnold, Jason Holly), Theater and Jazz (Andrea McCormick, DJ Smart), and Ballet (Dorit Koppel, Michele Moreno). He has also studied voice under Bob Garrett and Eric Fotre Leach. 

 

He brings athleticism, discipline, and charisma to every project, Kolby is ready for wherever the next opportunity takes him.

Emily Gilligan

June & July Dance Team Hip Hop Guest Instructor

Emily Gilligan lives in Media, Pennsylvania, and has studied dance for over 19 years. Her professional training includes jazz, lyrical, contemporary, ballet, hip-hop, and tap. In addition to working toward her early-grades education degree, Emily is pursuing a dance minor at West Chester University, with formal studies in choreography and composition techniques, dance pedagogy and teaching techniques, improvisation, modern and jazz dance.

 

As a dancer, Emily attended some of the most prestigious conventions, including NYCDA and ASH, earning numerous scholarships and awards. Her performances as a soloist and in group numbers at top dance competitions earned her several national titles and honors, including Starpower Talent’s Dancer of the Year.

 

Emily was the West Chester University Dance Team (WCUDT) captain for the past two years, where she coached and performed at an elite collegiate level. She achieved a Universal Dance Association (UDA) Hip-Hop National Championship with WCUDT in 2022. She is also a dancer and choreographer for the West Chester University Dance Company, where she regularly performs in several dance genres, including jazz, lyrical, and contemporary.

 

Emily works as a professional dance teacher and choreographer for studios, professional training programs, and dance teams throughout the region. She also works for the Star Dance Alliance Power Pak Dance Intensive as a Team Leader.

Tori Closson

Summer Dance Team Pom Guest Instructor

Tori Closson is a dynamic force in the dance community, bringing over 25 years of professional experience in performance, choreography, and coaching. She has proudly coached the Pom and Hip Hop teams at Padua Academy for the past 15 years, where she also serves as a choreographer for school musicals—a role she’s held for the past four years.

Tori is the co-founder and lead choreographer of Beat Addikts United, a performance-based dance company she launched in 2012, and the founder of FloMotion Dance Company in Philadelphia, a space dedicated to elevating passionate dancers and performers.

Her extensive competitive background in Pom and Hip Hop, combined with her professional dance career, has shaped her into a mentor whose influence extends well beyond the studio. Tori has helped train and guide numerous dancers toward spots on professional NBA and NFL dance teams.

A creative visionary, Tori created the Good Day Philadelphia Dance Team for Fox Philadelphia and spent five seasons choreographing for the Junior 76ers dance team. Her deep passion for movement, performance, and mentoring the next generation continues to make her a respected and sought-after leader in the dance industry.

Cali Cummings

June & July Cheer Dance Guest Instructor

Cali is an accomplished dancer with a broad range of expertise in ballet, contemporary, African dance, jazz, hip-hop, tap, lyrical, and musical theater. Graduating in 2024 with a B.A. in Dance from The Ohio State University, Cali has studied under distinguished instructors including Valarie Williams, Elizabeth Carter, Eddie Taketa, Crystal Perkins, and Daniel Roberts. They are all committed to both technical mastery and artistic expression, honing their craft across various dance forms.

 

Cali has an extensive performance history, including significant contributions to the ADA Dance Company from 2007 to 2020.  She was also part of the Junior 76ers dance team. During her high school years at ADA, Cali has earned numerous honors, including multiple ASH Intensive Scholarships and membership in the National Honors Society for Dance Arts. She also participated in a service trip in 2019 to raise money for the Ranfurly Home in the Bahamas through performance.

 

At Ohio State, she was part of school tours, bringing dance to local grade schools along with being a part of Dance Denmark in 2022, where she performed in cities across Denmark and collaborated with renowned choreographer Daniel Roberts.

 

Cali is currently a Philadelphia Eagles Cheerleader. In this role, she represents the team not just at games but at fan engagements throughout the community and contributes to the team’s social media presence. A highlight to her Eagles cheerleading career was attending the 2025 Super Bowl where the Eagles triumphed.

 

With a strong foundation in both technical dance and community outreach, Cali continues to make a positive impact in the dance world and beyond.

Beth Mondzelwski

July Ballet Guest Instructor

Bio Coming Soon!

Rachel Neitzke

July Ballet Guest Instructor

Rachel has over a decade of experience teaching students of all ages, levels and backgrounds. She specializes in ballet, pointe, Horton-based modern, contemporary, jazz, improvisation, and composition. Her choreography has been awarded highly at competitions such as Youth America Grand Prix, World Ballet Competition, National Ballet Competition, and more.

 

She is currently working as the Assistant to the Ballet Program at Philadelphia Performing Arts Charter School, where she works directly with Natalia Charova and Alexei Charov. Rachely has previously taught at institutions such as Philadelphia Ballet, The Rock School, and Academy of International Ballet.

Paige St John

August Jazz Guest Instructor

Paige St. John holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Dance from The Ohio State University (2019) and M.A. in Dance Education from the University of Northern Colorado (2023). Based in Wilmington, DE, USA, Paige travels as a choreographer and dance educator, moving with young and adult athletes and creators domestically and internationally. Her work as an educator has taken her across the globe, leading her to have either choreographed, taught, judged, or presented dance education and coaching seminars in 17 countries and counting. In the States, Paige is the former Assistant Coach of the University of Delaware Dance Team, and choreographs for a variety of studio, all-star, and nationally-ranked high school and collegiate dance teams. She serves as the IASF Panel Advisor for the Jazz and Kick Divisions at the Dance Worlds, and frequently travels as a Master Instructor. Paige specializes in technique and choreography in the styles of Contemporary, Jazz, and Pom, while also hosting lectures and seminars for other dance educators and coaches on training techniques, student-coach rapport, and curriculum consistency.

Jessica Ice

August Musical Theater Guest Instructor

Jessica Ice has been dancing since age 3 and has no intention of stopping anytime soon! Born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pa, Jessica grew up dancing at the Maryen Lorrain Dance Studio. She danced for 15 years and competed in the regional and national spectrum for 12 years, earning many awards and scholarships including Dance Educators of America’s Miss Dance of America. Jessica attended Broadway Theatre Project at the age of 17 and began making professional connections she continues to work with today. With the training and confidence she gained at BTP, Jessica decided to attend James Madison University and pursue her Bachelor of Arts degree in Musical Theatre. While at JMU Jessica performed in 14 musical theatre and dance productions and worked as a choreographer for another 5. She graduated from JMU summa cum laude and was the recipient of the outstanding musical theatre graduate award. Jessica then moved to NYC and has been working professionally ever since. She has worked on cruise ships, backup danced for pop singer Ashley Allen, performed at many regional theaters across the country, been a resident ensemble member at the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera, and toured during the holidays with Elf, the musical. Jessica has also dipped her toe into the professional choreography world, choreographing a piece “This Is Me” for the NYC 2020 Dancers Against Cancer Gala, dedicated to her childhood dance teacher. When Jessica is not performing, she stays busy as the owner and artistic director of a new convention/competition, The 360 Dance Experience. Jessica is currently a student at NYU gaining her Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics with the intent to use her degree to help dancers and athletes struggling with disordered eating. Jessica just returned from spending the summer on the road with Sister Act, serving as dance captain and ensemble swing. Jessica, her husband, and two cats currently live in Wilmington, DE, and enjoy exploring the parks and beaches together when they have time off.

 

Previous Master/Guest Teachers

 

Danielle Sten-GuillermoReggie  MyersGabrielle  Yudenich
Michael CrawfordDanielle Sten-GuillermoLance GuillermoCamille A. BrownBraham Logan Crane
Nicole Harmon

Lauren Adams

Chris Hale

Jill Wollins

Jamie Goodwin

Hannah Wintrode

Nicole HarmonMichael  SustenNicole HarmonJenn  Rose
Calen Kurka

Anthony LoCurcio

Olivia Bowman Jackson

Courtney Ortiz

Devin Pullins

Jenn Rose

Nicole Harmon

Angela Bates

Kailee Combs

Bria Walton

Christopher Jackson

Nicole Harmon

Nicole Harmon

Jeff Manosca

Purdie Baumann

Hannah Brumbach

Abdur Rahim-Jackson

Brooke Wendle

Purdie Baumann

Phil Colgan

Gabby Wright

Debbie Stout

Ashley Carter

Vanessa Martínez de Baños

    

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Alyssa Millar

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American Dance Academy | 126 Lantana Drive | Hockessin, DE 19707 | (302) 234-9900 | DANCEatADA@comcast.net