WELCOME to the ULTIMATE Dance Camp!
Thanks for your interest in ADTC – the ULTIMATE dance camp for spirited girls like you.
Our mission is to help you do what you love because we believe the world needs strong & inspired girls like us who are doing more of what we love.
Whether you’re brand new to dance or a seasoned competitor, we want you to have fun and grow as a dancer and a person.
At ADTC you’ll find a tight-knit, all-girl community; a place where you aren’t bombarded by confusing media images; and a unique opportunity to reconnect with YOU.
We’ve successfully empowered thousands of girls around the world for 20 years with our ULTIMATE dance camp experience.
We hope you’ll join us for dance, adventure, new friends & fun this summer.
With love & gratitude,
~ ADTC.
Join us for our FREE Zoom Dance Camp Sat, Apr 13, 2024 (2-5pm EST). Our theme will be Earth Elements, and we’ll be celebrating our amazing planet in this month of Earth Day & Spring by dancing to songs about earth, water, fire, air, wind, etc. We’re inviting all girls ages 8 – 17 to join us on zoom for this “triple-threat” boot camp ~ dancers will learn combinations in 3 styles (contemporary, hip hop & jazz) with 3 different ADTC choreographers. Every dance class includes fresh choreography & technique. Dancers are divided into groups by age/ability and practice videos are emailed after class so you can keep dancing at home.
Why I Created ADTC…
“I started American Dance Training Camps – the ULTIMATE dance camp – because my experience attending an overnight gymnastics camp for 8 summers gave me the ability to love myself in a way I didn’t know I was capable of during school years focused on grades, cliques, going to the mall and prom.
At camp, self-love is easy. Camp inspires intrinsic motivation – autonomy, competence, connection, and a “flow” state you can’t achieve when you’re doing something for someone else or for an external reward.
At camp you slow down, remember you’re ALIVE, savor simple pleasures and do the things that give you joy. At camp, miracles are natural (we define a “miracle” as a shift in perception from fear to love). Girls NEED more miracles…more self-love. And the world needs more inspired women.
Today I’m a round-the-world traveling entrepreneur, inner peace activist, yoga addict and self-proclaimed ‘Spiritual Gangster’ – and I’m still inspired by camp.”
~ Lindsey Fadner, ADTC ULTIMATE Dance Camp Founder (aka “The Visionary”)
Alumni Praise
We’re honored to have a vibrant global community of passionate alumni who can attest to the power of ADTC’s ULTIMATE dance camp program. See more stories and contact alumni parents. And check out our mission, manifesto & story here.
“Our daughter Lauren attended camp in Lake Tahoe during summer 2016 for 1 week. This summer she is attending for 2 weeks because she loved it so much! Lauren made lovely friends at camp and continues to correspond with many of them. She really enjoyed the dance classes and felt challenged. Her background has been in ballet, jazz, and contemporary, with over 8 years of dance. Lauren also really enjoyed the excursions/field trip during which she went kayaking, zip-lining, and to the beach. This camp experience is the best!” ~ Katy D. Napa, CA
Overall rating: 5 out of 5 based on 223 reviews.
Can’t Say Enough Positive Things!
“Can’t say enough positive things about this camp! Amazing experience – this was my daughter’s second year (attending solo) and she always comes home with a ton of new friends, experiences and a renewed love of dance! My kid LOVES this camp! It caused her to start picking up different styles of dance in her regular studio. Three adjectives I’d use to describe ADTC are fun, positive, and self-esteem building. kimberlyagil@yahoo.com”
~ Kimberly G., Bear, DE
5 Summers So Far!
“My daughter has been attending ADTC in Colorado since she was 9 (5 summers so far!) and she has formed such a great bond with the counselors and other campers. She has gained so much confidence from this camp we could not imagine going anywhere else. The instructors are incredible, and my daughter has become great friends with all of them. They really know how to lift the girls up and create a safe place for the girls to feel at home while they are away from Read More
their families. We have loved that it is a fairly small group and they really get to know each other and become lifelong friends. My daughter never felt homesick, she missed me, but she loved camp. Regarding technique, I think anytime you do something 6 days a week for multiple hours you get better. They really learned how to learn choreography fast since they only have a week to put on a show. She was able to learn different styles of moves from seeing other dancers from other studios preform. When you have new instructors and are with new dancers you have a different perspective. They of course have fun, but they dance a lot and they do come away from camp a better dancer than when they arrived. Activities, girls’ night out is a must, they get to dress up and go out to dinner in town. It is really sweet to see how they have all bonded over the week during this activity. She has also enjoyed the day at the beach – they go to Boulder Reservoir and paddle board, swim and hang out. Another great activity they do is a talent night and the girls choreograph their own dances and perform for each other, and then at the end of week show. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think my daughter would perform a solo in front of an audience. ADTC gave her the confidence to do that, and it brought me to tears. denisearnett@msn.com”
~ Denise A., Breckenridge, CO
Wonderful Experience!
“A wonderful experience overall! My daughter has attended two summers in a row – she dances most of her free time and this is the perfect camp for her. She makes new friends, gets to do what she loves (dance!) and learns new skills, both in dance and in life. The staff is great and so helpful all across the board. Communication is fantastic and we love seeing the daily photos! My daughter got a little homesick one weekend her first summer Read More
and the staff took great care to make sure she was ok (and to keep me updated). In fact, when she got home she said she was “camp sick” and wanted to go back to camp! ADTC provides excellent dance instruction and skill building, and allows her to broaden her experience in many dance styles. Equally important is the focus on interpersonal skill building and character development in an atmosphere of inclusivity, respect, dignity and fun. There are also non-dance activities to mix things up which she really enjoys. The shows are excellent! It is amazing to see what the girls accomplish in one week. You can tell they are having a great time. My daughter has kept in touch with new friends and can’t wait to attend camp again for her third summer next year. Thanks ADTC! krisgoldman@comcast.net”
~ Kristen G., Framingham, MA
Find Your Spirit!
Get Independent
Go w/ the Flow
Take Risks
Unplug
Be Creative
Grow Your Circle
Get Outside
Get Away Nearby
Reap Rewards
So Why Choose ADTC?
ADTC is the ULTIMATE dance camp, but most important, we believe in core values that inspire us every day we wake up. Our summer staff is trained to empower girls…we just happen to be some of America’s best choreographers, too.
In addition to being Broadway performers, finalists from your favorite dance TV shows, collegiate dance team competitors and Radio City Rockettes, we’re also CEOs (“Chief Experience Officers”) at camp.
Each year ADTC staff (new and returning) undergo a rigorous hiring process that includes an extensive application, interviews, employment verification, criminal background check, CPR & first aid certification, physical exam, health screening, skills verification, and a multi-day pre-camp staff training. ADTC offer a wide range of dance intensives per week.
And it works! It takes a whole crew of enthusiastic, dedicated people to create the ULTIMATE dance camp experience around the country. We couldn’t ask for more interesting, sensitive and enjoyable teachers and counselors.
Just Some of Our ULTIMATE Dance Camp Staff
Ashley Peter
Ashley Peter is a New York City based professional dancer, choreographer, adjudicator and educator. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Dance with a concentration in Jazz and Ballet from Point Park University in Pittsburgh, PA.
Ashley grew up in Central Florida, but she holds dual citizenship in the United States and Canada. She travels all over the US and Canada to dance competitions & conventions such as Beyond the Stars, Breakout Dance, SHINE, Starquest, Legacy Dance and Impact Dance in pursuit of her passion – to educate young dancers.
Ashley has been on staff with Universal Dance Association, DivaDance NYC, the Broadway Theatre Project (founded by Ann Reinking), and The Jimmy Awards. Ashley has choreographed for Flash Mob America, the OMMA Awards, Florida Dance Masters, and singer/songwriter Joey Contreras.
Some of Ashley’s favorite performance credits include the Brooklyn based contemporary dance company, UrbanHumans, the NYC Jazz Dance Festival, the Walt Disney Company, Pittsburgh Musical Theater, and RWS & Associates. She has also done national industrials, original Broadway workshops, and numerous shows & festivals throughout NYC.
Ashley has been a Program Director and Instructor-Counselor at ADTC in Vermont, Maryland, Illinois, Colorado, North Carolina & virtually since 2016. She has a twin brother and is obsessed with her senior dog, Trotter. Another passion of Ashley’s is painting with acrylics – especially painting nature and pets!
Eileen Boyle
Eileen Boyle is a New York City based dancer, choreographer & educator specializing in contemporary, jazz & heels. Originally from Virginia, she moved to NYC to study at the Joffrey Ballet School as a Jazz and Contemporary trainee.
Eileen recently completed Broadway Dance Center’s Professional Semester where she worked with industry-leading choreographers such as Meghan Sanett, Theresa Stone & Marc Kimelman. Eileen has 10+ years experience choreographing, directing productions & teaching dancers of all ages.
Eileen is thrilled to be returning to ADTC for her 16th summer (she started as a camper at ADTC in Vermont in 2006). She is now Program Director of our dance camps in North Carolina & Mayland!
Eileen wants campers to leave ADTC with the sense that dance is a safe place. She says, “I think some dancers come to camp from studios that put girls down for not rising to the level of others or for not doing well in competition. I would love to instill in all campers that dance is for everyone.”
When Eileen is not dancing, you’ll find her reading about anthropology, drawing or napping. Her favorite animal is the manatee, and a good grilled cheese will always be her perfect food!
Alli Gallant
Alli Gallant is a professional dancer, teacher and choreographer in the NY area. Originally from Massachusetts, Alli grew up dancing competitively in a multitude of styles including jazz, hip hop, musical theatre, tap, ballet and Irish step dancing.
Alli recently completed the Broadway Dance Center’s Professional Semester in NYC where she worked with leading choreographers in the dance industry. She has also performed Improv Comedy throughout the city with her team, “Good For You.”
Alli’s recent performance credits include being a featured dancer in the award winning short film, Youthful Faces (directed and choreographed by Lane Napper), dancing in NY Fashion Week and performing at Six Flags for the Halloween Season Unleashed!
Alli so excited to be back for her 17th summer at ADTC! She has been a camper, CIT, JIC, IC, APD and PD in Vermont, Colorado and Wisconsin, and has directed and taught many ADTC virtual camps!
Sakina Ibrahim
Sakina Ibrahim is a performer, teaching artist, and coach based in Los Angeles. She has a Bachelors in Fine Arts from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia where she earned “Dance Outreach” and “Excellence in Performance” awards.
Sakina also received scholarships to the Bates Dance Festival, University of Illinois, and The Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance. Most recently, she earned a scholarship to the University of California, Irvine, where she received her Masters of Fine Arts.
Sakina has worked with choreographers such as Anthony Burrell, Christopher Huggins, Troy Kirby, Brian Sanders, Zane Booker, and the legendary Louis Johnson. She has also danced with Rennie Harris Pure movement as well as in videos for Jill Scott and Raheem Devaughn.
Sakina has used her research in African Diaspora Dance to present at academic conferences and to work with children in programs such as The Dance Theatre of Harlem and the Blues Babe Foundation. She recently published a book to help empower young girls on the journey of self-discovery.
Sakina has directed & taught at American Dance Training Camps dance camps in Illinois, New Jersey, Vermont & Maryland since 2010.
Gina Daugherty
Gina Daugherty is a professional dancer and choreographer in Chicago. She currently performs with the Season 61 Ensemble of Giordano Dance Chicago, “America’s original jazz dance company.” When she isn’t performing, Gina also adjudicates and teaches for many competitions and studios around the country.
Gina previously resided in NYC where her associate choreographer credits include The Elf On the Shelf (Nat’l Tour), The Quiet World (Jerome Robbins Foundation), Newsies, Saturday Night Fever, Evita, Noël (Nat’l Tour), and BCEFA charity events. While in NYC, Gina also participated in Broadway Dance Center’s Professional Semester and studied at Peridance Capezio Center, and Axis Connect NY/LA.
Gina’s favorite performance credits include Dance Captain/Swing of the 2nd National Tour of Charlie & the Chocolate Factory, DanceBreak 2019, Battery Dance Festival, and Danza Heights Festival. Gina has worked with world renowned choreographers including Tony Testa, Peter Chu, Mandy Moore, Jaci Royal, Michael Mindlin, and Ephrat Asherie.
Gina has been with ADTC since 2018, teaching in Vermont, North Carolina, Illinois & virtually.
Jo Liebenberg
Joanne Liebenberg is a professional performing artist and dance instructor from South Africa based in New York City. She recently performed on the First National Tour of The Thorn as Dance Captain and Associate Choreographer, and in Shade Productions’ cirque Halloween show, Unleashed.
Joanne has completed two contracts cruising and performing for audiences around the world with Royal Caribbean International Cruise Lines. She studied Dance and Musical Theatre through Trinity Guildhall, Trinity College London and graduated from the Waterfront Theatre College in South Africa. She then moved to New York City to complete a Professional Semester at Broadway Dance Center where she had the opportunity to train with many brilliant choreographers and artists, performed at the Alvin Ailey Citigroup Theater and became BDC’s poster girl.
Before she booked her first contract with Royal Caribbean, Joanne performed in the show ’Another Day’ as Lead Dancer and Actress at the Kalk Bay Theatre in South Africa after being headhunted by Followspot Productions back when she was performing with the Waterfront Theatre Company. Growing up, she trained extensively at a high performance level, and represented her country in the World Championships for 5 consecutive years in Jazz, Modern, Ballet and Showdance winning Gold, Silver and Bronze medals.
When Joanne is not performing, she is teaching Hot Yoga and Sculpt classes at Corepower Yoga NYC as well as Dance and Choreography at many different studios along the east coast. She is also a certified Nutritionist and Adv PADI scuba diver.
Joanne has been an Instructor-Counselor at ADTC in Vermont, Maryland and Colorado for two summers. She is a creative, passionate and life-loving artist who cannot wait to see where her future in the performing industry will take her next!
Sophia Michitson
Sophia Michitson is a professional dancer, choreographer and educator based in New York City where she is a member of Hanna Q Dance Company.
Sophia grew up dancing at her mom’s studio in Massachusetts and started teaching when she was 14. She trained pre-professionally at The Bolshoi Ballet Summer Intensive, The American Academy of Ballet, Koltun Ballet Academy, and the Joffrey Ballet School Trainee Program. She completed the Broadway Dance Center’s Professional Semester at eighteen.
Sophia’s film credits include El Tigre Productions “306 Hollywood,” and Eryn Martin’s “BALLET” music video. Her performance credits include being a production cast dancer for Royal Caribbean’s “Rhapsody of the Seas” and “Voyager of the Seas,” as well as a featured dancer in Maria Caruso’s “Rearview Mirror” and performing with XY Dance Project.
When she’s not performing, Sophia teaches contemporary & hip hop in NYC, in addition to continuing to teach at her mom’s dance studio, The Center for Performing Arts in Methuen, MA.
Sophia joined the ADTC team in 2022 and has been an Instructor-Counselor in Vermont, Maryland & California for two summers.
Katelyn Martin
Katelyn Martin is a professional dancer, choreographer and educator based in Los Angeles. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Loyola Marymount University with a BA in Dance and Communication Studies.
Growing up in New Hampshire, Katelyn’s mother always encouraged her to be a performer and she has been dancing and performing since she was three years old. In addition to dance, she loves theatre and performing in musicals.
While at LMU, Katelyn danced with Radix Dance Crew and Kuumba Beatz Dance Crew. She also trainined with Jason Myhre, Chad Michael Hall, Tony Czar, and Rogelio Lopez, and performed works by Marjani Forte, Holly Johnston, Paige Porter, Laila Abdullah, and J.T Hornstein.
Katelyn started as a Junior Instructor-Counselor (“JIC”) at ADTC in Vermont in 2010. She’s been an Instructor-Counselor (“IC”) in Vermont, California & Maryland for more than 10 summers, as well as Program Director (“PD”) at ADTC in Colorado for 2 summers.
Carissa Bellando
Carissa Bellando is originally from New Jersey but she is currently based in Burlington, Vermont. She holds a MFA in Contemporary Dance from Case Western Reserve University and a BA in Theatre and Speech with a concentration in Musical Theatre and a minor in Dance from Wagner College.
Before moving into teaching and choreographing full-time, Carissa performed professionally for thirteen years throughout the US, Taiwan, and at sea with Norwegian Cruise Line and Aida Cruises. She has taught and choreographed in the US and Germany for colleges, conservatories, theaters, dance companies, and studios.
Some of Carissa’s favorite performance roles include Broom Queen in Wagner’s Busted Nuts: The Dance Project, Tumblebrutus in Cats, Carpet in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Die Hexe (The Witch) in Es War Einmal (Once Upon a Time), the Summer Fairy in Polaris, and Mandy in Zack Zack.
Carissa was an Adjunct Professor at her alma mater, Wagner College, for four years. During that time she taught Musical Theatre and Dance majors and minors in multiple levels of jazz, modern, contemporary, ballet, pointe, and choreography/composition. She also choreographed five original full-length dance concerts and multiple musicals.
Some of Carissa’s past choreographic credits include Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (2010) and Dance Project 2017 for Wagner College, Rivela and Sea Swept (both original Modern dance works) for Case Western Reserve University (2013), and Comeback! Das Karl Marx Musical (2015) in Berlin, Germany.
In addition to being a professional dance teacher and choreographer in VT, Carissa is a Registered Vinyasa and Prenatal Yoga Teacher (RYT, RPYT) and a certified Zumba teacher. She has been an Instructor-Counselor at ADTC in Vermont & Maryland since 2021. She loves bringing her high energy and extensive dance training and knowledge to dancers of all ages and levels.
Sam Gardner
Samantha Canty-Gardner is a New York City based professional dancer, choreographer, teacher, and adjudicator. She has a BA in Musical Theatre from James Madison University, where she graduated Cum Laude.
Sam grew up dancing and competing in Michigan. After graduating from JMU, she headed straight to NYC and began teaching and choreographing throughout the tri-state area. She has over 15 years of dance teaching experience in ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, hip hop, kickline, acro, musical theatre, and pom. Her work has received numerous judges awards, both regionally and nationally.
Sam’s favorite performance credits are Gershwin! (Off-Broadway), Mary Poppins, 42nd Street, and The Addams Family. Additional credits include Show Boat, Happy Days, Urinetown, Madagascar, Kiss Me, Kate! and more.
Sam’s teaching experience is not limited to competition students, but also includes professional performers, as well as absolute beginners of all ages. She has been an Instructor-Counselor at ADTC in Vermont & Maryland since 2022. Sam wants campers to learn that above all else, dance is FUN.
Outside of dance, Sam is obsessed with her cat, Snow White. She also practices her Italian Duolingo every day – her streak is over 300 days!
CJ Johnson
Christina Johnson (“CJ”) is a professional dancer, choreographer and educator based in New York City. CJ fell in love with dance back in the 1900’s in Oregon.
CJ began dancing professionally with BodyVox, Bent, and Kinetic Images in Portland, then moved to Seattle, where she spent quality time learning and performing with many prominent dance companies and choreographers, including Cheronne Wong; BetterBiscuit; XODO; Alethea Adsitt; Fusion; and Seattle Jazz, to name a few.
In 2003 CJ co-founded her own eclectic modern dance company, Jerboa Dance, where she choreographed, co-directed, co-produced, and starred in many successful shows, including a special guest appearance with Dance Masters of America.
CJ joined the NYC dance scene in 2005 and is proud to have shared the stage and performed all over the world with The Love Show and Shir Dance Theater, She also choreographed and produced the Jerboa Dance NYC premier “Back from the Brink.”
CJ’s choreography has been featured on Fox 5, America’s Got Talent, and “Loosen My Tie” video. She has also performed for P Diddy, Beyoncé, Martha Stuart, and was an opening soloist for Diana Ross.
CJ has directed and taught at ADTC locations in California, Colorado, Vermont, Texas, New Jersey, Maryland & Wisconsin since 2010.
Gianna Torres
Gianna Torres is a recent graduate of Towson University in Maryland with a degree in Elementary and Special Education. While at Towson, Gianna was a teacher and choreographer for the Fusion Dance Team.
Gianna grew up dancing competitively at New Jersey Dance Academy, and at 17 she began assisting dance classes. Gianna loves working with children as much as she loves dancing.
Gianna started as a Junior Instructor Counselor (“JIC”) at ADTC in Vermont four years ago. In 2022, she stepped up as an Instructor-Counselor (“IC”). Gianna wants to teach campers that “regardless of level, they are all so special.” She wants girls to feel empowered and supported when they are with her and hopes they take this feeling and use it to make other campers feel the same way “so that our camp environment is inclusive and filled with good energy.”
Kiley Corcoran
Kiley Corcoran is a New York City based dancer, choreographer and educator. She graduated Valedictorian with her BFA in Dance & Minor in Musical Theatre from The University of The Arts. She is currently on faculty at American Youth Dance Theatre in NYC where her work has been shown at the Kaye Playhouse Theatre at Hunter College.
Kiley’s love of dance and theatre began in her hometown of Andover, Massachusetts. She studied ballet, jazz, tap & Horton technique under Jeannette Neill’s pre-professional dance company, Boston Youth Moves. She also worked with Jim Viera and guest artists such as Kirven Douthit-Boyd & Matt Anctil.
Kiley has trained at the Alvin Ailey Summer Intensive, Rockettes Summer Intensive, and the American Dance Festival. Some of her favorite credits include performing in works by Milton Myers, Sidra Bell, Paul Matteson, and performing Tommie Waheed-Evans’ piece, “Bodies as Site…” at the International Association of Blacks in Dance in Los Angeles.
Kiley joined ADTC as an Instructor-Counselor in Vermont in 2023. She is friends with long-time ADTC veteran staff member, Gina Daugherty (they met when they were just 18 years old at The University of The Arts). You’ll often see Kiley decked out in Lululemon as she is the Guest Experience lead at their UWS location!
Lauren Soto
Lauren Soto is a professional dancer, singer and actress based in New York City. She has a BFA in Commercial Dance from Pace University.
Lauren began dancing when she was 3 years old in South Florida and started choreographing and teaching at Meg Segreto’s Dance Center in Davie, FL.
Most recently, Lauren was on tour with Jesus Christ Superstar as the Dance Captain and swing. Other performance credits include the National Tour of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and the International tours of Westside Story and Grease (The Rev).
Lauren joined ADTC as an Instructor-Counselor in Vermont in 2023. Outside of dance, Lauren is a PADI Scuba Instructor and has done over 250 dives – she is obsessed with the ocean!
Kelly MacMillan
Kelly MacMillan is a New York City based dancer and choreographer. She is originally from Toledo, OH and has a BFA in Dance from Indiana University.
Some of Kelly’s favorite theatre credits include the Pre-Broadway tryout of The Karate Kid the Musical (Stages St. Louis), Linda in the Wedding Singer (Gateway Playhouse), Footloose (The Muny), and DeLee in Smokey Joe’s Cafe (ACT of CT). You can also see Kelly as a Principle Dancer on Apple TV’s ROAR (choreography by Marguerite Derricks).
Kelly has danced throughout the world, including on the Holland America Line (Rotterdam) cruise ship. She was also a dancer and Show Captain for the Lights, Camera, Action! and Luminosity shows at Cedar Point theme park in Ohio.
Kelly joined ADTC as an Instructor-Counselor in Vermont in 2023. A fun fact about Kelly is that she has a frog that is 29 years old!! It was a birthday present for her older brother before she was born and it’s older than she is!
Sadie Arundale
Sadie Arundale is a dancer & choreographer in Massachusetts. She is currently pursuing a BFA in Dance and a minor in Business at UMass Amherst.
Sadie grew up dancing competitively at a local MA studio. She has also trained and performed with Pantos Project and Urbanity Dance companies in Boston. In college, Sadie is a member of the UMass Dance Company and a group fitness instructor for campus recreation.
This is Sadie’s 9th year with ADTC! She spent six summers as a camper & Counselor-In-Training (CIT) in Vermont before becoming a Jr. Instructor-Counselor in 2021. She has been an Instructor Counselor in Vermont, North Carolina & Colorado, as well as Assistant Program Director in Vermont!
Sadie has a passion for improv and choreography and she loves being a positive role model for younger campers. Read Sadie’s ADTC Idol Story!
Dylan Horwitz
Dylan Horwitz is a dancer & choreographer in South Carolina. She grew up dancing competitively in Connecticut.
Dylan is currently pursuing a BA in Dance at the College of Charleston. In Charleston, she also teaches at Dance Moves and trains at The Dance Space where she is a member of their hip hop performance group, “Dynamics.” A fun fact about Dylan is that she’s performed at Madison Square Garden in NYC!
This is Dylan’s 9th year with ADTC! She spent six summers as a camper & Counselor-In-Training (CIT) in Vermont before becoming a Jr. Instructor-Counselor in 2021. Dylan has a passion dance and inspiring younger dancers. Read Dylan’s ADTC Idol Story!
Kate Kenyon
Kate Kenyon is a professional choreographer, dancer and adjudicator based in New Jersey. She graduated Magna Cum Laude with a BFA in Dance from the University at Buffalo.
At Buffalo, Kate won the Amanda Occhino Award for enthusiasm, commitment and dedication to the dance department, and was in the Golden Key International Honors Society. Kate teaches all levels jazz, contemporary, musical theatre, Ballet, and modern.
Kate dances for Kristin Sudeikis Dance, Hutchinson Collective, and SynthesisDANCE. She is also a Master Teacher and judge for Step Up 2 Dance.
Kate has been an Instructor-Counselor (“IC”) at ADTC in Vermont & virtually for three summers. She wants to help campers improve in their dancing and work ethic, but most importantly, she want to inspire girls to be themselves. She loves the quote, “Self-confidence is the best outfit, rock it, and own it.”
Erica Messonnier
Erica Messonnier is a professional dancer, choreographer and teacher based in Dallas, Texas. She has a BFA in Dance from Point Park University.
Some of Erica’s performance credits include The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Principal Dancer Season 5), Disney’s Descendants (Audrey), Holiday Inn (Lila Dixon), Grease (Ensemble/ us Marty), Once Upon A Time (Aerialist/Dancer), Invitation to Dance (Ballroom Dancer), Shrek The Musical (Duloc Doll, Fairytale Creature), Seussical the Musical (Bird Girl) both shows at Pittsburgh Musical Theater, and Miracles (Dancer) at Busch Gardens Christmas Town.
After traveling the world as the Principal Dancer on Viking Ocean Cruise Line’s first ship, the Viking Star, Erica continued her travels across oceans performing in Grease with Royal Caribbean Cruise Line. She has also traveled all over the U.S. as a featured dancer and swing with the national rout of Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella.
When Erica is not on stage, you can find her teaching & choreographing for dance studios around the country, or coaching fitness classes. Erica has been an Instructor-Counselor at ADTC in Maryland, Vermont and virtually since 2017. She wants to help girls push themselves to be the best they can be.
Corinne De Beer
Corinne De Beer is a professional dancer, choreographer, and teacher in South Africa. She is the owner of Diversify Dance Studio in Cape Town.
Corinne has studied with the Cape Town City Ballet, Gaynor Harris School of Dance and Fantastic Flying Fish Dance Co in South Africa. She is classically trained in ballet, jazz, hip hop, modern and contemporary, and also well-versed in African, African Gumboot Dancing, African Pantsula, Broadway, Disco, Fusion and Street Dance. Corinne also has a Certificate of Higher Education in Contemporary Dance, Primary-Advanced 11 in Imperial Modern, and Primary-Advanced 11 in Cecchetti Ballet.
After graduating from St. Mary’s DSG, Corinne moved to London to train at the prestigious London Contemporary Dance School, where she studied under big-name contemporary choreographers like Richard Alston and Matthew Bourne. She has since branched out into the commercial world, and teaches contemporary, hip hop, ballet, lyrical, street and jazz workshops in London and South Africa, and works with various international artists, shows and TV programs.
Corinne has choreographed for London’s fashion week, So You Think You Can Dance South Africa, BBC’s “The Hussle,” the “Kylie Minogue Special,” and BBC’s “Doctors,” and performed for crowds of 30,000 + on famous world stages like Wembley Stadium and London’s West End Theatre. She has taught contemporary, jazz and hip hop workshops from Glasgow to Liverppol, Birmingham & beyond at numerous schools and studios, including Oxford University.
Corinne was also the choreographer for South Africa’s most watched TV show, “South African Idols” for three years, choreographing pieces for top South African artists like Toya Delayze, Liquideep, Lloyd and Kurt Darren. Other choreography credits include Busta Rhymes/T-pain opening concert South Africa, Public Sector Summit with President Zuma, and the FIFA World Cup African Celebration Show (to name a few!).
Corinne is an annual judge for the South African Hip Hop Cup, South African Championships of the Performing Arts and Cape Town Eisteddfod. Her most recent credits include choreography for large corporate events like SAB and Total Mining Indaba, Nissan, British Airways and more. She also just completed work on the new music video for Die Antwoord, and is excited to begin an entertainment partnership with the South African Rugby Union.
Corinne joined the ADTC team in 2015. She has been an Instructor-Counselor at our dance camps in Vermont & California as well as virtually.
Ellen Henry
Ellen Henry is a professional choreographer and dancer based in New York City. She has a degree in Dance with a concentration in Jazz from Point Park University. She is also a professional masseuse
Ellen began her dance training in Louisville, KY at 360 Dance Studio. At the age of seventeen she was chosen to take part in the Kentucky Governor’s School of the Arts summer program.
While at Point Park, Ellen performed in productions by Cirque Dreams, took classes from prestigious choreographers in Los Angeles and New York City and studied dance abroad in Paris, France.
Ellen joined the ADTC team in 2012 in Illinois. She has also directed ADTC dance camps in Vermont and Wisconsin.
Elyse Rivera
Elyse Rivera is a professional dancer, choreographer and educator based in Florida. She has a BFA in Dance From UMass Amerst.
Elyse is from Massachusetts, where she was a performance member of Afrobeats Dance Boston and taught dance at Medfield Dance Academy before moving to Florida to further her dance career.
Elyse joined ADTC as an Instructor-Counselor in Vermont in 2021. She wants campers to learn never to take life too seriously and to brush your teeth twice a day!
Dani Vernon
Dani Vernon is a professional choreographer and educator based in Maryland. She is Director of the competition team at District Dance.
Dani began dancing when she was three years old in central New Jersey. She is trained in ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, hip hop and Broadway. She started dancing competitively at age nine.
Dani attended OCVTS Performing Arts Academy and graduated as a dance major. She continued her dance and theatre education at The American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York where she trained and worked with current and former Broadway performers, choreographers, and directors.
Dani is obsessed with Disney and her favorite food is Mac N’ Cheese. She has been on staff at ADTC in Vermont & Maryland since 2016.
Cassidy Gaudet
Cassidy Gaudet is a dancer & choreographer from Portland, Maine. She has a BA from University of Vermont where she was on the dance team.
Dance became Cassidy’s passion when she was ten years old and her mom opened up her own studio. Since college she’s been teaching hip hop, jazz and contemporary dance at a local Portland studio.
Cassidy was an ADTC camper from 2006 – 2009 and she became a Jr. Instructor-Counselor in 2016. In 2018 she became an Instructor-Counselor in Vermont & Maryland.
Morgan Morse
Morgan Morse is a dancer in Ohio. She grew up taking ballet, pointe, jazz, musical theatre, tap, modern, lyrical and hip hop at Perrysburg Dance Academy. She was captain of the studio’s performance and competition team, and during her last two years of high school, she also assisted younger classes.
This is Morgan’s 9th year with ADTC! She spent eight summers as a camper & Counselor-In-Training (CIT) in Maryland before becoming a Jr. Instructor-Counselor in Maryland, Colorado and Vermont in 2023. Morgan loved being a camper and hopes to help younger girls enjoy ADTC as much as she did!
Rebecca Morris
Rebecca Morris is an Australian dancer, singer, and actor. She studied dance at Brent Street, completing her Certificate IV in Performing Arts in 2012, and Diploma of Musical Theatre in 2013. She has also studied at the Broadway Dance Center in NYC and EDGE Performing Arts Center in LA.
Rebecca’s live performance credits include Bachelor & Spinsters Ball, Big “W” Summer Fashion Show, eMerge Foundation Rugby Luncheon, and Hair Expo. Television credits include Ricki Lee “Do It Like That” film clip choreographed by Marko Panzic, “Everbody Dance Now” Promo choreographed by Jason Gilkison, and The Election Chaser CNN.
Rebecca has an extensive background in dance teaching, sand safe dance practice for the prevention of injury in Australia. She is also a Massage Therapist, completing a Diploma of Remedial Massage at The Australasian College of Natural Therapies.
Rebecca joined the ADTC team in Stratton, Vermont in 2019. She wants girls to realize their love of the performing arts and have so much fun at dance camp that they enroll in even more dance classes at home!
Gaby Blaney
Originally from Northern California, Gabriella Blaney grew up a Nevada County native. At a young age she started competing as an elite gymnast, which in return led to the start of her career.
Gaby attended college at the University of California Irvine where she earned a full ride scholarship along with a degree in dance and education. Gaby is currently a member of SynthesisDANCE under the Artistic direction of Tracie Stanfield.
Gaby has performed at numerous venues including BAM, Jazz at Lincoln Center, High Line Ballroom, Ailey City Group Theater, and The Salvatore Capezio Theatre. In addition to performing, Gaby is on Faculty at Ridgewood Performing Arts Center where she teaches jazz, lyrical, contemporary, and acro.
Gaby has been Program Director at American Dance Training Camps since 2012, and on staff since 2010. She has worked at ADTC’s California, New Jersey, Vermont, and Illinois locations. She loves working with children and can’t wait for another amazing summer with ADTC!
Presley Rimel
Presley Rimel is a professional dancer and choreographer based in South Carolina. She is a recent graduate of Oklahoma City University where she earned a Bachelor of Science in American Dance Pedagogy.
Presley trained at Miss Marion’s School of Dance growing up. Her favorite style of dance is tap, but she loves training all styles. She has attended the Rockettes Summer Intensive, Broadway Bound Intensive, and has performed with Disney’s Electrical Parade.
Presley joined ADTC team in 2022 and she has been an Instructor-Counselor in Vermont, Maryland & North Carolina. Outside of dance, Presley plays the violin and has taught herself piano, ukulele and guitar. She loves plants and flowers and would happily open a plant shop one day!
Samantha Bright
Samantha Bright spent most of her young life in competitive gymnastics in Northern California. When her family moved back to her home state of Vermont, she became interested in hip-hop dancing.
At age 12, she began taking dance classes in Williston, VT and discovered her passion for dance. She was a member of the Varsity dance team at her high school all four years, winning the “Hip Hop State Champions” title her senior year.
Sam also auditioned for a traveling dance company called the Vermont Elements, and was awarded one of the lead roles in their Hip Hop version of Dirty Dancing. She has performed on stage with the Vermont Elements in many local productions, and you can also find her in a music video called “I Make Records” by a local Vermont Hip Hop Group, The Aztexts.
By 16, Sam became a teacher at two different dance studios where she has taught many different styles of hip hop dance ranging from Contemporary Hip Hop, Freestyle Classes, Hip Hop Technique classes, and Heels Classes.
Sam has been an Instructor-Counselor at ADTC’s Vermont, New Jersey and Maryland locations for 5 summers. Aside from dance, Sam works as a cosmetologist and enjoys drawing, photography, and working with kids and teens.
Michaela McGowan
Michaela McGowan is a professional dancer, choreographer and educator based in New York City. She has has a BFA with honors from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, class of 2012.
Michaela began her dance training at the age of five in Northern Virginia. She was an apprentice with Loudoun Ballet Company under the direction of Maureen Miller, performing such roles as Dewdrop, Arabian Soloist, and Snowflake (Nutcracker) and Odile (Swan Lake).
Michaela has worked with Mia Michaels (Mia Michaels Live), Josh Bergasse (Tisch Gala 2010), Jazz at Lincoln Center, Greg Graham (Tisch Gala 2012), Lisa Shriver (PHISH at MSG, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade), Katarzyna Skarpetowska (Jacob’s Pillow with Periapsis Music and Dance), Aszure Barton (NYU SADC ’12), Larry Keigwin (If/Then), as well as choreographers Rachel M. Hettinger (metaphors&similesDANCE), Emily Greenwell (ACE Awards), Josh Assor, Jaclyn Walsh, Calen J. Kurka, and Mike Esperanza (film).
Michaela is currently on faculty at Broadway Dance Center. She can be found featured on Organic Doctor Beauty’s latest online commercial campaign and is on faculty at several other prestigious NYC dance studios.
McKinley Pierce
McKinley Pierce is from Williston, VT where she works as a dance/fitness instructor and personal trainer. She also trains for the popular TV show, American Ninja Warrior, and is a Business Owner/Distributor for Qivana.
McKinley has taught hip hop dance with American Dance Training Camps since 2014 at our Stratton, VT; Squaw Valley, CA; Sparks Glencoe, MD; and Lawrenceville, NJ locations. Before ADTC, she worked at a theater camp for many summers as a counselor.
Iana McCalebb
Iana McCalebb (@sweizayne) is a TikTok star from Glen Burnie, Maryland. She is known as The Dancing Comedian and has earned more than 2.1 million followers on her sweizayne account.
She was a Junior Instructor-Counselor and Instructor-Counselor for many summers at ADTC dance camps in Vermont, New Jersey, North Carolina and Maryland. She specialized in hip hop.
Heather Gaffin
Heather Gaffin is a native of Philadelphia, PA where she trained in all style of dance since the age of 3. She grew up performing at dance competitions and pageants where she was awarded numerous titles and scholarships including the title of Junior Miss Pre-Teen New York.
As an Independent Study Program student in high school, she was able to train full-time in NYC and tour nationally with Tremaine Dance Conventions as an assistant for Desiree Robbins, Liz Imperio and Joelle Martinec. She received her Associates Degree from The Borough of Manhattan Community College where she was on a full academic scholarship.
Heather assisted at numerous Broadway Dance Center Summer and Winter Intensives also giving her the opportunity to perform in NYC since the age of 11. She moved to Manhattan at 18 where she trained extensively with Tracie Stanfield, Sheila Barker, Michelle Assaf and Wes Veldink at Broadway Dance Center and Joe Lanteri at STEPS.
She taught and choreographed at many studios in the NJ, NY and PA area and also joined the The Pulse on Tour and Broadway Dance Center as a Work-Study student. Heather’s performance credits include “Fly with Me Workshop” Tracie Stanfield/SynthesisDANCE, EOS Caseology Watches Industrial Commercial “How We Roll”, along with additional performances with numerous companies and choreographers in the NYC and Philadelphia area.
Heather has been an Instructor-Counselor and Program Director at ADTC dance camps in Vermont, California, Illinois, North Carolina & New Jersey since 2010.
Erin Weinberger
Erin Weinberger hails from sunny Sarasota, FL and has been dancing since age 2. She always knew she wanted a career performing, and studied theatre with a dance minor at Wilkes University in PA.
In 2013, Erin moved to the Big Apple and attended the Broadway Dance Center Summer Professional Semester. She has trained with Michael Mindlin, Richard J. Hinds, Al Blackstone, Billy Griffin, and Chip Abbot, to name a few.
Erin’s most recent theater credits include the National Tour of Cinderella, Beauty & the Beast, The Music Man, and Guys and Dolls. Her past dance performance credits include Broadway Backwards, Leg Up on Life, The Choreographer’s Canvas, and DanceHouseUSA’s Prepro.
Erin is thrilled to join ADTC in Vermont this summer! She wants to teach girls confidence and self-expression through dance. Erin believes that “if you love to dance, you’re good enough to dance!”
In addition to her “triple threat” performance resume, Erin is a licensed massage therapist and stilt walker in NYC!
Allison Slavin
Alli Slavin is from Indianapolis Indiana. She has a degree from Purdue University. Alli was an ADTC camper in North Carolina before becoming an Instructor-Counselor in Vermont, Wisconsin, Colorado, Illinois, California and Maryland.
“You’re off to great places. Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting. SO…get on your way!” ~ Dr. Seuss
But is ADTC Really Right for Me? (and is it worth the money?!)
If you’re still wondering, please choose from the following:
Honest Answers to Tough Questions
ADTC isn’t right for everyone. We’ve been sad to see a few negative reviews on yelp and we invite you to read them here. Please also read our responses and the 20+ positive reviews from real camper parents that, for reasons we don’t understand, are “not recommended” by Yelp. Families also love us on Activity Hero and Facebook and our end-of-week parent surveys. And please visit our FAQs page for answers to our most commonly asked questions.
The True Value of Dance Camp
We believe the true value of dance camp is not in the dance skills learned, but in the life lessons, memories, and self-esteem gained. We believe the true value of dance camp is in the collaboration, creativity, outside-the-box thinking, and other socio-emotional skills you develop. These skills are in demand today and will be in demand in the future.
We believe overnight camp is a better place to learn these skills than school. And we believe dance camp is a safe place for girls to challenge any feelings of inadequacy that may plague them during the school year. Read more about the value of dance camp.
Happiness Lessons From Camp
We believe that happiness is a skill and not an in-born personality trait. And unfortunately, it’s not a skill that most girls get to focus on enough during the school year. There are so many happiness lessons from camp because camp teaches skills to be content with whatever is going on for us, whether we like it or not. Kind of like yoga, camp is good for us. Read more about happiness lessons from camp.
Unplug to Check In
We believe that girls (well actually, all people) need a cell phone detox. Summer camp is a great excuse to unplug, go outside, jump in a lake or just sit around with new friends.
Sound boring? We think boredom fuels creativity. It is what leads campers to sing into hairbrushes at the top of their lungs with new friends and use every color in the rainbow pack of markers to write letters home.
We believe that intuitively everyone understands that too much time spent glued to our phone, tablet or computer is not good for us. Read more about ADTC’s “healthy cell phone detox”.
Our Zero Negativity Challenge
The ADTC community shares one simple, unifying mission: to empower girls to move to love. The “love” we’re moving towards is our source of peace, joy, happiness, and a whole bunch of other “positive” emotions. Luckily, love isn’t something external & elusive that we can “get” from the outside world. Love is internal and always available, we just have to choose it. It is a practice.
ADTC is a tight-knit, all-girl community where we have the “move” part DOWN! We dance, which is a practice of “love”, but we also practice love as individuals and a community each and every day at camp with our “Zero Negativity Challenge” – read about it here.
Show Your True Colors
We like to say we live in “DiverCity” (yes – with a “c”) at dance camp. Each and every week at each and every ADTC location, we create a pop-up “city” where campers and staff of different backgrounds, styles, perspectives, beliefs and competencies live as a community.
And while we all have a unique cultural lens through which we’ve been taught to view the world, our goal at camp is to understand our own and each others’ competencies to create an environment that values differences. Read more about our culture & take our “True Colors” personality test!