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Cori Colombo
Owner/Artistic Director
Cori has a long history of teaching, performing and training all over the Rochester area for the past 25 years. Shortly before receiving her masters teaching certificate from the Broadway Dance center, Cori lived in Florida where she was selected to do character and parade work at Walt Disney World, spreading “magic” each and every day. Returning home to Rochester, she decided to continue spreading the “magic”and opened an artistic center in Ontario, New York. There, she continues to teach various areas of dance, theater, and gymnastics, enjoying every minute of the past 15 years. Cori’s love of dance does not stop there, she has a true passion for Broadway and has been a choreographer for Wolcott Central School, Wayne Central School, Webster Theater Guild, Wheatland Chili Central School, Irondequoit Theater Guild and “Stages”, putting on over 145 shows over the last 20 years. Cori has also taught performing arts at RAPA, worked tech for GEVA professionally, and has been a judge for RBTL’s Stars of Tomorrow program for several years. She looks forward each and every year to bring “a little bit of magic” to all of her students through the arts.
Danielle Colombo-Joseph
Music and Theater Director/ Voice & Dance Instructor
Danielle graduated from AMDA in New York City as a Musical Theater Major. Her theater training was under Terry Ralston, Catherine Cox, and Even Papas (original Broadway cast members). She was one of twenty students selected out of the top colleges on the East Coast to perform in the Broadway Rising Stars Showcase held at New York City Town Hall. She has been studying Voice for the past 25 years, 4 of which she spent studying at the Eastman Community Music School under Cecile Saine. She has danced for 30 years at local dance studios and continued her dance training while in college at AMDA. She was a member of the Webster Schroeder Show Choir for 4 years and has won several awards for best Soloist in a Show Choir (NYC Show Choir Competition, Festivals of Music Competition in Toronto). She also participated in NYSSMA solo-fest for 7 years, all county choruses, Area All-State, the Christmas Pops Concert at Eastman and was a featured soloist in the New York State Conference All State women's Choir. She also has a great love of theater, some of her favorite roles include: Batboy the Musical (Mrs. Taylor), Urine Town (Soupy Sue), The Wiz (The Wiz), Seussical (Gertrude), The Green Rose (Rose), and Joseph and the Amazing Techno-Colored Dream Coat (Narrator), Donna Lucia in Nazareth College’s Production of Where's Charley. Danielle also coaches many students on their auditions for college and local shows. She has directed and written over 15 Summer Theater Camp productions at SIU. In her spare time, she is the lead singer in the Pop Show Band, writes and records her own music, and has performed the National Anthem for the past 20 years at several Local/National Sporting events.
Shelbie Colombo
Art Director/Instructor
Since graduating high school, Shelbie went off to Fredonia State University. There she achieved a BFA In Theatrical Production and Design with a Minor in Dance. While attending collage she was able to gain skills such as upholstery, sowing, painting and drawing techniques and a knowledge for design in both construction build and overall aesthetic for setting the scene. After graduation she went off to her first professional job with the Pennsylvania Shakespeare company as a Properties Artisan which she worked at for three summers. Some of her other summer work included working for Bay street theatre on Long island as a carpenter. In 2015 she started her first year at Geva Theatre Center as a Stage Hand. Over the past 5 years at Geva she had a multitude of positions such as Stage Operations Manager, Assistant Charge artist, and Properties Artisan. Always working different departments sometimes simultaneously is just one of the reasons she loves her job. Along with her time at Geva she works for Local 25 which is the Union house for company’s all over Rochester including the Auditorium Theatre, Eastman Opera Shop, The Rochester Riverside Convention Center, Kodak Theatre, and CMAC just to name a few. With them she can work with productions, Bands, and Artists from all over the country. Being a Freelancer in the arts allows her to work on many different projects. 2020 will be her third year as the Set Designer for Wheatland Chili High Schools Musicals where she gets to teach children things she has learned from this industry. What has allowed her to grow and thrive in this business all started with the love and support from her parents along with both her sisters, Cori and Danielle, who were her mentors and teachers. Without growing up with her time at SIU, where she was pushed and trained, she never would have had the guts or passion to go into this unique field. She couldn’t be prouder to have been apart of Strike It Up and she can’t thank the SIU family enough for what they did for her.
Jaimie Grant
Competition Coordinator/ Dance Instructor
Jaime has been dancing and performing since the age of 5. She has received training from Lynn Scott School of Dance, Dance 22, Spins Dance Studio and was also a Senior Company Member in Carol Walker Dance Academy's Dancers Company One, in Atlanta, GA. She has participated in several dance competitions over the years and has earned many awards including, but not limited to, a scholarship to one of Julliard's summer seminars from Dance Educators of America and an overall high score for ages 12 and under in the Showstoppers Talent Competition. With that achievement she was invited to dance on the competition's television show taped during Nationals in Myrtle Beach, SC. She went on to win 7th place in the nation in her category. In High School, Jaime participated in Webster High School's Show Choir as well as several plays and musicals such as Greece, 42nd Street, The Wiz and Up the Down Staircase. She also performed in various community theater productions. Jaime is very excited to work, learn, and grow with the students and other teachers as the studio itself continues to grow!
Bethany Good
Workshop Coordinator/ Dance Instructor
Bethany grew up dancing in the Rochester area, where she was an award-winning soloist, achieving top soloist at Star Systems in 2004 and 2005. Following high school, she continued her dance training and received her B.A. in Dance at Hobart and William Smith Colleges. Most recently, she has completed her M.F.A in Dance from The College at Brockport, SUNY. Over the years, Bethany has studied with William (Bill) Evans, Mariah Maloney, Stevie Oakes, Michelle Ikle and Cadence Whittier. She has attended Bill Evans Teachers’ Intensive for three consecutive summers, taking classes in modern dance technique, pedagogy, and Bartenieff Fundamentals. Bethany performed as a soloist with Elizabeth Clark Dance Ensemble for two years, with opportunities as a guest choreographer. She also participated in the Musselman Arts Triathlon in Geneva, NY for two consecutive summers, performing structured improvisations. While pursuing both her undergraduate and graduate degrees, Bethany performed in faculty and student works, and continued choreographing contemporary works on fellow students. Bethany has taught at local studios, as part of an after school program at Penn Yan Academy, and for general education requirements at The College at Brockport, SUNY. She is a movement/dance instructor at Cobblestone Arts Center in Farmington
Kaitlynn Schultz
NYSDA Coordinator/Dance Instructor
Kaitlynn studied Recreation Management at SUNY Brockport where she developed a passion for community based event programming. In 2019 she coupled her studies with her lifelong passion for dance while completing a summer internship with the National Dance Education Organization (NDEO). Following this internship she stayed on with NDEO in a full time role, wearing many hats ranging from member services, scholarship facilitation, programming online meetings and webinars and working closely with the Director of Conferences on various annual in person and virtual events. After many years as a student in the private dance studio setting, Kaitlynn re-joined her home studio in 2015 as a faculty member where she has since specialized in early childhood, foundational learning in tap, jazz, and creative movement. She has a passion for inclusive dance education and strives to create a classroom environment that is accessible and welcoming to all that want to participate. She has taught at several different studios over her 8 year teaching career, including studios in Maryland, Northern Virginia and at her home studio in Ontario, NY. In 2023, Kaitlynn started a chapter of the National Honor Society for Dance Arts where she successfully inducted 10 students and helped one of those students to Graduate with Honors. She also served as an adjudicator for the Rochester Broadway Theatre League’s ‘Stars of Tomorrow’ program where she reviewed and provided educational feedback for Rochester area high school students performing in their annual musical productions.
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Joneice Smith
Dance Instructor/ Alumni
​Joneice is an SIU alumni. Over the years she has worked with numerous dance teams and has traveled and learned from lots of choreographers. her specialties are Hip hop and cheer. she is so excited to be apart of the SIU family again!
Alexa Wallace
Dance Instructor/Alumni
Alexa has been dancing since the age of 4 and started competing at the age of 6. Alexa has trained in Ballet, Jazz, Modern, contemporary, broadway, tap, hip hop, and acro as well as singing and acting. She also enjoys training in the Ariel arts on apparatuses such as the silks, hoop, straps, triangle, and the cord. Throughout Alexis training at such places like Ariel arts of Rochester, Strike it up Artistic center, NECCA circus school, and French-wood circus arts schools, she has been fortunate to win scholarships and train under cirque performers such as Meme Erma, Pawell Walczewski from Volta’s Cirque du Soliel, Kyle Kier from Les Farfadais, Lani Corson, Panni Spears, Sasha Harrington and Andrew Adams. Through all of her extensive training in dance and Ariel arts, Alexa has developed a passion for teaching. She started just over a year ago and teaches Ballet Barre and acro to ages 4 to adult. She loves not only teaching good technique and difficult skills, but how to work hard, conquer fears and go after dreams. She is so excited to be a part of such a wonderful artistic community and can’t wait to see what the future will bring!
David Morton
Coming Soon
Elena DiSanto
Dance Instructor/Personal Trainor/Alumni
Elena DiSanto is a SIUAC alumni and ACSM certified personal trainer. She has learned a variety of dance styles including contemporary, jazz, musical theater, and tap. She has received scholarships for her work in contemporary from UNCA college of the arts, and attended their summer intensive during 2021. She also received a tap scholarship from 24/7 dance convention. She graduated with High Honors from FLCC with an associates degree in Kinesiology and Human Performance. Her education focused on creating dance training fitness programs.
Ella Collier
Dance Instructor/ Cheer Coach/ Alumni
Ella Collier has been a member of Strike It Up since the tender age of one, accumulating over seventeen years with the studio. Throughout her time at SIU, she has explored a diverse array of dance forms, including Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Broadway, Lyrical, Modern, and Hip Hop. As well as voice and acting within the early stages here at Strike It Up. Her initial passion for dance evolved into a profound dedication to teaching and inspiring emerging talents within the community. Beyond the dance studio, Ella is also a licensed cosmetologist, reflecting her unwavering commitment to the arts throughout her multifaceted career.
Victor Knight DiNitto
Vocal & Theater Instructor
Victor Knight DiNitto is a tenor, director, teacher, and composer. He received his MM in Vocal Performance at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music and his BM magna cum laude in Vocal Performance and Opera Studies from the Conservatory of Music at SUNY Purchase College. Victor has many performing credits from opera and concert stages, as well as musical theatre and liturgical work. Victor also served as the music director for two musicals at SUNY Purchase and stage director for Indiana University Gilbert & Sullivan Society’s relaunch gala. He also served as stage director for Bloomington Chamber Opera’s staged song cycle, a production conceived by Victor. He is also producing and directing virtual shows and events with his production company, A Little Knight Music. Victor has been teaching since 2016 and loves helping his students learn a healthy technique while having fun!
Tommy Duffy
Sound Engineering Instructor/ Alumni
Tommy Duffy is a singer, percussionist, actor, songwriter, and producer. He has been studying voice and music since he was 6 years old. His performance credits include Geva Theater Centre’s A Christmas Carol, The Rochester Fringe Festival, and several short films, including The Keeper, released in June of 2022. Tommy served as the content creator, character ambassador, and music distributor for the Edutainment Company, KaleidoscopeME. He also performs improvisational scenes for Dramatic Solutions. Tommy started a music production company, Browncow Records,and he writes, records, and produces his own rap music. Tommy’s original songs can be found on multiple music streaming platforms, such as Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, TIDAL, and more. Tommy enjoys teaching others to create and record their own music.
Sharon Duffy
ASL Instructor
Sharon Duffy is a New York State certified American Sign Language and Spanish teacher with 22 years of experience in education. She enjoys traveling with her students and has brought them to Spain, Toronto, New York City, and Cleveland to enhance their connection to the language and culture. Some of the amazing experiences they have had on these trips include flamenco dance, attending Deaf West Theater, touring the Helen Keller and Deaf Culture Centres, and cooking Spanish cuisine. Locally, Sharon encourages her students’ connection with the Rochester Deaf Community, bringing them to Frontier Field for Deaf Culture Night and to the National Technical Institute for the Deaf at RIT for performances, artexhibits, and the DeafNation Expo. Sharon enjoyed participating in the NTID Performing Arts productions of Fairy Tale Courtroom and Leaves of the Poetry Tree. In addition to classroom teaching, she provides one on one andsmall group sign instruction to families through Self-Directed Services. She is excited to offer an introduction to ASL for students of all ages and ability levels.
Anne Jurgens
Art Instructor
Anne began her teaching career in 1968 teaching English at Jefferson High School in Rochester, New York. In 1971, she left teaching to begin her family. After raising her children, she returned to obtain a master's degree in Reading at the State University of New York at Brockport. From 1991 until 1999 Anne taught second and fifth grades at the Village Elementary School in Hilton, New York. From 1999 until 2001 she taught reading to all elementary levels, grades one through six. While raising her family Anne began her art career. First, painting in oils, and later expanding and experimenting with tole painting, clay, porcelain painting, sculpture, watercolors, acrylics, and multi-media painting. She studied under many accomplished artists including John Barsall, Steve Carpenter, Valery Larsen, Judy Soprano and Harriet Bingham Thayer. Anne believes that art is for everyone. Too often we get discouraged in our youth believing that art is just for the talented few. The process of making art brings joy to the artist and is every bit as important as the finished product. We are always growing, which is one of the things that make art so much fun. About her art, Anne says: "For me, art is an interpretation of life, an attempt to express the emotions that nature and life instills in me. Whether landscape, still life, portrait, or abstract, it is the emotional quality of my subject that inspires me. This emotion such as serenity, love, joy, excitement, courage, calm, contentment, or hope, to name a few, can be expressed through color, value or form. Each medium has its own unique fascination for me. The rich deep color of oils best expresses some ideas, while the delicate transparency of watercolors best expresses others. Mixed media enable me to sometimes go beyond the power of paint into another realm altogether. Art brings me joy. It is my hope that I can share some of that joy with you, the student." Anne's art can be seen on display at the 3174 State Street Gallery in Caledonia, NY and in many private collections in New York, Missouri, New Jersey, Florida and California.
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Hayden Leonard
Student Teacher/ Co-Miss SIU
Hayden Leonard is 17 years old and will be a senior at Wayne Central. She started dancing at three at Strike It Up, taking her first tap and ballet class. She joined the competition team three years later at the age of 6. Hayden has taken classes in tap, jazz, ballet, pointe, contemporary, lyrical, modern, Acro, and Broadway. She has had the opportunity to attend several dance intensives as well as master classes at nationals. Her favorite styles of dance are contemporary and lyrical. She is excited to be able to teach this year for our new tiny team. In 2023, she was inducted into the National Honors Society of Dance Arts and served as the chapter secretary last year. She is a member of the National Honor Society and a class officer. Over the years she has made lifelong friends. She has enjoyed the trips, activities in and out of the studio, and all the memories she has made. She is excited to serve as this year's co-Miss SIU with Emily Neubauer. She would like to thank all of her dance teachers, teammates, and family.
Julia Rice
Student Teacher
Julia Rice is a 2025 senior at Wayne Central as well as a student in the New Visions Medical Program. Julia is also a member of National Honor Society, and Reporter for SUAC's chapter of the National Honor Society for Dance Arts (NHSDA). Julia has always had a passion for dance and teaching. She has been dancing since she was 3 years old but started her first year at Strike It Up when she was 6, and joined the competition team at 9 years old. She also became a teacher assistant in 2018, earning the "TA of The Year Award" at the 2021 showcase. Throughout her years at Strike It Up, Julia has studied just about every style of dance including tap, jazz, ballet, lyrical, contemporary, modern, musical theater, hip-hop, and pointe. Julia has also been recognized for her talents on numerous occasions such as receiving a scholarship to the University of North Carolina's Dance Academy's summer intensive in 2021 and 2022, an invitation to be on Beyond The Stars Dance Competition's National Performance Team (2024), and had the incredible opportunity to work with the Penn State University's 6x World Champion Dance Team - The Lionettes this past summer.
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