Ashley L. Tate is the founder, artistic director, and lead choreographer of Ashleyliane Dance Company (ADC), a full-service dance organization based in the Greater St. Louis area. Ashley has studied dance for over 30 years. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Information Science from Texas Christian University, where she served two consecutive years as captain during her four-year stint as a member of the TCU Showgirls Dance Team. She has been an instructor for National Dance Alliance, a cast member in a Sony Dreamworks motion picture, and a bodily- kinesthetic intelligence presenter for St. Louis Area Resources for Community and Human Services (ARCHS).

Ms. Tate has choreographed for NCAA basketball and football halftime shows, studio recitals, theatre productions, professional dance organizations, and national and regional dance competitions. She teaches master classes and workshops in contemporary, jazz, hip hop, modern, improvisation and composition. She was a member of the Saint Louis Rams Football Cheerleaders, serving as a captain for two years. She also served as the head cheer and dance coach at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and as an adjudicator for Cathy Roe Ultimate Dance Competitions. Ms. Tate is now a board member for Missouri Dance Organization, and a member of the National Dance Education Organization, and an adjudicator for Fury Dance Competitions. She is also a recently certified Zumba instructor. Ms. Tate is an adjunct professor of dance at Washington University in St. Louis, Webster University, and Southeast Missouri State University, and the former chair of the dance department at Grand Center Arts Academy. She was invited to a private audition for Cirque du Soleil's Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour and is a recipient of Grand Center's Emerging Artist Visionary Award. She has served as a judge for the Fox Performing Arts Charitable Foundation's Teen Talent Showcase for several years. She is also a winner of the Pulse On Tour Dance Convention Protégé Scholarship, a Monsters of Hip Hop Scholarship (and a former Monsters Show Nominee), and is signed as a dancer and dance educator with Clear Talent Group in Los Angeles, California. Her work has chosen to be featured in choreographer's showcases at the Peridance Capezio Center, TADA! Theater, and Baruch Performing Arts Center, all in New York City, as well as the Choreographer's Carnival in Chicago, Illinois and Versatility Dance Festival in Boulder, Colorado and Santa Monica, California.

Ms. Tate is a 2018 recipient of the Spencer T & Ann W. Olin Fellowship for Women in Graduate Study. She is a May 2020 graduate of Washington University in St. Louis, earning a Master of Fine Arts degree in Dance.

Sean is a native of Columbia Maryland. He received his early dance training under Donna Pidel. He also trained at Butler University and Pittsburgh Ballet Theater. He has had the privilege of working under dance luminaries Suzanne Farrell and Anne Marie Holmes. Sean can currently be found dancing with The St. Louis Ballet under the direction of Gen Horiuchi. Sean is excited to be passing on his passion of ballet To the next generation.

Christopher Thomas is Originally from St. Louis, MO, I began performing young here in local theater productions before becoming a competitive dancer in dance studios and gymnastics. This would grow into multiple summer productions at "The St.Louis Muny Theater" by teenage years. Learning the basics of ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, tumbling & musical theater I became more passionate about my craft. Ultimately moved to Los Angeles, California fresh out of high school to pursue dance/acting professionally. I connected with an agent (Lisa Coppa @Go 2 Talent Agency ) began auditioning and the rest is history. Working with huge Choreographers/Directors and connecting with Icons in the dance industry!!! I found myself living out my ultimate dance dreams through work in Television Networks NBC, DISNEY (Shake It Up) WarnerBrothers, Film (The Muppets), Award Shows, Tours, Commercials and background danced for #1 Ranked Billboard Charted Artist such as Britney Spears, Katie Perry, Beyonce, Lady Gaga, Sasha Gardiva (Russian PopStar) .

Tommy Wasiuta is a tap dancer based in St. Louis, Missouri. As a graduate from Performing Arts Centre, he studied with his mentor, Anthony Russo. Tommy is an alumnus of the 2017 Tap Program at The School at Jacob's Pillow. He has performed with a variety of artists and companies such as The JaM Project, international countertenor, Terry Barber, Postmodern Jukebox Star, Ariana Savalas, and as the featured tap dancer for the St. Louis Big Band. Tommy is a co-founder of St. Louis' only professional tap company, moSTLy Tap, most recently performing at DanceSTL's 12th Annual Spring to Dance Festival and the Old Webster Jazz and Blues Festival.

  Tommy has a passion for sharing his knowledge of tap dance to students of all ages. He is currently on faculty at some of the most recognized dance studios in St. Louis including the Center of Creative Arts (COCA) and Renee Johnson's Dance Studio. Tommy has been on faculty with the Show Me Tap Festival, RIFF Dallas Tap Festival, Wing-It Tap Intensive, Beyond the Stars Dance Convention, and as the Artist in Residence for the Next Step Tap Project in Dallas, TX.

  While pursuing his professional dance career, Tommy is earning his BS in Accounting from the University of Missouri - St. Louis. He is also the founder of Buskers for Charity, a group of performing artists from around St. Louis that busk for voluntary donations. The money earned is donated to charities in St. Louis and beyond.

Annmaria Mazzini is a New York City dancer, choreographer, writer, and teaching artist. A principal dancer with the Paul Taylor Dance Company from 1999-2011, she performed leading roles throughout the world in more than 60 beloved Taylor classics, and originated numerous roles in acclaimed works such as Black Tuesday, Changes, and Beloved Renegade. Prior to and during her tenure with the PTDC, Ms. Mazzini also danced for Taylor 2, CorbinDances, Cortez and Co., Karla Wolfangle, Kim Gibilisco Dances, and Amy Marshall Dance Company. Recently she has been a guest artist with Dog Eared Dancers, Martita Goshen/Earthworks, and the Gledhill Arts Collective, performing a work by Parisa Khobdeh. She is currently a member of The Legacy Project, a performance collective of international dance artists committed to sharing the transformative work of Canadian solo artist/activist Margie Gillis. Under Ms. Gillis mentorship, she also explores group techniques in conflict resolution through movement, as well as teaching "Dancing from the Inside Out", Ms. Gillis' methods for performance and improvisation.

From 2012-2016, Ms. Mazzini choreographed for her own company, the Mazzini Dance Collective, and performed at venues including Carnegie Hall, the Battery Dance Festival, and the Cape Dance Festival, and collaborated with notable artists including dancers Orion Duckstein and Francisco Graciano, and composer Robert Paterson, founding director of the American Modern Ensemble, where Ms. Mazzini also served as Choreographer in Residence.

She has created dances for students of the Steffi Nossen Dance Company, the New England Academy of Dance, Dancers Workshop of Jackson Hole, and Moving Youth Dance Company. In 2014 she presented the lecture demonstration Dancing On: Evolution of a Performer, a solo retrospective of her dance journey from her early studies in Allentown, PA, on to the Meadows School of the Arts at Southern Methodist University (where she earned her BFA degree), in New York with Mr. Taylor's company, and finally through injury, transition, and reinvention.

A faculty member of the Taylor School since 2007, she teaches technique and repertory, and restages Mr. Taylor's work, most recently Mercuric Tidings at Southern Methodist University and Esplanade at the Conservatoire National Superieur in Paris.

On film, Ms. Mazzini was featured as lead actress and soloist/choreographer of director John Walter's short The Pink Pony, an Official Selection of the 2013 Dancing for the Camera Festival. Her writing has appeared in pieces for Dance Magazine and Dance Spirit. She is featured on the cover of photographer Jordan Matter's bestseller, Dancers Among Us: A Celebration of Joy in the Everyday and in his second book, Dancers after Dark. In addition to a busy and fulfilling life in dance, she is the maker of Dancing Amulets, custom made, spellcrafted jewelry for healing and personal empowerment, and is mom to six year old Caleb.

Sean is a native of Columbia Maryland. He received his early dance training under Donna Pidel. He also trained at Butler University and Pittsburgh Ballet Theater. He has had the privilege of working under dance luminaries Suzanne Farrell and Anne Marie Holmes. Sean can currently be found dancing with The St. Louis Ballet under the direction of Gen Horiuchi. Sean is excited to be passing on his passion of ballet To the next generation.

St Louis native, Nikki Snelson, is most recognized for her performance of Brooke Wyndam in the original Broadway and MTV cast of LEGALLY BLONDE. She has also been seen on Broadway in ANNIE GET YOUR GUN (starring Bernadette Peters) and SWEET CHARITY (starring Christina Applegate). Nikki played "Cassie" in the National Tour of A Chorus Line and also performed in the Broadway National Tours of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, SHOW BOAT, HELLO, DOLLY, and Jonathan Larson's TICK TICK…BOOM(Susan)! Snelson originated the role of The Mad Hatter in Frank Wildhorn's Wonderland. Recently, Nikki played Velma in CHICAGO at Maine State Theater and Sally Bowles in CABARET at The Napa Valley Opera House. Snelson was featured in the groundbreaking documentary EVERY LITTLE STEP as well in the major motion pictures REEFER MADNESS and ACCROSS THE UNIVERSE. On the small screen, Nikki has been seen on Desperate Housewives and All My Children. She received her training in Theatre from Boston Conservatory. Nikki grew up in the St Louis area and made her professional debut at the St Louis Muny. Ms Snelson has directed, choreographed, and taught in Argentina, Chile, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Thailand and many more. She is currently serving as on staff for Shock:Dance Intensive and The US Embassy's American Voices program. She is an artist in residence at Singapore's famed theater school, Lasalle College of the Arts. Nicole is the Artist Director of Rochester Broadway Theater League's Summer Star program. Her directing credits include: AINT MISBEHAVIN, WORLD GOES ROUND, GYPSY, WEDDING SINGER, PAJAMA GAME, CABARET AND CHICAGO. She recently directed and Choreographer Legally Blonde for Lindenwood University.

Shelly Hutchinson is a choreographer, instructor, dancer, actress and producer in New York City. She has been a Contemporary and Musical Theater choreographer for So You Think You Can Dance Ukraine for the last four seasons, also on the creative teams and performed in operas such as Candide, Samson and Delilah, and Aida as associate choreographer and assistant director. Performing credits include Radio City Music Hall, Warner Brothers Films, Disney, Off- Broadway and Regional Theatre, Broadway Bares, International Arts Festival in Italy, Care Wave Japan, National and European Tours including Fame, the Musical, Bye Bye Birdie, Irene, and West Side Story, assistant choreographer for Falco, a multi- media show in Vienna, Austria based on the late 80's pop star.

With 17 years of deep and diverse teaching experience with all levels and ages, she has taught at various studios in the US, Germany, Italy, Austria, Prague, Argentina, Japan, Costa Rica, Cirque Du Soleil, Broadway Dance Center, Joffrey Ballet School, The Pulse, and more in New York. Shelly continues to travel around the country for master classes, choreography, and private instruction. Shelly is the Director of UNCOVERED CHOREOGRAPHY WORKSHOPS, a series of intensives based in New York City to help young dancers find their identities as choreographers, and is currently producing a series of concerts to benefit various national charities.

Monique Haley is a graduate of The University of the Arts in Philadelphia, PA with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in performing arts, specializing in jazz dance. Haley completed nine memorable years with the prestigious River North Chicago Dance Company in 2010. Her final season with the company also marked the opportunity to debut her first professional choreographic work Uhuru. She has also been a member of the Bermuda Dance Company and the Eleone Dance Theater of Philadelphia. During her time in Chicago, Haley was a frequent teacher for the Lou Conte Dance Studio, the Visceral Dance Center, the Joffrey Academy of Dance Trainee Program; and the North Shore School of Dance.

Haley was the former dance captain/ensemble member, as well as associate choreographer, alongside the established musical theater director, Jim Corti, for the Drury Lane Oakbrook Theater's production of "Aida". She was also the associate choreographer of the Paramount Theater Aurora's inaugural production of "My Fair Lady" where she also played “Mrs.Potiphar�, in "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" under the direction of Stacey Flaster and performed in "HAIR", under the direction of musical director/choreographer, Rachel Rockwell. Haley's performance career was recognized by Dance Spirit Magazine and her work has been recognized in articles and reviews in Dance Magazine. She was a 3Arts Award winner in 2012 for her contributions in dance and choreography to the arts community of the city of Chicago. She is one of the first two people selected to receive this $15,000 award in the category of dance/choreography.

Hanna Pierce started her training at the School of Midland Festival Ballet under the artistic director Susan Clark. She has attended highly reputable summer intensives on scholarship such as Milwaukee Ballet, Orlando Ballet, Glenda Brown Choreography Project, Oklahoma City Ballet and Burklyn Ballet Theater. After graduation she was accepted into the Alonzo King LINES training program where she was able to work with some of the top choreographers/companies in the world such as Alonzo King, Lee Wei Chao, Maurya Kerr, VimVigor, Wayne McGregor Company, and the Martha Graham Company. She then received a company contract with CommonThread Contemporary Ballet in St Louis under the director Jennifer Medina. She currently dances with Ballet 314, Resilience Dance Company, Emily Duggins, and competes in the Open Professional International Latin category in ballroom. She teaches at Convergence Body and Dance Center as well as St Louis Academy of Dance and St. Peter's Academy of Dance. She has been working to receive her level 1 certificate in the Gyrotonic Expansion Method along with diving into the St Louis Salsa Community.

Katherine Kennedy graduated summa cum laude with a BFA in dance and a BBA in management from Western Michigan University in the spring of 2019. She grew up in Madison, Wisconsin, extensively studying ballet, modern, jazz, tap, and contemporary. During her time at WMU, she performed in works choreographed by Joshua Manculich, Monique Haley, David Curwen, and Christian Denice, as well as in the restaging of professional works choreographed by Aszure Barton, Lindsey Thomas, and Lew Christensen. Additionally, she performed with Western Dance Project during the 2017-2018 season. Katherine has taught dance for seven years, working with dancers ranging in age from 3 - adult. She is passionate about sharing dance with her community, and has worked administratively with Wellspring/Cori Terry & Dancers in Kalamazoo, MI and American Dance Festival in Durham, NC to support arts education. Katherine is currently a Convergence Trainee with The Big Muddy Dance Company in St. Louis, and is excited to share her knowledge of dance with her students!

Lizzie has been dancing, teaching, coaching and choreographing in Chicago and the Chicagoland area for 21 years. She is the co-founder of Extensions Dance Company, now in its 14th year, and Extensions Dance Center, currently in its 8th year. Originally from Toronto, Ontario, Lizzie is a graduate of the performing arts boarding school Interlochen Arts Academy in Interlochen, Michigan. After graduating from Interlochen, Lizzie was recruited as a scholarship student at the Giordano Dance Center in Evanston, Illinois, and then was hired in 2000 by Giordano Dance Chicago, where she spent five years as part of the professional faculty. From 2005-2011, Lizzie performed nationally and internationally with River North Dance Chicago and served as a faculty member at the renowned River North Workshops and Intensives. From 1999-2014 she was a principal dancer in the Chicago Symphony Orchestra's yearly holiday production Welcome Year. Lizzie has performed with Lehrer Dance, LEVELdance, Chicago Repertory Ballet and the Cambrians, and currently dances with C5 Entertainment, where she has become experienced on a variety of aerial apparatus. Her theater credits include an appearance as Victoria (the white cat) in the Paramount Theater's production of Cats, and as assistant to the choreographer for Drury Lane Oakbrook Terrace's West Side Story. She has taught and coached dance all over the world with organizations including the Jazz Dance World Congress, Dance Masters of America, Chicago Dance Connection and Regional Dance America, and has held positions on the advanced professional faculty at Hubbard Street Dance Center and Visceral Dance Center. She has served as an artist-in-residence at universities including Northwestern University, East Carolina University, Illinois State University and Grand Valley State University. She is currently on the guest faculty for Giordano Dance Chicago and HSPro under Alexandra Wells and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago.

Arianna Russ is a dance artist and teacher based in the St. Louis area. Arianna recently finished her second season with the Modern American Dance Company (MADCO), and performs in various independent projects throughout the city. She teaches Jazz, Contemporary and Modern as an adjunct professor at Lindenwood University and as a guest professor at Webster University. Arianna is originally from Milwaukee, WI where she danced professionally for the Milwaukee Bucks NBA team. She has performed as a professional dancer with the Cedar Rapids opera and across the country in dance festivals held in Chicago, New York, and San Juan, Puerto Rico. Arianna has choreographed several independently produced works, and most recently choreographed for MADCO’s second company. Arianna earned her MFA from the University of Iowa.