Patti Moore-Friedman
Director/Teacher
Patti received her BA in Elementary Education from Purdue University in 1991. She has been teaching for Creative Dance Arts since 1985 and was named Co-director in 1993. She has been choreographer for Shenendehowa’s Choraliers, Dance Director for Clifton Knolls Day Camp, RPI Dance and Drama camp, as well as Albany Colonie Diamond Dogs Dance Team. She has appeared more recently in CR Productions Thoroughly Modern Millie. Dance study continues at Broadway Dance Center and with Ballet master Finis Jhung and many others. Presently Patti teaches Ballet, Pointe, Jazz and Tap at all levels.
Email Patti at: dance@creativedancearts.org.
Laurie Fitsik
Information Coordinator/Teacher
Laurie received her Bachelor’s degree in Speech Pathology/Audiology from Fredonia College and Master’s Degree in Speech/Language Pathology from University Of Denver and works with students at Shenendehowa Central School. Her true love is dance and her specialty is with our young students. Laurie teaches creative movement, pre-ballet and pre tap, as well as levels I and II in tap. Laurie is also our information coordinator liason.
Email Laurie at: info@creativedancearts.org.
Kristen Douglas
Teacher
Kristen received her BA in Elementary Education in 1993 from Potsdam College as well as her masters degree from SUNY Albany. She has been with Creative Dance Arts since it’s inception. She teaches Ballet and Tap, Jazz and Modern dance. She has also been the choreographer for several musical productions of Clifton Park’s Not So Common Players. She is presently teaching 1st grade at Mayfield Elementary school.
Wendy Baldasaro
Teacher
Wendy has been dancing at Creative Dance Arts since 1987. She holds a BA degree in Psychology from Siena College. In addition, she graduated from Russell Sage College with a Masters degree in Occupational Therapy. Wendy was a member of the Albany Conquest dance team in 2002 and 2006 and on the Siena Dance Team from 2002-2005. Wendy was also a member of the Ultimate dance team and teaches at the Siena Summer Dance Camp. She is currently teaching Jazz and Hip Hop and is presently employed as occupational therapist with Ballston Spa School district.
Stephanie Walsh
Teacher
Stephanie has been dancing at Creative Dance Arts since 1986. She received her BA degree in Therapeutic Recreation with a minor in dance from Ithaca College. She teaches Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Hip Hop and Lyrical and Modern. Stephanie has been a choreographer and performer with IC Unbound, a member of the nationally ranked Ithaca College Dance Team, a member of the Ultimate Dance Allstars in Albany, and a choreographer for the Not-So-Common Players. Steph is currently the activities director for Kingsway Village assisted living facility in Schenectady.
Sarah Nelson
Teacher
Sarah grew up taking Ballet, Jazz and Tap from Creative Dance Arts. She also worked with former principals of the NYC ballet including Michael Steele and David Otto and has performed with the Berkshire Ballet Company and Capital Ballet Company. She received her Associates degree in Dance Performance from Valencia College in Orlando, FL where she was accepted as a member of the Valencia Dance Theatre. She then received her Bachelors degree in Dance Performance from Southern Utah University with a minor in Health Education. She has attended and performed at the American College Dance Festivals in Washington, Kansas and Montana. She recently took part in the filming of “High School Musical 2″ for the Disney Channel as a background dancer. Most recently, Sarah choreographed State Fair the musical for Barc Youth Theatre Company.
Lindsay Charbonneau
Teacher
Lindsay Charbonneau has been dancing at Creative Dance Arts since 1988. She began teaching tap and jazz in 2001. She remained a guest teacher at Creative Dance Arts throughout her college years, while she attended Cazenovia College from 2003- 2007 and pursued her degree in Elementary and Special Education. There, she founded the Cazenovia College Dance Club, became a member and leader of the Legacy Hip Hop dance team, as well as the Cazenovia College Women’s Step Team. Lindsay has shared these unique styles of dance that she learned with many of the students and faculty members at Creative Dance Arts. Lindsay is currently teaching tap, jazz, step, and hip hop. She is presently teaching 1st grade at Schylerville elementary school.
Chrystie L. Kenny
Guest Teacher
Chrystie has trained in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Modern, Lyrical, and more. She graduated Marymount Manhattan College with a BFA in Dance Performance, and considers Jazz to be her passion. Chrystie has been a Radio City Rockette for the past ten years, and was recently promoted to Assistant Dance Captain for the Radio City Christmas Spectacular. She has appeared on various television and radio programs, including Dancing With The Stars, Ellen, The Radio City Christmas Spectacular: NBC 75 Celebration Special, NBC’s The Today Show, The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and The Rockefeller Tree Lighting. Chrystie is proud to be a veteran instructor for the Rockette Experience and the Rockette Summer Intensive, presented by Broadway Dance Center. She has performed in Regional Dinner Theater, the Arena Football League, and served as Dance Captain onboard Royal Caribbean’s Explorer of the Seas. In 2004 Chrystie joined the production team at Royal Caribbean Production Studios as a Studio Choreographer. She continues to teach and choreograph for various dance studios and programs across the country, and enjoys judging for numerous national dance competitions.
Chrystie looks forward to continuing her path in the world of dance through performance, choreography, and instruction. As a dance teacher, her objective is to challenge the young dancers of today to push the boundaries of personal achievement in a positive way, not only influencing the best performers of tomorrow, but also encouraging and inspiring a love for the art of dance and entertainment.
Alyson Corbett
Guest Teacher
Alyson Corbett began taking classes at Creative Dance Arts in 1999 and currently takes ballet, pointe, jazz and modern. Alyson received the Dance Alliance Scholarship and took part in a summer ballet intensive, directed by Roberto Munoz and former NYCB Principal Melinda Roy. She has also studied with many other NYCB artists including Daniel Ulbricht and Ashley Bouder. Alyson has also performed in the Nutcracker multiple times and is currently attending George Washington University pursuing a pre-med degree. We are thrilled to have her back in the summer and on school breaks to teach with us!
Kacey Scanlon
Guest Teacher
Kacey has studied ballet, pointe, jazz, tap and modern dance. Kacey has taught jazz and ballet, a HipHop after school program at Karigon, and choreographed for the talent shows at Gowana. Her true passion for dance has led her to perform in the Moscow Ballet, Cohoes Music Hall’s High School Musical and Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Carousel. She has also studied with other instructors at outside workshops to further her experience. Kacey is currently enrolled at Ithaca College pursuing a degree in Occupational Therapy. We are pleased to have her over the summer and on school breaks as a guest teacher.