Meet Our Instructors

Miss Michelle, our studio owner and seasoned dance instructor with over 25 years of experience, began her journey with local studios in her early years. She later explored various dance styles at renowned institutions like Alvin Ailey, and learned tap dance from the legendary Gregory Hines. Specializing in tap, ballet, and jazz, Miss Michelle shares her passion and dance background, inspiring the dancers at our studio. Beyond the studio, she extends her love of dance to her daughters and granddaughters, creating a family legacy. She enjoys spending time with her dogs and diving into a good book.

Miss Sammie is our dedicated lead instructor, who started dancing with us at the age of 2. She furthered her skills at prestigious institutions like Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts, The Joffrey Ballet School, The Broadway Collective, and NYU Performing Arts. Miss Sammie is a versatile instructor, proficient in ballet, jazz, tap, acrobatics, lyrical, and contemporary styles. Alongside her dance expertise, she has a background in acting and musical theater. With her passion and extensive training, she inspires the next generation of dancers to thrive in their artistic pursuits.

Miss Illy is a seasoned dance instructor with over 12 years of teaching experience. She started dancing with us as a baby ballerina, and went on to train extensively in ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, modern, and Caribbean styles. She danced both competitively and creatively before leaving to attend university in NYC. With a great love for choreography, Miss Illy returned as our contemporary and lyrical instructor. She now co-directs DNB with Miss Michelle and Miss Sammie, and is passionate about enhancing the studio experience for our dancers and their families.

Miss Ann has been a dance teacher for over 25 years and has taught hundreds of students throughout the years while directing numerous shows for the community. Her passion is teaching and choreographing ballet and pointe dances. She is proud to be able to continue her love of dance by teaching the students at Dance N Beyond and directing her new company, Allonge Dance Company. Her hobbies include spending time with her son, Manny, teaching Zumba classes, strength training, ballroom dancing and being with her two pups and cat.

Miss Haley's passion for dance began at 5 years old. She enjoys teaching technique and choreography, and loves working with dancers of all ages. Miss Haley attended Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts as a dance major, focusing on ballet and modern styles. She also attended several summer intensives at the Earl Mosley Institute of the Arts, Miss Haley is a certified Zumba instructor since 2018, and has experience coaching gymnastics. She now teaches our beginner level ballet and jazz students, encouraging some of our youngest dancers to follow their dreams and embrace their love of dance.

Miss Coryse has over 20 years of professional experience as an accomplished dancer and dance educator, and a union actor with the Screen Actors Guild. Throughout her career, she has held the prestigious position of principal dancer with multiple renowned Connecticut Caribbean dance companies and has appeared in over 15 Hallmark movies. Moreover, her choreographic expertise has contributed to the success of the longest-running Caribbean parade in the United States, in Hartford, CT.  Coryse's unique style, which blends Caribbean traditional dance with contemporary ballet and modern dance, has not only made her a sought-after choreographer and dance instructor, but also has established her as a key figure in the promotion and development of Caribbean dance.