Huntington Dance Theatre Faculty

Huntington
Dance Theatre

Faculty

It is important to know the people that make the entity. HDT is
extraordinarily lucky to have a teaching staff with a
wide range of talents and personalities from broad and varying
dance backgrounds. The combined teaching
experience is unparalleled and HDT is proud of its teacher’s
ongoing dance education, training and performance.

Danielle Lewis - Artistic Director, began dancing with the Huntington
Dance Workshop at age 3 and was an original cast member
of HDT’s 1981 Nutcracker, cast as “Clara” at the age of 6.
Danielle teaches and choreographs with HDT and has performed
in every performance of the Nutcracker. Danielle is most closely
identified with her Nutcracker role of Snow Queen that was hers
for 10 years. Danielle has choreographed countless works for
HDT’s Nutcracker and concerts, many of which have been chosen
for performance at the WV Dance Festival. Danielle
works in the Radiology Dept at Cabell Huntington Hospital.
Danielle is married to Greg Lewis and together they
have a beautiful daughter, Olivia, who is now dancing with HDT.

Laura Finlay - Assistant-Director, began dancing at 5 with Sally Beacham
through the YMCA. She then moved to Huntington Dance Workshop
under the direction and instruction of Dr. Mary Marcuzzi from Beckley
Dance Theater. Laura studied ballet, jazz, modern and tap. She has also
studied with Jerry Rose and Ella Hay and has taken master classes from
David Howard, Ronnie DeMarco, Kate Trammel, Shane O’Hara and other
notable instructors. Laura apprenticed into Huntington Dance Theatre at
age 11 where she performed with HDT and Beckley Dance Theater.
By age 13, Laura began assisting classes, taught at the apprentice level
at 16, and has been teaching ever since. In addition to weekly classes,
Laura has participated in many workshops and annually attends
WV Dance Festival. She has organized and hosted dance/movement
workshops for WV Governor's Honors Academy, Huntington Museum of
Art and within local schools, and choreographs for the annual Nutcracker
and Spring performances, and other events. In addition, her works have
been selected for performance at WV Dance Festival. Aside from dance,
Laura completed her Master's Degree (Public Administration) in
December of 2000 and began her career at the Department of Veterans
Affairs in April of 2001. Laura is married to Chris and they have one
daughter, Rebekah, a company member with HDT. Laura’s present
responsibilities with HDT include teaching and choreographing at all
levels, performing, and handling public relations and other administrative
duties.

Jamie Turner - Director, began dancing in Huntington at age 4 with
Dickinson School of Dance. She subsequently studied in Phoenix, AZ for
four years, in addition to gymnastics, jazz, tap and other disciplines. Upon
returning to Huntington, Jamie studied with both Joanna Dinkins and Ella
Hay. Jamie joined HDT's company in 1995. Amongst others, she has
performed Nutcracker roles such as Marzipan, Ballerina Doll, Gypsy Doll
and the Sugar Plum Fairy. Jamie has taught for HDT and has
choreographed often, including works chosen for performance at the WV
Dance Festival. In 2000 Jamie moved to Pittsburgh, PA where she
continued to study dance at Point Park University under the instruction of
Madeline Adams of the Romanian National Ballet and with Pittsburgh
Ballet Theatre, under the instruction of Bob Vickrey, assistant to the
Artistic Director and former dancer with the San Francisco and Harkness
Ballets. In 2006 - 2008 Jamie moved to the Philadelphia area,
continuing to study dance with various top ranked companies and
schools. Jamie has a BBA from Marshall University and a MBA from
Point Park University. She is currently a Strategic Consultant with
Humana, Inc. in Louisville, KY. Jamie continues to perform and teach
with HDT and has been operating as HDT's director since 12/2004.

Molly Daniel aka “Miss Molly” - Instructor, began dancing the Fall of
1990 at HDT under instruction of Mary Marcuzzi. She wanted to follow her
sisters, Amy and Laura, onto the stage. Molly debuted as a “Boy” and
“Gingersnap” in 1994 and performed one of her dream roles, “Clara”, in
1999. This year she again performs her other dream role, “Sugar Plum
Fairy”. In addition to taking classes, Molly is an instructor for HDT and her
love of dance is reflected in her students’ enjoyment and progress. Molly
has organized dance workshops through the Huntington Museum of Art’s
KIDSART program. She has enhanced her training locally by studying
with Ella Hay, annually attending the WV MiniFest and WV Dance Festival,
and has taken master classes with Nina Danilova of the NC School of the
Arts, Bob Vickrey of Pittsburg Ballet Theatre, David Howard, Duncan
Noble, Shane o’Hara, Ronnie DeMarco and others. This summer she
was selected to attend a summer intensive with Ballet Theatre Midwest in
Cincinnati, OH. Molly has done a great deal of choreography for HDT and
has taken on several large pieces of Nutcracker 2007. Outside the studio,
Molly is a 3.97 John Marshall Scholar majoring in English Literature,
minoring in Dance, and will graduate in University Honors in Spring 2008;
she is currently a member of the Honors Program, the Chair of the JMS
Advisory Board and Vice President of MUHSA.

Melissa Buchanan - Instructor, began dancing at the age of 2 with
Nancy's School of Dance, eventually joining Huntington Dance Workshop
under the instruction of Mary Marcuzzi, continuing through to become a
company member with Huntington Dance Theatre where she danced
until the age of 21. Melissa took a hiatus for several years, marrying
Jonathan Buchanan (now husband of 8 years), obtained a Bachelor's
Degree in Nursing and had two beautiful children, Mackenzie and Brody.
Melissa has coached award winning cheer leading squads for several
years. Melissa came back to dance with HDT a few years ago, dancing
her first Nutcracker while pregnant with her son Brody. Melissa is
currently a Registered Nurse working at Marshall University in the Internal
Medicine Department. Melissa says "I'm so happy to be back doing
what I love. Although my body is older and doesn't allow for the things it
used to, my passion and love for dance is still present. I can only hope
that my love can be a positive influence for up and coming dancers."
HDT is very happy and lucky to have Melissa back!

Kayleigh Stevens - Instructor, began dancing at the age of six at Miss
Elizabeth's Dance Studio in Chillicothe, OH where she studied jazz and
tap. In 1997, she began dancing and twirling at Mirror Image Dance Studio
where she taught beginning jazz classes and competed on the junior,
senior and collegiate teams in hip-hop, jazz and twirling until 2008. She
coached the Huntington High School dance team and color guard from
2005 to 2007 and is also currently a member of Marshall University's
Color guard. While at Marshall, Kayleigh is double majoring in English
and Elementary Education and will graduate in December 2009.

Maria Aiello - Instructor, began dancing at age 3 with January's Academy of
Dance in Charleston, WV. Maria continued her dance training with the
River City Youth Ballet, joining the Charleston Ballet as an apprentice in
2001 and as a company member in 2003. Maria has also performed with
the Children's Theatre of Charleston and danced at the Catholic
Congress in Charleston. In addition to her continuous training, Maria has
studied with Miguel Campaneria, Duncan Noble, Ronnie DeMarco, David
Howard, Christopher Fleming, Freddie Fourie, Yves de Boutellier, Rob
Royce, Luis Montego and Kim Pauley. Maria has performed in the
Nutcracker with Huntington Dance Theatre, the Charleston Ballet,
Alabama Ballet, Moscow Ballet and Ballet South. Nutcracker roles include:
Angel, Ginger Snap, Mouse, Spanish, Chinese, Flowers and Snow. Other
performances include: The Seasons, Les Partineurs, My Many Colored
Days, Green Mansions, Sleeping Beauty, Giselle, Coppelia, Paquita, Alice
in Wonderland and Play Ball. This year marks Maria's second season
with HDT.

Advisor

Amy McElroy acted as HDT’s Director for ten years, 1994 - 2004.
She danced at Dickinson School of Dance and with Sally
Beacham before attending Huntington Dance Workshop School in
1982. Amy has taught, choreographed and performed
extensively, continuing her own dance education via workshops
and regular classes. Amy currently teaches at Huntington High
School and has taught at St. Joseph’s and Marshall University.
She is also very active with the Marshall University Writing Project.
She and husband Jamie are the proud parents of Benjamin Paul born in
May of 2004. Amy continues to handle some administrative duties
for HDT but is not currently dancing or teaching. HDT looks
forward to Amy’s continued involvement.