Meet The Team
Coach, Operations, & Groove Guru
Allison Blanchard
Specialties: Jazz, Tap
Allison was born and raised in Franklin, TN and began dancing at the age of 5 at the Franklin School of Performing Arts under the direction of Kaylee Cahoon. She continued her dance training at the University of South Florida in Tampa, FL. During her time at USF, Allison performed in works by guest artists Doug Varone, Rosie Herrera, and the Batsheva Dance Company. She graduated Summa Cum Luade with a BFA in Modern Dance Performance in May 2014 and moved to New York City to pursue a dance/musical theatre career. In March 2015 she was cast in the National Tour of 42nd Street and toured the country for 2 seasons! Allison has danced professionally for 10 years, performing in regional theatre productions of Arizona (Mary Poppins), Florida (The Producers), and Maine (42nd Street). Most recently, she danced for Princess Cruises.
Coach, Judge, & Performance Polisher
Mallory Noting
Specialties: Jazz, Tap, Musical Theatre
Mallory Nolting began dancing at the age of two and soon began performing with her studios competition team. Growing up, not only did she dance in the competition circuit but also performed with Camp Broadway in The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, NJPAC's Summer Conservatory, Random Farms Kids Theatre, and The Broadway Workshop. She continued her training by attending Marymount Manhattan College, receiving a Bachelor of the Arts in Dance, concentrating on Teaching Dance Arts. She also studied at Broadway Dance Center in their Summer Professional Semester and attended the Goodspeed Opera House Musical Theatre Dance Intensive. Soon after college Mallory began her professional career in performance, teaching, and choreography. Mallory has taught many master classes and workshops around the country while she was on tour. Her favorite performance credits include; 42nd Street National Tour, Swing The Musical! on Norwegian Cruise Line, Holiday Inn at Papermill Playhouse, Bandstand National Tour, and most recently became a Radio City Rockette. mallorynolting.com
Coach, Operations, & Creative Catalyst
Ryan Blackson
Specialties: Lyrical, Contemporary, Hip Hop
Ryan Blackson graduated with a BFA in dance with a jazz concentration from Marymount Manhattan College. A native of Wilmington, Delaware and resident of NYC, Ryan trains in many genres of dance including; ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, musical theater, and modern. He has had the privilege of working and training with some of the best in the business. He recently worked on a Broadway musical workshop entitled, Revival, under the direction of Christopher d’Amboise. Ryan has completed several contracts with Royal Caribbean and Holland America Cruise Lines. He has had the privilege of performing in a variety of shows around the nation including; A Chorus Line (Larry), Cats (Mr. Mistoffelees), La Cage Aux Folles (Cagelle), Chicago, Legally Blonde, Bye Bye Birdie, The Wizard of Oz, and many more. He was in the Chicago National Tour, and has received numerous awards for his choreography at national dance competitions.
Coach, Operations, & Footloose Facilitator
Caitlyn Casson
Specialties: Modern, Contemporary
Caitlyn Casson is a global performing artist, choreographer and teacher. She has performed repertoire by distinguished artists Bill T. Jones, Doug Varone, Talley Beatty and Sean Curran. Caitlyn’s desire for internationally diverse, artistic endeavors has taken her across the globe to perform and teach at prestigious venues such as the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Kigali Ubumuntu Festival, Fringe Istanbul, Centro Cultural Kirchner in Buenos Aires, Fondation des États-Unis Paris and The Place in London. Caitlyn recently spent four months in Cape Town, South Africa, where she performed in a world premiere with the Anderson Carvalho Dance Company at The Baxter Theatre. Since 2013, she has been working as an International Dance Trainer and Teacher Training Specialist with MindLeaps to East and West Africa and Eastern Europe. Caitlyn resides in NYC where she works with contemporary dance companies Ariel Rivka Dance, Matthew Westerby Company and Nuevo Tango Ballet.
Coach, Operations, & Rhythm Architect
Christina Slaton
Specialties: Tap, Acro
Christina is originally from Charleston, SC and is a graduate of the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York City and is currently based out of Brooklyn, NY. Regional professional credits include: Under One Condition at Dixon Place, Anything Goes with the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, Jill Eathorne Bahr's Peter Pan and George Balanchine's Serenade with Charleston Ballet Theatre. Christina has traveled internationally as Dance Captain on Holland America Line Cruises and nationally with Broadway’s 42nd Street National Tour. Last spring she had the opportunity to study with Enzo Celli and Vivo Ballet Roma in Rome, Italy. With a passion for Musical Theatre and Immersive Arts, her classes focus on technique and musicality, all while exploring one’s inner connection and personal style.
Coach, Operations, & Ensemble Orchestrator
Melissa Jones
Specialties: Jazz, Tap
Melissa Jones is an actor, singer, dancer, writer and voice over artist living in New York City. Melissa grew up in Southern California and developed a love of performing at an early age. She honed her skills in various community theater productions and school performances, eventually leading her to New York City to pursue dance full-time. Among other productions, she was Babette in the national tour of Beauty and the Beast, Kate/ Chutney on the international tour of Legally Blonde, and the naughty girl in the national tour of Spamalot.
Coach, Operations, & Stage Strategist
Katie Collazo
Specialties: Jazz, Contemporary
Katie has been dancing for 20 years, and she is also trained in singing and acting. She has served as Operations Assistant for Step Up 2 Dance for two years. In Katie's words, "I love meeting new people and getting to create amazing things to share with the world."
Coach, Operations, & Movement Mentor
Matthew Roland
Specialties: Jazz, Contemporary
Matthew Roland is an Australian performer now based in NYC. He boasts an impressive career that began at his mother’s dance studio in Perth. With over a decade of experience dancing for Princess Cruises, he has also dazzled audiences as part of the international tour of Legally Blonde. Beyond the stage, Matt is a TikTok enthusiast, sharing his passion for dance with a global audience. His dynamic background and infectious energy make him a standout performer wherever he goes.
Coach, Operations, & Flow Creator
Heather Nolting
Specialties: Tap, Jazz, Musical Theatre
Heather is a performer from New Jersey. She grew up as a competition dancer, as well as a musical theatre performer with NJPAC, Random Farms Kids Theatre and the Broadway Workshop. Heather attended Marist College, where she received a B.S. in chemistry and was the president of her college dance team. She continued her dance training with the Broadway Dance Center Professional Semester. She was recently the Associate Choreographer for a new work, Amity, at the New York Theatre Festival. Along with being a performer, Heather is also a dance educator, fitness instructor, and competition manager.
Coach, Operations, & Stage Visionary
Haley Fica
Specialties: Contemporary, Ballet
Haley Fica's love for dance ignited at the tender age of three, sparking a lifelong journey of movement and expression. Hailing from Atlanta, she honed her skills at Atlanta Dance, immersing herself in the worlds of ballet, jazz, and contemporary dance. Her passion led her to Barnard University, where she earned a BFA in Physics, as well as a Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering. further refining her technique and artistry. Haley's professional career has taken her across stages and studios nationwide. She's graced audiences with her performances in regional productions, captivating crowds with her grace and energy. Her love for teaching shines through in her numerous workshops and masterclasses, where she shares her knowledge and inspires the next generation of dancers. Currently based in NYC, Haley continues to push boundaries as a freelance dancer, choreographer, and teaching artist. She's committed to lifelong learning and exploration, always seeking new ways to express herself through movement.