Click on a faculty/staff's name to view their bio!
Kelsey Rioux
Tricia Apicelli
Yvie Bessette
Deanna Costa
Shyenne Croce
Amanda Farley
Andrew Howarth
Megan Jackowski
Jessica Lee
Danielle Montville
Katie Neeland
Madison Rea
Caroline Shroer
Jessica-Rose White
Guest Competition
Choreographers:.
SKooJ CorE-O
Mackenzie Nazworth
2024 - 2025 Faculty & Staff
Kelsey Rioux
Owner/Director of Artistry Dance Center
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ADC 24-25 Classes: Acro, Pre-Pointe, Jazz, Tap, Ballet, and Modern.
Competition Choreography: Acro, Contemporary, Jazz, Lyrical
Kelsey Rioux, born and raised in Killingly, CT, began her dance education at The Putnam Dance Center where she danced for 15 years. While teaching and choreographing at the studio, she continued her studies at Rhode Island College located in Providence, RI. Here she received a B.A. in Dance Performance and a minor in Mathematics, and graduated summa cum laude with a four-year talent, and presidential scholarship. While at Rhode Island College, Kelsey has had the pleasure of working with her professors Angelica Vessella and Jessica Pearson, and also guest artists such as Bob Boross, William Evans, Jennifer Archibald, Keigwin+Company, and David Parker. Recently, she has performed with the RIC Dance Company and Boston Community Dance Project in several areas throughout New England, and a few performances in New York City. Post graduation, Kelsey became the Assistant Director, and the Co-Director of The Putnam Dance Center. As of June 2021, she became the Owner and Director of the studio, now renamed to Artistry Dance Center.
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In furthering her education, Kelsey attends a major convention, or participates in a certification program each year, and every opportunity she can get! She has been certified in the Youth Protection Advocates in Dance (YPAD) Safety & Wellness Course, which includes a verified background check, and certification in Adult & Pediatrics First Aid/CPR/AED. She is also a member of Dance Masters of America (DMNE) Ch. 5, and is certified with an international Acro Dance organization for Acrobatic Arts Module 1 and 2.
Kelsey has been a teacher and choreographer for over 10 years, and is looking forward to working with her students at Artistry Dance Center this year!
Tricia Apicelli
Office Manager of Artistry Dance Center
Tricia has been the Office/Accounts Manager for The Putnam Dance Center, now Artistry Dance Center, since 2012, and has been part of our studio family for over 20 years! Tricia handles the financial aspects of family and competition team accounts, is the designer/producer of our annual yearbook and recital program, creator of all creative things, and is overall the glue that keeps us together! She grew up dancing at Dotti's School of Dance, and now enjoys taking the Adult classes offered at the studio, bringing back the wonderful memories of dancing when she was younger. She has been blessed to have three wonderful children grow up dancing at the studio as well: Miranda for 24 years, Nicole for 16 years, and Amber for 11. Tricia also loves being outside and gardening, spending time with her 5 cats, and reading!
Shyenne (Shy) Croce
Social Media & Admin Staff
ADC 24-25 Classes : Hip Hop, Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Modern, Contemporary, and Styles.
ADC Competition Choreography : Contemporary, Jazz, and Lyrical.
Shyenne Bonoyer was born and raised in Burrillville RI, growing up in a small town where dance was not a very popular thing. She started her dance journey at age 10 with Glocester Dance Academy and built her training from there, attending master classes regularly and soaking up as much as she could in a small town. As a student Shyenne received many awards for her competitive choreography, performing her own pieces at just 14 years old. Once graduated Shy attended Dean College where she received her Bachelors in Dance and let her creativity in choreography take flight. Shy has trained under many dance professionals such as Kristin Berger, Todd Shanks, and even ADC's very own Kayla Luoma and Skooj Choreo. Shy continues her training and is ready to pursue her love of dance through sharing it with others. Choreography has been a passion of hers since she was 14 and Shy will continue to learn and share the love of dance in any way she can. Shy is going into her second year with ADC!
Yvie Bessette
Social Media & Admin Staff
ADC 24-25 Classes : Dance Inspirations, Ballet, Jazz, Lyrical, Hip Hop, and Modern.
ADC Competition Choreography : Jazz, Musical Theatre, Contemporary, and Lyrical.
Yvonne “Yvie” Bessette is a dancer, musical theatre artist, choreographer, dance educator, and youth facilitator. Holding a B.A. in both Dance Performance and Youth Development, Yvie’s philosophy is finding the intersection of movement, musicality, and technique, all while encouraging her students’ agency and autonomy throughout their own unique dance journeys. Yvie has trained in all styles of dance, specializing in Modern, Jazz, Musical Theatre and Contemporary, working with choreographers and artists including David Dorfman, Alexandra Beller, Jenny Rocha, Jessica T. Pearson, and Geo Hubela to name a few. Yvie has been a dance educator at Artistry Dance Center since its establishment, and is thrilled to be back for another season.
Deanna Costa
Teacher
ADC 24-25 Classes : Creative Movement, Preschool, Wiggles N Giggles, and Ballet/Tap/Jazz Foundations.
Deanna started dancing at 2½ years old at “Dotty’s School of Dance” in Plainfield, CT, where she danced for 16yrs. She performed and competed in all genres including Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Lyrical and Hip Hop. As a young adult, in her junior & senior year, she was choreographing her own routines and independently teaching classes. She even attended intensives at the Dance Masters of America training school in NY in 1998 & 1999. Deanna has also participated in musical theatre. She was an ensemble member and an assistant choreographer in the dance routines of “Two Gentlemen of Verona” & “West Side Story” performed at Woodstock Academy. Deanna is currently employed as a Registered Nurse at Women & Infants Hospital in Providence, Rhode Island. She has been a labor and delivery nurse for 21 years and loves coaching moms through labor and teaching them about the body’s endless strengths. Deanna lives in Canterbury with her three children, Boston Terrier puppy, and husband, Michael. She has two daughters that enjoy dancing at the studio. Caroline is dancing her 13th year and Mabel is in her 5th year of dance. This is Deanna’s 6th year teaching at ADC. She is so excited to be part of Artistry Dance Center’s family to share her passion for dance with its members!!!
Amanda Farley
Teacher
ADC 24-25 Classes : Hip Hop Foundations.
Amanda started her dance career as a youngster with the Burrillville, RI Parks and Recreation dance program, then moved on to dance with the American Ballet Company in Pascoag, RI. Following these experiences, she danced for 20+ years, in all genres, with Physical Attitude where she was a member of the competition team. In 1993, she started assistant teaching and shortly after began teaching her own classes. Amanda graduated from the Dance Teacher’s Club of Boston’s training program. By day, Amanda is a speech-language pathologist in the public schools in Massachusetts. She works with children from 3 years old through 4h grade. In addition to her teaching at Artistry, she is the resident director of choreography with the Good Shepherd Drama Club in Woonsocket, RI. Amanda resides in RI with her children, Keighan and Wesley and her husband, Jared. Amanda is thrilled to be a part of the ADC family with both her children who dance at the studio as well, and to watch all of the dancer’s love for dance grow! This is Amanda’s 9th year teaching with us at the studio.
Andrew Howarth
Teacher
ADC 24-25 Classes : Conditioning.
ADC Competition Choreography : Jazz.
Andrew found his desire for dance at age 6 with the Mary McInerney School of Irish Step Dance, where he studied for 5 years. He then chose to pursue training in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Contemporary, Lyrical, and Musical Theater at the Jo Ann Warren Studio in Worcester, MA where he achieved the National Title of “Teen Mr. Dancers Inc 2010” at the Dancers Inc National Competition in Hershey, PA. Andrew continued his training with the Patti Eisenhauer Dance Center in Franklin, MA. He was a dancer and choreographer for the Non-Profit Dance Organization “Stylized Movement” and a principal dancer, choreographer and promotional model for the Dance Company “Shadows - Dance Art Experience”. Andrew also performed and choreographed for “DCW - Dance Company Worcester.” He performed with the Project Movement Dance Company in the Massachusetts Symphony Orchestra “Holiday Pops” Concert. He is a certified active member of Dance Masters of America, New England Ch. 5. He is Alixa Flexibility Module One and Two certified where the focus is working with all levels of abilities and ages, building a solid flexibility foundation with the concentration on injury prevention and safety. Recently, Andrew became certified in the Nan Giordano Certification Program® to teach the Basic Level of the Giordano Jazz Technique. He is continually working hard to develop technically trained dancers and artists. Andrew’s choreography has been showcased in benefit performances and dance festivals throughout New England, and his dance instruction helps his students prepare them for a career in the performing arts. Andrew loves to exhibit his artistry through movement and choreography. Andrew enjoys passing on his love for dance and is a positive influence in the dance education of his students! This is Andrew’s 3rd year at ADC.
Megan Jackowski
Teacher
ADC 24-25 Classes : Tap
Megan Jackowski started dancing at David Sanders Dance Dynamics at the age of 2 years old. She continued studying Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Modern, Hip Hop, and Acro after continuing onto her dance years at Stage Door School of Dance. She gained training under Mary Giattino and had the opportunity to learn from masters such as Sara Brians, Kristyn Pope, Blaire Brooks and more. During this time she was introduced to acting and had the opportunity to perform in Mainstage productions such as Billy Elliot and A Christmas Story at the Patchogue Theater in Long Island, NY. After graduating, Megan is continuing her dance studies at Dean College in hopes to continue her career in dance performance and teaching. She is very excited to be sharing her love and passion for dance with the Artistry Dance Center family.
Jessica Lee
Teacher
ADC 24-25 Classes : Musical Theatre
Jess (she/her) put on her first pair of jazz shoes at 2.5 and never looked back. She grew up in NY, dancing at various studios before finding a passion in musical theatre. Jess majored in Musical Theatre and Speech and minored in Dance and History, receiving her Bachelor of Arts from Wagner College in New York City. She performed regionally (TriArts Sharon Playhouse) and in New York City (Floorwork Dance Company) until transitioning to teaching Musical Theatre Jazz and Tap. Jess has been teaching dance since 2014 in New York, Massachusetts and now Connecticut. When not dancing, Jess leads diversity, equity and inclusion work for a global life sciences company, reads a lot of books, and spends time outside and hiking with her family. She is now going into her second year with ADC!
Danielle Montville
Teacher
ADC 24-25 Classes : Ballet and Ballet Foundations.
Danielle has been in and out of the dance community since the age of 11, when she studied dance at Aprilles Danceprints. There, she competed in Advanced Tap and completed Advanced Jazz and Ballet training. This is her 10th year teaching at the studio. Recently she has advanced her movement education by completing a 250-hour Yoga Instructor Certification as well as a certification specific to Chakra work which she obtained through Aura Wellness Center out of North Attleboro, MA. Danielle has a passion for dance and believes that dance should be rooted from love, with an emphasis of technique and of course, always fun! She lives in Killingly with her extremely supportive husband Trevor and her fun-loving daughter Evelyn, who has been dancing at The Putnam Dance Center and Artistry Dance Center for 10 years herself!
Katie Neeland
Teacher
ADC 24-25 Classes : Ballet, Jazz, and Modern.
Kathryn Neeland, (Katie) is going into her 2nd year on the team at ADC. Katie teaches all dance disciplines. She studied dance at Adelphi University, Boston College and earned her BFA in Dance Studies at the University of South Florida. For over 20 years she has performed and choreographed, earning recognition as a teacher, choreographer and performer. While attending college, Katie danced in Body & Soul Dance Company of Tampa, FL and taught a dance curriculum in the public schools. She’s been privileged to work with Karla Wolfangle, Ronald K. Brown, and Michael Foley to name a few. Most recently, her work was nominated for best dance ensemble recognized by the Massachusetts Educational Theater Guild for the play, “When You’re An Addams.” Katie resides in Woodstock, CT with her husband and three energetic girls since 2019.
Madison Rea
Admin Staff
ADC 24-25 Classes : Jazz, Ballet, Modern, Acro, Tap, and Dance Inspirations.
ADC Competition Choreography : Musical Theatre.
Madison Rea is from Warwick, Rhode Island and is a graduate from Rhode Island College with a BA in Musical Theatre and a Minor in Dance. She has been performing since the age of 3 and throughout her life has been involved in summer programs and dance performances that have encouraged her love for the arts. She had the privilege of being a member of the Rhode Island College Dance Company for four years and during that time, she worked with many different choreographers such as; Kat Pantos (Pantos Project Dance), Daniel McCusker, Adrienne Hawkins, Billy Seigenfeld (Jump Rhythm), Teena Marie-Custer, and many more! In her years post graduation, she has performed with The Boston She Party from 2020-2023 under the direction of Melanie Cox as well as performing with Konnectivity from 2020-2022 under the direction of Katie Caramiciu. Madison continues to dance, teach and choreograph around New England sharing her love for dance and theatre with other passionate artists!
Caroline Shroer
Teacher
ADC 24-25 Classes : Ballet Tech and Pointe.
Caroline Schroer began her training at the New Paltz School of Ballet in New Paltz, NY. She went on to earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Performance with a Minor in Musical Theatre from Mercyhurst University. Currently, Caroline dances with Ballet Hartford under the direction of Claire Kretzschmar (previously under Leyna Doran), performing classical and contemporary ballet works throughout Hartford and the surrounding areas. She teaches ballet, jazz, contemporary, lyrical, and musical theatre dance at multiple studios across Connecticut, and has choreographed for several junior and high school musicals. Caroline is passionate about inclusivity and accessibility in dance, and her teaching style strives to give students the skills to critically assess how technique can be a tool towards achieving their own personal goals.
Jessica-Rose White
Competition Team Coordinator
ADC 24-25 Classes : Modern, Ballet, and Jazz.
ADC Competition Choreography : Contemporary, Musical Theatre, Jazz, and Lyrical.
Jessica Rose Flynn, born and raised in Massachusetts, received her early dance training at the North Reading School of Ballet in Modern, Tap, Jazz, Ballet, and Lyrical under the direction of Lisa Pulver. In high school, Jessica was also accepted into the Junior Apprentice program with Urbanity Dance Company and added Contemporary dance and Improvisation to her repertoire. While with Urbanity, Jessica Rose trained with mentors and choreographers such as Betsi Graves, Ellenore Scott, Jackie Nowicki, and Tucker Knox who have all impacted her movement and way of teaching. Through Urbanity, she has performed in the spring and fall showcases each year, at Outside the Box Multi-Arts Festival, and the Boston Contemporary Dance Festival to name a few. After departing from NRSB and Urbanity in 2016, Jessica Rose jumped straight into a professional career by joining Bosoma Dance Company under the direction of Katherine Hooper. So far with Bosoma, she has performed at the Peabody Essex Museum as living art in the exhibit Rodin: Transforming Sculpture, various festivals, and in their annual fall and spring shows. In 2017, Jessica Rose joined Boston Community Dance Project under the direction of Sarah Kay “SKooJ CorE-O” and started training in Fusion movement. So far with BCDP, now rebranded as BCDP GLOBAL, Jessica Rose has performed in shows such as New York City’s Choreographers’ Carnival at the Highline Ballroom, the NYC Dance Parade, Openhouse NYC in Times Square presented by Brickhouse NYC, New York City's Dixon Place, various festivals, and BCDP's annual summer benefit show. Jessica has also been given many opportunities to educate pre-professional dancers and also choreograph on the company. In late 2019, Jessica joined Celebrity Cruises and performed in Eden on the Celebrity Edge until April 2020. Jessica Rose also shares her love of teaching and passion for the creative process with many dancers in the area. She choreographs in styles including Contemporary, Lyrical, Jazz, Ballet, and Improvisational dance. She has taught and choreographed for Aurora Borealis Dance Company, Urbanity Dance Company, Boston Community Dance Project (BCDP GLOBAL), and various other studios throughout the NorthEast. This is Jessica’s 1st year teaching weekly classes at Artistry, her 2nd year as our team coordinator, and her 3rd year with competition team choreography!
Guest Competition Choreographers
Sarah-Kay (Skooj-Choreo)
Guest Competition Choreographer
ADC Competition Choreography : Jazz, Hip Hop, and Contemporary.
Sarah-Katarina (SKooJ CorE-O) brings her knowledge and talents to the Dance Industry with experience in performance, choreography, instruction, and adjudication. SKooJ’s organic approach toward movement created the BCDP Global, a professional Commercial Contemporary based Sarah-Katarina (SKooJ CorE-O collective expressing their passion of story telling through fusion movements. BCDP’s work can be seen at NYC Dance Week, OPEN HOUSE NYC in Times Square, and our annual benefit show every August at Boston University!
Her choreography and direction has also been featured on the HGTV series "Spontaneous Construction", NESN, The Dr. Oz Show, WayFair.com Commercials, and MTV. Her talents have also paired up with TedEX Boston/Philadelphia, New Balance, Broadway in Boston, LA’s own Club Jete, and Carnival Choreographer’s Ball Anniversary Show! SKooJ has also worked for artist Shoshana Bean as she co-choreographed the Closing Number of Brian Friedman’s The Main Event in New York City.
SKooJ CorE-O entered the Music Video scene with choreographing for International Pop Artist Tamara Rodriguez, Pop/R&B Artist Erene, and Lucia Marie's House of Blues Tour! Other credits include “Digital Love” by Makio, “Dance With You” by Bad Rabbits ft. Clinton Sparks, "Stay With Me" Cover by Keith London “Medicine” by Jack Newsome and her own dance concept videos with McCarthy Visuals, Moonculture Films, 4ward Productions, and TOONTV. You can atch SKooJ choreographing for Ari B and featured in Pineapple Citi’s music video “Rose Colored”as well.
Lastly, SKooJ partnered up with Salty Bovine Films with setting artistry for their past three short films ADONIS, MOSDEN, and TRENT while most recently showcasing her acting talent in Sarah-Katarina (SKooJ CorE-O) movies Basic Math starring Cameron Diaz, TED2 with Mark Wahlberg, and Patriots Day!
Most recently SKooJ has become a resident choreographer with BookAFlashmob.com which travels her and BCDP Global across the NorthEast surprising hundreds with flashmob for corporate functions, proposals, and more!
Sarah-Katarina (SKooJ CorE-O) has gathered all her adventures, journeys, and experiences to inspire thousands of movers around the world. Her heart will continue to mentor the next generation, build the industry, and spread movement to all. Make sure to check out her work and #FollowTheArtistry.
Mackenzie Nazworth
Guest Competition Choreographer
ADC Competition Choreography : Tap.
Mackenzie has grown up dancing, and has trained in many styles such as tap, step, ballet, jazz, modern, contemporary, hip hip, and West African dance. She currently is a member of the Rhythmic Souls Pro Company run by original Tapestry member, Katelyn Harris. Through this, she has been able to learn rep from artists such as Anthony Morigerato, Ayodele Casel, Sean Kaminski, and Zahna Johnson, a current member of the STOMP cast. Mackenzie graduated with a BA in Dance with a Pedagogy concentration and a Psychology minor from Dean College in 2024. While at Dean she was heavily involved with the percussive dance teams on campus, including the Loose Screws Tap Team and the Dean College Step Team. Throughout her time at Dean, she was able to choreograph for many shows on campus and was awarded the 2022 Emerging Artist Award. She has been teaching various styles for 7 years, and has a passion for teaching dancers not only about the technique of the style, but also how to develop a deeper understanding of the musicality and the history behind it. This year she is excited to work as a competition team choreographer for Artistry Dance Center!
