OUR INSTRUCTORS
MISS KERRI
I grew up in Stafford Springs CT, where I studied under Marjorie Serafin. I earned my Associates Degree in Dance from DEAN College, then went on to UCONN for Business. I have studied Master Dance classes in New York City at both Broadway Dance Center and Steps On Broadway. I have trained under Gregory Hines, Claire O'Donnell, Rhee and Renee Gold, Gus Giordano, Frank Hatchett and Roberta James, to name a few. I have performed with the late Gregory Hines and on Crimson Cruise Lines during my college years.
Since the age of 15, I have been teaching and sharing my passion of dance. I am a very proud mom of 5 fantastic children, two of which are very accomplished dancers and teachers, Brailey and Chanse Williams, here at the Academy. At 32 I opened up my first school of dance. My goal is to provide quality dance technique, self confidence, the skill of setting and accomplishing goals, a supportive community of
peers and teachers and strong friendships. I provide students the opportunity to take Master classes in NYC twice per dance season. We also attend many local dance conventions during the season. I have led my
Competition Troupe to take home FIRST PLACE OVERALL IN BOTH REGIONAL AND NATIONAL COMPETITIONS. Many of my students have gone onto college to major/minor in Dance, and are performing with companies throughout the states.
As the Owner and Head Teacher of Lakeside Academy of Dance, I hope to inspire all of my students, past, present and future, to follow their hearts and dreams in dance and all that they do
Miss Megan-
Megan began her dance career at the age of three on Long Island, NY. She studied a variety of styles such as ballet, tap, jazz, hip-hop, modern, contemporary, and musical theatre. At the age of 12, she joined the elite competition team at the Dance Centre of the Hamptons; winning regional and national awards. She began teaching at the age of 16 where she learned and obtained clear instructional skills and identified techniques to inspire and motivate others. Megan continued her dance training in college, becoming a member of the Fairfield University Dance Ensemble. After school, she has had the pleasure of teaching multiple genres of dance in Switzerland, Japan, and the US. She has spent the last few years teaching, choreographing, and judging for a variety of different studios, private schools, and dance competitions all over the country. Megan is so excited to spread her love of this performing art and is thankful for the blessings that dance can bring to all dancers!
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MR. DWAYNE:
Mr. Dwayne started dance at the age of 6 in elementary school in a group called Lanketts Plus. He was the Plus, lol. After dancing with them for three years he left dance and tried gymnastics where he competed for 7 years at an Elite Level. During his high school career of Gymnastics, dance came back around thanks to a friend of his (Rori Hudson). From that day on he started his career again as a dancer. He began to take calls at Maple Avenue Dance in Rockville Centre New York. He decided to take Modern Jazz, Hip Hop and Ballet classes there under the direction of many talented teachers. During that time, he also decided to take a few classes in New York at Broadway Dance Center. This is where he learned the real meaning of dance and what it meant to be a real dancer.
While studying at Broadway Dance Center, he had the best opportunity to dance with some of the world’s best teachers who you may know today, such as Jermaine Browne, Tyce Diorio, Franke Hatchett, Wade Robison, Brian Freidman, Darrin Henson and Mia Michaels. He was able to study under these famous choreographers and learned the best part about being a dancer... living in the moment.
His career in dance started to really develop when he became a choreographer for a local DJ entertainment company putting together shows and routines for showcases and entertainment parties. It was during that time that he met “Safire", the legendary freestyle artist. He became her choreographer and has been with her for about 14 years. Within that time, he has traveled to many places that he never thought he would ever go. And it was because of her that I was able to perform at some of the best venues ever.
MISS LUNA
Luna Esmerode began her serious dance training with Benicia Ballet in Benicia, California. During this time, she was given the opportunity to perform corps de ballet and principal roles in ballets such as The Nutcracker, Giselle, and Swan Lake. Luna also participated in the Royal Academy of Dance exams, achieving Distinction through Advanced II and performing in the Solo Seal competition. In 2018, Luna was a participant in the National
Security Language Initiative for Youth, Bolshoi Way, where she studied ballet and Russian at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Moscow for six weeks.
Luna graduated from the University of Utah in 2023 with a B.F.A. in Ballet, an Hon B.A. in English, and a minor in Russian. During her university career, Luna trained with and performed works choreographed by Pablo Piantino, Melissa Bobick, Cherylyn Lavagnino, Jay Kim, and Rena Butler. Upon graduation, Luna was awarded the Ballet Program Senior award for
Writing and Research. Luna will be dancing with New England Ballet Theatre in Connecticut for
the 2023-2024 season, and she is excited to join the Lakeside family
MISS TIFFANY
Miss Tiffany started dancing at the age of 6 and never looked back! Over the past 25 years, Miss Tiffany has trained in Jazz, Ballet, Pointe and Lyrical/Contemporary. She was a competitive dancer for 10 years, and has been with Lakeside Dance Academy since it opened in 2006. Over the course of her training, Miss Tiffany has taken master classes at Broadway Dance Center and Steps on Broadway in New York City. She has also attended several conventions throughout New York City and Boston. To this day, Miss Tiffany continues to take classes and attend conventions and Master classes whenever possible! She also belongs to the Lakeside Dance Academy’s Company and performs in the Spring Showcase every year both as a soloist and group performer. Miss Tiffany has also been both a teacher’s assistant and a teacher in the past, and is so excited to be back for the 2018-2019 season!
MIss Hannah
Miss Julia
Miss Julia started dancing when she was three years old, and has been with Lakeside since it first opened. She first became an assistant teacher at the age of 11, and began teaching her own classes at 16 years old. Miss Julia was a member of the Middletown High School Dance Team for four years, and then moved on to the Central Connecticut State University Dance Team where she competed at the UDA National Championship in Orlando, FL all four years. During her time at CCSU, she was able to participate in the Disney College Program, working at the parks and resorts. There, she was able to partake in classes and auditions, and watch many different types of performances.
Miss Julia graduated from CCSU in 2019 with a degree in English. She loves to teach, and is looking forward to a very fun season