Discover Our Dance Studio Faculty

SHANNON

CAREY-WOLLSCHLEGER

NEW OWNER

JENNIFER ANTROPOLI

Jennifer grew up dancing at Dance 22 in Webster, NY. At age 16, she was awarded a full summer scholarship to Giordano Dance Chicago, Illinois. Putting college on hold, she moved to California at age 18 to perform with the Young Americans under the direction of William Brawley, Robyn Brawley, and the late Milton Anderson. She's been featured in many shows, including Paramount Studios Convention, Disneyland Convention Center, and National Senior Sports Olympic opening ceremonies. She spent a summer a Boyne Highlands dinner theater in Michigan. She found her love for teaching during her two National Music outreach tours. 

She attended Cal-State Fullerton for two years and transferred to the University at Buffalo, NY, where she graduated with a BFA in dance. While at UB, she studied under Tom Relabate, Lynne Kurdziel-Formato, William Thomas, and Jeanne Fornarola, to name a few. At UB, she was a part of the Dancers' Workshop, Young Choreographers Showcase, Studio Works Dance Ensemble, and Zodiaque Dance Company. 

In 2003 Jennifer joined Spins faculty. She has been awarded numerous awards for overall achievements, performance awards, and choreography awards. She's been recently nominated for 2018 Choreographer of the Year at Nexstar Dance Competition. Her enthusiasm for dance and helping children hone their technique is shown daily in her classes. When she is not teaching, "Miss Jen" loves to spend time with family and friends.

LISA NEVINS

Lisa grew up dancing at Little Red Dancing School, training under Lisa Allain and Cayla Allen. She studied ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, and modern while training at the studio. Lisa attended the University at Buffalo for college and graduated with a BFA in Dance. While at UB, she danced with the resident dance company, Zodiaque.

In addition to her training in Rochester and Buffalo, Lisa spent numerous summers training in LA at the Edge, New York City, at both Broadway Dance Center and Steps on Broadway and Chicago at Giordano Jazz Dance Center. She was fortunate to achieve numerous scholarships to many summer dance programs, allowing her to broaden her dance education. Lisa lived in New York City, where she interned for Broadway Dance Center and continued training.

Lisa’s professional performance credits include dancing in Opryland’s productions of Boots, Boogie, and Blues and Christmas at the Palace in Tennessee as one of the two female dancers in the show. She also performed for Artpark in Lewiston, NY, where she was cast as Eliza in their “The King and I” production and as a featured dancer in “Copacabana.” Lisa is also one of the original members of LehrerDance, a modern-based dance company in Buffalo, NY. She toured nationally with the company performing and teaching.

Lisa has a true passion for teaching and loves to be in the studio with her students, helping them achieve the most out of every class. She has been fortunate to teach at studios throughout the Rochester area for the past fourteen years, including Premier Dance Center and Pittsford Dance Studio, and guest teaches throughout the site. When Lisa is not at the studio, she loves spending time with her family, especially her husband and daughters.

KIM LORD

Kim grew up dancing at Dance 22 in Webster NY as well as Spins. After High School she went on to travel in Up with People for a year as a featured dancer and continued to teach new students as a Dance Intern for 2 summers after. After her year on the road, she returned to Webster where she started teaching at Spins. In 2001 Kim returned to Webster Schroeder where she went to high school. She choreographed many musicals for over 12 years and is still the choreographer for the award-winning Webster Show Choir. She has worked for many local middle schools and high schools doing Musical Choreography. She was a part of the Brighton Summer Arts for over 10 years. Kim continues to learn and grow from many conventions throughout the year. She has truly enjoyed over 20 years on the Spins faculty. In her down time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and 2 kids.

SARAH HIN

Sarah is an alumni of Spins, where she danced for 12 years. She is a Penfield High School graduate who obtained her bachelor's degree at SUNY Brockport in Arts for Children and Dance; she also received her master's degree in Early Childhood Education and Inclusive Education from Nazareth College. While at Brockport, Sarah was the captain of the dance team and performed with the Sankofa dance ensemble. In the fall of 2008, she studied abroad in London, England, teaching physical education. Sarah returned to Rochester and has spent the last seven years teaching dance and music at Thomas Jefferson High School, directing the Kindergarten program at The JCC, and teaching 4th grade in West Irondequoit. She was a member of The ROC City Diamonds Dance Company for three years and was a guest choreographer for the Sing Out Company for the past ten years. Sarah is currently substitute teaching in the Rochester area and directs the Penfield Recreation Summer Camp Program. 

Sarah teaches competition-level Lyrical, Broadway, and Hip Hop classes and recreational pre-school through adults: Tap, jazz, Broadway, Lyrical, Contemporary, and Hip Hop.

PAMELA JEAN SCHERER HIN

The head of our Ballet Department, Pamela, graduated from f the Enidd Knapp Botsford School of Dance, where she performed as a principal dancer and faculty member. She has taught ballet in the Rochester area to students of all ages for over 20 years. Her training includes teachers from and performing with members of Ballet Russe, Boston Ballet Co., English National Ballet, New York City Ballet, Kirov Ballet, Alvin Ailey Dance Co., and American Ballet Theatre.

She has completed teacher's courses with Jurgen Schneider (coach to Mikhail Baryshnikov) in the Vaganova syllabus. Pamela was head of the dance department at the Gymnastics Training Center for eleven years and continues as a ballet consultant. She is the choreographer for the "Sing Out" Company of Rochester. 

Ms. Scherer Hin has studied various ballet techniques, adapting them to her teaching style.

CAITLIN SCHWARTZ

Caitlin Schwartz obtained her early training from the Timothy M. Draper Center for Dance Education in upstate New York. Under the direction of Artistic Director Jamey Leverett, she participated in various performances with the Rochester City Ballet during her training. She received a B.F.A. in Dance at the University of Arizona on scholarship. There she had the opportunity to work with many renowned teachers and choreographers, such as Ann Reinking, Gary Christ, and many members of the Balanchine Trust. After college Caitlin moved to New York City where she performed and assisted at the renowned Steps on Broadway. Caitlin is now about to begin her third year as a member of the Rochester City Ballet under the direction of Artistic Director David Palmer.

Kristin Bales

Kristin’s lifelong passion for dance and performing started as a Spin’s Dance Studio student at age three. Here, she was part of Spin’s Dance Studios competition team, notorious for many top-scoring awards. At 15, Kristin had the honor of beginning her teaching career here at Spins. Striving to follow in her mentor's footsteps (Cheryl Flanagan), Kristin entered and was crowned Miss Upstate New York Teenager 2000.

Upon graduation in 2001, she was invited to participate in IMTA (International Model and Talent Association). With over 1200 participants, she was 1 of 5 people selected to perform for an audience of over 5000. This afforded Kristin many opportunities to propel her career. Kristin was accepted into the prestigious Broadway Theater Project, founded and run by Anne Reinking, held in Tampa, FL. Just 120 people were chosen from the Nation, awarding Kristin the unique opportunity and privilege of working with legends such as Julie Andrews, Ben Vereen, and Gregory Hines!

 Soon thereafter, she was one of three females accepted into the University at Buffalo’s Music Theater program, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude. During this time Kristin scored many leading roles both academically and professionally at theaters such as Artpark and MuicalFare. Performances throughout her career include A Chorus Line (Val), Wild Party (Kate), The Producers (Ulla), World Goes Round (soloist and lead dancer), Smokey Joe’s Café (Deelee), and many more. She also was the lead singer of the Professional band Disco Duck where she enjoyed performing throughout Buffalo, NY.

Upon her return to Rochester in 2007, Kristin continued her performance and teaching career, allowing her to influence and inspire students of all ages, including adults with disabilities, with her knowledge and experience in dance and musical theater! Kristin was also able to carry on performing professionally, enticing local audiences with starring roles at Black Friar’s, JCC Centerstage, and Pittsford Musicals, and GEVA. She has also enjoyed a variety of modeling and film work opportunities along the way! While balancing these acts, Kristin earned her Cosmetology license in 2009. She owns her own successful in-home salon, offering hair and makeup artistry.

Kristin is thrilled to return to Spins Dance Studio, where her love and passion for performance and the arts began.

Alyssa Tarantino

Alyssa was born and raised in both Staten Island and Brooklyn, New York where she began dancing at 3 years old and continued her training all the way through high school until being accepted to The College at Brockport. While attending college, she studied modern dance under the instruction of William Evans, Mariah Maloney, and Kevin Warner. Alyssa was also a part of the Brockport Dance Team for 3 years. She earned her Bachelor of Science in both Dance and Interdisciplinary Arts for Children. After college she started her professional dance career dancing for the Syracuse Lady Knights Dance team, performing at the Major Arena Soccer League home games. Moving back to Rochester, Alyssa continued to perform for professional sports dance teams such as the Rochester Lady Sharks, Rochester Rattlers, and is currently performing with the Rochester Knighthawks Dance Team. Alyssa has her certification in "Kidding Around Yoga" and teaches classes to pre-schoolers through school aged children for the YMCA. She is ecstatic about getting back into a studio setting and starting at Spins as a recreational teacher!

Jessica Sigafoos

Jessica Sigafoos has adored dancing since the age of 2! She danced at Spins dance studio under Cheryl Flanagan for the entirety of her childhood, until she graduated from high school in 2018. Most of those years consisted of thriving on the competition team. She also loved mentoring young dancers as an assistant dance teacher at the studio.

Jessica joined the Webster Schroeder dance team during her freshman year of high school, and progressed to the position of captain/choreographer for her junior and senior years.

Post high school graduation she attended SUNY Oneonta state (Fall 2018- May 2022) and joined a student organized dance company, known as the Terpsichorean dance company. She auditioned some of her pieces for the end-of-semester recital and was fortunate to have both her dances performed at the show (both of which can be found on the dance company’s YouTube page)! She was also a part of the kickline team for the university. Jessica Sigafoos’s love for dance has never faulted, therefore she enjoys sharing her passion with others.

Fiona Joyce

Fiona grew up dancing at Spins for 15 years. Starting in her 3/4 T/B/J classes and quickly fell in love with dance. Soon after starting, Fiona began to compete on the Spins competition team for 8 years. She competed with many different levels in all styles offered at Spins while attending Penfield High School and was a part of the dance and cheer teams. She attended St. John Fisher, where she studied psychology and early childhood education. Working as a child watch assistant and camp counselor at the Eastside YMCA for three years, Fiona has had experience with a wide range of kids.

Fiona is now a certified group exercise instructor for cycling, barre, and pilates at several gyms in the Rochester area. Fiona is so excited to be back in the studio and part of the Spins family again.

Lindsey Miller

Lindsey is a choreographer, dance instructor, and fitness professional based in Upstate New York. She has over 20 years of experience in the dance and fitness industries working alongside top choreographers and fitness professionals in Los Angeles and New York City. She has appeared in television, film, live shows, music, and fitness videos as a dancer. Lindsey owns Lindsey Miller Fitness (@lindseymillerfitness), providing one-on-one and small-group training. She is an ACSM Certified Personal Trainer, Yoga Instructor, Sugarfoot Certified Trainer, a trainer for Dailyburn.com, a Master Trainer for Barre Above, and Director of Master Trainer Education for PlyoJam Cardio Dance Fitness. She created The Remedy, a mobility program for optimized dance and sports performance. As a personal trainer, instructor, and motivator, she is committed to providing fun, innovative, creative, and scientifically effective programming that promotes a healthy body and mind.

Briana Fitzpatrick

Briana Fitzpatrick is a Multidisciplinary Artist based in Rochester, NY. She grew up training in dance, gymnastics, martial arts, archery, and aerial arts. At the age of 17 she got her first professional dance company contract with Odyssey Dance Theatre in Salt Lake City Utah. She has performed In Rochester City Ballet’s Nutcracker & Cinderella and she is in Cirque Du Soleil’s database for dancers. Last summer Briana was 1 of 13 artists selected from worldwide to compete on Season 3 of the reality show “The Outstanding Artist” in Spetses, Greece where she spent a month filming on the show for a chance to win $25,000. Public viewers will have the opportunity to vote for the winner. The show is expected to air in summer of 2023. This spring Briana was selected to compete on Season 16 of American Ninja Warrior where she traveled to LA, California to run the course. The season will air in 2024. Currently Briana loves creating art with the incorporation of her various skills and art forms. Alongside her passion for art and dance she enjoys being able to coach and teach children dance, gymnastics, art, and acro.

Mitchell Canfield

Born and raised in Penfield, Mitchell embarked on his dance journey at Jody B's Studio of Dance. Throughout his youth, he actively participated in local musical theater, including a performance in Pajama Game, choreographed by Shannon!

This path led Mitchell to pursue a BFA in Musical Theatre at Emerson College in Boston. Professionally, Mitchell performed on various regional stages with memorable roles in productions such as White Christmas, Hairspray, Anything Goes, Godspell, and She Loves Me. A significant milestone occurred in 2015 when Mitchell joined the National Tour of 42nd Street for two years.

Mitchell devoted a decade to designing educational programs for high school students at the National Student Leadership Conference. Specializing in Musical Theatre and Acting, Mitchell played a pivotal role in guiding and inspiring students, aiding them in discovering their true potential and charting paths toward higher education and beyond.

Returning to Rochester, Mitchell continued contributing to the local arts scene, featuring in productions like Cinderella at Geva Theatre Center and The Prom at the JCC. He has also led dance master classes across town. Excitingly, Mitchell is directing the upcoming production of Legally Blonde at Pittsford Musicals.

Eager for the opportunity, Mitchell looks forward to inspiring and guiding students on their unique dance journeys.

CHERYL FLANAGAN - Previous owner

Began her dance training and performing arts career at the age of seven. Her many credits include: "Miss New York State 1980-81” and winning the talent award in the Miss America Pageant for her tap dancing. Cheryl was given the name "Figure Tapper" for her unique SPINS and fast feet, which led to over 100 first place awards. By the age of 13, she was crowned Model of the year.

Success led her to New York, where she made several TV appearances on shows such as Another World and Search for Tomorrow. Cheryl has done numerous industrials, print ads and commercials, including work for Chrysler, Haagen Dazs Ice Cream, Coca Cola, Kodak, Xerox, Rochester Telephone, and business magazines. Cheryl performed her own show on Broadway called "Flanagan on Broadway" and in 1985 she toured with "The First National Touring Company of 42nd Street". During her career in New York, she worked and trained with New York's finest performers, such as the late Gregory Hines, Maurice Hines, Mercedes Ellington, Henry Letang, Phil Black, Frank Hatchett, Bob Audy and others.

Cheryl has also taught for The "Rochester Broadway Theatre League's" Education Department for "Thoroughly Modern Millie Project" at the Auditorium Theatre. She has also been invited to choreograph shows for Monroe Country Club and Irondequoit Country Club's "MIXED GREEN'S" gala's.

Cheryl still enjoys her love for the arts, theatre, and TV. She was the spokeswoman for Monroe County Water Authority and Batavia Downs Commercials in 2017 and 2018 and was also chosen for the "Amazing Spiderman 2" filmed here in Rochester which premiered in theatres May 2014.