FACULTY
Our eclectic faculty represents the most experienced educators, versatile performers, and talented choreographers in the industry.
DDL is proud to work with a diverse collective whose experiences range from concert, commercial, and theatre dance with credits ranging from Broadway to film/tv and concert dance companies across the US and Europe.
CHECK OUT SOME FEATURED FACULTY MEMBERS BELOW!
Brandon Cournay is originally from Walled Lake, MI, and received his BFA from The Juilliard School. Currently, he is performing with the Mark Morris Dance Group.
STAGE: Radio City Christmas Spectacular, The Metropolitan Opera Ballet, New York Theatre Ballet, Morphoses, and KEIGWIN + COMPANY as a Dancer, Rehearsal Director, Managing Director.
FILM/TV: PBS’ Great Performances, Musical Chairs (HBO), Puma, Sesame Street, Target.
In addition, he has assisted numerous choreographers such as Larry Kiegwin, Josh Prince, Cherice Barton, and Chase Brock on creative projects in theatre, film, and dance.
He is an award-winning choreographer and a sought after guest teacher by studios, universities, and companies nationwide. Brandon has worked with The Pennsylvania Ballet, The Juilliard School, Whim W’Him, Montclair University, Marymount Manhattan College, Rutgers University, Barnard College, and Southeast Missouri State University.
Brandon is the Executive Artistic Director of Dance Device Lab.
BRANDON COURNAY
Allison Schuser is originally from Huntington Beach, CA, and received her BFA from The Juilliard School.
STAGE: Cirque Du Soliel’s VIVA Elvis (Dance Captain and Aerialist) New York Spectacular starring the Radio City Rockettes (Dance Captain), The Metropolitan Opera.
FILM/TV: Dancing With the Stars, So You Think You Can Dance, Strictly Come Dancing, The Daytime Emmy Awards, IBM and VH1.
She has assisted choreographers Sonya Tayeh, Cherice Barton, Lindsey Nelko, Andy Blankenbuehler, and Mia Michaels. Currently, Allison is a principle dancer, Rehearsal Director and aerialist for Company XIV.
Allison’s signature fluid and technical style has made her a sought-after guest teacher and choreographer for studios nationwide.
ALLISON SCHUSER
Lloyd Knight, was born in England and reared in Miami. He has a BFA from the New World School of the Arts under Artistic Director Daniel Lewis. Mr. Knight joined the Martha Graham Dance Company in 2005 and was promoted to Soloist in 2009 and Principal in 2014.
He has had ballets choreographed on him by Nacho Duato twice, Andonis Foniadakis, Larry Keigwin, Doug Varone, Lar Lubovitch, Kyle Abraham, Liz Gerring, Michelle Dorrance, Anne Bogart, Pontus Linberg, Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, Pam Tanowitz and Mats Ek. Dance Magazine named Mr. Knight as one of the “Top 25 Dancers to Watch” in 2010. He partnered with New York City Ballet Principal Wendy Whelan in Ms. Graham's "Moon Duet" and with American Ballet Theatre's Principal Misty Copeland in a Graham duet from "Letter to the World".
He was picked Best Performer of 2015 by Dance Magazine. He is currently a guest Principal artist for The Royal Ballet of Flanders.
LLOYD KNIGHT
Jaclyn Walsh trained at the Walnut Hill School and received her BFA from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. She was named “25 to Watch” by Dance Magazine and as one of the dance world’s “Hottest Young Choreographers” by Dance Spirit magazine. She is a longtime leading dancer and collaborator with KEIGWIN + COMPANY.
Her choreography is innovative and highly in demand. Recent projects include commercials for ALDO and Refinery 29, as well as music videos for pop artist Vienna Teng and an ASL music video produced by Deaf Professional Arts Network for AT&T.
Jaclyn’s distinctive style has made her an internationally recognized and highly respected teacher. She currently teaches in NYC at Broadway Dance Center, the Joffrey School, Peridance, and Gibney Dance Center.
JACLYN WALSH
Ryan Steele is originally from Walled Lake, Michigan. Most recently, he was starring as Jerry Mullian on the International Tour of An American In Paris.
BROADWAY: West Side Story (Baby John), Billy Elliot, Newsies (Dance Captain, Astaire Award nominee), Carousel, and Matilda.
FILM / TV: Ted 2, NBC's Peter Pan Live!, SMASH, Five Dances, The Academy Awards.
Currently, he is working on the new Britney Spears musical, Once Upon A Baby One More Time, heading to Broadway soon!
When he's not performing, Ryan travels the country with New York City Dance Alliance, as well as teaching guest classes of his own.
RYAN STEELE
Jessica Walker received her early dance training in Los Angeles before moving to New York to obtain her BFA from Fordham University/The Ailey School.
BROADWAY/STAGE: Movin’ Out, Cirque du Soleil’s Paramour, Wicked (national tour), The Christmas and Spring Spectaculars at Radio City Music Hall, Carnegie Hall’s West Side Story, Phantom Of The Opera and The Metropolitan Opera.
FILM/TV: ABC’s Dirty Dancing, SMASH, The Blacklist, America’s Got Talent and Best Time Ever with Neil Patrick Harris.
Jessica is very passionate about teaching and stresses musicality, technique and artistry in her classes. When she’s not performing, she tours with Showstopper Dance Conventions and Competitions.
JESSICA WALKER
Spenser Theberge is a native of Portland, OR and is a graduate of The Juilliard School. He danced for Netherlands Dance Theatre I and II from 2009-2013 before joining The Forsythe Company from 2013-2015. He is a former guest artist with the Gothenburg Opera Danskompani, as well as with Kidd Pivot and the ARIAS Company.
Spenser is a choreographer and director himself, his work performed at theatres and by schools and companies across North America and Europe. He is a Princess Grace Award winner, a Presidential Scholar in the Arts, and a Young Arts Award winner. He is currently on faculty at CalArts in Los Angeles.
SPENSER THEBERGE
Jackie Nowicki is originally from Chicago, Illinois. She received her BFA in Dance from Western Michigan University and she was recently honored as the Department of Dance's Distinguished Alumni Award. For many years, Jackie was a company member and teacher with Pilobolus Dance Theater.
She is the Artistic Director of her own contemporary dance company based out of New York and Chicago, NOW Dance Project. Her choreography has been commissioned by numerous colleges, dance companies, studios, and universities.
As an educator, Jackie has taught at Western Michigan University, Peridance Capezio Center, Steps on Broadway and Broadway Dance Center in NYC. She is currently on faculty at Visceral Dance Center, Celebrity Dance Conventions, Turn it Up Dance Challenge, and Stage Door Workshops.
JACKIE NOWIKCI
Ashley Lindsey is a passionate dancer, teacher, choreographer, and director. He is a graduate of the University North Carolina School of the Arts. After performing with the Limon Dance Company for six years, went on to dance for various contemporary companies including the Lar Lubovich Dance Company, Helen Simoneau Danse, and The Wes Veldinck Movement.
FILM/TV: Target, ESPN, Skype, numerous independent music videos and industrials as a dancer and choreographer.
In 2012, he founded Ashely Lindsey Dance, as a vessel for this creative endeavours. His most recent work can be seen in a series of international commercials featuring model Miranda Kerr, as well as short film Drilling Holes Into The Sun, Pantsuit Power NC, and Salvage What You Can.
Ashely has taught at Steps on Broadway, Limon Dance Foundation, Elon University, Duke University, Joffrey Ballet School, Houston Metropolitan Dance Company, as well as numerous studios and international workshops. Ashely is currently the Director of the UNSCA Summer Intensive.
ASHLEY LINDSEY
Michaeljon Slinger is originally from Queensland, Australia and received training from American Ballet Theatre's Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School and the Juilliard School in New York City, making him the first Australian ever to be accepted into either one of these programs.
BROADWAY: West Side Story (Dance Captain), Billy Elliot, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Evita, Side Show), Matilda, Hello, Dolly! (Dance Captain), and Mrs. Doubtfire (Associate Choreographer).
FILM/TV: Academy Awards, Tony Awards, Kennedy Center Honors, Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
When not performing, Michaeljon promotes the importance of arts education and hopes to continue to share his knowledge and experience with the next generation of young performers.
MICHAELJON SLINGER
Courtney Ortiz, a native of Baltimore, MD, is a 2007 youngARTS award winner in Modern Dance. Her career spans from Stage to Screen with credits including: The Radio City Christmas Spectacular, The Aluminum Show in Madrid, Spain, International Tour of the classic musical “West Side Story” as a Jet Girl and the Assistant Dance Captain, and 1st National Tour of the Broadway Musical “Finding Neverland” with choreography by Mia Michaels.
She enjoys teaching master classes around the country and is also a full time competition judge. You can even see her behind the judges table on Lifetime’s “Dance Moms” in Seasons 2 & 3. Courtney is also the owner of IMPACT DANCE ADJUDICATORS - the first and only staffing service providing professional level, pre-screened judges to dance competitions nationwide. Currently, she resides in New York City and is signed with in-demand commercial and dance agency, CESD. Follow her! @courtney.ortiz
COURTNEY ORTIZ
Antuan Byers is a graduate of the Ailey/Fordham BFA Program and holds a certificate from Parsons School of Design.
After touring internationally with Ailey II, Antuan rejoined the Metropolitan Opera Ballet and has performed additionally with the Washington National Opera, KEIGWIN + COMPANY, Eryka Badu, and Jennifer Holiday.
He has artistic partnerships with Acura, Barney's NY, Brooklinen, Nike, Scotch + Soda, and Urban Outfitters and been featured in campaigns including OUT Magazine, Dance Magazine, ASICS, and Capezio.
Additionally, Antuan has been an ambassador to The Joyce Theater, Company Management Assistant for Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, a founding member of the Black Caucus at the American Guild of Music Artists and is the Founder/CEO of Black Dance Change Makers.
ANTUAN BYERS
One of Dance Magazine’s “25 to Watch,” Kara Chan has danced lead roles in Twyla Tharp Dance and in 2019, assisted Ms. Tharp in the staging of Deuce Coupe and Ghostcatcher (world premiere) on American Ballet Theatre.
She has performed with companies including Pam Tanowitz Dance, Lar Lubovitch Dance Company, Mark Morris Dance Group, Janis Brenner & Dancers, Gleich Dances, Barkin/Selissen Project.
A native of Vancouver, Canada, Kara received her BFA from The Juilliard School.
Kara is a certified ABT Ballet Teacher for Levels Pre-Primary through Level 5 of the ABT® National Training Curriculum.
KARA CHAN
Michaela McGowan, a Virginia native, received her early dance training at The Loudoun School of Ballet, and went on to receive her BFA with honors from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, class of 2012.
Most recently, she was a dancer with Broadway Dance Lab creating new work for upcoming Broadway productions. Professionally, Michaela has danced for Mia Michaels, Kristen Carcone, Josh Bergasse, Greg Graham, Lisa Shriver (PHISH at MSG, Katarzyna Skarpetowska, Ray Mercer, Aszure Barton, and Larry Keigwin.
Michaela can be found featured on Organic Doctor Beauty’s latest online commercial campaign and is on faculty at Broadway Dance Center and Peridance Capezio Center.
MICHAELA MCGOWAN
Skye Mattox began her career as a performer when she moved to New York City at age 17. Broadway credits: West Side Story, On The Town (Ivy Smith understudy), and Carousel. Other NYC credits include: American Dance Machine, and numerous shows for New York City Center’s Encores! series, such as Little Me and High Button Shoes. TV: Smash (Season 2), Fosse/Verdon, The Deuce (Season 3) .
Most recently, Skye was featured as a Jet Girl in the new adaptation of West Side Story directed by Steven Spielberg and choreographed by Justin Peck.
In addition to performing, Skye is also passionate about teaching. She teaches at two of New York City’s premier dance studios, Steps On Broadway and Broadway Dance Center, and has been on faculty for Broadway Dreams Foundation. When she is not performing, she enjoys teaching and choreographing for studios, training programs, and performing arts schools across the country.