Caitlin Burton
Caitlin Burton began her dance training in her home state of Virginia. At the age of 11 she started her commute to North Carolina to attend Visions Dance Academy. As a versatile performer in many genres of dance including Ballet, Contemporary, Jazz, and Hip Hop, she competed in many competitions and was recognized as a performer both in top awards and convention accolades. Caitlin was honored to be recognized as one of the youngest dancers to be accepted into Virginia School of the Arts, where she trained under the direction of Turner Perrow. While in high school she had the privilege to work with many main-stream choreographers, including Dee Caspary, Brooke Pierotti, Sonya Tayeh and Mandy Moore. She attended Virginia Tech as an Interior Design Major and was an executive and lead choreographer for the Dance Company of Virginia Tech. Currently Caitlin works in both Virginia and West Virginia teaching technique, contemporary style, and choreography to competitive students at multiple studios. Many of her students are nationally recognized with top overall awards and Caitlin herself has won top choreography awards consistently at multiple national competitions. Her work has also been featured on the websites of the Hall of Fame and League of Champions dance competitions. Caitlin has also worked as a competition judge and adjudicator for several top competitions in the industry for the past 5 years. She has acted as a mentor to her dancers and feels privileged to have lead multiple dancers into professional careers and prestigious dance programs at NYU and the University of the Arts.
Madison Eis
Madison is a current Feature Twirler at West Virginia University studying elementary and special education. She is a state, regional, and national 2-baton, solo, and dancetwirl title holder. She has been a 5 time Team USA member, who has traveled around the world for International baton twirling championships. She has won a gold medal and a bronze medal as a member of Team USA.
Lindsey Elliott
Lindsey holds a passion for the performing arts, as she has throughout her life. Lindsey attended Tracy’s Dance Company, where she began the love for dance and performing. She continued her dance career at Pizazz Dance Academy and for several years and was on the competition dance team. Utilizing her dance experience during her high school years, Lindsey was a Mohiganette and Majorette in the famed MHS Red and Blue marching band, performing in Walt Disney World and the 2009 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. She competed for three years with the MHS Images Show Choir, where she was assistant dance captain. At competitions, Lindsey won several awards for “Best Performer” from the judges. In addition to band and show choir, Lindsey was lead in two of Morgantown High’s Drama productions, starring as Sharpay Evans in Disney’s High School Musical and Tiffany Houston in Back to the 80’s.
Her love and appreciation for dance and the arts have brought her back to doing what she loves. She is currently the Majorette Instructor at South Middle School (for the past 9 years) and is Choreographer for MHS Drama Dept., where she choreographed this year’s production of Mary Poppins at the Met Theatre. Lindsey obtained two Bachelor’s Degrees from WVU (B.S in Child Development and Family Studies and B.A in Human Performance and Health). She also recently graduated with a Master’s Degree in Occupational Therapy and is passionate about working with kids and people of all ages to help them live life to the fullest. She is thrilled to be back at Pizazz Dance Academy!
Her love and appreciation for dance and the arts have brought her back to doing what she loves. She is currently the Majorette Instructor at South Middle School (for the past 9 years) and is Choreographer for MHS Drama Dept., where she choreographed this year’s production of Mary Poppins at the Met Theatre. Lindsey obtained two Bachelor’s Degrees from WVU (B.S in Child Development and Family Studies and B.A in Human Performance and Health). She also recently graduated with a Master’s Degree in Occupational Therapy and is passionate about working with kids and people of all ages to help them live life to the fullest. She is thrilled to be back at Pizazz Dance Academy!
Julie England
Julie began her dance training at the age of 8 at Stage 7 Studio in Fairmont. She went on to become an assistant instructor, then a lead instructor. In 2000, she began her career with Pizazz Dance Academy (then Tracy’s Dance Company), where she taught ballet, pointe, jazz, tap and lyrical. She was the previous owner’s “right hand”, helping her take care of much of the administrative work, while also teaching dozens of classes. She was also instrumental in developing the Pizazz Competition Team, of which her own daughter is now a member! Julie had three years of Dance Masters of America training, and attended yearly classes at Broadway Dance Center and Dance Teacher Conferences in New York City. She attended WVU, and was the coach for Junior Orchesis at Morgantown High School as well. In 2009, Julie decided to take a break from Pizazz to focus on raising her family. She now has three kids, Mason, Maya, and Bailee. We’re thrilled to have her back on our team, welcome back Julie!
Renee K. Nicholson
Renée K. Nicholson’s training background in ballet includes study at Interlochen Arts Academy, the Pre-Professional Program at Milwaukee Ballet and elsewhere. She has performed with various professional ballet companies, however, her performing career was cut short when she was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. Renée is an American Ballet Theatre (ABT®) Certified Teacher, who successfully completed the ABT® Teacher Training Intensive in Primary through Level Seven and Partnering of the ABT® National Training Curriculum. Her certification received financial assistance from the West Virginia Division of Culture and History, and the National Endowment for the Arts, with approval from the West Virginia Commission on the Arts. Renée also holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in Creative Writing, and has been recognized by national publications as well as the Pushcart Prizes for her writing about dance. She teaches for both the Dance Program and the Multidisciplinary Studies program at WVU.
Maddie Spruill
Maddie has been dancing since the age of 3 and has trained in many genres of dance including ballet, pointe, contemporary, jazz, tap, acro, and modern. As a competitive dancer, Maddie has won numerous awards for team dances and solos, and has choreographed several award-winning pieces. She has attended summer dance intensives at Pittsburgh Youth Ballet, Governor’s School for the Arts, and Gelsey Kirkland Academy of Classical Ballet. Maddie has taken class from Gelsey Kirkland, Michael Chernov, Eric Campros, Donald Laney, Jean Gedeon, and Yoav Kaddar. Maddie is an ABT® Certified Teacher, who has successfully completed the ABT® Teacher Training Intensive in Pre-Primary through Level 3 of the ABT® National Training Curriculum. Maddie is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Dance at West Virginia University with minors in arts administration and strategic social media. She is excited to share her love for dance at Pizazz Dance Academy.
Cara Wallace
Cara started dancing at the age of 7 at Tracy's Dance Company and continued with Pizazz Dance Academy at 13 years old. She was a member of the MHS Show Choir while in high school and danced competitively for 7 years. As a young dancer she took numerous classes at Broadway Dance Center in New York City as well as a week long intensive at BDC. During her time as a competitive dancer, she attended conventions and workshops like Dance Caravan, Stars of Tomorrow, and NYCDA with her team. Later, she attended several different teacher training schools such as Rhee Gold's Project Motivate and Dance Teacher Magazine's Summer Conference as well as a tap intensive with Brenda Bufalino. Cara has taken class from great teachers like Judy Rice, Mia Michaels, Avi Miller, and Ofer Ben. She has completed Grade I of Dance Masters of America Teacher's Training School in Buffalo, NY. Cara is also an ABT® Certified Teacher, and successfully completed the ABT® Teacher Training Intensive in Pre-Primary through Level 3 of the ABT® National Training Curriculum in 2014. In 2018, Cara traveled to Maryland to complete her certification for Module 1 of the Acrobatic Arts Teaching Training Program. She has proudly spent the last 8 years as the Director of the Pizazz Dance Academy's Company Dancers. Over the years her dancers have won many accolades, including high scores, performance awards, and choreography awards. Cara lives in Morgantown with her boyfriend, Jason, and her twin boys, Evan and Henry.
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