Dance Dimensions is passionate about dance and seeks to inspire dancers of all levels, from the earliest beginners to those pursuing professional careers.  We have over 30 years of success which is attributed to our professional staff who are creative, caring and take pride in knowing their greatest impact is made from teaching positive values.  Many conventions and competitions have recognized our studio as one of the leaders in dance education in Upstate NY.

2016 Quote:

Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it.

The time will pass anyway.

Director and Instructor:  Susan DiSarra-Beckman

Susan is a graduate of SUNY Brockport with a Bachelor of Science degree in Dance.  She has owned Dance Dimensions for thirty three years, and has been teaching dance for over thirty six years.  While in college, she had the opportunity to perform a piece choreographed by Garth Fagan with the Garth Fagan Dance Company.   Susan has won numerous dance excellence awards for her choreography including Star Systems Top Teacher Award.  She has led her students to many local, regional, and national titles including Top Soloist, Top Duet/Trio, Top Junior Group, and Top Senior Group at Showstopper’s National Competition in Myrtle Beach. Many of her students have been awarded technique and entertainment awards at Thrives National Competition in Boston.  Recently one of her graduates made it to Las Vegas Week on So You Think You Can Dance.  Also, other students have pursued careers in dance, including performing on cruise ships, Las Vegas and forming a professional modern company in NYC with the honor of performing at the White House.  Susan continues her dance training through master classes.

Leisja Wood

Leisja Wood grew up dancing in the Rochester area where she studied at Michelle Buschner’s School of Dance, Dance Dimensions, Clark Academy, and Draper Dance Center.  As an undergraduate at the University of Buffalo she continued her dancing and performed with the Zodiaque Dance Company.  She has over thirty years of dance training in tap, jazz, ballet, pointe, lyrical, modern, character, hip hop, acrobatics and has been teaching dance for eighteen years. She continues her training attending master classes and workshops around the country with many of the industry’s leading choreographers such as Mia Michaels, Tabitha and Napoleon, and Sonya Tayeh.  Leisja’s performance credits include the musical Annie at SUNY Brockport, the Nutcracker with the Connecticut and Hartford Ballet Company, and the Rochester Red Wings dance team.  Her choreography has received many high score and dance excellence awards including technique and entertainment both regionally and nationally.  Among her many honors is belonging to the USA’s World Champion Jazz Team, Star Systems Top Teacher Award, and the Thrive Award.   Leisja’s choreography has led her students to appear in Dancer magazine.

Valerie Beckman

Valerie Beckman has studied dance for twenty three years and has training in jazz, tap, ballet, pointe, lyrical, modern, acrobatics and hip hop.  Valerie has ten years of teaching experience.  She is an accomplished dancer receiving many regional and national awards and honors at competitions.  She also was a member of the NDA national champion high school dance team. In 2016, Valerie toured with Svet, a renowned hip-hop violinist.  Recently her students have won special awards at regional competitions.  Valerie continues to study technique classes in dance.

Gina Curbelo

Gina Curbelo has been dancing for eighteen years and this is her fourth year of teaching.  She has training in jazz, tap, ballet, pointe, lyrical, modern, acrobatics, musical theater and hip hop.  Gina is an accomplished dancer receiving many platinum and high score awards at regional and national competitions and has been awarded the title of top soloist.  She has been awarded scholarships to attend several national dance conventions.  Gina is currently a senior at SUNY Brockport and majoring in dance and is excited to teach this fall.

Marie Welch

Marie has taught ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, modern and musical theater to ages 2 through adult in the Rochester area for over 30 years. Her students have won numerous high score and special recognition awards in regional and national competitions.  Her choreography has awarded her the Top Teacher Award at Stay Systems Competition.  Marie’s students have attended Juilliard, Fordham/Ailey, and have performed at Disneyland, GEVA, off Broadway, on cruise ships, with the Buffalo Bills and The Rochester City Ballet.  She also has choreographed for elementary and high school musicals and community theater productions.

Kristin DiFlorio

Kristin DiFlorio has studied dance for thirty years, and has taught dance for fifteen years.  She has training in tap, jazz, ballet, acrobatics, modern, hip hop, lyrical and musical theater.  Kristin’s choreography has received high score awards at regional dance competitions including Star Systems Top Teacher Award.  She has also been recognized for many special awards at the regional and national level.  She is a graduate of MCC with an Associate Degree in Travel and Tourism, where she also studied theater for two years.  Kristin is currently employed by Blue Cross and Blue Shield.

Adam Jeffry (AJ)

AJ, 31, is originally from California. He has danced since the age of 3, dancing jazz, tap, ballet and modern and he has extensive training in Pilates, yoga, and the teaching of kinesthetics, specializing in ballet.  AJ grew up dancing in Southern California dancing at South Bay Ballet under director Diane Lauridsen.  There, he trained along side dancers such as Misty Copeland and Ashley Ellis among many other successful dancers.  He has danced professionally with Pacific Northwest Ballet Ballet, Sacramento Ballet and Washington Ballet.  AJ is well versed in all styles of ballet and is certified through the Royal Academy of Dance to teach their ballet program.  AJ found his love of teaching through his mother and his love of the arts through his father.  His teaching experience includes Dance Chance in Seattle for underprivileged children and Coconino Community College in Flagstone, AZ.

Lisa Shaw

Lisa has been dancing for eighteen years and has been teaching for six years. She has training in jazz, tap, ballet, pointe, lyrical, modern, acrobatics and hip hop.  She has won many outstanding achievements at regional competititions and now as a teacher has been recognized for many national awards at the regional and national level.  Lisa has taught as a guest choreographer for many studios in the Rochester area.  She has attended many Master Classes including classes at the Broadway Dance Center in NYC.  Lisa is thrilled to teach at Dance Dimensions by Susan.

Start of Classes 2017-2018

Monday, September 11, 2017

Recital 2018

June 9-10, 2018

Roberts Wesleyan College