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 one years, and has been teaching dance for over thirty five 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.

Valerie Beckman

Valerie Beckman has studied dance for twenty one years and has training in jazz, tap, ballet, pointe, lyrical, modern, acrobatics and hip hop.  Valerie has eight 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.

Kristin DiFlorio

Kristin DiFlorio has studied dance for thirty years, and has taught dance for fourteen 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.

Gina Curbelo

Gina Curbelo has been dancing for sixteen years and this is her third year of teaching.  She has training in jazz, tap, ballet, pointe, lyrical, modern, acrobatics, musical theatre 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 attending SUNY Brockport and majoring in dance and is excited to teach this fall.

Megan Nowacki

Megan Nowacki has been teaching dance for five years and has trained at Dance Dimensions for fourteen years.  She has training in tap, jazz, ballet, modern, lyrical, hip hop and musical theater.  Meagan has won many outstanding achievements at regional competitions and now as a teacher has led many of her students to follow in her footsteps and place in the all arounds.  Megan graduated from Nazareth College in 2016, where she was a c0-captain of the Nazareth Dance Team.  Currently, Megan is at University of Buffalo in their Doctorate Program in Audiology.

Kayleigh Danowski

Kayleigh Danowski has taught dance for 4 years. She is originally from Northeast Ohio and received her training from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts preparatory program as well as with the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School Graduate Program. While at PBT, she had the pleasure of dancing corps de ballet roles with the company in “Giselle”, “The Nutcracker”, and George Balanchine’s “Serenade”.  She also received training from summer programs at Miami City Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, and Jacob’s Pillow under Anna-Maria Holmes.  Kayleigh then joined the Montgomery Ballet, dancing soloist roles such as the Arabian Princess in “The Nutcracker”, White Swan Pas de Deux from “Swan Lake” and helped originated the role of Madame Giry in the world premiere of Darren McIntyre’s “The Phantom of the Opera”. Kayleigh has also performed as a guest artist with the Albany Berkshire Ballet in Paula Weber’s “Carmina Burana” and the 40th Anniversary tour of “The Nutcracker” as the Snow Queen.  Most recently she danced with Ballet Quad Cities, appearing in principle roles such as “The Nutcracker’s” Sugar Plum Fairy.  Kayleigh is very excited to have moved to Rochester to dance with the New York State Ballet. She is thrilled to share her knowledge with the students at Dance Dimensions by Susan!

Tina Salmon

Lillia Taylor

Lillia Taylor began her training at Footsteps Dance Academy in Salisbury, MD at age four. She has trained additionally at The North Carolina School of the Arts, Desales University, Dance Conservatory of Dover,  and The Ballet Theater of Maryland.  As a company member of Ballet Theater of Maryland, Lillia toured and performed as a trainee in many productions. Before moving to Rochester in 2015, Lillia also taught ballet, pointe, jazz, and contemporary at Sussex Dance Academy in Rehoboth, DE, as well as Footsteps Dance Academy.  Currently, Lillia is a member of the New York State Ballet here in Rochester and her performances include roles in Alice in Wonderland, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Raven, The Nutcracker, Peter Pan, Swan Lake, and Sleeping Beauty.   Lillia will be teaching ballet and pointe and is very excited to work with the students at Dance Dimensions by Susan!

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 thirty years of dance training in tap, jazz, ballet, pointe, lyrical, modern, character, hip hop, acrobatics and has been teaching dance for seventeen 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.

Start of Classes 2016-2017

Monday, September 12, 2016

Recital 2017

June 10-11, 2017

Roberts Wesleyan College