Our Instructors
Our dance instructors come from a variety of backgrounds and expertise, bringing with them a dedication to quality, developmentally-appropriate instruction and choreography. Learn more about them below!
Katie Ramsey
Studio Manager, Spring House
Instructor - Spring House, Harleysville
Ms. Katie began her dance career at New Dance Workshop at age three. Katie is entering her tenth season teaching and choreographing ballet, including the Nutcracker with Donetsk Ballet Company from Ukraine.
Katie studied under the direction of Shelley Morinsky who became her ballet mentor. Katie studied at DeSales University and participated in many dance projects with their dance team. Katie helped choreograph our Disney production in 2016 and is currently working on ballet and tap productions at our Spring House studio.
Rachel Kline
Instructor - Spring House, Harleysville
Ms. Rachel began her dance journey at the age of six. She continued in both competitive and non competitive circuits in various styles throughout her high school years. She graduated summa cum laude from Dean College in Franklin, MA, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Dance. Her work was featured in a professionally adjudicated Dean College Choreographer's Showcase, the Dean College 50th Anniversary Company Performance, a several other annual shows. She also studied intensively through dance education courses in Pedagogy, Creative Movement, Kinesiology, and Dance History. Since graduation, Ms. Rachel has worked with the Massachusetts-based dance competition Step Up 2 Dance, managed an athletic club's youth dance program, and instructed at various dance schools in the region. She has been teaching at New Dance Workshop since 2014, instructing students from 3 years through adult in ballet, tap, jazz, modern, hip hop, acro, and creative movement.
Alysse Falbo
Instructor - Harleysville, Spring House
Ms. Alysse has a BA degree in dance from Cedar Crest College and a B.S. Degree in Business Administration. She has extensive training in many styles of dance including ballet, jazz, modern, lyrical, contemporary, and tap. She is experienced teaching children with Down's Syndrome, and other children with challenges. She received many awards:
Best creative concept for Alice,
Creative concept for New York,
Creative costume for Merrimack River,
VIP Choreography for We Will Not Stay Silent.
Alysse looks forward to working with a team of instructors dedicated to providing fun, educational dance experiences for students.
Alexis Keenan
Studio Manager, Harleysville
Instructor - Harleysville, Spring House
Miss Alexis is our Harleysville Studio Manager where she also produces and choreographs the annual ballet and jazz productions. She started dancing at the age of four with the New Dance Workshop in Lansdale, where she studied ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, modern and hip hop. She performed in Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, and many of our company performances as a student. Miss Alexis graduated from Kutztown University where she became certified in Dance Education. Her time in college she performed and choreographed for the Lenhart Dance Company and was a member of the Kutztown University Dance Team. After graduation she came back to her NDW family and started teaching where she continues that family atmosphere with her students. Miss Alexis is going into her 10th season of teaching with us and works on many of our production projects such as Walt Disney World, 76er's and Flyers performances.
Tiara Canizares
Instructor - Harleysville, Spring House
Ms. Tiara has a BFA in Dance and a BA in Psychology from Temple University. She also earned an MS degree in Dance/Movement Therapy from Pratt Institute in New York. Tiara worked as a dance/movement therapist at Montefiore Medical Center Bronx, where she provided therapy to groups of adults in the psychiatric facility.
She ran Creative Expressions groups, Open Art, and Stress Reduction therapy.
Tiara is a Dance Movement Therapist for groups of children with special needs. She is a member of the American Dance Therapy Association. Miss Tiara has adapted tap productions from various shows in our recitals, including LaLa Land.
Cara Slemmer
Cara has danced as a freelance professional dancer since she was eighteen years old. She had extensive ballet training under the direction of George Thompson, and has trained with Pennsylvania Ballet soloists Tara Keating and Meredith Rainey. Cara has done choreography for the Fringe Festival Philadelphia. Cara has choreographed various performances for the New Horizons Dance Alliance in East Greenville and Quakertown, Pennsylvania. Among her dance works are Swan Lake, The Nutcracker and The Dream. Cara also does the choreography for the Montgomery Theatre in Souderton, which her family owns. She has a Bachelor's degree in Dance from Drexel University, and a Master's degree in Dance/Movement Therapy from Drexel.
Instructor - Spring House
Shelley Morinsky
Miss Shelley has been teaching ballet for 49 years. She opened her studio in West Point in 1982, and is still teaching today. Shelley studied with Nancy Johnson with the San Francisco Ballet and with Jilliana of the San Diego Ballet. She performed with the San Diego Ballet touring Arizona and Nevada. She studied jazz with Phil Black, Luigi and Tommy Rola. She did a five month tour of the East Coast in summer stock, performing in Bravo. She also studied with Tom Stevens of West Side Story on Broadway. Shelley has mentored many of our teachers and choreographed spectacular ballet productions. We think of her as our national treasure.