Sydney Lauren Painter is a 20-year-old from Winchester, Virginia where she danced under the direction of Denna Smith at the Inwood Dance Company for 15 years. During those years she trained in ballet, tap/jazz, contemporary, modern, and Irish step dance.  Sydney’s passion for choreography and contemporary dance led her to achieve two chosen pieces titled “Depersonalization” and “Who I Am” which were both performed at the Regional Dance America Southeast Festivals in 2021 and 2022. Sydney has attended numerous summer dance intensives including West Virginia University Summer Dance Academy, Southeast Alabama Dance Company’s Summer Intensive, Shenandoah Conservatory Arts Academy, and The National Choreography Intensive. During her dance career, Sydney has danced the following: The Nutcracker (Sugar Plum Fairy, Snow Queen, Deux, Arabian Princess Deux, and The Nutcracker), Coppelia (Prayer Solo), Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, Don Quixote, Cinderella, and Le Corsaire. In 2018, Sydney was chosen by her instructors and peers to receive the Brandeis Wilson Memorial Scholarship for her dedication to dance.  In 2019, she was selected for the Dorothy Ewing Memorial scholarship The recipient must possess the characteristics of leadership, dedication, love of dance, and the gift of friendship. Throughout the years, Sydney has attended multiple dance festivals including Dance Works, Dance West Virginia, and Regional Dance America Southeast Dance Festival.  Sydney is also a member of the Royal Academy of Dance.  After high school graduation, she furthered her dance career at Shenandoah University in Winchester, Virginia and West Virginia University in Morgantown, West Virginia.

Dance Instructor

Meet Nikki Stone, a dance enthusiast who discovered the enchanting world of dance at the tender age of 6. Captivated by the boundless expressive potential of movement and music, Nikki's journey into the realm of dance began. Growing up within the dance competition circuit, she honed her skills while simultaneously undergoing training at ballet schools across Northern Virginia.

Nikki's dedication to her craft led her to prioritize her artistic development, resulting in her completion of high school studies online. This step allowed her to focus on nurturing her artistry at East Coast Movement, guided by the mentorship of Billy Larson. During her teenage years, Nikki experienced the thrill of performing works by renowned choreographers, including Billy Larson at the Painted Bride Theatre and Joyce Theatre. She also graced the stage under the direction of Marinda Davis in the New York premiere of "UnBreakable" at Salvatore Capezio Theatre.

As her dance journey continued, Nikki transitioned into teaching during her senior year of high school. This passion evolved into a pursuit of excellence, leading her to earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from George Mason University. Her time at the university offered her the privilege of performing distinguished pieces by acclaimed choreographers such as Camille Brown, Robert Battle, and Luis Torres Ortiz, alongside exceptional student choreographers. Guided by the direction of Susan Shields, the School of Dance empowered Nikki to refine her voice as a choreographer, earning her recognition and awards in regional dance competitions.

Nikki's dance accomplishments extend to performances at prestigious venues, including the Harris Theatre, the Center for the Arts, the National Conference for Undergraduate Research, and the Capezio ACE awards.

With great enthusiasm, Nikki Stone looks forward to collaborating with her fellow dance educators at Destiny Dance. Her mission is to impart the intrinsic value of movement and creativity to the next generation of aspiring artists, igniting their passion for dance.

 

With 15 years of experience in the urban dance community of Costa Rica, I have established myself  as a Dancer, Teacher, Choreographer, and Producer of Urban Dance events. My expertise has been recognized internationally, leading to invitations to teach workshops in the Netherlands, Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvdor, and Honduras.

I am the Founder and Producer of the first National Hip Hop Dance Championship in Costa Rica and have organized various workshops and dance events throughout Central America.

I have choreographed several teams from Costa Rica, enabling them to represent the country for the first time in international competitions such as the World Hip Hop Dance Championship (USA) and Hip Hop Kingz (The Netherlands).

Currently, I am teaching Hip Hop, Choreography, and Reggaeton classes in the DMV area (USA).

 

 

Alexandra McGriff: Accomplished Dance Instructor and Performer

Alexandra McGriff is a dedicated and highly skilled dance instructor with extensive experience in teaching, performing, and choreographing. Her commitment to the art of dance is evident through her certifications, employment history, and performance repertoire.

**Education and Certifications:**
Alexandra is a certified Acrobatic Arts instructor (2016) and has completed Alixa Flexibility Modules 1-3 between 2017 and 2019. These credentials highlight her dedication to professional development and her ability to provide high-quality dance instruction.

**Professional Experience:**
Alexandra’s career in dance education began at Alabama Dance Works, where she served as a Principal Dancer and Studio Instructor from 2015 to 2022. She then worked at Dothan School of Dance from 2019 to 2022 and had a brief tenure at Patti Rutland Jazz - Troy in 2022. Currently, Alexandra is a dance instructor at 24/7 Dance Studio in Frederick, MD, and East Coast Edge Dance Center in Ashburn, VA, since 2023.

**Performance History:**
Alexandra has an impressive performance history, including notable performances at Alabama Dance Works under Artistic Director Patti Rutland Simpson. Some of these performances include "Motown" (2015), "Ignite" (2015), "Spotlight on Broadway" (2016), "Legends" (2017), "Studio to Stage" (2017-2018), "Fright Night" (2017-2018), and "One From the Heart" (2018).

Under the direction of Christina Hicks, Alexandra performed in "Move" (2019), "Studio to Stage" (2019), "Fright Night" (2019-2021), "Santa’s Workshop" (2015-2021), and "Seasons" (2022). Her performance schedule was briefly interrupted in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

She has also been featured in Gridlock Dance performances, including the Atlas Arts Lab Fellowship (2023), the 40th Annual Choreographer Showcase at Publick Playhouse, Atlas Encore Show at the Atlas Performing Arts Center, and Dance Canvas (2023-2024). Additionally, Alexandra has participated in independent performances such as Aurora Dance Fest (2024) and Dance Canvas DMV (2024).

**Current Work:**
Currently, Alexandra is sharing her expertise in dance at various studios in the DMV area, inspiring and mentoring dancers with her extensive knowledge and passion for dance.

Kelly Alifano is a dance artist, teacher and choreographer originally from New York. She
received her BFA in dance from Adelphi University, her MA in Dance and Dance Education from
New York University, and an MFA in Choreography from Sarah Lawrence College. Kelly has
taught at many colleges, schools, and studios across the country. Kelly was the co-
choreographer for Dualdance, a modern dance company based out of NYC from 2004-2010.
She has performed and presented work at St. Marks Church in NYC, Steps Performance Lab,
WaxWorks, Dance Theater Workshop, 92nd Street Y, The Dance Complex in MA, Joyce Soho,
Boulder International Fringe Festival, Cool NY, Artward Bound, Whitewave Dance Festival,
Riverside Church in NYC, Dumbo Dance Festival, and Rocky Mountain Choreography Festival to
name a few. Kelly was a dancer for Circle of Dance Repertory Company from 2005-2016,
Impetus Dance Collaborative from 2013-2016, Movement Source Dance Company from 2018-
2020. Kelly co-choreographed and performed in Water Dances in Ogden Utah in 2017. She has
been on faculty at Weber State University and Scottsdale Community College. Kelly was on the
board of Utah Dance Education Association from 2016-2018. Kelly is currently a member of
LMP Collective, a dance company based in Alexandria. Kelly is thrilled to be teaching at Destiny
Dance Company. Kelly lives in Ashburn with her husband and 2 daughters.