Rick Bocchieri: Rick has been teaching at the Fairport Dance Academy for over 20 years. He studied in NYC at studios such as Alvin Ailey, Steps and HB Studios. Locally he performed in LCDC, a modern dance company under the direction of Jan O’Janpa. Rick also performed at the Palace with a touring company, The Steppin Out Dancers. He has performed numerous leads and choreographs in the Cleveland area. Rick is also a national judge for dance competitions.

Madelynn Dicillo: Madelynn finishes her seventh year at the Fairport Dance Academy. She is a well known choreographer/performer in the Cleveland area. Her credits include: Stompin at the State and Statler, touring with the Stepping Out Dancers, performances with  professionals such as Carol Lawrence, Joanne Worley and Donna Pescow, and Cleveland Critics Circle nominee “Best Choreographer”. Madelynn also is a competition judge and is certified by Dance Masters of Ohio.

MaryKate Freeman: MaryKate Freeman has been with dancing at the Fairport Dance Academy since age three and in the spring of 2007 she come back as a teacher. MaryKate is currently attending Cleveland State University where she will graduate in December with a  degree in Mild-Moderate Intervention Services. She is also working toward her dance certification through Dance Masters of America.

Candy Gutowski: The Fairport Dance Academy has been an important part of Candy’s life since the age of 9, as a student and as a teacher.  She credits Cheryl for helping her see dance using your imagination and creativity. She continues her dance education through workshops during the year.

Cheryl Hill: Cheryl has been the owner and director of the Fairport Dance Academy since it was founded in 1973. She attended Kent State University, where she actively performed with the dance and the drama departments. After college, she became a member of Dance Masters of America and was tested and certified through their Teacher’s Training  and Post-Graduate programs. As a dance educator, Cheryl has been able to share her love of dance not only with students at FDA, but also with students in private and public schools, local colleges and community theatres in the Lake County area. Her biggest thrill is teaching on a staff which consists of former students (Robin, Candy, Maria, Desiree, MaryKate, Gary and Carleigh), her daughters (Nicole and Erin), and the cream of the crop of dance educators in Ohio (Rick, Madelynn, Kelly and Jan) “the Dream Team.”

Erin Hill: Erin Hill has been a part of the Fairport Dance Academy since birth, never missing a recital. She has been an official assistant/instructor at the studio for four years now. She has a BA in Natural Resources with a specialization in Wildlife Management and Wildlife Biology from The Ohio State University. She studied belly dance for six years in Columbus, Ohio, teaching and dancing professionally for three. She is certified by the Yoga Alliance to teach Yoga at the 200-hour level. She is a certified Reiki Master, practitioner and teacher. She continues the dance certification process through Dance Masters of America and has also continued to further her dance education by attending the Dance Teacher Conference in New York City 2005 and 2007.

Nicole Hill: Nicole, a certified member of Dance Masters of America,  has been a part of the Fairport Dance Academy since birth, as Cheryl’s daughter. She has a BA in English with a focus in Folklore from the Ohio State University. During college, she studied modern and belly dance and she has been teaching belly dance and performing professionally for more than 10 years.  In Los Angeles, she     studied with some of the world’s top belly dancers and was a regular performer at Moun of Tunis in Hollywood, CA. Nicole is always continuing her dance education through weekly dance classes and she attends as many dance workshops and conventions  as possible. She is very happy to be at the Fairport Dance Academy, working with her mom, sister, uncle and the wonderful staff.

Alexandra Hribar: Alex recently graduated from the College of Wooster with a BA in Anthropology and was an active member in the dance community. Throughout her experience at the College of Wooster, she choreographed and performed for numerous productions. For two years, she was the Dance Company Coordinator as well as the Dance Team Captain. Her dance experience inspired her to   complete her senior Independent Study on the hula. She received funding to visit the Island of Maui, Hawaii to enhance her research. She also taught Pilates for the Wooster Community Hospital and has continued her education in Pilates’ instruction at Branches of  Wellness. Alex is currently working in downtown Cleveland at a recruiting company as a Senior Researcher.

Robin Hribar: Robin has been a part of the Fairport Dance Academy from its beginning as one of Cheryl’s first students. Certified by Dance Masters of America in both ballet and tap, Robin has been teaching dance for the past 30 years. By attending workshops in   Cleveland, Kent, Buffalo, and New York City she continues to further her dance education. Robin has also been a Registered Nurse for the past 29 years and works in the Critical Care Unit at Lake East Hospital. She is also owner and director of the Fairport Harbor  Highsteppers Baton Corps, teaching baton twirling to children and teens. Robin lives in Fairport with her husband, Lee, and has three children that were all students of the FDA: Adam (2006 graduate of Kenyon College), Alexandra (2009 graduate of the College of    Wooster), and Abraham (2009 Fairport High School graduate, currently at the Unites States Naval Academy).

Sha’Ran Marshall: Sha’Ran, originally from Toledo, began dancing at age 8. She studied jazz, ballet, tap and hip hop. She moved to Cleveland in 1997 and danced with the Cleveland Cavaliers for 5 years. She also danced with Wade Robson, Sister Sledge and at many industrial shows. Along with dance, Sha’ran has a passion for musical theatre. She has performed in Hello Dolly, Guys and Dolls, A    Chorus Line, Cinderella, and West Side Story. While raising two boys,  Sha’Ran finds time to choreograph for the Cavalier Girls, Junior, High School, and College Dance Teams, and teach Master classes all over Northeast Ohio.

Carleigh Neels: Carleigh has been a part of the Fairport Dance Academy since the age of four, first as a student, then as a teacher. Carleigh is currently a student at Cleveland State University, majoring in Early Childhood Education. She is also working toward her dance certification through Dance Masters of America.

Jan O’Janpa: Jan taught dance for over 30 years and has been judging at dance competitions for 20 years. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Education from Miami University and her Master’s Degree from Kent State University, specializing in Dance Curriculum. She was the founder, artistic director and main choreographer for the Lakeland Civic Dance Company for 14 years. She has studied at the Alvin Ailey Studio in New York City and American Dance Festival at Duke University, and with many well known master teachers who came to the Cleveland area. Jan has set up dance programs at many high schools and colleges in Ohio, but her work with the teachers and students at the Fairport Dance Academy brings her special joy.

Kelly Rice: Kelly has been an instructor at Fairport Dance Academy for the past 20 years. She was a principal dancer with the Lakeland Civic Dance Company for 10 years under the direction of Jan O’Janpa. Kelly has studied under many master teachers through Dance Cleveland and has attended 3 summers of dance at the Dance Teachers Conference in New York City. She has taken classes with company members from Alwin Nikolai Company and Alvin Ailey. She studied dance under Bill Crotty, who was the Artistic Director of the Jose Limon Company. She has also studied under Douglas Neilson and Jan O’Janpa. Kelly was an instructor at Willoughby Fine Arts for 7 years. She has attended Dance Masters of America and has also received a degree in Creative Movement and ECE. Kelly teaches all ages at FDA, but admits her passion is with the young ones!

Desiree Wood: Desiree Wood has taught at Fairport Dance Academy for seven years. She was also a student at the dance school for thirteen years. In 2007, Desiree became a certified dance instructor through Dance Masters of America. Desiree is a first grade teacher at a charter school in Cleveland. In March, she had her first baby and loves being a mom! Desiree would like to thank her students for all of their hard work this year and looks forward to seeing them again in September.