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Linda has served as Artistic Director of The Dance Connection since it’s opening in 1959. A former professional entertainer; Linda has trained extensively in New York City at American Ballet Theatre, Farnsworth & Howard School, Luigis Dance Center, Broadway Dance Center, with Charles Kelly, Frank Hatchet, Bob Audey, Don Farnsworth, & with June Taylor as a June Taylor Dancer. She is Certified by both Dance Masters of America & Dance Educators of America, where she has served as President of NYC Chapter 26 for Dance Masters & was National President for Dance Educators of America. In addition she is a proud member of I.D.E.A., an organization of Dance Teachers dedicated to excellence in Dance Education.Her love & way with children have made our children’s program, at the Dance Studio something people rave about.  Her students can be seen on Broadway, television, cruise ships, commercials, teaching at Universities, & on faculty across the US. Linda has judged for many National Dance Competitions, taught Master Dance Classes and has filmed for the Lifetime Series Dance Moms.Her students & Choreography are consistent Regional & National High Score Winners.

Sandee began her training at age 2 with The Dance Connection, & later studied at Broadway Dance Center, Luigis Dance Center, with Charles Kelly, Frank Hatchet, Gus Giordano, Rhee Gold, Rennie Gold, David Howard, Judy Ann Bassing, to name a few. She has choreographed commercials & music videos for Cap’n Crunch Cerial, Kenner Toys, Proctor and Gamble, Quaker Oates, Crest Toothpaste, & Yale New Haven Hospital. She has staged works  for The New Haven Ballet Ensemble,  The US Dance Sport Team, Inc. and numerous schools across the U.S. & Mexico. Sandee has taught & judged for major dance organizations across the US, Canada, Mexico, & Costa Rica. Her Students are Nationally & Internationally recognized champions, & can be seen on Broadway, TV, Commercials, & Teaching on faculties throughout the U.S.. She has received more than 500 choreography awards from every major dance organization, including The Grishko Award for Ballet/ Lyric Choreography, The Capezio Award for Tap choreography, & The Marcea Award for jazz choreography. She was named CT’s Woman of the year 2006, & has been the recipient of Choreographer of the Year, & Teacher of The Year numerous times between 2007 & 2018.

She is extremely prod to have founded The Juliano Dance Initiative , a 501c Nonprofit, with a mission to afford & facilitate opportunities for young aspiring dancers who otherwise might not be able to, while fostering a love for the Performing Arts. For more information or to make a donation

Artistic & Creative Directors of 

The Dance Connection

Proud Members of:

• International Dance Entrepreneurs Association   www.ideadance.org
• Dance Masters of America, inc.  www.dancemastersofamerica.org
• Dance Educators of America www.dancedea.com

Ms. Leopold serves as Ballet Mistress at The Dance Connection. In addition to over two decades of Teaching in University, College, & School settings, Ms. Leopold has performed & choreographed in various venues throughout the country, and served as Artistic Director & Resident Choreographer for the Athens Ballet Theatre. Nationally, she has served on the Board of Directors  for the American College dance Festival Association and, locally, for the Pennsylvania Youth Theatre. Ms. Leopold has received numerous awards, including the University Award for Superior Teaching from the University of Georgia, Meritorious Achievement Awards for Choreography from the American college Theatre Festival, the Lehigh Valley Dance Forum Distinguished Service to the Community Award, and has been listed in Who’s Who in the Southeast the World Who’s Who of Women. She holds a Bachelor of  Arts in both Dance & Political Science from Mary Washington College and a Masters of Fine Arts in Dance from the University of Oklahoma.

Cynthia Izoldi, was born in Brazil and moved to the USA to pursue her passion of dancing.  She started on stage at the age of 14 performing with the Lyrical Theater of São Paulo- Brazil.  After graduating from Municipal School of Ballet of São Paulo she continue her studies under master Halina Biernaka ( a ballerina and former pupil of Bronislava Nijinska), she also danced professionally before making a career and life change to New York City where she received a scholarship at the Joffrey Ballet School.  While in the USA she studied with ballet masters such as: Meredith Baylis ( a former Ballet Russe ballerina), Dorothy Lister, Jacques Cesbron, David Howard, and in special master Wilhelm Burmann - whom she learn the quick speed and musicality of American ballet technique.  She danced professionally with Connecticut Ballet Theatre, Ballet Classique and the New York City Opera Ballet for over 15 years.  Upon retiring she went on to become a mother and then to teach classical ballet.  In order to perfect her teaching skills she participated in various teaching programs such as:  The Paris Opera Ballet School, The Vaganova Method with Oleg Vinogradov ( former Kirov Company Director), the Cuban Method and the early child development “Leap & Learn” program.  She has been teaching classical ballet for over 25 years and has gone back to Brasil to share her passion teaching Master Classes.

Mr. Spielberger was trained at the Ballet Academy Munich, Heinz – Bosl Foundation. He danced with the Staatsoper Unter den Linden in Berlin and performed as a Soloist with the Miami City Ballet under the direction of Edward Villella. He has danced at the Kennedy Center, the Music Center/L.A, New York City Center and throughout Europe, China and Russia, performing works by Maurice Bejart, Roland Petit, George Balanchine, Jerome Robbins, William Forsythe, John Neumeier, Twyla Tharp, Paul Taylor, Jiri Kilian, Nacho Duato, Edward Villella, Patrice Bart, Mark Baldwin, Peter Martins, and others. Since his retirement, he has taught at schools in Japan, Germany, France, Austria and ballet companies throughout the United States and Germany.

Mr. Spielberger is also a noted choreographer. He has choreographed works for Miami City Ballet among others. His ballet Sanctuary won the Prix Noveau at the American Ballet Competition in 2009.

Melissa has been dancing with The Dance Connection since she was 3. She holds numerous Regional & National Titles from such organizations as: Headliners, Fire & Ice, Dance Ovations, On Stage America, C.I.S.C., Dance Educators of America, DanceXplosion, to name a few as well as numerous Dance Scholarships. She has performed  in Bring it to The Floor 1, 2, & 3 at Foxwoods Hotel & Casino as part of The United States Dance Sport Team.She traveled to Riesa Germany for several times as a member of  the United States Dance Sport Team where she competed at The World Show Dance Championships; the Olympics of Dance,& received a Gold, 2 Silver & a Bronze Medal from the prestigious I.D.O. event, which attracts more than 3,000.00 dancers from over 30 countries around the globe. Melissa enjoys teaching all levels of Dance, but has a soft spot for the little ones. Her SmallFry Class won Overalls for both thier Tap & Jazz routine this year both Regionally and Nationally, where they were asked to perform as special Guest at The Gala! She was personally requested by Lucille DeCampli to join MSA Agency in NYC. She has taught Dance at The Manhattan High School for girls in NYC and has been a Guest Faculty member for several studios around the Country.

Melissa Klein Yarnell grew up as a competitive dancer in New Jersey under the guidance of Dawn Laviola Schaub. Competitive accolades included twelve dance titles, including National Miss Headliners, National Jr. Miss Starpower and DMA NYC’s Miss Dance.
Melissa continued her training studying throughout New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. At fifteen she was honored to be chosen as an assistant to the legendary Frank Hatchett. She received scholarships to LA’s The Edge Performing Arts Center, NY’s Steps on Broadway and the then famous Gus Giordano Dance Center in Chicago.
Ms. Yarnall holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from Point Park University in Pittsburg. During her college summer years, she performed in the “Kids of the Kingdom” show at Walt Disney World and as a back up dancer with the group NSYNC at Universal Studios in Orlando. She was a dancer in three nationally syndicated commercials. Melissa’s theatrical credits include the 2000 National Tour of “Guys and Dolls” and regional theater performances of “Annie Get Your Gun”, “Damn Yankees”, The Little Mermaid” and
“Swing”. She is a former competitive ballroom dancer and a certified yoga instructor. Melissa loves teaching and choreographing for young dancers! She has been awarded for Choreographic Excellence at American Dance Awards, Headliners, International Dance
Challenge and Dance Ovations. 

Jonathan Grew up as a competitive Dancer in New York, studying Hip Hop, Break Dance, Tap, Jazz, Musical Theatre, Lyrical and Contemporary, with Starlite School of  Dance & Michelle Ferraro's Dance USA, and later trained extensively at Broadway Dance Center, Peridance Capezio Center & Ripley Grier Studios. He has worked with such choreographers as Megz Alfonso, Deshawn Hawthorne, Marty Kudelka and Chris Jones to name a few.

Performance experience includes World of Dance, Monsters of Hip Hop, Royal Thieves Hip Hop Company , Gigi Torres E.Y.E., Choreographer's Carnival L.A..

Jonathan has been teaching at studios in New York and CT for the past 10 years, and enjoys inspiring his students to reach their truest potential. In addition to teaching Jonathan is an accomplished young rapper, singer/songwriter representing the Tri-State area. Dedicated to improving the music culture and breathing new life to the genre, while still homaging the greats and the sounds of the right now. A.G.E. Against General Expectations.