Our Team

Mission Statement

At Higher Movement Dance Studio we are dedicated to providing quality dance education in a safe, welcome & family friendly environment.

Miss Kirby

Owner / Artistic Director , Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Hip Hop, Combo Classes, Zumba

Kirby is the owner and artistic director at Higher Movement. She is passionate about dance, starting as early as the age of 3. Kirby studied at her studio in Wallingford, CT, as well as the Educational Center for the Arts (ECA) in New Haven, CT during high school. Following high school, Kirby chose to continue her dance training and education by attending the American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA) in New York City. Since attending AMDA Kirby has been a part of The Providence Dance Project. She is currently the director of the dance program at the Jewish Community Center in Woodbridge, CT. She is truly eager to impart her wisdom on her students and watch them grow into true artists.

Miss Tracy

Acro

Miss Tracy is the Acro and Tumbling Teacher here at Higher Movement! This is her seventh year teaching at the studio. Miss Tracy did competitive gymnastics for seven years and competed in all four events: Floor, Vault, Uneven Bars, and Balance Beam. Over the course of her seven years competing, she won multiple state championship titles in all four events, as well as many other achievements and gold medals at local meets. Teaching Acro and Tumbling is one of Miss Tracy’s favorite things in the world and she loves to watch her students grow into amazing dancers!

Miss Madison

Contemporary and Jazz

Madison “Maddie” Oquendo is very excited to make her debut as a dance instructor for Higher Movement Dance Studio. She is thrilled to join such talented artists by her side and make her feel welcome for the season. Madison has been a dancer since she was 2 years old and has trained under various artists. Madison received her Bachelor’s degree from Central Connecticut State University this past May in which she studied Psychological Science and Dance. She was a part of a collegiate dance company called Dancentral the performance company at CCSU. Madison has taken master classes in New York City with the Radio City Rockettes and I am Musical Theatre. She is grateful for her grandmother a previous dance studio owner in Meriden and teacher along with her mother for their dance training and expertise throughout the years. She wants to thank Kirby for giving her this opportunity and Melissa for such a warm welcome.

Miss Aschlyn

Hip Hop / Tiny Tots

Miss Aschlyn is excited to join the Higher Movement team this year teaching Hip Hop 1 & Tiny Tots Hip Hop. She began dancing at 2 years old and danced competitively at her hometown studio in Terryville, CT. Throughout her dance career, she has trained in multiple dance genres including ballet, pointe, lyrical, jazz, tap, and hip hop. Miss Aschlyn’s favorite styles of dance are jazz & hip hop. When she isn’t dancing you can find Miss Aschlyn at her nursing day job, working out in the gym, or hanging out with her dog, Koda. She is so excited to get to know & build relationships with the staff, families, and dancers here at HM!

Miss Caroline

Ballet and pre-pointe

Originally from Rock Island, Illinois, Caroline Cady began her dance training at the age of three with Ballet Quad Cities School of Dance. Throughout high school, Caroline served as a trainee for their professional company, Ballet Quad Cities. In 2024, Caroline graduated summa cum laude from Loyola University Chicago with a Bachelor of Arts in dance and a Bachelor of Science in psychology. Caroline has been a dance instructor since 2016, working with students of all ages in a wide variety of styles. She is currently dancing in her first season with Ballet Hartford as a trainee. Caroline is thrilled to be joining the Higher Movement team this year.

Miss Susie

Toddlers in Tutus Tap, Ballet, Move with Me and Tap

This is Miss Susie’s second year teaching at Higher Movement. She has a strong passion to work with children and help them build passion and excitement for dance. She has been dancing for 36 years. She started at the age of 8 at Sunshine Dance and still performs to this day (she took eight years off to have her three children). The owner, Sheila Tetreault inspired her so she has an incredible passion for dance. She took master classes in New York City, growing up with the studio. She was also a tiny tots assistant to Miss Sheila prior to teaching there for over 6 years. In high school, she studied ballet in Cape Cod and was the choreographer of many high school musicals at Montgomery Blair High School in Silver Springs Maryland. Susie attended ECSU for a degree in Dance and then transferred to Southern Connecticut State University where she received a degree in Exercise Science and Nutrition. She has been a certified dance/fitness instructor since she was 16 years old. She is so excited to start her second year at Higher Movement and work with her prior and new students.

Miss Morgan

Jazz

Morgan Dubay is an emerging jazz artist, performer, and choreographer. Originally from New England, Morgan earned her B.A. in Psychology and Dance from Salve Regina University, where she studied under jazz scholar Lindsay Guarino. Upon graduation, Morgan recieved the 2024 Salve Dance Award for inspiring those around her with her passion for dance; especially for jazz. In 2024, she relocated to Calgary, Alberta, where she furthered her training at Decidedly Jazz Danceworks as part of their Professional Training Program. Morgan has presented work at Bridging the Gap: jazz dance and music festival in 2024, Rhode Island Women’s Choreography Project in 2024 and the Dance YYC Showcase in 2025. She is committed to carrying jazz dance forward, infusing it with her own perspective while continuously honoring its rich legacy. Through movement, she strives to connect, empower, and inspire, sharing her unique voice with all audiences

Miss Kylee

Tap and Jazz

Kylee Nimons is a recent graduate of the University of Connecticut and is extremely excited to be joining the Higher Movement team as a tap and jazz instructor! Kylee has been dancing for nineteen years, training at a recreational studio in Seymour, Connecticut until she graduated high school. She trained in tap and jazz, as well as ballet, hip-hop, lyrical, modern, and more. For all four years of her UConn career, she was a member of the UConn Tap Club, where she served as Vice President and head choreographer for three of her four years. She has performed at festivals, fund-raisers, conventions, community functions, and recitals. Dance has been a part of Kylee’s life since she was very little, and she is honored to start the beginning of her official dance career at Higher Movement!

Miss Eva

Tap

Eva is from Croton-on-Hudson, New York, and has been dancing since she was three years old. She has studied ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, theater jazz, modern, and contemporary. In addition to dance, Eva plays seven instruments and did musical theater throughout grade school. She studied at many different studios across Westchester County before continuing her education at Union College in Schenectady, NY. While attending Union College, Eva was the founder and president of The Union College Tap Club, where she choreographed and performed multiple times a year. She also performed in a dance ensemble at The Festival Fringe in Edinburgh, Scotland in 2023. She graduated cum laude in 2024 with a B.S. in Physics and minors in Astrophysics and Dance. When she’s not dancing, Eva is PhD student at The University of Connecticut studying Mechanical Engineering. She is super excited to teach tap this year!

Miss Reaunna

Hip Hop

Reaunna grew up in Bristol CT. She began dancing at 2 years old and grew up training in ballet, hip hop, lyrical, contemporary, tap, modern, and jazz. Her favorite styles are tap, contemporary, and hip hop. When Reaunna is not dancing she is spending time with family, working out in the gym, or working her other job in student affairs. Reaunna is excited to be a part of the team and looks forward to working with the dancers.

Miss Sophie

RISE Tap Team & Age 5-6 Combo

Sophie Kozak has been dancing since 2006 with extensive training in ballet, pointe, tap, and modern. She has completed Cecchetti Ballet through Grade 9 and ISTD Tap through Advanced 1, and has performed with Cecchetti Ballet Theatre and UConn Ballet Company in works including The Nutcracker, Paquita, Swan Lake, and Coppélia. Sophie began teaching in 2016 and loves sharing her passion for dance with her students. She is excited to be part of the Higher Movement team!

Miss Dani

Family Experience Coordinator

My name is Dani and I love to make people smile.

I enjoy hobbies such as reading, crafting, walking my dog Toby, and I’m getting back into playing Minecraft & Stardew Valley. My dream is to one day own a farm even though I’m not the biggest fan of the outdoors lol!

Miss Melissa

Office Manager

Melissa is our Office Manager and has spent many seasons with Higher Movement! Although she has no dance history, she’s been a “Dance Mom” for over twelve years. Melissa is married to Bud who’s a Minister here in Meriden and they have two daughters and a son-in-law. She always has a smile on and loves greeting our new and returning dance families as they arrive! If you see Miss Melissa at the studio be sure to say hello.

Miss Arielle

Enrollment Coordinator

Arielle Joseph is our Enrollment Coordinator. She’s almost at her one-year mark with Higher Movement and is with us virtually from Florida! Arielle handles all trial sign-ups and enrollments. She loves talking to our families over the phone. She’s a mom of two little ones and has a passion for helping others! In her free time, she sews bridal dresses! Designing has been her passion since the age of 9 and she followed that dream by getting her bachelors degree in Fashion Design and Merchandising.